Jodi Long

Des Moines

Anchor and Reporter at KCCI-TV (Des Moines, IA)

@KCCINews Anchor / Reporter. Believer ✝️ Wife. Mommy of two. Award winning journalist and tv news anchor.

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Articles

George Floyd was killed 5 years ago: What's changed in Iowa

1 week ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

The killing of an unarmed Black man by a white police officer in Minnesota ignited a nationwide racial reckoning in 2020. Iowans responded with their voice and with their actions. The moment was the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement in Des Moines, which is now the Black Liberation Movement, according to its website. BLM told KCCI the city of Des Moines has undergone many changes since the 2020 uprising, but doesn't feel all of those changes are positive.
'This is about persistence': Iowa NAACP hopeful 5 years after George Floyd murder

2 weeks ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

Five years have passed since the death of George Floyd. The Black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis in 2020 became a symbol for racial justice around the country. When Anthony Pawnell remembers that day, he still feels anxious.
'It's a dream come true': Des Moines musician invited to Apollo

2 weeks ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

THAT IN OUR NEWSROOM TODAY, A SINGER AND SONGWRITER FROM DES MOINES IS LOOKING FOR HER BIG BREAK IN THE BIG APPLE. SHARON CALLISTER IS HEADING TO NEW YORK CITY NEXT WEEK. SHE RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO PERFORM AT THE ICONIC APOLLO THEATER. HAVE YOU ALL ALONG? BOONE TRAIN WILL SING DURING AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO. BUT GET THIS THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME SHE’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT. SHARON WAS A CONTESTANT ON NBC’S THE VOICE BACK IN 2018.
KCCI Investigates: Iowa's growing legal deserts hurt access to justice

3 weeks ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

The southeastern Iowa town of Bloomfield is surrounded by farmland, yet in the heart of a desert. Kelly Lynch calls it home. "I've always had a sense of home. It's like comfort to me," said Lynch, an attorney at Lynch Law Offices in Bloomfield. The rural community serves as the Davis County seat. The county is one of 46 legal deserts in Iowa. Lynch is one of three full-time private attorneys in the entire county.
New We Love: Girl Scouts celebrate special bilingual troop

3 weeks ago | wcvb.com | Jodi Long

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa is celebrating its first official bilingual troop.Troop 535 was recognized and celebrated at the organization's annual Inspiring Women of Iowa luncheon.Nearly 80% of the young girls in the group speak Spanish as their first language."In Des Moines alone, more than 25 percent of the school-aged students speak Spanish at home," said troop leader Marlu Abarca.
'It's just so special': Meet central Iowa's first bilingual Girl Scout troop

4 weeks ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa is celebrating its first official bilingual troop.Troop 353 was recognized and celebrated at the organization's annual Inspiring Women of Iowa luncheon on Friday. Nearly 80% of the young girls in the group speak Spanish as their first language."In Des Moines alone, more than 25 percent of the school-aged students speak Spanish at home," said troop leader Marlu Abarca.
Wellmark Foundation announces $5mil mental health grant for Iowa schools

1 month ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

The Wellmark Foundation is announcing a $5 million grant with the purpose of helping rural school districts address mental and behavior health.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death for youth in Iowa. Data also reveals that nearly 23 percent of Iowa high school students reported seriously considering suicide in the previous 12 months.The grant will help roughly 380 schools and 80 counties in Iowa.
LadyLike empowerment summit celebrates diversity and professional development

1 month ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

An annual event tailored for African-American professionals returns to Central Iowa this weekend. LadyLike was created out of necessity by four women in Des Moines to help connect and celebrate women from around the state. "I remember moving here now 17 years ago and thinking, 'Where is my network? Where is my community?'" recalls co-founder Lindsey Lovelace.
Olympic couple makes Des Moines debut this weekend

1 month ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

Olympians are no strangers to the world-famous Drake Relays. At this year's event, more than a dozen Olympians will compete on the Blue Oval, including a husband-wife duo. Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are making their debut at Drake Relays on Saturday, their first competition of the track and field season since the Paris Olympics. "We'll just go out there, shake the dust off. It's been a minute since we raced," Hunter said, smiling.
This Is Iowa: 'Food rescue' volunteers hungry to serve

1 month ago | kcci.com | Jodi Long

Gas stations and convenience stores across Iowa are known for being fully stocked with a wide variety of food, and some of that food gets a second chance every week. Volunteer retirees from WayPoint Resources map out their route around Dallas County, finding food in need of rescuing from local businesses; food that is on the brink of expiring. "It's food that's still good," says Jen Beyers, WayPoint Resources food pantry manager.