(Radio Iowa) – Several dozen people gathered on the state capitol steps Sunday for a rally to support transgender Iowans. Jo Allen was a lead organizer of the event.  “People that run this state don’t necessarily listen to our voices and that’s why we need spaces like this,” Allen said, “so that people can listen to the voices that are being impacted by bills that are being passed.”

A month ago, Governor Reynolds signed a bill requiring all participants in girls’ sports in Iowa high schools and women’s sports in Iowa colleges to have been identified as female on their birth certificates. Rally-goers say the move harms trans students who are at higher risk of suicide than their peers.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Radio Iowa) – A 62-year-old Cedar Rapids man has been charged with beating a woman to death with a board this weekend. Cedar Rapids Police say Arthur Flowers called 9-1-1 to report a woman had overdosed on heroin in his home. Officers found 22-year-old Emily Elizabeth Leonard dead in the bathroom from head trauma. Blood was found in the bathroom and in another room in the home.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the 62-year-old appeared to have blood on his hands and police found a bloody board that is the suspected murder weapon. ANNOUNCER OUT: Flowers has been charged with first degree murder and is being held on a one-and-a-half million dollar bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 3, 2022) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed two positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa. The virus was found in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County, Iowa and in a flock of commercial breeding chickens in Humboldt County, Iowa.

Flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual deaths to state/federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases should also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Public Library is hosting a special program called Lessons of the Holocaust, this Thursday, April 7, beginning at 6 pm. The presenter is retired educator Brad Wilkening who serves on the state commission for Holocaust education. The presentation includes historical background on the Nazi rise to power, survivor stories, and a call to action to apply these lessons to daily living.

Wilkening says, “We have a responsibility to help create a safer more caring environment. We need to be upstanders and not bystanders in the face of evil. My goal is to keep the lessons of the holocaust alive.”

The event is free and open to the public. Contact Library Director Michelle Andersen for more information (712-243-5466). The Atlantic Public Library continues to connect the community to information, resources, and each other, in order to spark new ideas and new connections.

(Farrgut, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report a man from Missouri died in a crash that took place Friday morning, northeast of Farragut. The accident that occurred in the 3700 block of Highway 2, was reported at around 8:51-a.m. The driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Brandon Michaelis, of Rock Port, MO., who was not wearing his seat belt, was partially ejected from his vehicle during the crash, and died at the scene.

An investigation determined the vehicle was traveling east during the overnight hours Thursday into Friday on Highway 2, and appeared to have lost control before it traveled into the south ditch, crossed a fence then entered a drainage ditch striking the south bank before coming to rest.

The accident is still under investigation. The Fremont County Sheriff’s was assisted at the scene by Farragut Fire and Rescue, Shenandoah Fire and Rescue and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office.

(Ouray Colorado) – A man with a long singing career who was born in Audubon, Iowa and later included some towns from around the area into his songs, died Friday in Colorado, at the age of 93.  William Dale Fries, Jr., created the stage name of “C.W. McCall,” and came up with beloved trucker songs like “Convoy” and “Wolf Creek Pass.” His death was confirmed by his son Bill Fries III.

According to various reports, he created the character of “C.W. McCall” for an advertising campaign for Old Home Bread while he was working at an advertising agency. His biggest hit was of course “Convoy,” the 1975 truckers’ anthem about a driver with the call sign “Rubber Duck” who organized a convoy over his CB radio as the truckers were crossing the country. The song reached the top of both the pop and country charts, and was such a hit that it was later made into a movie starring Kris Kristofferson.

William Dale Fries, Jr. (C.W. MCall) photo via Colomusic.org.

Fries ultimately released six albums between the years of 1975-79, as well as a compilation album featuring some of his biggest hits in 1990 and an album of patriotic songs that he recorded with longtime-friend and collaborator Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller.

Fries served for six-years as the mayor of Ouray, Colorado. In an interview he conducted on February 9, 2022, McCall stated that he had cancer and had entered hospice care in Colorado due to his refusal to admit himself to a hospital. He and his wife had recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Fries is survived by: His wife of 70-years, Rena Bonnema Fries; Three children, Bill Fries III, Mark Fries and Nancy Fries; a sister; four grandchildren; four great-grandchldren; a great-great-grandson.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says bird flu has been confirmed in two more sites in the state.

Bird flu has been confirmed at a commercial site in Cherokee County with 88-thousand turkeys and at an egg-laying facility in Osceola County with five-point-three MILLION hens. Naig says nearly 13 million poultry animals have been killed in Iowa so far to try to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Naig says in the bird flu outbreak of 2015, the virus spread from facility to facility, but it appears bio-security measures at large operations are working — and officials believe this year’s round of bird flu is being spread by the spring migration of wild birds.

The bird flu outbreak in 2015 started in mid-April, but the first case of bird flu this year was confirmed on March 2nd. Naig says there’s still a steady supply of eggs, chicken and turkey in grocery stores, but it appears to be shrinking a bit.

Naig made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a man from Omaha, Nebraska,  38-year-old Erasmus Luis Gonzales, was sentenced Wednesday March 30, 2022 in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to 46 months (approximately 3.8-years) in federal prison, for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.

His term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Gonzales pleaded guilty to the charge on October 22, 2021.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation engaged in an undercover investigation and Gonzales communicated with an agent who purported to be a thirteen-year-old girl in the seventh grade. Gonzales arranged to meet with the underage girl in June 2021 after he agreed to bring alcohol in exchange for a sex act.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement and this case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Council Bluffs Police Department.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate fell again in recent numbers announced for February. Iowa Workforce Development Director, Beth Townsend, says there were a lot of positive numbers in the monthly data.

She says there are several things that have helped drop the unemployment rate.

The number of people seeking work also increased in February. Townsend says some of the current economic factors play a role.

Democrats have criticized the job numbers, saying it includes people who have to hold two jobs because the jobs aren’t paying enough.

Townsend says the demand for workers is a major factor as well.

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to three-point-five percent in February from three-point-seven percent in January. The was down from the four-point-four percent jobless rate one year ago in February.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says nearly 13 million poultry animals have been killed in Iowa so far to try to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Naig says in the bird flu outbreak of 2015, the virus spread from facility to facility, but it appears bio-security measures at large operations are working and officials believe this year’s round of bird flu is being spread by wild birds.

Naig made his comments today (Friday) during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.