🌱 1st Iowa Omicron Case + Officers Save Homeless Woman's Life

Des Moines IA

09 December, 2021

9:57 PM

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Welcome back, Des Moines! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right. First, today's weather: Snow and rain, up to 1". High: 43 Low: 29. Here are the top stories in Des Moines today: The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed the first omicron variant case of COVID-19 in the state. IDPH reports the case involves an unvaccinated person under the age of 18 who lives in Black Hawk County. Officials say the State Hygienic Lab maintains a strong statewide genomic surveillance program and will continue to prioritize sequencing of test samples that look suspicious for the omicron and other coronavirus variants. (KCCI Des Moines)A Des Moines family is crediting two of the city's police officers with saving their loved one's life. Last month, officers found Shannon Bartel, who was homeless and high on drugs, walking along a road. She gave officers a random address, but instead of dropping Bartel off there alone, Senior Officers Andy Long and Blake Wilkinson worked to find the phone number of her sister, Heather Nell's phone number. Nell said that act "saved her sister's life," noting that the officers went out of their way to "do their job right." Bartel is now at MercyOne and recovering from her addiction. (KCRG) Sweet Tooth Community Fridge, a Des Moines organization that is fighting food insecurity by helping local residents get access to free nutritious food, celebrated its one-year anniversary and has goals to expand. (Local 5 - weareiowa.com) The Des Moines Police Department responded to a fight that broke out outside of Lincoln High school on Wednesday between students with a taser, pepper spray, and brass knuckles. The fight came just a day after the Des Moines School Board held a board meeting regarding student safety concerns. (KCCI Des Moines) What's going on in Des Moines this weekend? If you're looking for something to do around town, check out one of the various school sporting events or get some holiday shopping done at the Midwest Local Vendor Market at the Outlets of Des Moines. (Des Moines Patch) Today's Des Moines Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Des Moines! Today in Des Moines: Friday Flicks: In the Good Old Summertime (1:00 PM) From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news! Events: Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 13) Add your event Loving the Des Moines Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon. — Katarina Betterton About me: Katarina loves to read and write. Her hobbies include cooking her grandmother's recipes, learning new languages, and crafting. She and her husband live with their mutt, Ledger, and Shiba Inu, Mikasa, who are both way too cute for their own good.