Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has added antigen testing results to its coronavirus reporting, adding more cases to the overall total. IDPH reported 17 additional deaths and 1,081 more positive cases Saturday. There have been 1,108 deaths since the pandemic began. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – There was a fatal crash in Cedar Rapids Friday evening on Interstate 380. Two vehicles struck the back of a flatbed truck. One of the drivers was killed. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A police chase on Friday night in Cedar Rapids ended with an arrest, according to law enforcement officials. The vehicle allegedly reached speeds of at least 100 mph on the chase. Logan Paul Spencer, 21, of Fairfax, was charged with attempting to elude, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding citations. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids apartment complex sustained heavy damage following a fire Friday afternoon. No one was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police say three people were stabbed after a fight over food and alcohol erupted at the party. Twenty-one-year-old Danitia Keona Rene Hayes, of Des Moines, is charged with two counts of willful injury. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Spectators were banned from football games in Iowa City this weekend due to a local spike in COVID-19. Games at Liberty High School and City High School Friday went on as planned but with no fans. The policy remains in place “until further notice.” Johnson County residents are testing positive for the virus at a rate of 19.8% over the last 14 days and there’s been 771 new local cases of the virus since Monday. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa said Friday 500 more students self-reported positive COVID-19 tests. The new positive cases means there have been at least 607 coronavirus cases on campus so far this fall. Seven employees reported positive COVID-19 tests, bringing the total number of employees with positive cases to 11. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Multiple metro bars and restaurants have filed a lawsuit against the state of Iowa in an attempt to overturn Gov. Kim Reynolds proclamation issued Thursday. The proclamation shut down bars in six counties and restricted restaurants that served alcohol. The governor’s proclamation impacts bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs in Black Hawk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn, Polk and Story counties.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has added antigen testing results to its coronavirus reporting, adding more cases to the overall total. IDPH reported 12 additional deaths and 2,663 more positive cases, partly due to the new reporting of antigen testing. As of 10 a.m. Friday, there have been 1,091 deaths since the pandemic began. IOWA (IRN) – A new COVID-19 disaster proclamation has been signed by Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds says the novel coronavirus is being spread by 19-24-year-old young adults often in college areas. In response, the governor has closed bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties – Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk, and Story. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The state has granted permission to the Iowa City Community School District to begin classes online only. The move comes in response to rising positivity rates over the last 14 days. As of early this morning, the positivity rate in Johnson county is 18.7 percent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works says that water in the Des Moines River has a high level of microcystin, a toxin produced by blue-green algae, that makes the river unsuitable for use as a drinking water source. The Raccoon River’s flow is very low due to ongoing drought conditions and demand for water is very high. Officials aren’t calling for restrictions but would like Polk County residents to be careful with their water use. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeye basketball coaching legend Lute Olson has passed away. Olson, who was 85, had been in hospice. He took Iowa to five straight NCAA tournaments, including the 1980 Final Four. Carver Hawkeye Arena is dubbed the house that Lute built after the coach pushed for years for a new arena. After nine years he went on to Arizona, guiding the Wildcats to 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, four Final Fours and the ’97 national championship.

IOWA (IRN) – A new COVID-19 disaster proclamation has been signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in response to increases in positive cases across the state. Reynolds says the novel coronavirus is being spread greatly by 19-24-year-old young adults often in college areas. In response, the governor has closed bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties – Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk, and Story. The proclamation also calls for restaurants in those six counties to stop serving alcohol at 10 p.m. This will be in effect until September 20th. Reynolds encourages all Iowans over two-years-old to wear masks in public, but she has not issued a mandate to do so. As of Thursday, Iowa’s had 1,080 COVID-19 deaths. KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A southeast Iowa man is charged in the death of a couple who were struck earlier this month as they waited on their motorcycle in a construction zone. Chad Ray Davis was arrested and charged in the August 4 deaths of Michael and Linda Horn, of Donnellson. The Horns were stopped on their motorcycle at a construction site east of Donnellson when a car driven by Davis hit them. Their motorcycle was pushed into the back of a Mack truck. The Horns were killed instantly. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa can’t track the number of positive, negative or inconclusive tests performed by TestIowa, according to data received through a public records request by KCRG-TV. The data, which KCRG threatened lawsuits to receive, is the first time data from TestIowa was ever released and also shows it took 46 days to meet the state’s goal of testing 3,000 people in a single day. KCRG requested the amount of positive, negative and inconclusive tests performed by the $26 million no-bid contract testing program, but was told the state has no way of knowing if a specific test from any manufacturer is giving a disproportionate number of positives, negatives or inconclusive test results. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie has instituted a public mask mandate, effective immediately. Cownie said masks are required in businesses, including restaurants. Cownie said the mandate is necessary now and he wants to get it in place before Des Moines students are back in classrooms. The ordinance defies Gov. Kim Reynolds’ claim that cities cannot mandate face coverings. There will be no citations for now. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld called out some businesses in Iowa City for not doing their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to state issued health and safety guidelines. In an open letter addressed to the Iowa City businesses community, Harreld wrote that he is disappointed in some businesses, blaming them for increasing COVID-19 cases in the city. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Republican secretary of state has issued instructions that counties cannot set up drop boxes to accept early ballots for this year’s general election. That comes despite not challenging the use of those boxes in more than a third of Iowa’s counties in previous elections.

IOWA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds praised President Donald Trump on Tuesday night for quickly pledging federal support to Iowa as residents recover from the hurricane-level windstorm that devastated the state on Aug. 10. Reynolds, speaking remotely at the second night of the Republican National Convention, said Trump and his administration “had our back” when it comes to rebuilding after the derecho windstorm. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s largest school district took legal action Tuesday after the Iowa Department of Education denied its waiver to start the school district 100% online. Des Moines Public Schools asked for an injunction of the state’s decision and review of its authority to override the school district’s decision making under Iowa law. Ames Community School District also announced plans to take legal action after its “Return to Learn” plan was denied. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man has been arrested for allegedly driving his vehicle into a group of protesters in Iowa City over the weekend. Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury causing bodily injury. AMES, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old Iowa State University student has been arrested and charged in connection to vandalism and racist graffiti found in a storage room at an on-campus residence hall. 18-year-old Nathan Page is facing charges in connection with the Aug. 22nd incident. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee is offering free COVID-19 testing at some locations. COVID-19 testing is available at five Iowa stores, in West Des Moines, Chariton, Cherokee, Davenport and Iowa City. Those interested in receiving a test must register online to receive a voucher number, testing site and appointment time.