From the Associated Press:
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s well-known statewide bicycling event has a new director of operations. RAGBRAI, short for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, on Monday announced the hiring of Matt Phippen to lead the organization that claims to host the “oldest, largest and longest recreational touring bicycle ride in the world.” Phippen has a long association with RAGBRAI, starting in 1990 when his family hosted riders in his front yard. He has been a rider and also served as a vendor, on a town planning committee, and as a sponsor and pre-ride adviser.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Senate president opened the legislative session with an attack on the media and claims of a sinister agenda to normalize deviant behavior against children. The Legislature is expected to focus on plans for tax cuts and reforms to unemployment law, but Republican Senate President Jake Chapman used his opening speech Monday to challenge lawmakers to take a stand. He argued there is a “sinister agenda occurring right before our eyes.” Democratic leaders criticized the comments, calling them divisive and extreme political rhetoric that has made teachers, nurses and other people hesitant to work in the state.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — One person died Saturday after a shooting at a Waterloo convenience store. Waterloo Police said officers found the victim with several gunshot wounds around 10 p.m. Saturday at the Prime Mart at 508 Broadway Street. Paramedics arrived and provided emergency treatment but the victim died at the convenience store. The victim’s name was not immediately released. Investigators are searching for any witnesses to the shooting. In November, a different shooting at the same convenience store injured two people. No arrests have been made in that case.
NEW YORK (AP) — Librarians are loved for more than just the books they recommend. This year’s winners of the I Love My Librarian award were cited for everything from support during the pandemic to participation in community softball. On Monday, the American Library Association announced 10 award recipients. Each receives $5,000, along with a $750 donation to their library. Some 1,300 nominations were submitted by patrons nationwide. ALA President Patty Wong said in a statement that the nation’s librarians continue to empower their patrons, promote inclusion provide essential services for their communities.
RIVERSIDE, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters who responded to a house fire in the eastern Iowa city of Riverside found the bodies of two people inside. The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. Saturday at a home in Riverside. The Washington County Communications Center says that when firefighters arrived they found smoke and flames coming from the structure. Firefighters recovered two bodies, which were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. Riverside is a community of 1,100 people about 13 miles south of Iowa City.
GENESEO, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois family has solved the mystery of what happened to their missing cat that likes to sit on horses and donkeys. The Quad-City Times reports that Ann Kandis said the cat, named Noodles, jumped into the trunk of her father’s car in November 2018 while he was at the family’s farm in Geneseo. Her father drove off, but stopped along the road when he heard a noise. He opened the trunk and the cat jumped out. The family posted “lost cat” notices and searched along the road but couldn’t find Noodles. Kandis had given up on finding Noodles until she stumbled across a Facebook message showing a cat sitting on a horse. Kandis messaged the woman on Christmas Eve and she still had Noodles.
