Iowa health officials have reversed a decision to withhold COVID-19 vaccines from some counties that were reported as not having used up to 80% of their allocation last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health informed five counties on Friday that it would withhold this week’s allotment of vaccine. The decision drew criticism from several county health administrators, who said either that the state was mistaken or that bad weather had temporarily slowed their progress. Yesterday, three of the counties–Buchanan, Washington and Chickasaw–reported that state officials had informed them they would be getting their allotment of vaccines this week after all.
Police are seeking a suspect in the shooting death of a man inside a Marshalltown convenience store. It happened just after 3 o’clock early yesterday morning inside a Casey’s convenience store on North Third Avenue. Officers called to the store found a man suffering from gunshot wounds; he later died. Police have not publicly identified a suspect, but do have surveillance video from the store showing a person in sunglasses and a black hooded jacket showing a gun as he walks through the store’s entrance.
A man has been arrested in Fayette County after a week-long investigation that revealed he was selling controlled substances to students at Upper Iowa University. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says 20-year-old Justin Pfister of Hawkeye was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following execution of a search warrant at a home in Hawkeye last Friday. Officials said more charges are pending.
The Waterloo Public Library is once again opening its doors to the public after being closed due to the pandemic. In-person library services will still be limited and monitored to ensure library safety. Occupancy levels will be displayed at the library entrance. All library visits will be limited to one hour per day and the only seating will be at the computer stations.
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have awarded three $1 million grants to prepare high school students for success in college, postsecondary training, and the workforce. The money is funded through the new Career Academy Incentive Fund. Waterloo Community Schools, Eastern Iowa Community College and Indian Hills Community College will each get a $1 million grant. Waterloo Schools will use the money to expand its Waterloo Career Center, which serves seven surrounding school districts. Eastern Iowa Community College will use the grant money to create a new regional center in DeWitt to serve students from eight rural districts in eastern Iowa, while Indian Hills will create a new regional center in Centerville for seven southern Iowa school districts.
An explosion at the Agri Star plant in Postville has left two people injured along with building damage. Postville officials say a leaking 100 pound tank near the roof exploded, causing a fire ball that blew off part of the roof and part of a wall. There was no fire following the explosion. No official word on the severity of the injuries sustained.
The University of Iowa is reinstating its women’s swimming and diving program. It was previously announced that the program was being cut, along with men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, and men’s gymnastics as a result of the economic strain from the pandemic. A federal judge blocked the university from cutting women’s swimming following a Title IX complaint filed by four female swimmers last year. Athletics Director Gary Barta mentioned the lawsuit in announcing the reinstatement of the program.
Iowa-based Pizza Ranch, known for its buffet of pizza, chicken and other offerings, expanded last year, even as the coronavirus pandemic hit the restaurant industry harder than most. Pizza Ranch, based in Orange City, has over 200 locations in 14 states. Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Achterhoff says the chain added five new locations last year and has six or seven more openings scheduled for this year. Even with the expansion, Achterhoff acknowledged that the past year has been challenging for Pizza Ranch, noting they became more reliant on carryout and deliveries in order to remain profitable.
A Dubuque man who was granted a new trial by the Iowa Supreme Court last year is seeking a change of venue. 28-year-old Fontae Buelow filed for the change of venue from Dubuque County, saying media coverage of the case has made it impossible for him to get a fair trial there. Authorities say Buelow fatally stabbed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Samantha Link of Peosta, on March 31, 2017; Buelow says Link stabbed herself twice in the chest. Buelow was convicted of second-degree murder in 2018, but last December, the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial, saying information about Link’s prior suicide attempt and mental health records should have been allowed.
