Child Spanked Too Much

28-year old Christopher Trogdon's in the Polk County Jail without bond, on a child endangerment charge.  Polk County authorities say the child's mother reported her daughter had marks on her backside after being left with Trogdon.  KCCI reports investigators say the child was spanked excessively. 

Disaster Proclamations

A disaster proclamation has been issued for three more  Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather.  Governor  Branstad says Polk County, and Scott and Shelby counties are now eligible for state assistance to help repair storm damage.  That brings the total to 59 counties that were deemed disaster areas after severe storms hit the state in June.

King Parkway Stabbing

Des Moines PD investigating a stabbing reported earlier this afternoon on Martin Luther King Parkway south of Hickman Road.  KCCI reports someone called police to report a woman walking along the sidewalk at 1901 M.L.K. Parkway who appeared to have been stabbed.  

Kum and Go Land

Kum & Go's spending after more properties near Western Gateway Park.  The Des Moines Business Record reports company's spending $7-million for the Jefferson Apartments at 1519 Grand Avenue and Scotty's Body Shop at 1432 Linden.  KCCI reports the company's planning to use the land for its' new corporate headquarters. 

Pigs Saved From Fire

A fire destroyed one building and damaged another on a farm south of waterloo, near budson, but firefighters saved hundreds of pigs... KCCI says Most of the animals were saved...about 430 pigs were in one of the builldings... and no one was hurt... no word yet on a cause of that fire.

State Savings

A new report from a nonpartisan state agency questions whether Governor Branstad is cutting the cost and size of state government as he claims. The Legislative Services Agency says state employment has increased and expenditures have fallen only slightly since Branstad took office. Branstad says the state is on track to meet his promised 15 percent reduction in the cost of government.

Furman Aquatic Slides

Two of the water slides at the Furman Aquatic Center in Ames have been shutdown after investigators found cracks in the structural supports in a routine inspection.  The slides will stay shutdown until a structural engineer can investigate.  KCCI reports officials say there are no problems with the rest of the aquatic center.  

John Deere Expansion Project

Cedar Falls leaders have approved a tax break for a major expansion for an expansion of a john deer facility in cedar falls.... the project totals 27 point 8 million dollars... and the council this week approved a five-year property tax abatement. The expansion will provide about 62 thousand additional square feet of space, plus improvements to the existing infrastructure.

Mental Health

There's a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon at 4, for a new facility to provide short term immediate access to adult who need mental health services.   Space at the Central Iowa Shelter and Services building in Des Moines has been turned into a Crisis Observation Center.  Those over 18 can be evaluated there, stabilized, then retutned to their homes and not to jail. 

Phipps

A Des Moines man out on bail awaiting trial on vehicular homicide charges is back behind bars. 21-year-old Jacob Phipps was arrested after being accused of threatening to attack his ex-girlfriend.

West Des Moines Road Project

Iowa's Transportation Commission has approved spending just over $3.5-million for a road project at the new Microsoft data center planned in West Des Moines.  The money will help pay for construction of Maffitt Lake Road from Veterans Parkway southeast to South 8th Street, and rebuild South 8th under Highway 5.    The work should be done by October 2015. 

Johnson County Evac

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for several rural areas of Johnson County because of the high water level in the Coralville Lake Reservoir.  Water could top 712' and hit the spillway as early as next Wednesday.  The level this morning was around 702'.   Electricity and natural gas will be turned off in evacuated areas.   

Liquor License

A popular Des Moines restaurant has lost its liquor license for a week because of an illegal Super Bowl betting pool.  Christopher's Restaurant is barred from selling or serving alcohol until July 6th.

Weather-Related Death

A weather-related death: the teen we told you about yesterday morning who was missing in a Cedar Rapids storm sewer has been found, dead. Seventeen-year-old Logan Blake was swept away Monday night. He was found in a lake a mile from where he entered the storm drain, nearly 24 hours after he went missing.

Trade Secret Change

Federal prosecutors say a 42-year old Chinese woman's been indicted and arrested for allegedly trying to steal genetically modified seed corn from Dupont Pioneer and Monsanto.  WHO-TV reports Mo Yun's the sister of another Chinese national, Mo Hailong, who was charged in the same case last year.

Twilight Hearing

People packed a Jasper County courtroom this morning for a hearing for the man who allegedly lured a young girl into his car by claiming to be an actor from the "Twilight" movies.  But 33-year-old David LaVera never showed up.  He waived his request for a bond review and will stay in jail until his trial.

Confidential Settlement Agreement

The state senate's government oversight committee plans to question current and former state government administrators over confidential settlement agreements.

The committee chairwoman says she wants to know who authorized payments for secrecy to former state workers.

Three-hundred-twenty state workers have entered settlement agreements since Terry Branstad returned as governor three years ago.

Fallen Marine

An Iowa Marine is one step closer to being laid to rest in his hometown. Ottumwa native, 25-year-old Lance Cpl. Adam Wolff, was killed in action in Afghanistan on Friday. His funeral service will be held in Ottumwa on Saturday

Flooding Over

It looks like Iowans have seen the worst of recent flooding.

The National Weather Service says while several rivers continue flooding, the water has mainly spilled over onto some roads without threatening homes.

Last week's average rainfall statewide totaled three and a half inches.

Near Drowning

In West Desmoines - a 7 year old went under water while at raccoon river park late yesterday afternoon... KCCI says officials say the boy experienced a medical condition while he was swimming, which caused him to go under... he was reportedly NOT conscious when he was pulled from the water... he was taken to blank children's hospital.

Tama Boil Water Order

Tama has an order to boil its water.

Officials say yesterday's water main break has prompted the edict.

Those living in a four-block area from 9th to 13th streets between Washington and Seymour should boil their water until further notice.

Flooding

Damage to public roads, bridges, and buildings has reached $15 million from storms and flooding this month.

The state's top emergency management official, however, says that figure only includes public facilities.  It does not include homes or farmland.

Downtown Renovation

Part of Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines is getting a face-lift. The vacant buildings, south of the Papa John Sculpture Park, used to be auto showrooms that have deteriorated over the years. They'll be turned into office space and restaurants. Some could open as early as this fall.

Peggy's Tavern

Des Moines Police Department have asked City Council to revoke the liquor license for Peggy's Tavern.  Police say it's failed 13-compliance checks since 2009, and it's co-owner, Mark Graziano, faces trial over several hundred thousand pain pills missing from Bauder Pharmacy.  Council will decide next month.

Raccoon River

West Des Moines first responders were called to Raccoon River Beach this afternoon after a report of someone having trouble in the water.  A young boy was pulled from the river, and we're told he's breathing.  

Rolling Plane

Authorities at Des Moines International Airport are trying to figure out how an Allegiant aircraft MD-83 managed to roll away on its own while it was being towed a remote parking area Sunday.  The plane had just been disconnected from a tow bar, and for some reasons its' brakes failed and it started rolling.  It hit some ground equipment suffering some damage. 

State Economic Development Board

Iowa's Economic Development Board's approved assistance for Krause Holdings. They're behind the new Kum & Go headquarters in downtown Des Moines. It's expected to create 62-jobs. They board's also agreed to tax incentives for the downtown convention center hotel near Hy-Vee Hall and Wells Fargo Arena.

Uptick in Jobless Rate

State Workforce Development says the jobless rate was up slightly from April to May, 4.3 to 4.4%. It was 4.8% in May 2013. Iowa's doing better than the national unemployment rate of 6.3%. May's job leaders in Iowa were leisure, hospitality, construction and transportation. 

Wellmark Health Care

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield wants a rate hike of close to 5.9% for about 92% of its 253,000 Iowa individual and small business policyholders. They're looking for a rate hike of 11 to 14.5% for about 7.5% of customers under 65 who got those policies after the Affordable Care Act took effect. The company says the proposed premium hikes vary by plan.  

Lake City Double Murder

Authorities have arrested a Lake City man for the murders of a woman and her son.

Thomas Henderson stands accused of killing Tammie and Karl Devore.

Authorities found their bodies after the sheriff's office received a 911 call last month about an unconscious person at a mobile home park in Glidden.

Velveeta Recall

Kraft's recalling Velveeta cheese from Walmart stores in Iowa and 11-other states, mostly in the midwest, because it didn't have the right amount of sorbic acid, a preservative. The code on packages being recalled is 021000611614.  

Mahaska Co Inmate

An inmate at Mahaska County Jail allegedly assaulted two people and tried escaping.

Authorities say it happened Wednesday as the inmate visited a doctor.

He apparently fled into a neighboring yard before others restrained him.

Meat Prices Up

If you've grilled out lately... you've probably noticed that meat prices are up... KCCI says iowa state unviersity livestock economist lee schultz said beef prices are 13 percent higher than they were last year... they've gone up the most... droughts have meant lower cattle numbers, so there's less supply... fish prices also are up.

Rural Main Street Index

The rural mainstreet index, which surveys bankers in ten midwestern and plains states, including (iowa) has dropped ... this month the index dropped to 53 point 6... down from 55 point 6 in May... any score above 50 generally suggests growth in the months to come... anything below 50 suggests a decline... the numbers go from zero to 100.

School Employee on Leave

A Des Moines school employee has seen her administrative leave extended.

The investigation of Anita Babe follows a complaint from a parent of a student at Hubbel Elementary.

Babe faces assault charges for allegedly injuring a student during discipline in a special education classroom.

Altoona's Theater

Cinemark's going to build a new 10-screen movie theater in Altoona. KCCI reports the multi-plex will be built at I-80 and Northeast Hubbell, opposite Prairie Meadows. A company spokesperson there'll be luxury reclining chairs in all 10 auditoriums.

State Fair Food

The Iowa State Fair has announced five finalists for its New Food Contest. Fairgoers will have the chance to vote on their favorite August 7th-17th.

Younkers Demolition

Bit by bit, the burned out Younkers building downtown is being reduced to rubble. WHO-TV reports the demolition firm's brought in specially made inflated bags designed to prevent any more damage to adjacent building while the demolition continues.   

Gangs

This number may surprise you: there are 30 known gangs operating in the metro. The number of violent shootings in Des Moines has more than doubled in two years as police step up efforts to stop gang activity. A Summer Enforcement Team has officers targeting members, getting weapons off the street and monitoring social media that has increased recruitment efforts locally.

Man Found in Story County

The search for a man who went missing in a swollen river in Story county ended pretty quickly, but tragically. Searchers, including a dive team, had been working up river from where the man was last seen, and located his body about 50 feet upstream. They believe his raft got caught on a submerged tree.

Minivan Into Kum and Go

Clive Police say a 15-year old boy drove his family's minivan through the front door of a Kum & Go at 86th and Harbach Boulevard this afternoon.  WHO-TV reports the boy asked his mother, who was filling up, if he could pull the van from the pump to the front of the store.  That's when police say he hit the gas. 

Ride Transit Week

Iowa's DOT has partnered with public transit systems statewide for Ride Transit Week.

The department encourages people to park their cars and use one of Iowa's 35 public transit systems.

Public transit systems provided over 27.4 million rides throughout Iowa last year.

Riverview Park

A Des Moines park could soon have a new future -- one that pays tribute to its past. Des Moines Parks and Recreation laid out a preliminary plan for the future of Riverview Park that calls for building a stage, walking paths and green space.

Saylorville Lake

Saylorville Lake Reservoir's expected to rise more than 15 feet by the middle of next week.  WHO-TV reports it's the heavy rain we've been getting.  The Lake's at 837' about sea level now, and it's expected to hit 852' by June 25th, putting Oak Grove Beach and lower marina parking under water.

Storm Damage

Some des moines residents lost power in severe storms early this morning... thousands of people were without power as of this morning... the des moines police say tornado sirens went off around 1am because of straight-line wind alerts... trees came down, so did power lines, and crews are working to clean up to the roads.

Twilight Not Guilty

A "Twilight" imposter from California has pleaded not guilty to trying to lure a young girl into his car.

Court in Jasper County has received a plea from a 33-year-old man.

The man allegedly told a 14-year-old Baxter girl that he acted in the movie series.

Authorities say he touched the girl inappropriately, and he may have tried this more than once in the area.

Iowa Regents Consultant

A consulting firm's handed in ideas to Iowa's Board of Regents for cutting costs. WHO-TV reports their recommendations including better purchasing practices, maximizing how IT services are provided, streamlining financial services and cutting utility costs.

Some LJS Restaurants Closing

Nellis Management in Urbandale, says it's shutting down 16 of the 31-Long John Silvers it operates in Iowa. It's because poor sales brought on by negative attention over trans fat oil, which they no longer use. About 3 of the 6-stores in the Des Moines metro are expected to stay open.

Apartment Issues

The tenants of a historic Sherman Hill apartment building have less than 30 days to find a new home, according to a rare court order prompted by the city of Des Moines. Safety and sanitary issues such as lack of lighting and smoke detectors triggered the order. The 12 units, 11 of which are occupied, must be vacated by July 4, unless owner Kirk Blunck fixes a raft of problems right away.

Cell Phone Data Ruling

A federal appeals court has ruled that investigators must obtain a search warrant if they want to use the phone company's records to track you through the cell phone towers. The ruling means authorities must meet a higher legal standard of probable cause in order to gain access to the data.

Hotel Crackdown

City leaders are working to crack down on crime at about a dozen blighted motels. They want to increase police presence at the dives, one of which was the scene of Des Moines' latest killing. Police say crime scenes like the one at the Royal Motel earlier in June highlight the need for better motel inspections.

Flores in Court

David Flores is back in custody and appeared in a Polk County courtroom this morning.  He's charged with domestic abuse, willful injury, and harassment in an alleged incident involving his girlfriend last September.  Flores took off after the incident has been in Phoenix the past 8-months.   

Hubbell Ave Experiment

Des Moines City Council's pulled the plug on the $200,000 experiment that cut Hubbell Avenue from 4 lanes to 3, between Easton Boulevard to East 33rd Street.  The goal was safety and calmer traffic.  KCCI reports the plan wasn't a hit with residents.  Hubbell goes back to 4 lanes this summer. 

Indianola PD Rifles

Some Indianola Police officers are carrying rifles.  The Des Moines Register reports four officers bought their own rifles, gotten training, and now carry them on patrol. Chief Dave Button say they've also applied for a grant to get excess weapons from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which would arm more officers.

'Yes' for New Terminal

Des Moines Airport Authority today said yes to building a new terminal at the airport.  The Des Moines Register reports the project's expected to cost $468-million.  The new building will replace the current 66-year old terminal officials say is outdated and too small.  

Veterans Appointments

New numbers show veterans in Iowa continue waiting for health care.

Data shows hundreds of veterans who signed up at two facilities in Iowa indicated they wanted to make appointments.  However, no one has seen them yet.

Officials say they have no evidence of wait list manipulation.

GOP Nominating Convention

Iowa Republicans have chosen a new site for their nominating convention.

Officials say the delegates now meet at the Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale.

Delegates come together June 21 to select a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District.

Hit by Cop Car

A bicy­clist hit by a police car while rid­ing home says he doesn’t remem­ber any­thing. The police offi­cer says Zach Brown pulled out in front of him. Brown admits it was not the best idea to wear dark cloth­ing while bik­ing in the early morn­ing dark­ness. The crash left him with a bro­ken leg, con­cus­sion and road rash.

Kicking Out Homeless

The city of Des Moines is kicking out homeless people. Fliers posted in certain parts of town are telling the homeless to pack up and leave. City employees posted fliers more than a week ago along trails near the Des Moines River and Euclid Avenue stating that homeless camps must be removed or the city will dispose of the property.

Master Comment

Des Moines school officials have apologized for a teacher's request that a black student refer to him as "master."  Roosevelt High School principal Joseph Blazevich calls trhe incident "terrible" and "shameful" but says he can't comment on any disciplinary action against the teacher, Shawn McCurtain.

Son Charged with Dad's Murder

Authorities have charged a man with killing his father.  61-year old Steven Graesch's body was found in his Webster City home this morning.  KCCI reports 27-year old Corbin Graesch is charged with 1st degree murder.  Investigators say the two had an argument early Saturday.

China Agreement

Iowa officials have signed an agreement to strengthen the state's economic ties with China. The agreement includes creation of a joint working group to enhance trade and investment. The Chinese also agreed to buy $100 million worth of U.S. soybeans.

ISU Pres Raise

Iowa State University President Steven Leath is getting a $33,000 raise and a new five-year contract. The Board of Regents voted to boost Leath's pay by 7.1 percent to $500,000.

Ultralight Crash

The pilot of an ultralight aircraft that crashed near Winterset last night is recoverig at a Des Moines hospital. 54-year-old Patrick Cook, of Winterset, suffered head, leg and abdominal injuries. The aircraft reportedly hit a power line before crashing.

VA Folo

Some patients at Veterans Affairs medical centers in Iowa and Nebraska are on waiting lists for treatment, but the facilities say they're unaware of any unauthorized lists like those uncovered in other states. A regional VA spokeswoman said Thursday that Iowa and Nebraska facilities were included in a federal investigation of specific sites.

Doctor Pleads

A Newton doctor's been sentenced to 5-years in federal prison on his guilty plea to a count of illegally dispensing a controlled substance resulting in death.  WHO-TV reports prosecutors say Lafayette Twyner prescribed hydrocodone to a patient he knew was addicted to the pain killer.   That patient overdosed.

Old Settlers Grave

A Des Moines man hunting for mushrooms in the woods in Saylor Township said he thinks he stumbled on a piece of Iowa history. Curt Bambrook was walking through Margo Frankel Woods State Park north of Des Moines and stumbled across a large concrete structure he and state officials think may be an old settler's grave.

Romney Endorsement

Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney is aiming to boost Senate candidate Joni Ernst's appeal to mainstream Republicans with a public endorsement, just ahead of next Tuesday's primary.

Sexual Exploitation

A former Ankeny high school  teacher has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation involving allegations of a relationship she had with a 17-yearold student.  33-year-old Mandy Davenport is set to go to trial on July 28th.

Woman Strips

A woman facing eviction from her downtown Des Moines apartment let everyone know she was upset about it this morning.  About a half a dozen police units were at 1519 Grand Avenue.  When a deputy tried to escort the woman out, she reportedly stripped off her clothes and ran up and down the building's stairs. 

Hickman Road Study

The DOT's started a study to improve traffic flow on Hickman Road at I-80/35. It could also improve traffic on other major metro roads like First Street in Ankeny. The plan could mean a diverging diamond interchange. One's already planned in Waukee at the First Street interchange. 

Juvenile Home

Officials are being asked to investigate the State Training School for Boys in Eldora. The Des Moines Register reports it's not meeting the minimum education standards for special education students. The facility's houses 125 boys between 12 and 18, and as many as 60% of them qualify for special education services.

State Gaming Panel to Visit Jefferson

The state Racing and Gaming Commission's expected to meet Thursday in Jefferson to see the site of new casino proposed on Jefferson. KCCI reports the Commission's going to get information before making a decision next month on whether or not it will allow a new casino in Iowa. 

Volunteer Identified

An airborne bumper may have killed a volunteer at Iowa State Fair Speedway.

The Des Moines Register reports 45-year-old Richard Welch acted as a spotter Friday night when a car lost control.

The car hit the barrier, sending the bumper over cement blocks in the backstretch.

The investigation into the incident continues.

White Water University

The White Water University in Pleasant Hill was supposed to reopen last year, but there still aren't any plans to get it up and running yet. Craig and Jarod Smith, the father and son who own it, says their plumbing business has kept them too busy to work on the reopening; but they say they hope to soon. 

John OHurley

You know him from his role as J-peterman on the comedy "seinfeld".... and John O'hurley will be a competitor in the United health care pro-am on wednesday in des moines... it comes before the principal charity classic, which is may 30th to june first... tickets start at 15 bucks.

Lake Meeting

If you want to know about the water quality of beaver lake, plan to attend a meeting set for June 10th... the street department of natural resources will host the meeting to talk about the results... the lake has had high levels of algae and has been on the state's list of impaired waters because of it. the meeting is at raccoon valley bank at 6pm on the 10th.

Postnuptial Agreements

The Iowa Supreme Court says a 92-year old Belle Plaine, Iowa, woman can't claim her husband's assets after his death in September 2012 because they had signed a postnuptial agreement in Florida in 1991 waiving rights to one another's property. The court ruled Velma Hussemann must abide by the agreement even though Iowa doesn't recognize postnuptial agreements.

Shooting

A Des Moines man is out on bail after being charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of his 4-year-old daughter. Police say 24-year-old Adam Mead turned himself in yesterday. Mead faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a dependent person and two counts of making firearms available to minors.

Waukee Growing

New U.S. Census data show Waukee's the fastest-growing city in Iowa. The population last July was estimated at just over 17,000; up 22% from April 2010. The city's just unveiled plans for a new city center north of I-80, and new housing and business permits are strong.

Torch Run

The Iowa Department of Public Safety will hold a torch lighting ceremony as part of the Special Olympics Summer Games in Ames. The ceremony will begin Thursday with a lighting of the torch at the Oran Pape State Office Building in Des Moines. Officers from several law enforcement agencies will run with the torch in 4 mile increments.

Valley High School Arson

A 16-year old male student at West Des Moines' Valley High School's in custody and will be referred to Polk County Juvenile Court for arson, after a small fire in a school bathroom this morning.  Investigators are still looking into a 2nd fire this afternoon in another bathroom. 

Eyesore Going Away

An eyesore in des moines is going away... city council members have approved a plan to spend 550 thousand dollars to tear down the building at 1442 scott avenue, and clean up the property... a fire destroyed a recycling facility there.

Schools Arts

Extra attention to the arts - will be paid at four des moines schools... the register says the schools have been chosen for the national turnaround arts intiative... they are harding middle school, and oak park, madison, and cattell middle schools.

Worker Death

A worker who fell 50 feet during a work accident in dallas county has died from his injuries... KCCI said the man fell from a boom truck near dexter, as crews were hanging new power lines on the road... it happened on dexfield road midday yestrday.

Hospital Layoffs

A Des Moines hospital has laid off 29 employees as part of an attempt to cut $15 million in payroll costs.  Mercy Hospital President Bob Ritz, says the cuts were necessary to deal with financial strains, including low payments from public and private health-insurance programs.

City Looking for Volunteer Gardeners

Des Moines city  officials are asking local gardeners for help.  The Des Moines Parks and Recreation department is requesting donations of perennial plants, flowers and shrubs to help beautifty public lands throughout the city.
Donations can be brought to the Chesterfield Community Center tomorrow and Saturday.

Rotary Riverwalk

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the new Rotary Riverwalk Park in Des Moines.  The $500,000 fishing-themed park is being built just north of the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge park near Wells Fargo Arena and will be financed entirely nine local Rotary clubs.

Sebring Suit

Iowa's Supreme Court has turned down the Des Moines School District's effort to get out from under a lawsuit filed by former School Superintendent Nancy Sebring.  It's the 2nd time the District's lost an effort to get the case tossed.  WHO-TV reports the case is scheduled to go to trial in November.  

Des Moines Schools

Two more des moines schools are going to be offering international baccalaureate programs... hoover high school and meredith middle school have been given the green light to offer the middle years program... hoover high and meredith middle will join more than 500 schools in the country offering the program.

Altoona Fire

No injuries after a building fire in altoona last night... a passerby saw smoke coming out of the building and called fire crews... it took fore crews about 20 minutes to get the fire out... it was at 109 8th street. No word on a cause. the building was unoccupied.

Mercy Medical Center

Mercy Medical Center is cutting jobs... KCCI says the company announced on thursday, it'll save 15 million dollars with cuts of 29 positions... the cuts are coming from areas that do not directly affect patient care... mercy wants to become more focused on outpatient services.

Des Moines Hotel

A $130 million convention hotel proposed for downtown Des Moines is among three projects in the running for funding through a new tax program. Next step is a presentation Thursday to the Iowa Economic Development Authority board. Des Moines is seeking $36.5 million from the program.

Discriminated Worker

400 thousand dollars is being awarded to a former state worker in a discrimination lawsuit... supervisors in the department of corrections retailed against 62 year old deborah campbell after she complained about her treatment.

Rec Center

Plans have been announced for a new $23 million project to put a YMCA on the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny campus is being planned.  The project was approved last night by the DMACC Board of Directors. The YMCA of Greater Des Moines board is expected to do the same this summer.

Rotary Riverwalk

They'll break ground at 10a.m. Thursday for the new Rotary Riverwalk Park in Des Moines.   KCCI reports the fish themed park's on the west side of the Des Moines River near the wells Fargo Arena.  In addition to a kids play area, the park will have a 65-foot long fishing pole dangling a 12-foot wide bobber.

Teen Stabbing

A stabbing at a homecoming dance has gotten a teen ten years behind bars... 18 year old max bly was accused of stabbing luca fiala at a fort dodge dance in october... bly had pleaded guilty in the case.

Lake Panorama Tornado

The national weather service says it was an EF-2 tornado that did all that damage at lake panorama... the tornado had a track length of 16 point 7 miles and was generating winds of 111 to 135 miles an hour. Eight condos had major damage.

Woodley Out at GSE

The COO of the State General Services Enterprise has resigned.  WHO-TV reports Doug Woodley was one of the people who testified before state lawmakers about secret settlements made with fired state workers.  Two experienced department members will oversee GSE until Woddley's replacement is picked. 

Marshalltown Teen Plea

Police in Marshalltown say a 17-year-old boys pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and other charges while he was allegedly impersonating a police officer.  KCCI reports in March the then 16-year old, entered a home in March, searched several people, allegedly committed a sex act on one and assaulted two others.  He's been held on $250,000 since late March. 

Murder Suspect Arrested

A man wanted for murder in Chicago is behind bars in Des Moines. 22-year-old Daryl Lee was arrested after the U.S. Marshals office received a tip that he'd fled to Iowa. Accused of gunning down a 16-year-old boy in January, Lee is now awaiting extradition back to Illinois.

Polk Honor Flight

S Ankeny Blvd

Get ready for some traffic headaches in Ankeny this weekend.  South Ankeny Boulevard will be closed between Magazine and Oralabor Road's from 7p.m. Friday until about 6a.m. Monday.  They're installing a new storm sewer line near Southwest 16th Street.  The detour's Southwest Magazine Road, Southwest State St. and Southwest Oralabor Road.

Shootings

Des Moines police are investigating a shooting early this morning in the Oakridge neighborhood.  19-year-old Ameisha Heard was shot in the head.  She's  was taken to Methodist Medical Center in critical condition.

Police are also investigating a drive-by shooting at the McDonald's on East University Avenue in Des Moines.  No one was injured, but the restaurant was damaged with one of the windows shot out.

Jury Duty Scam

If you get a call from someone saying you owe a fine for missing jury duty... don't fall for it... the polk countysheriff's office says it's hearing about that scam... the say they'd never demand payment of fines by phone... if you get a call like that let the sheriff's office know.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor

From tragedy, hope. A new group was spurred by the near-death experience of Mike Wasike, who was beaten literally senseless by three teens. Neighbor to Neighbor has so far raised $110,000 to help Wasikie's family cope with staggering medical bills.

Pharmacist Trial Delayed

The trial of a Des Moines pharmacist indicted in connection with the disappearance of nearly 700,000 prescription painkillershas been delayed until October. Mark Graziano has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs, wire fraud and tax evasion. His June 2nd trial date has been changed to October 27th.

School Safe Rooms

The head of the State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says schools here need more safe rooms to protect students from twisters and severe weather.  Last year, the Des Moines Register found only 37 of the state's 1,400 public school buildings had safe rooms.  40-new ones have been approved in 33 districts. 

Shooting House

Police were familiar with a home in des moines where two sisters were shot on Sunday... KCCI says officers say it's the second time in six weeks shooting victims have turned up from 1108 17th street. Both sisters are expected to be okay.

Spending Bill

Gov. Branstad says he'll take a close look before signing a spending bill passed by the legislature early this morning.  It pays off about $60-million in state debt, and includes money for the Midwest United States-Japan Conference in Des Moines in September.

Spring Planting

Iowa farmers say they're still on track to get their corn planted despite cold, wet weather that slowed their start to the planting season. 23 percent of Iowa's corn crop is now in the ground.

LAZERfest

LAZERfest is moving to downtown Des Moines. The music festival was scheduled for May 11th at the Central Iowa Expo grounds in Boone, but due to the weather this year, organuizers say they are moving the event to Wells Fargo Arena.

Drive at Gunpoint

A 20-year old Newton man faces charges he held a woman at gunpoint while driving around Jasper county. He's Nathan Nelson, and police say he drove around rural gravel roads north of Newton Monday with the female victim in his front seat. It was unclear if Nelson knew the victim or how long he kept her in the car.

Secret Settle Folo

The latest department to come under scrutiny in the confidential settlements investigation: The Iowa Board of Regents. Yesterday, 400-pages of previously-secret settlement documents were released to the oversight committee. WHO-TV reports the documents cover dozens of employees at the three major universities, with payouts from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Younkers Folo

Delays in tearing down the part of the Youkers building devastated by fire. Falling glass from the Hub tower across the street has made the area unsafe to work in, and the recent rain has slowed other work. The walls of the burned-out east building will be coming down soon.

DNR Auction

The Iowa DNR is preparing to auction off all sorts of hunting equipment, including firearms, bows and tree stands. The Spring Auction is set for May 10th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. You can preview the items up for auction the day before from four until six.

Government Accountability

Senate Democrats have unveiled a government accountability bill they claim provides a sweeping response to issues surrounding secret settlements with former state employees. The leading Republican in the Senate says the bill is missing somehting important -- disclosure of why employees were fired.

ISU Data Breach

ISU says another 29,000 current and former students could be affected by a data breach of three department servers. That brings the potential number of people whose information may be at risk to over 48,000. There's more information at www.iastate.edu/serverbreach.

Sex Abuse Case

A Des moines man accused of sexually abusing as many as nine children at his wife's in home day care - goes to trial today. 48 year old david smith was arrested last year... his wife is NOT a suspect in the case.

Streetscape

Work will start soon on a streetscape project along Beaverdale Avenue. A roundabout almost greeted drivers as part of the project, but that was nixed after a pile of complaints came in. Crews start next week on the million-dollar project, which chould be done by the end of summer.

Vehicle Burning Body

Investigators don't think a crime was involved in the death of a Clive woman whose body was found next to a burning car in West Des Moines. Officers found 34-year-old Sandra Dilworth's body Sunday morning when they responded to a call about the vehicle fire. The cause of her death has not been released.

Whistleblower Protection

Lawmakers learned Tuesday that Iowa's whistleblower protection law has been de-fanged. Why? worker contracts. A top leader in the ombudsman’s office says union contracts prevent his office from investigating 93-percent of claims.

Horses March to Des Moines

KCCI makes this story sound like a march on Washington or something: "Nearly 300 horses marched into Des Moines from across the state..." Really, it was an annual fundraiser for Camp Sunnyside, a special needs camp for kids and adults. The Pony Express Riders raised more than $260-thosuand this eyar.

Plainfield Water Situation

It's one of those luxuries we take for granted - always having water... and one Iowa city is without it today... a water line break has meant no water for the community of Plainfield today... no word on how long it'll take to fix it.

Secret Payments

The state auditor has decided to review secret settlement payments with former state workers.

Mary Mosiman plans to issue a public report when the investigation concludes.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch wants a review of the settlements and a broader audit from a firm outside state government.

Governor Terry Branstad appointed Mosiman last year.

Tobacco Payment

Iowa has $71 million arriving in its treasury.

Tobacco companies involved in the 1998 landmark settlement with states over tobacco-related health care costs have transferred the money.

Train Fatality ID

Police have identified a teenager that a freight train killed in Des Moines yesterday.

They say 18-year-old Phillip Simmons fell while trying to hop aboard the train at a crossing and got caught underneath it.

The accident blocked several crossings during the morning hours.

Des Moines Schools Energy Savings

Des Moines Studebacker Elementary and McCombs Middle schools have made the top ten in the annual Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. KCCI reports Studebaker saved 31.9% in energy use last year-$14,000. McCombs Middle 29.7%, and an estimated $46,700 on energy in 2013.   

Gun Law Change

Some are seeking a change to an Iowa law that currently makes it illegal for children young than 14 to fire handguns. Nathan Gibson tells KCCI he was inspired to change the law after being told at a shooting range last weekend that his 8-year-old daughter, Natalie, wasn't old enough to shoot her handgun. According to Iowa law, children younger than 14 are not allowed to use handguns even with adult supervision. Ranges have been enforcing the law more closely since a recent effort to lower the age to 12.

Insurance Investigation

An insurance agency is under investigation for possibly overbilling government employees for health care coverage... the register says the state is investigating two rivers insurance company... which had been acting as an independent agency selling insurance for companies like wellmark... A wellmark spokesperson says two rivers had marked up some customers' premiums without welmark knowing it, so welmark ended its dealw tih two rivers... a spokesman with two rivers said the company disagrees with wellmark's determination.

Parole Granted

Officials have granted parole to a 68-year-old Iowa inmate who has been imprisoned since 1974 for the killing of a man over a gambling debt. The Iowa Board of Parole has approved the release of Rasberry Williams, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a man outside a Waterloo pool hall. Over the decades, record show Williams had been a model inmate and in 1979 helped end a prison standoff in which two guards were taken hostage. Gov. Terry Branstad commuted his sentence last year, making him eligible for parole.

Project Alluvion

There's a new conference tomorrow morning at 11, where details are expected to be released about Project Alluvion, a data center in West Des Moines. WHO-TV reports the Governor, Polk County and West Des Moines officials will attend. The city's approved $18-million in incentives, and the new conference follows a State Economic Development Authority meeting on incentives for the project.

Park Trees

If you've driven by or walked or biked through Water Works Park recently you may have noticed some trees have been big orange X's marking them to be cut down. Water Works President and CEO Bill Stowe said these trees are "high hazard ash trees." Because they are ash trees, they are susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer, and because of their location in high traffic areas, they could injure walkers of bikers while the use the park.

Prom Credits

Some good news for parents with prom season coming. Some prom expenses qualify for a state tax credit. Iowa's Revenue Department says prom and other school-related social activities fall under the Tuition and Textbook Credit of the state’s tax code. Athletic fees, booster club dues, band or athletic uniforms and renting musical instruments are also covered.    

Rasberry Williams to be Set Free

Rasberry Williams will soon be a free man. The State Parole Board today decided to release the 67-year old to an assisted living center. His life sentence for a 1974 murder in Waterloo was commuter by Gov. Branstad last year. He'll stay at the North Central Correctional Facility, until a facility can be found. 

Warren Co Fire

Des Moines firefighters were on the scene of fire this afternoon at a tire shop in Warren County, just south of the city limits. The building was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and has been declared a total loss. No one was hurt. Thick black smoke could be seen in the air across the southern part of Des Moines. Firefighters say the flames were driven by strong winds.

Grand Avenue Bridge

A Des Moines icon is nearing its end. Grand Avenue’s historic, arched bridge over the Des Moines River will be replaced within two years. City leaders are now trying to determine what the new bridge will look like. During a meeting last night, they asked for public feedback on four potential plans; a $6 million barebones design, more aesthetic plans ranging from seven to nine million, and a pie-in-the-sky proposal which replicates the true handmade arches of the original bridge. It would cost somewhere north of $40 million.

Spring Planting

Spring planting in Iowa and across the Corn Belt is sputtering because the soil remains too soggy or cold for effective seeding. The Department of Agriculture says only 3 percent of the corn crop is sown. That's half the pace of last year when one of the wettest springs on record got farmers off to the slowest start in decades.

Temple Security

At least one Des Moines temple will beef up security in the wake of the shooting in Kansas City. Rabbi David Kaufman tells KCCI the Passover holiday at Temple B'Nai Jeshurun will take on special importance this week after three people in Kansas City were killed. The three people targeted by the KC shooter were not Jewish, but just happened to be outside a Jewish community building and retirement center. Fraizer says he will also use the shooting as a teaching tool in his Passover message this week.

Trial Delayed

The trial of a former Boone man charged with killing his wife has been delayed again. This is the second postponement since Alexander Fazzino was arrested last April. The trial was originally supposed to begin last June. It's now been rescheduled for December.

Water Works Trees

You may notice some of the trees in  Water Works Park have been marked for removal.  CEO Bill Stowe tells KCCI they're high hazard ash trees.  They're a problem for two reasons, one as ash trees there's the emerald ash borer, an two-they're in high traffic areas.  They don't want trees falling in areas close to people.  The tree work should be done in 18-months. 

Sen Harkin on Airports

Senator Harkin says Iowa's airports stand to receive $3 million to make improvements.

DOT funding pays for renovations at airports in Des Moines and three other cities.

WHO-TV reports Des Moines International Airport has nearly $2 million on its way.

The money can rehabilitate the runway, access road, and apron.

Kids Funeral Money

The statehouse has approved state funding for children's funerals.

The nonprofit group Sing Me To Heaven supports low-income families who cannot afford to bury their children.

Lawmakers have adopted an amendment that gives this organization $100,000 to offer support to families to have lost children.

The Department of Public Health would administer the money.  Eligible families could receive $2,000 for funeral expenses after a child's death.

National Guard Choppers

The Iowa Army National Guard has two new helicopters replacing a Vietnam-era one.  The aircraft cost about $6 million each. One is equipped with a thermal imaging camera, powerful search light and mapping and imaging screens. The other helicopter is lighter and can carry more cargo or personnel and has a hoist system used on medevac aircraft. The choppers will be used for emergency response, transport and search and rescue operations.

Shooting

Des Moines Police are investigating a shooting in front of an apartment building in the 2800 block of  30th Street this morning.  27-year-old Kazmond Mead told police he heard a shot and felt a hot sensation on his neck. He said he ran inside, but passed out before he could call police.  Mead was taken to a hospital with a bullet wound in his neck. 

Former Teacher Accused of Sex Crime

A former teacher at Ankeny High School is accused of sexually exploiting a student.  33-year-old Mandy Davenport of Des Moines was a language arts teacher at Ankeny High School when the alleged incident involving a 17-year-old student took place.  Davenport was placed on leave Monday from her job at Ankeny Centennial High School and was arrested yesterday.

I-35 Work

The next phase of rebuilding Interstate 35 in West Des Moines starts this week. Crews will be closing the northbound ramps on Grand Avenue at 9am tomorrow. On April 13, northbound traffic on I-35 will be moved in temporary lanes in the center median. This will allow crews to demolish and rebuild the northbound lanes from the Highway 5 bypass north to the western mixmaster.
Iowa DOT officials said the work will not impact access to Mills Civic Parkway. The Grand Avenue ramps, northbound, are expected to reopen in late November.

Military Exercise

The North American Aerospace Defense Command is conducting a training exercise in the sky over central Iowa. NORAD says low-flying fighter jets may be seen near military or military contracted civilian aircraft. Such practice sessions have been held throughout the United States and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, NORAD's response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Missing Woman ID

The body of a missing iowa woman found in a rural area near minneapolis over the weekend - has been identified as a 29 year old woman from davenport... the hennepin county medical examiner's office says she's carrie elaine olson... her cause of death is pending further investigation... she was reported missing from davenport, and her body was found this weekend in a vacant lot in dakota county.

Motorcycle Fatal

A Des Moines man is now charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a crash last month on East 30th Avenue. Charges against 21-year-old Jacob Phipps were upgraded today after motorcyclist Michael Harden died from his injuries sustained in the March 29th crash.

Secret Settlements

Gov. Terry Branstad announced Tuesday that he terminated the Department of Administrative Services Director Mike Carroll. Janet Phipp was named as the interim director of DAS. According to a statement from the Governor, new facts that have surfaced in the past few days led to him discovering Carroll had lied both to him and the Oversight Committee concerning the employee settlements controversy. Branstad says Carroll told him employees were not paid an additional amount in exchange for confidentiality provisions.

VEISHA Incident

At least one person was seriously hurt during the overnight VEISHA celebration at Iowa state university... KCCI says at least one person was seriously hurt and flown to a hospital in des moines after he was hit with a light pole in the head... students gathered on the streets at about 11 last night, and reportedly pulled out stop signs, broke a window on a fire station, and flipped over at least two vehicles. Police broke up the crowd about an hour after the riot started... several students were arrested.

Younkers Follow-Up

Investigators are not sure what caused the Younkers building fire last weekend, but they are sure it was not arson. The 39-person ATF crew working here all week has left Des Moines. ATF Public Information officer John Ham tells KCCI the fire investigation is not closed. Des Moines Fire Department investigators continue their work. Locust Street reopened Sunday. Eighth Street will soon become a staging area for cleanup and construction equipment. Expect it to be months before the intersection at Seventh and Locust intersection reopens.

Water Works Notices

Des Moines Water Works has notified some customers that their water contained a potentially dangerous chemical that people drank for months but waterworks’ top official says the water’s fine now and people should be fine even if they drank the water before crews fully treated it. CEO, Bill Stowe, said the water had higher amounts of dirt and fertilizer from runoff over the winter. He said crews had to use unusually high amounts of chlorine to clean the water.

Minimum Wage

Democrat party lawmakers visited a small business in Des Moines Saturday, pushing for an increase in the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin was joined by Congressman Bruce Braley, State Senator Jack Hatch, and U.S. Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez. at the RAYGUN shirt store in East Village. RAYGUN owner Mike Draper prides himself on paying all workers above minimum wage, and even paying interns.

Electronic Billboards

Talk is heating up about electronic billboards in Des Moines. Several neighborhood associations have complained about the recent increase in digital billboards. Des Moines City Councilman Chris Hensley tells KCCI the current ordinance, which was last updated 10 years earlier, needs to be changed.Today, council members will discuss a 60-day halt to adding new billboards until they figure out how to strike a balance that’s fair to businesses and residents.

Disappearing Chip

An Iowa State University professor has developed electronics that are able to store and send sensitive data, but be destroyed down to nothing if compromised. The technology can be used in everything from medical devices that travel inside the body to the military and intelligence operations. WHO-TV reports the polymer based product is degradable and environmentally friendly. By adding water the circuit board starts to dissolve, destroying all sensitive data that was on it. Eventually, that will also include the specially made casing surrounding the data chip.

Coach Suit

A former Clarke University softball coach is suing the school, claiming she was fired because she rejected efforts by the school to make her appear more feminine. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Jaclyn Salzwedel filed the lawsuit last week. Salzwedel's lawsuit says she usually wore long cargo shorts and polo or T-shirts to work. She claims officials pressured her starting in 2012 to wear makeup and more-feminine clothing.

HyVee Fight

Police say a 6th person's been charged in a fight outside a Windsor Heights Hy-Vee Tuesday, KCCI reports police say 24-year old Danny Butts , charged with assault with injury, is probably the last to be charged. Windsor Heights Police are asking that anyone with video or picture of the incident come forward, or call Polk County Crime Stoppers at 515-223-1400.

Medical Marijuana UPD

Iowa lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working in private on a medical marijuana deal. The controversial push to legalize some form of medical marijuana in Iowa seemed destined for a vote next year at the earliest. But many in the statehouse say a fast-tracked bill is in the works and could be presented this week. Our partners at KCCI confirmed through multiple sources that bipartisan, narrow legislation was in the works Wednesday behind closed doors at the Statehouse.

Pharmacy Owner Indicted

The owner of a Des Moines drug store accused of selling prescription painkillers to people without prescriptions has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges, including conspiracy to distribute drugs. Mark Graziano, who owns Bauder Pharmacy, was indicted yesterday in connection with the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of hydrocodne tablets.

State Fair Tickets

Tickets for the Iowa State Fair Grandstand shows will go on sale April 12th. A week from Saturday is also when fairgoers will be able to purchase Fair Play Packs, Midway tickets, Zipline passes and 11-day punch cards online.

Teen Tanning

Health officials are urging Iowa teens to skip one part of prom preparations this year. They’re being asked to sign a “No Tanning Pledge” and promise not to use tanning beds. The school with the highest percentage of students taking the pledge will win $500 for prom planning.

Wahlert Suit

Joesph Walsh, a former administrative law judge at Iowa Workforce Development's filed suit against the agency's director, Teresa Wahlert, and the state, alleging Wahlert tried to influence his rulings in favor of employers. WHO-TV reports Walsh's suit alleges he and his wife, who also worked for the agency, were let go when he refused to cooperate with Wahlert.     

Developer Dead

Investigators are looking for leads in the death of a Des Moines area developer. Tthe body of 64-year-old Bobby Joe Knapp was found inside a burned out car in Guthrie County on Sunday. Knapp had recently been released to home confinement after serving time for violating clean air laws. Federal officials last week issued a warrant for his arrest for violating his parole status.

NASCAR Tax Break

NASCAR will get a tax break to keep the Iowa Speedway in Newton moving forward. Governor Branstad’s office says he'll sign a bill tomorrow (Wednesday) giving NASCAR the same tax deal that previous owners had. The deal had originally applied only if Iowans retained partial ownership of the track.

Lt Governor Thailand Trip

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says she will lead a trade mission to Thailand. The goal of the trip is to promote the purchase of Iowa-grown soybeans and other products. Reynolds will leave Saturday for the weeklong trip, which is being organized and paid for by the Iowa Soybean Association.

Younkers Building Fire

There is a much better picture of what happened in the days and the hours leading up the fire at the Younkers Building. The contractors say renovation was right on schedule, demolition was complete and new windows were going in. Hanson Company VP Tony Garcia was the last person in the building before it caught fire, about 5:30pm. There haven't been any issue during construction with code violations, according to Garcia, who says OSHA was on site a week ago today and found no major violations.

Dallas County Growth

You want to see fast growth, check out Dallas County, which added almost 75-thosuand people last year alone. Dallas County has seen a population jump of nearly 13% since 2010, making it the fastest growing county in the state. Waukee, Urbandale, and West Des Moines have all seen a large population increase. The number of houses more than doubled in Waukee over the past ten years, growing from nearly 2,400 to over 5,200.

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer's presence has been confirmed in Jasper County.  Nine counties statewide have been infested by the insect, which destroys ash trees over time.  To slow the spread, a statewide quarantine was issued in February, limiting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock out of Iowa into non-quarantined areas of other states.

Road Work

Monday, the same day the construction project starts that will close the Mile Long Bridge, another project will cause slowdowns on the Highway 65 bypass. The Iowa DOT said the construction zone will be at the Des Moines River just south of Pleasant Hill where two bridges will be replaced. KCCI reports southbound traffic will be moved to a northbound lane during the construction.
The project is expected to be completed by November.

Weapons Arrest

A Des Moines man has been accused of walking around his neighbor's house with a loaded gun. Police say 45-year-old Robert Webb was arrested Wednesday on weapons charges. Officers found Webb on his patio, sitting in a lawn chair with a revolver next to him and confiscated additional weapons in his home.

Teacher Abuse

A Knoxville teacher and coach accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student has resigned. The superintendent of Knoxville Schools told KCCI that Troy Rider submitted his resignation Monday night as football coach and PE teacher effective April 1. Rider is charged with third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school counselor. He has been on paid leave since the allegations surfaced. Rider's next court hearing is scheduled for April 18.

Sexual Assault Bill

the Iowa house has passed a bill that would strengthen laws against sexual assaults in military forces... the measure would require that the Iowa national guard annually filing a report with the legislature, detailing sexual abuse allegations... also... a commander would not be able to interfere in the victims reporting process... the bill now goes back to the senate for more consideration.

Drunk Driving Law

A bill that aims to change the state's law dealing with drunken drivers has cleared the Iowa house... right now, drunken driving offenders face an immediate license suspension, even on the first offense... the new bill would let offenders start driving sooner if they put in an ignition lock device, so they can't start their car unless they haven't had alcohol... the bill now goes back to the senate for more consideration.

Dangerous Playground

Police are investigating the discovery of about a dozen razor blades at a Quad Cities playground. The razor blades were first found when a 2-year-old cut his hand on one of them at Millennium Park in East Moline. Police then found the razor blades glued to playground equipment with a white, putty-like substance. They were found on the monkey bars, on the ground and glued to other equipment. Police said they believe it was a prank, but some parents are concerned.

Water Works Settlement

The Des Moines Water Works Board of Trustees is voting on whether to accept a $2.1 million settlement from the federal government to resolve a lawsuit over flood repair funding approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and later withdrawn. FEMA approved the $7.6 million in disaster funding in 2010 but rescinded it in 2011 after the Water Works had already spent $2 million.

Mile Long Bridge

The mile-long bridge over Saylorville Reservoir closes next Monday morning at 9a.m. for repair work. The detour for traffic is Iowa 415, Northwest 26th Street, NW 66th Avenue, and Northwest Beaver Drive. WHO-TV reports the $300,000 project's expected to be finished just before Memorial Day weekend.

Park Shelter

An historic shelter in Greenwood Park's about to get a quarter million dollar facelift. The Des Moines shelter, which dates back to 1933, is limestone and timber. KCCI reports the rehab includes adding glass walls to make it a three season shelter with updated bathrooms. The park's in the 4500 block of Grand Ave. 

Missing Woman ID

Waterloo police have identified a woman whose body was found behind a business this weekend... an autopsy was planned for 53 year old Sharon Creighton, who was found Sunday afternoon by the business owner and his son... she was found face down near a pile of wood, and her car was nearby... police have said the circumstances surrounding her death are suspicious. She had been reported missing earlier Sunday.

Project Alluvion

The West Des Moines City Council may approve incentives tonight that would push forward a $255 million dollar project.
KCCI reports the project is code named Project Alluvion. The as-yet unnamed developer is asking for financial incentives and infrastructure improvements to help with the project. Tax increment financing support for the project is expected to total about $18 million. Documents show the project is expected to create about 84 jobs.

Secret Settlements

Governor Branstad has signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies from making confidential settlement agreements. with disciplined or fired state workers. It is Branstad's response to criticism of agreements reached between state agencies and six state employees who were dismissed and then paid more than $280,000 to keep quiet.  Branstad, just back in the state from vacation, says he didn't know about the settlements.

Branstad, back in Iowa from vacation, is responding to criticism of agreements reached between state agencies and several state employees who were fired and then paid more than $280,000 to keep quiet.

Branstad says Monday that Iowans expect more from state government and deserve better. He says he didn't know about the settlements.

His order requires settlement agreements to be reviewed by the attorney general's office and all agreements to be posted on a state website.

He's also ordered all past settlement agreements to be posted - that's more than 321 since he took office. He says 24 contain confidentiality agreements and 10 included lump sum payments to workers.

Utility Bills Debt

Hundreds of thousands of Iowa residents are behind on paying their utility bills because of the brutal winter that caused bills to skyrocket. The Iowa Utilities Board figures say 4 percent more households are in arrears than a year ago ... but because of the severe cold and the higher costs of natural gas and propane, the AMOUNT of the debt has hit a record high $46 million.  Iowa's moratorium on shut-offs of utility customers qualifying for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program assistance ends April 1st.

Youth Pastor Sentence

A former Des Moines youth pastor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex abuse charges.  A judge told 27-year-old Ryan Matthew McKelvey she believed he was a “predator” who used his status in the church to abuse two teenage females. McKelvey was a youth pastor at the Heritage Assembly Church, until he lost his job last summer.

Kum & Go Corporate Office

Kum & Go plans to build a new corporate office in the Western Gateway in downtown Des Moines.  The company, which operates about 430 convenience stores in 11 states, is negotiating for the purchase of a block of land north of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.  CEO Kyle Krause says Kum & Go could move all of its roughly 250 corporate office employees to the new building, from their present offices in West Des Moines, by late 2016 or early 2017.

Settlements Follow-Up

Lawmakers continue raising questions for Gov. Terry Branstad's administration about accusations that fired state employees were paid secret settlements. The most vocal critic on Thursday was Sen. Jack Hatch who is running against Branstad in the upcoming governor's race. Republican leaders wouldn't go so far as to criticize the response of the governor's office that included forming a closed committee to investigation the accusations, but they do have opinions about the settlements.

Tax Scam

A government watchdog says more than 20,000 taxpayers have been targeted by fake IRS agents in the largest phone scam the agency has ever seen. The IRS inspector general says thousands of victims have lost a total of more than $1 million. As part of the scam, fake IRS agents call taxpayers, claim they owe taxes, and demand payment using a prepaid debit card or a wire transfer. Those who refuse are threatened with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver's license. Real agents don't demand payment by debit card, credit card or wire transfer, nor do they call you until after you've been sent quite a bit of mail about the tax bill.

Boys Stuck

Two little boys are ok after being trapped on an ice sheet on the Des Monies River. The 12 and 7 year old brothers had been throwing rocks when the littler one's shoe got stuck. They both were trying to get it out when the ice block floated away. Someone spotted them near the hydroelectric dam and called 911 Firefighters found them quite a ways from the river bank and they were pulled to safety.

Fishing Restrictions

The city of Des Moines wants to delay fishing restrictions on the river downtown. The city is asking the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to allow it on the banks within the Principal Riverwalk and north to Univesity Ave. KCCI says city manager Rick Clark sent a letter saying public agencies should try to improve and expand access along the
Des Moines River rather than restrict it. Parks and Rec first proposed banning it because of safety issues and trash and rotting fish that are left behind.

Lake Fish Kills

Some fish populations in the state could be hurt by this nasty winter. The State Department of Natural Resources says it's typical for lakes and ponds to have some fish deaths in the winter, but one official says this winter, they're seeing more lakes and ponds affected. Jim Wahl says a few lakes are experiencing lower-than-normal oxygen levels. A few lakes with a history of winter kills are now installed with aeration systems, which can help keep the lakes from freezing.

Man Runs Over Girlfriend

Ten years in prison is the sentence for a 24-year-old man accused of running over his girlfriend in the parking lot of a shopping center in Sioux City. Anthony Barton allegedly used a stun gun several times on 22 year old Karilyn Schroeder, and then ran her over as he took off in her vehicle last year. He was found guilty of assault and another charge, and he was sentenced to two back-to-back five-year terms behind bars.

Settlement Agreements

State Sen. Janet Peterson, a Des Moines Democrat, wants Gov. Branstad to release copies of settlements with state employees who were laid off then paid to sign agreements not to talk about it.  Peterson chairs the State Senate Oversight Committee, and wants to know who asked for the agreements and who authorized the payouts.  

Des Moines Shooting

A Des Moines man was shot in the knee last night in an apparent robbery attempt on Maury at East 30th Street.  27-year-old Chad Kain told police he was pushed to the ground and shot, and said the suspect looked just as as surprised as he was that a shot went off.  Kain told police he thinks the man never meant to shoot him.

Walmart Games

Walmart is expanding its video game trade-in program... in the past, Walmart offered trade-ins online... but plans to let video game owners trade in used video games IN Walmart and Sam's club stores... the traders can get store credit for thousands of games, but not cash... also, for the first time, Walmart will be offering refurbished used games.

Playground Arson

Two middle school aged girls are facing 2nd degree arson charges after this mornings fire at Park Avenue Elementary School in Des Moines.  The fire consumed the playground equipment that was installed last October.  No students were in the school because of spring break.  KCCI reports the equipment damage's estimated at $50- to- $100,000. 

Teens Shot

Des Moines PD are looking for suspects in last night's shooting of a brother and sister outside their home in the 1500 block of 20th Street. 18-year old Stashawna Johnson says someone followed her cousin to their home in an SUV and shots were fired.  KCCI reports she and her 15-year old brother are in fair condition with non life threatening injuries at Mercy Medical Center.

Texting 911

You may soon be possible to text 911 dispatchers for assistance. Texting also means having the ability to send dispatchers real-time pictures. The Federal Communications Commission said AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have voluntarily committed to provide text-to-911 service by May 15 in all areas with a 911 call center equipped to receive texts. An Eastern Iowa call center has been able to receive 911 texts through iWireless. The Black Hawk County call center in Waterloo was the first in the nation to receive 911 text messages in 2009.

Transportation Director

A guilty plea this week - from the former transportation director of a northwest Iowa school district who was accused of tampering with bus records... 52 year old Douglas Wessling was the transportation director for the Galva-Holstein community school district... he'd been put on leave last fall, then lost his job after an investigation by the Iowa state patrol... three buses had reportedly been taken out of service because of damage...Wessling allegedly falsified repair records on at least three buses... and he put one of those buses back into use before it had been fixed. He will receive two years of probation and an order to pay a $1,000 fine.

Truck Leasing Company Moving

A truck leasing company is moving its corporate office from Omaha, to Council Bluffs... Wayne Hoovestol plans to build a 24 thousand square foot building, along with an attached shop and nearby warehouse... the daily non pariel says Hoovestol plans to move his 55-person Cresco capital operation from Omaha,and put it with his lone mountain leasing operations... he says the consolidated site would have an initial payroll of three and a half million dollars... lone mountain truck leasing operation has 15 employees who would relocate from pacific junction. he expects to add jobs.

Tyson Decision

A decision from Tyson foods will save nearly 400 jobs in western Iowa... Tyson foods has changed its plans - and decided NOT to close - it's beef plant in Dennison... a couple of years ago Tyson said the plant would close after the completion of a 90 million dollar expansion and modernization project at the beef plant in Dakota city... that project has taken longer to finish than expected. Tyson says it's keeping the Denison plant open because of the lower feed prices for cattle, and the closure of some competitors' beef plants. employees were told about the change last week...

Hotel Incentives

A plan to build a four-star hotel next to Hy-Vee Hall and Wells Fargo Arena won't happen unless Des Moines city leaders can convince the state's economic development authority to fork over millions in tax incentives for the project. Des Moines Assistant City Manager Matthew Anderson said this week is a prime example that proves why a hotel is needed next to the Iowa Events Center. Fans from across the state are coming to downtown Des Moines in droves to cheer on their favorite teams at the boy's state basketball tournament.

Military Sex Assault Bill

The Iowa senate has approved a bill giving victims more power to report sexual abuse and other crimes involving state military personnel.... Under the bill, state military forces would have to file an annual report with the governor and the Legislature detailing sexual abuse allegations within the forces. It also says state military forces have to give the governor and lawmakers an annual report detailing sexual abuse allegations in the ranks. The Senate voted 47-0 to approve the legislation, which now goes to the House.

New Airport Terminal

The preliminary plans were unveiled today for a brand new Des Moines International Airport.  The proposal, with a $467-million price tag, would have 14-gates, and is designed to be expanded to hold 4 more when needed.  It would be built south of the current Fluer Drive terminal.  The Airport Authority says the current terminal's no longer adequate.   

State Senate Texting

The State Senate's passed a texting while driving bill.  Some lawmakers weren't happy that it didn't deal with the bigger issue of distracted driving.  The bill allows police to pull drivers over just for texting.  The existing texting ban applies only if someone's bulled over for a different traffic violation. 

Sweet Gets Life

A judge has sentenced 19-year old Isaiah Sweet to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Sweet pleaded guilty last October to two counts of first degree murder for killing his grandparents in their Manchester home in 2012.  Sweet was 17 at the time of the murders. 

Fatal Crash

Three people have been killed in a collision between a car and pickup in southern Iowa Wednesday. Troopers said 35-year-old Sherissa Goodman, of Leon, was driving east toward Garden Grove when she lost control of her vehicle and swerved into the path of the westbound pickup. Goodman, her fiance 21-year-old Charles "Tyler" Downard, of Van Wert, and Goodman's daughter, 3-year-old Shayla Matte, were killed in the crash. Downard's family told KCCI that they were told the car hit a patch of ice.

State Budget

Legislative leaders say they agreed before the current session started to arrive at broad budget figures that Republicans and Democrats could both agree on, to prove that divided state government can work.  Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says record low public disapproval of Congress gave state leaders impetus to work together.  It resulted in this week's release of joint budget targets , six weeks ahead of when such numbers are usually completed.

Synthetic Drugs

A spike in synthetic drug use locally is affecting hospitals and treatment centers. Lab technicians at Iowa Lutheran Hospital sift through hundreds of samples every day. Techs test blood sugar levels, glucose, diagnosing diseases and drug abuse. But even the most high-tech machines and computers at the hospital cannot detect everything. Des Moines police also see synthetic drug use on the rise. In one of their biggest synthetic-drug bust to date, Des Moines police raided six convenience stores caught illegally selling products such as K2.

Teacher Sex Abuse

Knoxville teacher and football coach Troy Rider's in the Marion County Jail, charged with 3rd degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a teacher.  KCCI reports Knoxville Police took a sex abuse report from s 15-year old girl last month.  The alleged abuse happened between May 2013 and January at a home in Carlisle and also at Knoxville High School. 

Utility Bills

There are a record number of Iowa residential utilities customers with past due bills for January.  The amount's almost $42-million.  January was dominated by extreme cold.   Consumer advocates say those with past due bills have can negotiate an affordable payment plan with their utility company.  If you need help with negotiations, call the Iowa Utility Board, 1-877-565-4450.

Wheelchairs

No arrests have been reported after sports wheelchairs were stolen from a Cedar rapids YMCA parking lot... they were found in pieces a few miles away in fairfax... the chairs cost 3-thousand to 5-thousand-dollars each... more than a dozen wheelchairs were in a trailer that was taken away from the stoney point YMCA in December... the wheelchairs were used by the iowa chariots team, whose members have little or no use of their legs. There was one usable wheelchair found in the pieces.

Drug Bust

Des Moines police carried out a simultaneous drug bust at six stores yesterday, netting thousands of dollars of synthetic drugs and ending with six arrests.The raids were the result os a six-month investigation, according to KCCI. Police say the drugs were targeting teens in a deceptive manner, with bright, colorful packaging and names such as Mr. Nice Guy. Search warrants were served at six stores in Des Moines and two other locations were also searched.

I-80 Crash

A 44 year old man from council bluffs has died on Interstate 80 in Omaha... witnesses said Michael Holcomb had gotten out of his disabled SUV, which was parked on the inside shoulder of the eastbound lanes... he was hit by a semitrailer after he stepped into the far left lane... it happened at about 1030 am Tuesday about a mile west of the 42nd street interchange. The accident is being investigated.

Radio Shack

Radio Shack has announced plans to close up to 11 hundred stores – or about a fifth of its locationsin the u-s... the company did not immediately identify which stores will close, or how many jobs would be lost... the closing would leave RadioShack with more than 4 thousand stores in the u-s. The company has been struggling... For the three months that ended Dec. 31, RadioShack Corp. lost more than 191 million dollars...RadioShack reported a full-year loss of just over 400 million dollars.

Radon Testing

The Iowa Senate has passed a bill requiring school districts to test for the presence of radon gas. The bill pushed by Democrats passed 35-14. Sen. Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, says fewer than 10 percent of Iowa schools are tested. Sen. Tod Bowman, a Maquoketa Democrat, says the bill isn't perfect but will identify how many schools have radon. Republican Sen. Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, says the bill is improved because it removes mandates that were undue burdens. It moves now to the House.

Teen Taser Case

The state is refusing to release records involving the case of a man who died after being shocked by deputies. The Des Moines Register sought the records from the Sept. 22 incident in Northwood after Worth County Attorney Jeffrey Greve cleared officers of any wrongdoing. The deputies shocked 39-year-old Michael Zubrod at least four times with a Taser after responding to a complaint and finding him beating his girlfriend with a hammer and scissors. He also attacked a deputy. After he was subdued, Zubrod passed out and could not be revived.

Des Moines Special Election

Des Moines voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to approve an increase in the fee charged on their utility bills to repay $40 million the city borrowed to pay a court-ordered refund of previously over-collected franchise fees between 2004 and 2009. City officials say if voters don't approve the increased fee, they'll be forced to raise property taxes to repay the money.

Mason in Hot Water for Comments

University of Iowa President Sally Mason is receiving criticism but no discipline from the school's governing board for her handling of a campus uproar over a comment she made about sexual assault. The Iowa Board of Regents met in private Friday to evaluate Mason. President Pro Tem Katie Mulholland blasted Mason's comment that ending sexual assault probably wasn't realistic "just given human nature." Board members expect her to improve communication and want details of her plan to crack down on sexual assault.

Pharmacist Acquitted

Jurors have acquitted an Iowa pharmacist of 15 counts of health care fraud, rejecting allegations that he fraudulently billed an insurance company for life-saving drugs sent to hemophilia patients. The Des Moines federal jury returned the verdict today following  a week-long trial in the case of Michael Stein, the owner of Pharmacy Matters in Iowa City. 

Police Investigating Southside Burglary

Burglars didn't steal much in a Southside Des Moines burglary, but what they got was expensive. A wedding ring worth $10,000 was one of the items stolen on Maxwelton Drive Friday. The burglars broke in through the back door sometime during the day. Des Moines police tell ABC5 there's been an increase in Southside burglaries, that's why they started up a new special undercover burglary unit.

Urban Forester

West Des Moines is hiring a full-time urban forester, who will be charged with overseeing an emerald ash borer removal plan... the register says the city set aside 370 thousand dollars for the plan for fiscal year 2015... in all the plan is set to go six years and cost 1 point 7 million dollars... 12 hundred ash trees will be removed from city property... eight counties in Iowa have confirmed infestations of emerald ash borer.

Franchise Fee Vote Tuesday

A story years in the making may finally be coming to an end; franchise fees. That end will have people in Des Moines giving money to the city, but how much?  City Manager Rick Clark says if people reject the franchise fee, the city will be forced to raise property taxes to pay for police, fire, libraries and parks. Des Moines has cut $28 a year beginning 8 years ago. Another $40 million out of the $170 million general fund would cut into essentials.  March 4th, voters will decide whether the $40 million will be paid back through everyone using utilities or only property owners.

Mystique Casino Incident

A former employee of Mystique Casino in Dubuque is accused of using 26 players club accounts to steal 20-thouasnd-dollars worth of customer reward points... Joy Smith worked as a casino host supervisor and oversaw the players club services... she got to club accounts and converted their points into cash vouchers, which she allegedly cased and kept the money from. She's facing a theft charge.

Polk City Street Work

The Polk City City Council's expected to go ahead with spending as much as $930,000 for reconstruction of Booth and Washington Streets.  The Des Moines Register reports the council's been given options including storm sewers, curbs, and gutters.  A public information meeting for residents affected by the work is March 13th, and the council could have a decision on March 24.

Regional Med Board

A new regional governing board is made up of four large medical centers in Iowa's Mercy Health Network. The board will provide governance and oversight to the mercy medical centers in Sioux City, Mason City, Dubuque, and Clinton... the new regional board does NOT replace the local board in each medical center's hometown... but the organization's officials say the new regional board will allow for greater unity in developing strategies and pursuing better care, healthier organizations, and lower costs.

IDOT Plow Cams

Iowa DOT's added video cameras to some of its snowplows.   The camera's, mounted on the truck's dashboards, give you a view of road and weather where the plows are in real time.  You can go to DOT's website and click on one of the blue dots.  KCCI reports DOT officials say they want to have most of the state covered by next winter.  

Mason Sex Assaults

University of Iowa president sally mason is going to lead a forum on sexual assault today... a new group is demanding more attention from the university on concerns about sexual assaults this school year... mason has taken some heat for comments she made about sexual assaults in a student newspaper... the protestors want changes in the way that reports of sexual assaults are communicated to the campus.

Rick Perry

Rick Perry has begun a two-day visit to Iowa with stops in the Des Moines suburbs. Perry was interviewed by a media panel in Johnston for a public affairs show on Iowa Public Television and is meeting with Republican activists at a GOP campaign office in Urbandale.  This is the first visit to Iowa since last November.  for the Texas governor, frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate.

Vehicular Homicide

A 22 year old man from Osage has been charged in a fatal wreck from last year... 22 year old Jesse Wilson of Charles City was killed in the crash...Tylor Patrick was allegedly driving on hickory avenue northwest of Osage, when he lose control of his vehicle... it rolled multiple times... Wilson was a passenger in that vehicle... five others were hurt. He's been charged with vehicular homicide... a preliminary hearing has been set for march 7th,

Digital Lab Follow-Up

Iowa's three public universities and one of its largest private employers are among the partners in a new consortium announced by President Obama to improve the nation's manufacturing capabilities.  Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa are among the more than 70 organizations that will be part of the Digital Lab for Manufacturing, based in Chicago. Cedar Rapids-based Rockwell Collins is also a member.  The White House says the goal is to create a new partnership between manufacturers and software companies to develop new, cutting-edge capabilities to design, test and move products to market.

High Speed Chase

An Oskaloosa man is facing felony charges after leading authorities on a high-speed chase. He says he panice; officers say if he'd just stopped the charges would have been much less. It started Monday morning when police tried to pull over a red pickup truck going 74 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 92. The truck sped away but authorities later located it near the town of Leighton. Bryant Groenendyk is said to have driven through three stops signs going upwards of 90 mph.

Murder Sentence

An Ankeny man will spend the rest of his life in prison after his second conviction in the killing of his ex-wife's lover. Vernon Huser continued to claim his innocence even as the judge handed down the sentence.A Polk County jury convicted him of first-degree murder last December. After his 2010 conviction, the Iowa Court of Appeals ordered a new trial for Huser, concluding his conviction was largely based on hearsay testimony that shouldn't have been allowed.

Rental Occupancy Bill

Cities and landlords are fighting about something that's become known as the occupancy bill. It would allow more than four unrelated people to live in a single-family rental home -- something not allowed by ordinances in most communities int he area. Supporters say it’s meant to make more money for landlords. Iowa’s largest cities are lining up to fight it. Opponents say it could mean less property value for homeowners that might suddenly find themselves flanked by halfway houses or even shelters.

Rogers Surrenders

Bionca Rogers, the 21-year old woman wanted in the death of a missing Colorado man, surrendered to authorities in Cedar Rapids this morning.  She's being held without bond, and authorities want her extradited to Colorado.  61-year old Grant Frazier of Colorado Springs was found dead in a car in Newton early yesterday.

Wells Fargo Job Cuts

Wells Fargo says 80 employees in the Des Moines metro area have been laid off.  A company spokesperson tells KCCI it's part of a nationwide move to eliminate 700-jobs due to a drop in the demand for home mortgages.  Employees were given a 60 day notice, offered possible relocation within the company as well as assistance in searching for a new job.

"Knockout Game"

Police in Ames are investigating what could be a case of the “knockout game.” The “knockout game” is where someone hits an unsuspecting victim without provocation, trying to knock that person out with one punch. On three separate occasions on February 16th, students tell police they were approached by a black man with dreadlocks who hit them for no apparent reason. The suspect then took off in a dark colored car with at least one other person inside. One of the victims had to have his broken jaw wired shut.

Missing Man Found

A man from Colorado, missing for over a week,  has been found dead in Iowa. The body of 61-year-old Grant Frazier of Colorado Springs was found in Newton, along Interstate 80. His car was also recovered.  Authorities say details about how he died won't be released until after an autopsy is completed. Police are still asking  for help in finding a woman who was last known to be with Frazier, 21-year-old Bionca Rogers.
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National Guard

Just back from Washington, where he attended a meeting of the National Governor's Association, Governor Branstad says he's seeking to deliver a letter to President Obama signed by every governor expressing displeasure with the proposed cuts in the federal defense budget.  Branstad says he's particularly concerned about cuts to the National Guard, which he says could be dangerous for national defense, as well as for states that rely on those forces in emergencies.

Potholes

We're hearing about a lot of troubles with potholes this year... with the snow and the temperature swings... and city leaders in cedar rapids today are announcing plans to help fix the potholes... the city also will use a recently-passed local option sales tax to pay for a multi year street repair campaign.

Stabbing Death

Authorities are investigating a suspicious death on the Meskwaki (MESK-waukee) settlement Monday night. Police have not released the name of the person, who died of a stabbing according to 9-1-1 callers. Monday night, DCI Special Agent Rick Rahn said authorities were detaining one person for questioning. They believe that person was involved in the crime. So far no charges have been filed. KCCI reports an autopsy will be conducted at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny.

DMPD Officer Hurt

A Des Moines police officer and a woman he was assisting both were hurt in an accident blamed on a slick road.The woman's car was disabled and the officer was giving her a ride when the first accident occurred near Prospect Park. Another car slid across the center line and hit the officer's patrol car. The woman in the officer's car was taken to a hospital. As the officer and the other driver talked, another car slid toward them. The officer jumped onto the hood of a car but hurt his back when he slid off the hood.

Pets Covered in Domestic Abuse Protection Orders

The State Senate's passed a bill that includes pets in domestic abuse protection orders.  KCCI reports lawmakers are hoping that with this addition, abuse victims would be more likely to leave a bad situation without worrying that a family pet would be abused as a result of their decision to leave.  The bill goes to the House.

Rammed the Deputy

An Iowa man has been charged with attempted murder, after he rammed a pickup into a deputy's vehicle. 35 year old Myron Brandon also is charged with eluding and burglary. Brandon was reportedly in custody. A deputy who was responding to a reported break-in began chasing the pickup in rural Hastings around 9 p.m. on Sunday. Authorities say the chase ended in farm field when Brandon rammed his truck into the deputy's SUV, disabling it. Authorities say that after the deputy got out, Brandon's truck struck near where the deputy was standing. The deputy fired at the pickup, which was later found abandoned. Brandon was arrested nearby. Nobody was hurt.

Voter Fraud

An agent from the state Division of Criminal Investigation overseeing Iowa's probe into potential voter fraud says more than 80 cases are still being reviewed by local prosecutors. 245 investigations have been completed since September, resulting in 15 felony cases. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz said earlier this month that 26 people have been charged during the controversial two-year investigation. He's expected to issue a report next month detailing the findings.

Norovirus in Ames Library

Tests have confirmed that norovirus is to blame for the illnesses of more than 30 employees at the Ames Public Library. Officials said Thursday that results from a state hygienic lab confirmed officials' suspicion that norovirus was responsible. The illnesses caused the library to close its doors Wednesday. It was also closed Thursday. The library has since been thoroughly sanitized. Officials say there's no reason to believe materials at the facility pose a risk to visitors.

Shooting Sentence

25 years in prison is the sentence for a 31 year old Harlan man who shot a woman and her young son in council bluffs... Ronald far had reached a plea agreement on charges of attempted murder and willful injury. Investigators say the shooting came from a financial dispute involving the father of heather Wilson's children... Farr allegedly shot Wilson eight times in a parking lot as Wilson was putting her kids in her car... Wilson's 19 year old was hit by a bullet that went through Wilson, but both recovered.

Twyner Plea

Dr. Lafayette Twyner, Jr. of Newton pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of illegal distribution of a narcotic resulting in death, and one count of defrauding Medicaid.  The Des Moines Register reports Twyner was indicted by a federal grand jury for prescribing addictive drugs even after he was warned the medications were being abused. He'll be sentenced in May.

Legislative Deadline

Governor Branstad's legislative priorities have survived a procedural deadline in the General Assembly. Bills dealing with veterans support, bullying prevention and expanding broadband Internet will move forward in the legislature. All three issues are part of Branstad's modest legislative agenda for the year. The actual deadline is tomorrow, but lawmakers have already completed their work for the week and most will not return to the Capitol until next week

Mile Long Bridge

A bridge connecting Ankeny, Polk City, Grimes and Johnston areas is about to close for a couple months. According to the DOT, 7,700 vehicles drive the bridge over Saylorville Lake every day. Starting on March 31, the Mile Long Bridge will be closed. The encouraged detour runs 16 miles to the south around the reservoir and includes Lower Beaver Road, Northwest 66th Avenue and 415. If everything goes as scheduled the Mile Long Bridge will be closed just shy of eight weeks.

Officer Injured

A Des Moines police officer and a woman he was helping were hurt in separate accidents on a slick road. The woman's car had been disabled and the officer was giving her a ride when the first accident occurred near Prospect Park yesterday. Another car slid across the center line and hit the officer's patrol car. The woman was taken to a hospital. As the officer and the other driver talked, another car slid toward them. Police say the officer jumped onto the hood of a car and hurt his back.

Stranger Danger

The disappearance and death of 10-year-old Hailey Owens shocked a southwest Missouri community. Erin Tuken, a child-life specialist with Mercy Children’s Hospital, said the hospital promotes a “no, go, yell, tell” strategy for stranger safety. The Missouri kidnapping comes as parents in West Des Moines are on high alert after a recent spike in stranger-danger reports. Police tell KCCI they are investigating three suspicious encounters that occurred this month.

Flood Concerns

Concerns that snow melt and spring rain could happen all at once causing flooding are increasing. The ground remains solidly frozen with frost reaching 33 inches, twice the depth normally expected this time of year. That means any rainfall runs off the ground. The later freezing temperatures stay the more likely snowmelt will come as spring rain sets in, which could increase flood chances. The National Weather Service releases its spring flood outlook tomorrow.

Deer Harvest

For the first time since the 1990s, Iowa’s deer harvest has dropped below 100,000. State DNR officials say hunters took just over 99,000 deer last year. in 2013. That’s a drop of 14 percent from 2012. Officials also say the number of hunting licenses issued is also down.

Ames Library

The Ames public library has temporarily closed its doors because most of its staff members are sick. A message on the library's website says it closed today after 25 employees called in sick. State and county public health officials are testing whether norovirus is the cause of the illnesses. And the library is being cleaned and disinfected while it's closed. The Ames library is temporarily housed in a strip mall while the main building undergoes renovations.

Beating Death Sentence

A man convicted of second-degree murder in the beating death of a Des Moines man is going to prison. 18-year-old Kent Anthony Tyler has been sentenced to up to 50 years behind bars for last August's death of 40-year-old Richard Daughenbaugh. Three other men face first-degree murder charges in the case. They're still awaiting trial.

Minimum Wage

Legislation to boost Iowa's minimum wage has gained preliminary approval state Senate.  The bill, which would gradually raise the minimum wage in the state to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.25, won backing in a Senate subcommittee. Supporters say the measure faces major hurdles due to a lack of Republican support.

Iowa v. Indiana Postponed

Tonight's Iowa vs. Indiana game at Indiana has been postponed.  Indiana's VP and Athletics Director Fred Glass says it's a safety issue.  KCCI reports a piece of metal facing, about 8' long, fell from the ceiling of Assembly Hall, damaging several seats.  Engineer want to find out why it fell and make repairs before any events are held.  

Blizzard Watch

A Blizzard Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service. 3 to 7 inches of snow is expected on Thursday, with snow fall rates of one to two inches per hour possible and strong northwest winds that may create blizzard conditions.

Store Closing

A popular Midwest electronics store is getting ready to close its doors...for good.  American TV & Appliance is shutting-down its ten remaining stores in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, including the one in Johnston.  Nearly 1,000 employees are losing their jobs.  A going out of business sale begins on Thursday.

Hy-Vee Pharmacy

Hy-Vee is purchasing a specialty pharmacy based in Omaha. The employee-owned grocery chain based in West Des Moines says it's agreed to acquire Amber Pharmacy, help it expand its pharmacy services for complex cases and for patients dealing with chronic illnesses. Amber will continue to operate independently of Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee operates 235 stores in eight states.

Iowa State Bibles

Iowa State University says it's removing Bibles from a campus hotel's guest rooms ... after a watchdog group argued that it was an illegal endorsement of Christianity by the state-run institution.  The Bibles will be removed from the hotel by March 1st, and placed in the Memorial Union's Browsing Library for lending, where they will be available to any guest.  The school says Bibles in the  guest rooms predate when the university took ownership of the hotel in 2003.

Sex Abuse National Guard

A state senate subcommittee today approved a bill requiring the Iowa National Guard provide an annual report to the legislature on sex abuse allegations reported the previous year.  KCCI reports lawmakers are still working out some details, including whether there should be mandatory reporting of sex abuse allegations to local police.

Snowmobile Injury

The department of natural resources says a 38 year old woman was hurt while snowmobiling on north twin lake in Calhoun county this weekend... KCCI says Jill George was thrown from a snowmobile when she hit a snow drift... she was flown to Iowa Methodist medical center in Des Monies... she had suffered a serious head injury. She was not wearing a helmet, and neither was her passenger, 24 year old Hilary Hansch... the state reportedly says the snowmobile is supposed to be for one person. George is from Clare... Hansch is from fort dodge.

Workforce Training

Des Moines Area Community College is expanding a workforce training program.  The school says it is hiring new trainers, adding sessions and expanding classroom space for its Workforce Training Academy.  The state-funded program offers unemployed and underemployed people short-term training for high-demand careers.

Drake Dinner

A student group at Drake University is expressing concern over the menu at a campus dinner intended to celebrate Black History Month. Tess Montgomery, president of the Coalition of Black Students, tells the Des Moines Register that some African-American students felt embarrassed and patronized by Wednesday night's dinner menu that included fried chicken and collard greens. Montgomery says the menu perpetuated offensive stereotypes. Sodexo, the school's food services provider, has apologized, and is planning a second dinner with the student group.

Ritenour Back In Jail

Alicia Ritenour is back behind bars on $500,000 bond.  The 20-year old Oskaloosa mom is charged with first degree murder in January's death of her 18-month old daughter.  She'd been free on $125,000 bond.  Police say the toddlers body was found in an apartment complex January 24th, and police say she'd been dead for some time.  The child died of trauma to the head. 

Spahic Not Guilty

A Polk County jury found Nermin Spahic not guilty. The 41-year old was charged with third-degree sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation by clergy.  A mother and her 18-year-old daughter alleged they were assault by Spahic during a counseling session at a Johnston home last year.