Des Moines RegisterView CommentsTexans Susan Lynn, Ingrid Bond and Leslie Karpas had just snagged a double “Ranch Water” — vodka, soda and lemonade from a Wells Fargo Arena vendor — as they talked of feeling “gut punched” that Friday.Lynn said she was disappointed that O’Rourke, the former U.S. representative from Texas, dropped out so close to the Liberty and Justice Celebration. About 1,600 O’Rourke supporters from across the country were expected to come to the event.“I’m pretty frustrated,” said Lynn, who has been canvassing in Iowa for O’Rourke since...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsTexans Susan Lynn, Ingrid Bond and Leslie Karpas had just snagged a double “Ranch Water” — vodka, soda and lemonade from a Wells Fargo Arena vendor — as they talked of feeling “gut punched” that Friday.Lynn said she was disappointed that O’Rourke, the former U.S. representative from Texas, dropped out so close to the Liberty and Justice Celebration. About 1,600 O’Rourke supporters from across the country were expected to come to the event.“I’m pretty frustrated,” said Lynn, who has been canvassing in Iowa for O’Rourke since...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsThe Iowa Department of Education says students at Urbandale's Rolling Green Elementary School must return to in-person classes by Friday.The state denied the district's request to continue holding classes online at the elementary school, according to a letter sent to parents Monday by Urbandale Superintendent Steve Bass.The decision places Urbandale in "the uncomfortable position" of either bringing students back for in-person classes or "opposing the governor's orders and possibly state law," Bass wrote. "The board is exploring all possibilities,"...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsThe Iowa Department of Education says students at Urbandale's Rolling Green Elementary School must return to in-person classes by Friday.The state denied the district's request to continue holding classes online at the elementary school, according to a letter sent to parents Monday by Urbandale Superintendent Steve Bass.The decision places Urbandale in "the uncomfortable position" of either bringing students back for in-person classes or "opposing the governor's orders and possibly state law," Bass wrote. "The board is exploring all possibilities,"...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsSeveral hundred thousand gallons of manure spilled into a Lyon County creek Wednesday and, in a separate incident on the same day, another 10,000 gallons of manure also spilled into a Kossuth County creek that flows into the Des Moines River.In Rock Rapids, Bernie Baker of Rock Bottom Dairy reported spilling "several hundred thousand gallons of manure" after "an irrigation unit became stuck," according to an news release Wednesday evening.The manure flowed through fields, which included cover crops or pasture, before it eventually flowed...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsSeveral hundred thousand gallons of manure spilled into a Lyon County creek Wednesday and, in a separate incident on the same day, another 10,000 gallons of manure also spilled into a Kossuth County creek that flows into the Des Moines River.In Rock Rapids, Bernie Baker of Rock Bottom Dairy reported spilling "several hundred thousand gallons of manure" after "an irrigation unit became stuck," according to an news release Wednesday evening.The manure flowed through fields, which included cover crops or pasture, before it eventually flowed...WW…

Des Moines RegisterIrving Elementary School in Indianola has sent an email to parents confirming a positive COVID-19 test, four days after school resumed.For privacy reasons, it could not be confirmed whether the positive case, reported to parents Saturday, involved a student or member of the staff or faculty, said Indianola Community School District Superintendent Art Sathoff.Irving Elementary began the school year on Tuesday. One first grade class of about 24 students must undergo quarantine for two weeks. Online classes for the quarantined...…Des Moines RegisterIrving Elementary School in Indianola has sent an email to parents confirming a positive COVID-19 test, four days after school resumed.For privacy reasons, it could not be confirmed whether the positive case, reported to parents Saturday, involved a student or member of the staff or faculty, said Indianola Community School District Superintendent Art Sathoff.Irving Elementary began the school year on Tuesday. One first grade class of about 24 students must undergo quarantine for two weeks. Online classes for the quarantined...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsFor more than a week, Gov. Kim Reynolds has allowed members of the public to register "for" or "against" a shelter-in-place order through a phone menu option on her office's constituent services line."If you are calling about a statewide shelter-in-place order, please press '1'," the recorded voice at 515-281-5211 says. After selecting that option, the phone system then prompts those who want to register for a statewide shelter-in-place order to press "1" and those wanting to register against one to press "2." Callers can also leave...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsFor more than a week, Gov. Kim Reynolds has allowed members of the public to register "for" or "against" a shelter-in-place order through a phone menu option on her office's constituent services line."If you are calling about a statewide shelter-in-place order, please press '1'," the recorded voice at 515-281-5211 says. After selecting that option, the phone system then prompts those who want to register for a statewide shelter-in-place order to press "1" and those wanting to register against one to press "2." Callers can also leave...WW…

The Register's editorialIt’s time for Gov. Kim Reynolds to hold a real news conference. This would not look like her half-hour COVID-19 briefings. Those tend to feature a business owner or political supporter who talks about how great things are going amid a pandemic. The final minutes are dedicated to allowing questions from a few reporters.Iowans need a real meeting with the governor — one in which she and her staff are publicly called on to provide comprehensive answers to questions about the novel coronavirus and the state’s response to it. Reynolds...…The Register's editorialIt’s time for Gov. Kim Reynolds to hold a real news conference. This would not look like her half-hour COVID-19 briefings. Those tend to feature a business owner or political supporter who talks about how great things are going amid a pandemic. The final minutes are dedicated to allowing questions from a few reporters.Iowans need a real meeting with the governor — one in which she and her staff are publicly called on to provide comprehensive answers to questions about the novel coronavirus and the state’s response to it. Reynolds...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAn Ankeny stream ran white on Wednesday after a Hy-Vee store released 800 gallons of spoiled milk into the ecosystem. Dead fish began surfacing Thursday.Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources investigated reports Wednesday morning that a tributary of Ankeny’s Fourmile Creek had turned white and that fish in the stream were struggling at the surface. The DNR traced the contamination through a storm drain and back to the Hy-Vee store at 410 N. Ankeny Blvd.The store lost power and closed early on Monday after tore through Iowa. Employees at the store...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAn Ankeny stream ran white on Wednesday after a Hy-Vee store released 800 gallons of spoiled milk into the ecosystem. Dead fish began surfacing Thursday.Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources investigated reports Wednesday morning that a tributary of Ankeny’s Fourmile Creek had turned white and that fish in the stream were struggling at the surface. The DNR traced the contamination through a storm drain and back to the Hy-Vee store at 410 N. Ankeny Blvd.The store lost power and closed early on Monday after tore through Iowa. Employees at the store...WW…

Des Moines RegisterTwo Des Moines men have been arrested on hate crime charges after they allegedly beat a Black man while yelling racial slurs Saturday in Des Moines' Capitol Heights neighborhood, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.Joseph William Rossing, 35, of Des Moines, and Robert Ray Shelton, 49, of Des Moines, were charged with assault in violation of individual rights causing bodily injury, Iowa's hate crime charge. The charge is an aggravated misdemeanor. Both men were also charged with willful injury, a felony, and...…Des Moines RegisterTwo Des Moines men have been arrested on hate crime charges after they allegedly beat a Black man while yelling racial slurs Saturday in Des Moines' Capitol Heights neighborhood, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.Joseph William Rossing, 35, of Des Moines, and Robert Ray Shelton, 49, of Des Moines, were charged with assault in violation of individual rights causing bodily injury, Iowa's hate crime charge. The charge is an aggravated misdemeanor. Both men were also charged with willful injury, a felony, and...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsNote to readers: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Katie Miller had to disembark from Air Force Two. Vice President Mike Pence’s routine trip Friday — quick meetings with religious and agriculture leaders in and near Iowa’s capital city — was made surreal in the face of a global pandemic that has upended cultural and political norms.Before he even departed Washington, D.C., Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, and several people had to disembark from Air Force Two, delaying its takeoff by more than an hour. She was the...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsNote to readers: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Katie Miller had to disembark from Air Force Two. Vice President Mike Pence’s routine trip Friday — quick meetings with religious and agriculture leaders in and near Iowa’s capital city — was made surreal in the face of a global pandemic that has upended cultural and political norms.Before he even departed Washington, D.C., Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, and several people had to disembark from Air Force Two, delaying its takeoff by more than an hour. She was the...WW…

Staff reportsView CommentsAnother four people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Monday, bringing the statewide total to 188.Additionally, 534 people have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Statewide, 9,703 have tested positive for COVID-19. Of the people who have tested positive, 3,486 have recovered, the IDPH reported. Statewide, more than 47,000 people have tested negative, according to the IDPH.The deaths reported on Monday occurred in the following counties:Return for more on this developing...…Staff reportsView CommentsAnother four people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Monday, bringing the statewide total to 188.Additionally, 534 people have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Statewide, 9,703 have tested positive for COVID-19. Of the people who have tested positive, 3,486 have recovered, the IDPH reported. Statewide, more than 47,000 people have tested negative, according to the IDPH.The deaths reported on Monday occurred in the following counties:Return for more on this developing...WW…