Iowa Radio News

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls approved a mask mandate Tuesday, joining with other Iowa cities that have taken similar moves as the state continues to see high numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases. Cedar Falls joins Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mount Vernon, Muscatine and Waterloo in enacting mask requirements. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – New guidance from the Iowa Department of Education could make it harder for school districts to switch to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Department of Education no longer wants schools to include students quarantined for possible COVID-19 exposure in absenteeism rates. State guidance says schools can request a waiver for online learning when districts report 10% absenteeism combined with a 15% COVID-19 positivity in the county. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican lawmakers are among the leaders of six state legislatures who sent a letter to the Big Ten commissioner asking the conference to reconsider its decision to postpone the fall football season. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver signed a letter to Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. State leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are also part of the letter. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Citing budget concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Iowa athletic department announced that it has not filled or will be eliminating 40 positions. All employees will take 15 unpaid furlough days before the end of the year, with the exception of senior staff. Salaries will also be cut. AMES, IA (IRN) – The future of C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University is unclear following a statement from ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. He suggested closing C.Y. Stephens as a possible move to meet a huge budget gap in ISU Athletics. The arts entertainment venue is part of Iowa State’s athletic department. Fans of the arts are outraged.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Polk County judge today denied Des Moines Public Schools’ request for a temporary injunction to allow the district to hold all of its classes remotely while a lawsuit against Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education proceeds. The district held its first day of class today with students learning remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is challenging Reynolds’ order that at least half of instruction at Iowa school districts must be in-person. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 21-year-old man died after crashing a car into a tree in Polk County Sunday. 21-year-old Joshua Aron Murphy of Sioux City was pronounced dead at the scene. The car had been reported stolen in August in Cedar Rapids. CARLISLE, IA (IRN) – The Carlisle Police Department said employees and customers were evacuated from a Dollar General Monday after a reported bomb threat. Investigators didn’t find any explosives. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There has been a spike in dangerous driving on Iowa roads this year. Between January and August, the Iowa State Patrol recorded a 101% increase in tickets for speeds exceeding 100 mph. There has also been a 75% increase in tickets for speeds 25 mph over the posted speed limit. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of people attended an “All-American” family friendly Labor Day boat parade on the Coralville Lake Monday. Around a hundred watercraft turned out to the lake to help celebrate Labor Day with hundreds more watching the parade. While the Facebook event didn’t mention it being a pro-Trump boating parade, several boats flew President Trump 2020 flags and dozens of attendees on the bridge were wearing “Make America Great Again” or “Trump 2020” hats and shirts. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of Des Moines students held a ‘Student March for Fairness” to Terrace Hill Monday in protest of a decision to suspend all sports and activities at the start of the school year. The district announced Thursday that it would suspend after-school activities in accordance with guidance from the Iowa Department of Education. Students at the march said they worked hard with the goal of playing or performing their senior year, which they believe is being taken away from them.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – The Altoona Police Department said one person died Monday after being shot by police at a motel. Altoona police responded to a report of a suspicious person with a weapon outside a Motel 6 around 8:33 a.m. Upon arrival, officers confronted the person. Police and witnesses said a verbal exchange occurred between authorities and the man and that gunfire occurred when officers saw the man with a gun. He died at the scene. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Nearly 200 more University of Iowa students have self-reported positive COVID-19 tests since Friday.The UI says there have been 174 new cases among students and one new case among employees. That means 1,569 students and 20 employees have reported positive tests since the semester began. The state of Iowa now has more than 19,000 active cases. There have been 1,167 deaths due to the disease, up 2 people since yesterday. LEON, IA (IRN) – A 3-year-old boy has died after driving a utility terrain vehicle into a parked trailer in southern Iowa. The boy had been riding in the UTV as a passenger with two relatives in Leon. The boy got into the driver’s seat after his two relatives got off. The child then drove the vehicle into a parked fifth-wheel trailer. He was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police said an early morning 911 call about a stabbing ended with a standoff, an arrest, and a woman in the hospital. Blake Cross, 28, was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with willful injury. Just before 6 a.m. Sunday, a woman told 911 she had been stabbed by a man she knew. Cross initially refused to come out of the house, but peacefully surrendered about a half hour later. ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – On Saturday, around 5:00 p.m. DNR Conservation Officers responded to a fatal hunting incident at Fish Farm Mounds Wildlife Area near New Albin, Iowa in Allamakee County. Investigators found a 46 year old male from St. Paul, MN, dead at the scene. The man was believed to be squirrel hunting at Fish Farm Mounds Wildlife Area prior to his death. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Students from Des Moines Public Schools plan to march to Terrace Hill on Monday to protest the state’s decision to suspend in-person sports and activities at schools holding classes completely online. DMPS plans to begin the school year on Tuesday with online-only classes for students amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,024 new coronavirus cases and 23 additional deaths. There have been 1,160 deaths since the pandemic began. QUAD CITIES (IRN) – Health officials in both Rock Island and Scott County offered a shared word of warning about being mindful of COVID-19 during the 2020 Labor Day weekend. “We cannot let our guard down now,” said Rock Island County’s Public Health Administrator, Nita Ludwig. “After Memorial Day we saw a spike in cases on both sides of the river that really haven’t fallen.” EDDYVILLE, IA (IRN) – Elementary schools in the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont school district were shut down after more than two dozen students and staff tested positive for the coronavirus. School officials report 12 students and 18 staff members tested positive. More than 100 students are in quarantine. The district will move elementary schools to a hybrid model beginning Tuesday. The district will continue its hybrid plan until October 2nd. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids wants people to move any derecho-damaged vehicles off of city streets. This is because crews are still working on the first pass of debris pickup, now 25 days since the storm hit. Police recommend people take pictures of any damage, contact insurance agencies and then move the car or get it towed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,024 new coronavirus cases and 23 additional deaths. There have been 1,160 deaths since the pandemic began. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Polk County judge on Friday denied a request from multiple metro bar owners for an injunction on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ COVID-19 related bar closures. Reynolds issued a proclamation on Aug. 27 closing bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs in Black Hawk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn, Polk and Story counties. All, except Dallas County, are home to four-year colleges. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – On Friday, a judge sentenced a Delaware County man convicted of killing his wife with a corn rake to life in prison without parole. A Dubuque County jury found Todd Mullis guilty last September. The prosecution argued Mullis killed his wife Amy Mullis in 2018 because he believed she was having an affair. Investigators say he tried to pass off her death as a farming accident after one of the couple’s children found the body. Todd Mullis still claims he’s innocent. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have made an arrest in the death of Mia Holmes, 17, and her unborn child. The Ankeny Police Department said that on Friday Donault Logan, 18, turned himself into detectives. Mia’s mother believes the shooting was an accident. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police say a man is facing charges after he stole a truck and led officers on a pursuit on Friday. Billy Clark is now charged with second degree theft and traffic charges. Officers say he stole an Aramark truck from Mercy Medical Center and led them on a chase on several streets. The truck got stuck between a pole and a warehouse. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University athletic director Jamie Pollard warned of financial challenges ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic and said layoffs and the elimination of some sports are under consideration. Pollard said they are now projecting a $30 million deficit.