Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has urged Des Moines school officials to give up their effort to educate all students remotely because of the coronavirus…this after two judges decided the state has the authority to regulate such matters. At a news conference yesterday, Reynolds said the state’s largest district is alone in refusing to develop a plan for in-person instruction. She noted that judges in both Polk and Johnson counties have ruled that the state can require local districts to hold in-person classes, regardless of coronavirus-related health risks.
It has been one month since the August 10 derecho impacted our state. Since then more than $7.1 million in federal assistance has been approved for Iowans. FEMA has approved more than $3.1 million in Individual Assistance grants for more than 900 households. And the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $4 million in disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and small businesses. Those affected in Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Linn, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story and Tama counties have until October 19 to register for disaster assistance. News/Talk 1540 KXEL and our companion station 105.7 KOKZ is beginning a month-long fundraiser today, through sale of t-shirts, with the proceeds to help those in rural areas affected by the storm. You’ll be able to buy yours starting this afternoon by going to kxel.com.
Waterloo police and Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputies talked a man off the Mullan Avenue Bridge after he threatened to jump last night. The downtown bridge over the Cedar River was closed to traffic for more than an hour as the man clung to the railing. Firefighters put a boat in the river and had other rescue equipment ready as a safety measure. Authorities were able to eventually walk him off the bridge to an ambulance. He was taken to a hospital for an evaluation.
The campaign for Republican congressional candidate Ashley Hinson is calling on Democrat Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer to accept additional political debates between the two major party rivals. The move came three days after the two held a debate on public television. In response, the Finkenauer campaign said the congresswoman was focused on doing her job by being in Washington. However, News/Talk 1540 KXEL and Iowa’s News Now issued an invitation to host a debate in July, suggesting a date in August when Congress was in recess, but the Finkenauer campaign declined, saying it was within a week of the public television debate. They have not responded to our list of additional possible dates. Ashley Hinson will talk with us about this live Monday during the 9 o’clock hour of KXEL Live & Local.
The Waterloo West High School varsity football game for tonight aginast Linn-Mar was canceled when the Linn-Mar team was put under quarantine…but now there will be a homecoming game, with Anamosa as the opponent. West homecoming activities will take place during half-time of the sophomore game, against Linn-Mar, at approximately 6:30 p.m. The varsity game with Anamosa begins after the sophomore game at approximately 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. All previous COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.
The annual 9/11 American Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by News/Talk 1540 KXEL will take place today from noon until 6 p.m. at a new location this year…the Courtyard by Marriott in the Tech Works campus downtown. Appointments are required by going to redcrossblood.org.
Buchanan County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident involving a school bus driver for the Jesup Community School District. School officials said students were upset and notified a parent about concerns about the driver after exiting the bus at a bus stop on Benson Shady Grove Avenue around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The parent called 911 about a possible medical situation. The bus driver left the scene in an ambulance, then submitted his resignation yesterday morning. There were 11 students on the bus at the time, and there were no injuries. The sheriff’s office is investigating the incident.
Help was available for the people of Linn County after the derecho, but Linn County Emergency Management declined it from other public agencies and private companies. That’s according to an I-9 investigation conducted by our coverage partners at TV9. E-mails obtained through a public records request show Linn County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve O’Konek declined relief offers from other county emergency management agencies…and ignored relief offers from different organizations and corporations, at the time when thousands of people were searching for food and shelter. O’Konek told TV9 it’s the job of Non-Government Organizations, particularly United Way, to organize volunteer efforts rather than the Emergency Management Coordinator, who is responsible for doing other jobs.
A Clear Lake man initially arrested for public intoxication now faces felony counts and possible prison time after police say he spit on and threatened to rape the woman officer who arrested him. 43-year-old Scott Thelke has been charged with first-degree harassment, assault on an officer, public intoxication and a parole violation. Police say the incident began Monday when the Clear Lake officer responded to a call from a restaurant there, saying Thelke was drunk and causing problems. Police say that as the officer placed Thelke under arrest, Thelke spat on her and threatened to rape and kill her.
Bettendorf police have identified an officer who shot a man to death as a seven-year veteran of that eastern Iowa department. Police yesterday identified the officer who fired the shots on Sept. 3 as Patrick Mesick. Police say 53-year-old Timothy Alan Clevenger of Silvis died as a result. The shooting happened after officers were called to a Bettendorf home and saw that Clevenger was holding a sharp-edged weapon near children. Mesick has been interviewed by state investigators and remains on paid administrative leave, customary following an officer-involved shooting.
