(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says the peaceful protests in Iowa this weekend had a powerful message, but she’s condemning the few who resorted to rioting. Reynolds says the curfew in Iowa’s Capital City seems to have worked to diffuse violence. She supports continuing the curfews in Polk County, Scott County and Council Bluffs as law enforcement figures out who may be instigating riots here.

“You don’t come to a peaceful protest with bricks and hammers in your backpack,” Reynolds says, “and so until we get figured out who’s doing that, get it identified and really do every we can to give Iowans the opportunity to peacefully protest, that’s our goal.” Windows were broken during rioting in downtown Des Moines on Friday night and things escalated 24 hours later, as 90 percent of the businesses in the Court Avenue Entertainment District in Des Moines suffered property damage and a grocery store was looted.

Reynolds says she, along with key Polk County leaders met to discuss their options for a couple of hours before issuing the overnight curfew on Sunday. “It wasn’t something that we came to the table wanting to do,” Reynolds says. “It was something we felt that was necessary to control the violence and the looting that we heard was about to take place across this state and that is unacceptable.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa argues a county-wide, stay-at-home order is far broader than necessary and gives police too much discretion in enforcing the curfew.

Davenport’s curfew was announced early this (Monday) morning after two people were shot to death and a police officer was wounded in overnight rioting. Davenport’s mayor has asked for Iowa National Guard troops. An aide to the governor says Iowa National Guard troops have not been assigned, but could be deployed within hours in Davenport, where the Guard has an armory.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Relatives of a 22-year-old woman say she was shot and killed while leaving a protest against police brutality outside a Walmart store in Davenport. Italia Marie Kelly was one of two people fatally shot overnight as civil unrest roiled the city. Kelly’s aunt says she joined a protest late Sunday over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Kelly’s death.

No arrests have been made. Police say dozens of people gathered at a mall late Sunday then fanned out across Davenport, firing guns and damaging businesses. One officer was wounded in a shooting.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Texas man and woman who spent nearly $25,000 using stolen credit card numbers in stores across Iowa have been sentenced to five years in prison. Police say 36-year-old Yuniel Sanchez, of Grand Prairie, Texas, and 35-year-old Shannon Marlowe, of Forth Worth, used the numbers to create fake credit cards. The purchased items such as lawn mowers, welding supplies and furniture at stores in four Iowa cities and one in Rochester, Minnesota.

They were caught June 11 in Sioux City. Sanchez and Marlowe were sentenced Friday in federal court after pleading guilty to four charges. Twenty-one other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.

The City of Council Bluffs has implemented another curfew beginning tonight, June 1 at 8 p.m. lasting until June 2 at 5 a.m. This curfew does not prohibit people from getting to/ from work, seeking medical care, etc and it is not meant to disrupt open businesses or travel plans.

Council Bluffs PD Shield

Authorities said “We are not concerned with law-abiding citizens. Please use common sense and avoid any potentially dangerous areas.”

(Radio Iowa) — As of today (Monday), Iowans are again allowed to gather in groups of ten or more for outdoor performances and some sporting events, while minding the rules on social distancing and capacities. Iowans can also now mourn the loss of a loved one with visitations and graveside services. Suzanne Gebel, of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, says decisions will ultimately be up to families, funeral homes and officiants.

“People will be able to line up inside again or outside again for visitations to see families, when they’ve lost a loved one,” Gebel says, “if the family so chooses, and if the funeral home so chooses to proceed that way.” Even as many activities are allowed to resume, some places of worship in Iowa remain closed and some funeral homes are setting their own restrictions. Gebel says families and funeral homes will decide what they’re comfortable doing during the pandemic.

“It depends on the community, quite honestly, because we have communities and areas of Iowa that have been very majorly impacted, were hotspots for a long time,” Gebel says. “It feels to me that those areas are proceeding with a lot of caution.” Even as more activities are allowed to resume, some funeral homes are explicitly urging mourners to not hug or shake hands, or they’re asking elderly Iowans to avoid in-person services entirely.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will be holding a press conference on the Iowa Capitol steps today at 2:00 p.m. along with Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert, Representative Ako Abdul-Samad and other law enforcement and community leaders. We will provide audio on KJAN as well.

John David Stone

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, Saturday, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a minor traffic infraction. The stop occurred near 280th and Teak Ave., in rural Page County, or about a mile east of Shambaugh. During the traffic stop, 50-year John David Stone, of rural Page County, was arrested for Driving while License is barred. Stone was transported to the Page County Jail
where he was being held on $2000.00 bond.

Also during the arrest it was found that Stone had an active warrant for Assault from Fremont County. This warrant has no bond. Stone will be held until the Page County case has been taken care of or Stone posts bond prior to going to Fremont County to face that charge.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman today (Monday), said a seventh and eighth case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Montgomery County. The new cases are an older adult (61-80) and an elderly adult (over 80), both individuals are currently hospitalized.

The total number of recovered cases amounts to six. Hamman says 330 persons have been tested for the virus in Montgomery County. Serology results show: 1 person positive and 50 are  negative. Hamman said also, press releases concerning COVID-19 in Montgomery County will now be distributed on Monday and Friday’s unless otherwise needed. Current COVID-19 information can be found by visiting the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/