(Iowa City, IA) — Trial dates are set for two teens accused in a mass shooting that injured five in Iowa City. The trial for 17-year-old Damarian Jones is scheduled for August 18. Jones is accused of firing into a crowd on the Pedestrian Mall in April before fleeing the state. Iowa City Police say he was arrested in Georgia almost a month after the shooting and was extradited back to Iowa. Jones pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder and other charges related to the shooting on Friday. Another suspect, 17-year-old Ka’Mari Dozier, is also facing attempted murder charges for allegedly giving Jones the gun. Dozier’s trial is set to begin the same day.
ER Wait Times at Some Iowa Hospitals Higher Than the National Average
(Undated) — Emergency room wait times at some Iowa hospitals are higher than the national average. Insurance comparison website Compare the Market reviewed 106 hospitals across Iowa and compared ER wait times to the national average of two hours and 42 minutes. Iowa hospitals in urban areas tended to have wait times above the national average, while rural hospitals generally had wait times below the national average. MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines had the longest ER wait time statewide at three hours, 48 minutes.
Laid-Off Amana Whirlpool Worker Joins Calls for Wealth Tax
(Amana, IA) — A former Amana Whirlpool worker joined other union members in Washington D.C. to advocate for a wealth tax. Ashley Ehlen from Belle Plaine told a press conference that Whirlpool didn’t layoff hundreds of workers in Amana over the past year because they weren’t needed. She says it was because Whirlpool chose higher profits for shareholders over their employees. Ehlen and other union workers joined multiple U.S. senators in calling for passage of the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Tax. The bill would implement a five-percent tax on those with a net worth exceeding one-billion dollars.
Iowa Crop Growth Slightly Behind Last Year, But Around Average.
(Des Moines, IA) — Corn and soybean growth is slightly behind schedule in Iowa this year. A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says just 3-percent of soybean acreage across the state is blooming. That’s behind the 12-percent rate last year at this time, and the 7-percent five-year average. The USDA says corn silking was barely noticeable last week, which is a little less than last year, but similar to the five-year average. Both corn and soybeans crops statewide were rated good, in the mid-70s percentage range.
New Shuttle To Iowa State Fair Announced
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa State Fair is announcing a new shuttle route. Fairgoers can hitch a free ride from Southridge Mall. The 300-thousand-dollar cost is covered by the fair. There will also be shuttles from Center Street and the State Capitol. Last year, about 90-thousand riders took the bus from the previous location in Southeast Polk. This year’s fair will run from August 13th to 23rd.
