Within days of abandoning a plan to hire a private company to establish a statewide call center to help residents arrange coronavirus vaccine appointments, Iowa officials now say they have decided not to contract with Microsoft Corp. to develop a centralized online system. The surprise move was announced by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds yesterday…just 10 days after she said Microsoft was chosen and would have a system set up in a few weeks. The governor says the state is working on alternatives for a call center and online registration. As of yesterday, Iowa was in 27th place among states with about 11% of its residents having received one or more vaccine dose.
By a large bipartisan vote, the Iowa House has passed a bill that would require schools to administer the Pledge of Allegiance and show the U.S. flag every day. The bill would require accredited and non-accredited K-12 schools to do this to 1st through 12th grade students every day. Schools would also be required to fly the U.S. and Iowa flags on all school days when weather permits. Non-public schools could opt out if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. While schools would be required to administer the pledge, students would not be required to recite the pledge, if they so choose. That’s because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that forcing students to recite the pledge is a violation of the First Amendment. The bill passed by a 91-3 vote. It now heads to the Senate for approval. KXEL shares the Pledge of Allegiance with you each weekday morning just after 9:30.
Police have identified those involved in a fatal stabbing at a north Iowa pork processing plant. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says 50-year-old Wayne Smith of Fort Dodge was stabbed to death…26-year-old Lukouxs Brown, also of Fort Dodge, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Officials say both men worked at Prestage Foods near Eagle Grove, where the stabbing occurred early Tuesday morning. Smith was found dead in a plant locker room. Officials say the two men knew each other, but did not have details about their relationship.
Iowa’s Legislature is set to discuss a bill that would rewrite state election law in a way that critics say would favor Republicans. The bill would restrict voting by mail and early voting, and would threaten county auditors with fines and criminal charges for ignoring state guidance. The bill would cut the state’s mail and in-person early voting period from 29 days to 18 days. Four years ago, it was 40 days.
One man suffered non-life threatening injuries after his semi was struck by a train. Linn County Sheriff’s Officials say the accident happened shortly after 10:15 Wednesday morning at a railroad crossing along Arabian Road in Alburnett. 33-year-old Kyle Hite of Alburnett was unable to stop his semi upon approaching the railroad crossing from the west. The sheriff’s office says the semi slid onto the tracks just as the train was crossing. The oncoming train struck the semi’s passenger side, sending it into the northwest ditch. Hite was charged with failure to stop at a railroad crossing. His injuries appeared to be non-life threatening, and he was wearing a seatbelt at the time. No passengers on the train were injured.
Police in Davenport say a man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his mother. Police were called to the PR Masonry Apartments in Davenport late Tuesday afternoon to check on the welfare of a person. Officers found the body of 77-year-old Dianna Rupp inside one of the units. Police have not said how she died. Rupp’s son, 53-year-old Andrew Rupp, was initially charged with interference with official acts and drug possession. Police say he was later also charged with first-degree murder.
Officials are looking into what caused a fire and explosions at a western Iowa propane and fuel distribution business. Several fire departments spent hours putting out a fire reported shortly before 10 Tuesday night at Al’s Corner Oil Company in Carroll County. Firefighters at the scene said the fire ignited several propane tanks stored at the business, with one person saying “it sounded like jet engines taking off. The ground was shaking.” No injuries were immediately reported. The company is the home office for 26 convenience stores in west central Iowa and provides farm fuel and propane delivery for commercial and residential customers.
