Des Moines police found two bodies in a home after responding to a 911 call from a child who believed his mother had been injured. The child called 911 just after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon to report his mother had been hurt, prompting officers and medics to go to the home on the city’s south side. First-responders found the bodies of a woman and a man, and both had traumatic injuries. A homicide investigation is underway police say there didn’t appear to be a threat to the community. The names of those killed weren’t immediately released so relatives could be notified.
The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting 206 more COVID-19 cases and four more deaths in Iowa over the most recent 24 hour reporting period. Data is showing a total of 36,036 COVID-19 cases and 759 COVID-19 related deaths since the pandemic began.
Walmart, Sam’s Club and Kohl’s all announced yesterday that face coverings will be required of all customers starting next Monday, in the wake of increased COVID-19 cases across parts of the country. Walmart says there will be a “health ambassador” stationed near the entrance of its stores to remind those not wearing a mask of its new requirement. To help with this process, Walmart says all of its locations will have one entrance, instead of two.
A federal judge has denied an Iowa drug kingpin’s requests to delay his execution, which is scheduled for tomorrow. U.S. District Judge Leonard Strand wrote Tuesday that he would not intervene to delay Dustin Honken’s execution date due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said the Bureau of Prisons was in the best position to weigh the health risks against the benefits of carrying out the execution. Strand also denied Honken’s motion to declare his execution void due to an alleged procedural error by the government. He affirmed the executive branch’s power to set the date for executions.
Coralville Mayor John Lundell issued a new proclamation asking everyone to wear a mask and to practice social distancing. The new proclamation is titled the COVID-19 Prevention Initiative. It asks for those practices to continue “indefinitely until substantial progress in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus had been declared by public health officials.” Johnson County has had the 5th highest amount of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state of Iowa since the pandemic began. The state attorney general and others have indicated mayor’s issuing mandatory mask rules would be in violation of state law…so this is a request by the Coralville mayor and not a mandate.
Nearly a month after his death, $7,600 has been raised to add to the reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the shooting death of 20-year-old Malik Sheets, who was shot in the upper body and killed in June at a home in Cedar Rapids. Investigators believe the shooting happened at a large party inside the home after an argument. No arrests have been made in the June shooting. The $7,600 reward is in addition to $2,500 offered through the Linn County Crime Stoppers for an arrest and conviction in the case…the total is now up to $10,100.
Cedar Rapids Police have publicly identified a person of interest in connection with a shooting on Sunday in the city. Investigators are looking for 24-year-old Keenan Baker, who is believed to be in the Cedar Rapids metro area. Police say citizens should not approach or make contact with him but should contact the police if they have information on his whereabouts. A 23-year-old female was shot, has serious injuries, and was still in the hospital as of yesterday afternoon. Authorities previously said this was a domestic situation, and that the woman was shot after an argument. Baker is not being considered a suspect at this time “until evidence and facts can be substantiated,” according to the CRPD.
The runoff election for the Cedar Falls City Council at-large vacancy will take place Aug. 4. The deadline for submitting an absentee request to receive a ballot in the mail is July 24. Unlike the special election earlier this month, the Black Hawk County Election Office will not be sending absentee ballots to voters unless requested. Five in-person voting locations will be in place for the runoff election…they are the Cedar Falls schools administration building, Church of Christ, Trinity Bible Church, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, and Orchard Hill’s Big House. LeaAnn Saul and Kelly Dunn are competing for the at-large seat on the council.
One person was flown to a Minnesota hospital following an ATV crash in Fayette County Sunday. Two youths were riding an ATV at a home on Great River Road near Clermont around 12:30 p.m. Sunday when the ATV rolled while the driver was going down a hill, and both individuals were ejected, with Fayette County Sheriff’s officials saying the driver was pinned under the vehicle. This accident remains under investigation.
A convicted felon, illegal user of controlled substances, and marijuana grower who unlawfully possessed two guns was sentenced yesterday to a year in federal prison. 52-year-old Brian Anderson of New Hartford received the prison term after a December 2019 guilty plea to being a felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm. Information at sentencing showed that law enforcement searched Anderson’s home in New Hartford in June 2018. Officers were initially searching the home looking for endangered rattlesnakes they believed Anderson possessed. But officers also found a marijuana grow operation, including over 120 marijuana plants, and two guns nearby.
Waterloo school officials have announced that free sports physicals are available at the ACE-SAP Free Clinic at 207 Logan Avenue, Salvation Army, on Thursday, July 30 from noon to 6:00 p.m. All students are welcome regardless of income or insurance status. Students must have permission from a parent or guardian.
