An amendment that would declare there is no fundamental right to an abortion in the state of Iowa moved out of a House subcommittee yesterday. The amendment would add that language to the Iowa Constitution, as well as deny state funding for abortion. Republicans in the Senate attempted to pass a similar amendment proposal during the last session, but it did not receive support in the House. Proponents of the bill said it would correct what they described as judicial overreach after courts struck down previous abortion restrictions in Iowa. Opponents say it would adversely affect the health of women in Iowa by leading to a ban on abortions. If the amendment is approved by both chambers, it would be put up to a vote by Iowans in a future election.
Police are searching for suspects after they were called to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo regarding a 25-year-old stabbing victim. Police were dispatched to the hospital at around 3:15 early yesterday morning. The man was stabbed in his hand and his injuries are minor. Police say he told them the incident happened in an alley in the area of Linn and Gable. Police are investigating.
The Black Hawk County Jail says in-person visitation will end and video visitation will begin starting next Wednesday. Instead of going to the third floor to visit inmates, visitors will stay in the lobby where they will do their visit by video similar to Zoom or Facetime. The jail put in a video visitation system last November. As of right now, the system is only in place for those visiting remotely from a cell phone or computer and will be in use at the jail in accordance with normal policy. Local visitation days and hours will stay the same, including a dress code. There is no cost to either party for a local visit, but using the system remotely will cost the visitor based on data usage.
Cedar Rapids police have announced an arrest in the December shooting death of an 18-year-old woman at an apartment complex. Police say 20-year-old Larenzo Burnett was arrested yesterday on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and witness tampering in connection with the fatal shooting of Marisa Doolin. Authorities found Doolin in the apartment on Dec. 22nd with a gunshot wound; she died four days later. Police believe Burnett pointed a gun at Doolin, but that it accidentally discharged. Investigators say Burnett also warned a witness not to talk to police about the shooting. Police say Burnett was already in the Linn County Jail on unrelated charges when he was charged yesterday morning.
Police in Davenport are seeking a suspect in the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian just north of Genesis Medical Center there. It happened shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, when first responders were called to North Fillmore Lane for a report of a man unresponsive in the street. Police say an initial investigation showed the man had been hit by a vehicle and dragged for 300-400 feet. Police say the vehicle left the scene of the fatal accident. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. His name was not immediately released to the public.
An Iowa man is behind bars in South Dakota after a pursuit that crossed state lines and reached speeds of more than 100 mph. The chase started when deputies with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa started pursuing a stolen vehicle Monday. The pursuit entered Lincoln County when the South Dakota deputies there were asked to take over. It lasted for several miles in Lincoln County with speeds reaching 110 mph, authorities said. The pursuit ended when a Highway Patrol trooper stopped the vehicle at an intersection west of Chancellor, South Dakota.
The UNI men’s basketball team was facing a 13-day layoff because of COVID outbreaks at Missouri Valley Conference schools…so the Panthers opted to stay sharp by adding two home contests against Iowa colleges. UNI will host Cornell on Thursday, and Coe next Monday; both games will tip off at 6 p.m. in the McLeod Center, and both will be heard live on News/Talk 1540 KXEL, with pregame each day at 5:30 p.m.
