Police responded to a car chase turned standoff in North Liberty Thursday, but it all ended peacefully with a suspect in custody around 6:30 p.m. Police said a suicidal man reported to have weapons was involved, and confirmed a 40-year-old man had barricaded himself inside a building in the area. But again, the situation ended without incident after a couple hours.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a suspect in a bank robbery investigation. Authorities say the suspect robbed the People’s Bank branch in Scranton around 10:30 yesterday morning. Those with information are asked to call authorities.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s optimistic that vaccination of Iowans will speed up due to the impending authorization of a new one-dose coronavirus vaccine and increased deliveries of the two-shot varieties. At a news conference yesterday, the governor said that 19.2% of eligible Iowans have received at least one dose of a vaccine and nearly 53% of residents 65 and older have had a first dose. If current projections hold, Reynolds says most eligible Iowans may begin getting vaccinated as early as April.
Police have arrested an Iowa City landlord, accusing her of breaking into an apartment to try to forcibly remove a tenant and hitting the tenant with a baseball bat. Police arrested 67-year-old Suzanne Dashner on suspicion of burglary and assault in connection with the Feb. 10 incident. Police say Dashner and three men, all armed with baseball bats and a board, went to the apartment around 7 p.m. and broke in as the tenant hid in a bedroom and called 911. Police say Dashner and the men kicked open the woman’s bedroom door and threatened her, and that Dashner hit the woman in the leg with a bat.
Contrary to the last two years, the flood risk this upcoming spring remains near normal for most of the major rivers in eastern Iowa. That’s according to the latest report released yesterday afternoon. While heavy snow has fallen over eastern Iowa, upstream of the Cedar, Mississippi and Iowa Rivers, the snow has not been as intense. The Cedar and Mississippi Rivers have a near-normal chance of reaching flood stage, roughly a 5-10 percent chance. The Iowa River south of the Coralville Reservoir is also at near-normal chances. With the existing significant snowpack over eastern Iowa, though the Iowa River north of the Coralville Reservoir is at a higher chance of reaching flood stage…with a 73 percent chance estimated in Marengo.
Iowa Workforce Development has reported a decrease in initial unemployment claims in the past week, but continuing claims saw an increase. Roughly 500 fewer new claims reported…but continuing claims increased by 2,500 week to week.
Automated speed cameras could be coming down across Iowa. A bill introduced in the Iowa Senate would ban the cameras from roadways statewide. The bill would require both speed cameras and traffic light cameras to come down by July 1. A ban on automated cameras has failed each year recently in the legislature. A major factor in the discussion is that cameras bring in millions of dollars to local governments.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said yesterday a new website would be launched today to answer frequently asked questions about vaccines and include a vaccine locator to help connect eligible Iowans with vaccine providers. But you cannot schedule a vaccination appointment on the site, which can be found at vaccinate.iowa.gov. The governor also said the state is creating a dedicated team of vaccine navigators through the 211 call center to schedule appointments for Iowans age 65 and older who are unable to make an appointment online. The service will be available March 8. The news comes after the state had worked with Microsoft to develop a centralized website to assist with vaccine information for Iowans. The plan was later scrapped.
