DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Postal workers will protest in Des Moines next week according to WHO-TV. The demonstrations are in response to the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to cut jobs in Des Moines. Critics say it will lead to mail service delays. The postal service plans to cut more than 20% of the Des Moines postal workforce, and half of the cuts have already been made. Postal workers and supporters will protest on Wednesday outside the downtown Des Moines office.

WEST BRANCH, IA (IRN) – A substitute teacher who pled guilty to being drunk at an eastern Iowa school has lost her state license. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Board of Education Examiners suspended the teaching license of 60-year-old Kiaya Rickard-Urban for a minimum of two years. Students at West Branch High School reported that Rickard-Urban smelled of alcohol and wasn’t acting right during class.

MORGANTOWN, W.V. (IRN) – West Virginia held on for a 20-16 victory over No. 14 Iowa State on Saturday at home. West Virginia became bowl eligible and knocked the Cyclones out of a four-way tie for first place.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Nate Stanley threw for 226 yards and five touchdowns, and Iowa throttled sixth-ranked Ohio State 55-24 on Saturday, dealing what’s likely to be a fatal blow to the Buckeyes’ playoff hopes. With the win, the Hawkeyes beat their fourth top-5 opponent in their last five tries at home.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Corrections is looking for an escaped inmate after he failed to report back to Fort Des Moines Correctional Facility, Friday night. Authorities are looking for 31-year-old David Michael Evans. Evans is convicted of assault, multiple drug-related charges, and escape while on work release in Polk County.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a gender-fluid Iowa teenager. The Des Moines Register reports that a jury Friday found 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez guilty in the death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson. At trial, prosecutors described Johnson as a high school student who sometimes dressed as a girl. Investigators say a struggle ensued during a sexual encounter, and Sanders-Galvez and his cousin suffocated and shot Johnson and dumped the teen’s body in an alley.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was sent to the hospital Friday night after an RV caught fire in a parking lot in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports a man, woman, two dogs and two cats were inside when the fire started. The man suffered minor injuries in the blaze. One dog was able to escape the fire, but the other three animals died. The fire started in the engine compartment when trying to start it up.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Six people were rescued from a suspicious fire in Newton Friday morning. WHO-TV reports the fire was at the front entrance and the stairway of the building. Six people were rescued with ladders from second and third floor windows, and nobody was injured. Firefighters say it appears the fire was set intentionally.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two men have been charged after a deputy found more than 82 pounds of marijuana in their car during a traffic stop in Johnson County. KCRG-TV reports the driver of the car, 24-year-old Juan Salcedo, of New York City, said they were taking the marijuana to New York.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Two people have been arrested and charged with an aggravated misdemeanor after a child was found hurt in Waterloo. KWWL-TV reports an investigation began on Oct. 10 for a 19-month-old child who had different stages of bruising on his head and body. Police say the toddler, and three other siblings, were removed from the residence. Officers have arrested John Mercurio and Nevena Soknia.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A dog was killed in a house fire in Ottumwa early this morning, according to KTVO-TV. Crews responding to the scene found the house fully engulfed. Only one man lived in the house and he was not home at the time. Unfortunately, his dog was.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A Republican power couple who work in Iowa’s executive branch are facing scrutiny after moonlighting as agents of Saudi Arabia to oppose a new law allowing victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to sue the kingdom. KGAN-TV reports Connie and Kim Schmett are facing accusations that they were part of an effort that misled veterans by concealing who was funding their advocacy work. The Schmetts say it’s an “oversight” that they didn’t file papers on their consulting for the Saudis.

NEW LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – New Liberty and Durant fire crews responded to an animal feed farm in New Liberty early this morning. KGAN-TV reports the fire started from spontaneous combustion of feed. No one was hurt.

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – Dow-DuPont is trying to find a buyer for the 225 million-dollar cellulosic ethanol facility in Nevada, Iowa. WHO-TV reports Dow-DuPont says they’ll keep the lights on using a skeleton crew until they find a buyer, but did not say how many of the 90 or so employees would get to keep their job. Officials say uncertainty in the biofuels market contributed to the decision to sell.

STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – A college cheerleader quit the team after her institution mandated that athletes stand during the national anthem. Her decision comes after Buena Vista University in Storm Lake came under scrutiny following several football players and cheerleaders choosing to kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” BVU student Alyssa Parker, who is African-American, sent an email to her coach Monday, saying that ignoring her personal strong beliefs on social injustice is “problematic.”

WASHINGTON, D. C. (IRN) – An Iowan and former Trump campaign official who has been linked to the Russia investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller has withdrawn his nomination for an Agriculture post. Sam Clovis says in a letter to President Donald Trump dated today that he does “not want to be a distraction or a negative influence.” He cites “relentless assaults on you and your team” that “seem to be a blood sport.” This week, it was revealed that Clovis had communications with George Papadopoulos, who has admitted to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian intermediaries.

GARNER, IA (IRN) – A woman has pled guilty to stealing from a resident at Summit House Assisted Living in Britt. KIMT-TV reports 35-year-old Randi Jo Chipman was charged with 3rd degree burglary and dependent adult abuse for stealing from a resident’s purse.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One man was arrested following a chase with a stolen vehicle Wednesday in Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. Police spotted the vehicle, and a high-speed chase ensued. 23-year-old Tony Lopez Jr. lost control, hit a building, and then tried to flee on foot. He was apprehended, and is in jail.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – There is a new phone scam in Scott County, according to WQAD-TV. More than a dozen people contacted the Scott County Sheriff’s office claiming they’ve received phone calls from scammers. Scammers tell people they’ve missed a court date and need to pay a fine with a credit card number. Officials say they would never ask for credit card information over the phone.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Phoenix man was put in an Iowa jail for more than a month for a crime he didn’t commit, according to KCRG-TV. Joseph McBride, originally from Cedar Rapids, was arrested for a robbery that happened in Iowa while he was in Phoenix. McBride says he spent time in jails in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, before finally arriving in Linn County. A time-stamped selfie taken in Phoenix proved he couldn’t have been in Cedar Rapids at the time of the robbery. Family and friends helped get him released.

JESUP, IA (IRN) – Jesup’s grandmas are running, well, walking the basketball court for a good cause, according to KWWL-TV. Two local boys need help to pay for medical costs, and the grannies are gathering for a fundraising basketball game tonight. Granny basketball has some strict rules, including no running, no jumping, only two dribbles, and lots of ways to foul out. Sisters Dorothy and Anna Kay, members of Maynard’s 1950 Iowa State High School Basketball Champions are among the players taking the court tonight.