CEDAR RAPIDS AUTHORITIES ISSUED WARRANTS WEDNESDAY FOR TYLER LEE AFTER A FATAL FREEWAY CRASH EARLIER THIS MONTH. LEE TURNED HIMSELF IN HOURS LATER. HE IS CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE, AMONG OTHER COUNTS STEMMING FROM THE INCIDENT. LEE WAS DRIVING A PICKUP TRUCK THAT CRASHED INTO A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE EARLY ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 7. AT THAT TIME, HE WAS OUT ON $1 MILLION BAIL FOR A MURDER CHARGE FROM A 2017 SHOOTING NEAR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.
IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS SAYS THE STATE IS STILL ON TARGET TO ALLOW ANY ADULT GET A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE AS OF APRIL 5, BUT THERE WON’T BE SHOT AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE THAT DAY. REYNOLDS PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE VACCINE SITUATION DURING A WEDNESDAY NEWS CONFERENCE. OVER 511 THOUSAND IOWANS HAVE RECEIVED THE COMPLETE SERIES OF CORONAVIRUS VACCINES.
A WATERLOO MAN HAS AGREED TO PAY A FINE FOR SERVING ALCOHOL OUTSIDE THE LIMITATIONS MANDATED BY REYNOLDS’ COVID-19 PROCLAMATION LAST SEPTEMBER. ROBERT MOSLEY JR. OPERATES THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS LODGE. PATRONS WERE ON HAND AT THE CLUB AFTER MIDNIGHT SEPTEMBER 6TH; MOSLEY AGREED TO APPROXIMATELY $180 IN FINES AND FEES.
PIZZA HUTS IN THE CEDAR VALLEY AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTS OF IOWA HAVE A NEW OWNER. THE PIZZA HUT NAME WILL REMAIN, BUT THE LOCATIONS ARE NOW OWNED BY FLYNN RESTAURANT GROUP. WEDNESDAY, THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT HAD FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF 937 PIZZA HUTS FROM KANSAS CITY-BASED NPC INTERNATIONAL.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON APPROXIMATELY 600 JOBS IN CEDAR RAPIDS. TOYOTA PLANS TO SHIFT AN OFFICE WHICH PROVIDES CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR VEHICLE LOANS FROM EASTERN IOWA TO TEXAS BEFORE THE END OF 2022. THE CONSOLIDATION PLAN WILL IMPACT AN ADDITIONAL 500 JOBS AROUND THE COUNTRY. TOYOTA FINANCIAL SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO REMAIN WITH THE COMPANY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE. SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE WITH WORKERS WHO DON’T WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE. NEWS OF THE CHANGES WERE DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY’S CEDAR RAPIDS WORKFORCE WEDNESDAY.
A NORTHEAST IOWA TEACHER IN THE STARMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CHARGED WITH BITING A STUDENT DURING CLASS EARLIER THIS MONTH. ANITA SMITH OF EDGEWOOD REPORTEDLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN CLASS DURING A ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISE. THE BITE WAS ALLEGEDLY STRONG ENOUGH TO LEAVE A MARK. SMITH IS A SPANISH TEACHER IN THE STARMONT DISTRICT AND IS CURRENTLY ON LEAVE. THE FAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED UP ON A SCHOOL INVESTIGATION, EVENTUALLY FILING CHARGES FOR SIMPLE ASSAULT.
IOWA PHARMACISTS ARE HOPING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IOWA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION CEO KATE GAINER TOLD KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL LISTENERS ABOUT A “TEST AND TREAT” MEASURE BEING CONSIDERED BY IOWA LEGISLATORS. PHARMACIES HAVE BEEN TESTING AND PROVIDING VACCINATIONS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GAINER AT KXEL.COM.
GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS URGED IOWANS TO HAVE PATIENCE WHEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE EXPANDS DRAMATICALLY IN EARLY APRIL. WEDNESDAY, SHE PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON HOW THE PREVENTATIVE SHOTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE SO FAR. REYNOLDS SAY IOWA IS ON TARGET TO EXPAND VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY TO ALL IOWANS OVER 18 BY APRIL 5TH. BUT SHE NOTED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH DOSES FOR ALL IOWANS ON THAT DAY. HEAR MORE FROM REYNOLDS DURING NEXT HOUR’S KXEL NEWSCAST.
THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CONTROL AN INVASIVE INSECT IN FAR NORTHEAST IOWA. STATE OFFICIALS WILL DUST WITH AN ORGANIC MATING DISRUPTANT TO PREVENT GYPSIE MOTHS FROM REPRODUCING IN ALLAMAKEE AND CLAYTON COUNTIES. THE APPLICATION IS PLANNED FOR LATE JUNE. GYPSIE MOTHS CAN KILL OVER 300 SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS BY STRIPPING THEM OF THEIR LEAVES. AG OFFICIALS HAVE POSTED MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR PLAN AT IOWA GYPSY MOTH.COM.
THE WATERLOO SCHOOLS CAREER CENTER IS OFFERING A FREE, THREE-DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP. THAT CAMP WILL BE JUNE 8TH THROUGH 10TH. DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CAREER CENTER. LUNCHES AND TRANSPORTATION WILL BE PROVIDED. REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 5TH.
