Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports more than 46,000 Iowans have now tested positive for coronavirus. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, IDPH reported 510 new cases and 8 additional deaths. There have been 46,492 positive cases, 34,659 recoveries and 893 deaths since the pandemic began. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Ankeny Police Department took a material witness into custody Tuesday following the shooting death of a 17-year-old and her unborn child. Ankeny police said 18-year-old Donault Logan, of Des Moines, is being questioned in connection with the death of his girlfriend, 17-year-old Mia Holmes, and the unborn child. Holmes’s mother says the shooting was an accident. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds pushed back at school districts threatening to ignore a state mandate on in-person learning Tuesday, saying students would not receive credit for those days of instruction. Her statement came a day after two Iowa school districts said they plan to defy the mandate that at least 50% of classes be held in person this fall. Reynolds said, “Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50% in-person instruction are not defying me. They are defying the law.” JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Johnson County Board of Health unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a regulation requiring face masks in public, when social distancing is not possible. The board of supervisors expects to pass the regulation Thursday, making it enforceable by county law enforcement. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – In three weeks, tens of thousands students at the University of Iowa are returning to campus. The school is currently planning to hold classes in person, with a limit of 50 students per class. Masks are also required inside buildings. Approximately 280 professors have signed a petition asking the university to move completely to online instruction.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A pregnant woman and her unborn child died in a shooting overnight in Ankeny. KCCI-TV reports the woman was injured in the shooting and was taken to a local hospital, where she died. Police did not release any specific information on the suspect but did say there is a man at large. They do not believe there is a danger to the public. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – The Urbandale and Waukee School boards announced that they will offer on-line curriculum only this coming fall, despite the decision by the state to reject their Return to Learn Plans. In a press conference Tuesday morning, Governor Reynolds says if schools don’t have 50% of student learning in person, the students will not get credit. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Several more people in the University of Iowa athletics program have tested positive for COVID-19, according to school officials. A total of 32 positive test results have been reported out of 603 total tests since the department resumed activities in late May. DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The first-ever Major League Baseball game at the Field of Dreams will have to wait for another season. On Monday, MLB canceled the game that was set to be played next Thursday because of the pandemic. The Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to play in Dyersville on August 13th. ELDRIDGE, IA, (IRN) – An Iowa boy is alive and well thanks to his quick-thinking mom. Christina Brenner’s son Peyton was out for a ride on his ATV when he crashed into a tree and fence. WQAD reports Brenner was relaxing in the pool and saw the crash, so she sprang into action. She knew he hit a major artery, and she used her bikini top as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Paramedics said it’s likely the boy could’ve died within minutes if his mom hadn’t reacted so quickly.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 320 new coronavirus cases and 4 additional deaths Monday. As of 10 a.m., IDPH reported 878 deaths since the pandemic began. One of 6 Iowans have now been tested, with 1 of 69 testing positive. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport father was murdered at his son’s funeral Saturday, according to the Quad City Times. Authorities responded to a funeral home on reports a man had a gun and a person had been shot. Authorities attempted to stop the vehicle that the suspect was in, but it fled. The suspect drove at high speeds in residential areas, before officers lost him. Jeremy Shorter, 26, of Davenport died at the hospital due to his gunshot wounds. Shorter was attending his 8-year-old son’s funeral who had died from cancer. Police later arrested Nuemonei Laster, 24, who faces multiple charges, including murder. INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – Independence police arrested Kari Jean Schwartz for sexual exploitation of a minor by a school employee. She was arrested Friday. OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – Five people were injured in a Fayette County collision Saturday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a vehicle ran a stop sign, striking the second vehicle. The condition of the injured hasn’t been released. DYSART, IA (IRN) – The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines sent out a letter to members asking for help because it’s struggling because of Coronavirus. Now an 8-year-old from Dysart is answering the call. KCRG-TV reports you can find Ainsley Reece every Tuesday at Dysart’s farmer’s market passing out cookies. She makes the sweet treats herself as a fundraiser for the zoo. Ainsley says “I love animals and I go to that zoo a lot…so I wanted to help them out.”

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — An Ottumwa man is charged with attempted murder after he ran down a woman in Oskaloosa, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The Iowa State Patrol says 46-year-old Wayne Ellsworth intentionally struck 31-year-old Megan Farver with his SUV at 6:17 a.m. Saturday. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 463 new coronavirus cases and 7 additional deaths Saturday. A total of 480,425 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. IDPH reported 4,804 Iowans tested the previous day, with a positivity rate of 8.2%. One of 7 Iowans have been tested and one of 70 Iowans have tested positive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa doctors continue to push for Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate. Some medical professionals went to the statehouse to make their opinions heard. Health care professionals from across Iowa held a rally Saturday and delivered a petition to the governor’s office, signed by hundreds of Iowa doctors, asking her to issue a statewide mask mandate. A recent poll showed that only 54% of Iowans are wearing masks in public. AMES,IA (IRN) – Iowa State engineers are creating a rapid response COVID-19 test you can take at home and mail in to get your results. All it takes is your saliva, three cards and an envelope. It will be available soon.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 463 new coronavirus cases and 7 additional deaths Saturday. A total of 480,425 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. IDPH reported 4,804 Iowans tested the previous day, with a positivity rate of 8.2%. One of 7 Iowans have been tested and one of 70 Iowans have tested positive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie on Friday issued an amendment to his March 15 emergency health proclamation for the city of Des Moines to include a strong encouragement for mask use and new limits on gatherings on public property. Mayor Cownie issued the amendment on coronavirus mitigation due to new positive cases of the virus continuing at an alarming rate in Polk County and in the City of Des Moines. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A day after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced new guidelines for Iowa schools, the state’s largest school district is planning to ask for permission to push back its start date. The Des Moines Public Schools wants to start classes online, and then slowly move students back into the classroom as conditions allow. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Researchers for University of Iowa Health Care hope to enroll 250 healthy adults to test a new RNA vaccine made by Pfizer in the fight against COVID-19. UIHC is one of roughly 120 sites testing the vaccine. The research team is looking for men and women aged 18-85 with stable health and who work in essential jobs like food production or health care. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The St. Louis Cardinals were to play in Milwaukee’s home opener last night but the game is off after two Cardinals’ players tested positive for COVID-19. The Cardinals are self-isolating. This brings up a concern if the Cardinals will be playing on August 13th, in Dyersville, at the Field of Dreams movie site against the Chicago White Sox. Crews are building the game field in the outfield of the movie site, with a temporary 8,000-seat stadium that, now, will be empty, if the game is still on for August 13th.