MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A semi overturned in Cerro Gordo County Wednesday morning, killing numerous hogs. KIMT-TV reports that 30-year-old Jon Gardner of Grand Meadow, Minnesota, was hauling a load of hogs westbound when he tried to turn north in a rural part of the county. The semi’s trailer entered the ditch, which caused both semi and trailer to overturn. Gardner, who was not injured, has been cited for failure to maintain control.
DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is responding to a probable case of avian flu in Wright County. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. The site is a commercial layer with an estimated 1 million birds.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Eastern Iowa Airport was shut down for nearly 2 hours this morning after someone called in a bomb threat. KGAN-TV reports the threat was made around 3:30am. The airport was shut down and police responded to help conduct a search for explosives. Nothing was found and the airport reopened for normal business around 5:00am. Police took a suspect into custody but have not released their name or a list of the charges against them.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Federal prosecutors want a former Des Moines police officer to spend up to eight years behind bars. WHO-TV reports that in March, a jury found Colin Boone guilty of unreasonable use of force. Boone kicked a man in the face during a traffic stop in 2013. He was fired from the department later that year. His sentencing is set for Monday.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Two Council Bluffs residents have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. The Southern District of Iowa Court announced Tuesday that 20-year-old Ruben Toledo Jr., has been sentenced to 84 months in prison. Oscar Arriaga Martinez, a 25 year-old citizen of Mexico who resided in Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 135 months in prison. Both were convicted of drug trafficking in Iowa and Nebraska.
PELLA, IA (IRN) – A Central College Professor is involved in a pending court case for alleged sexual abuse in Colorado in 2001 and 2002. Facing charges is Joshua Dolezal, 39, a faculty member in the English Department of the Pella college. The Dolezal family has been in the news this week. Joshua’s sister, Rachel Dolezal, has faced criticism as a leader in the NAACP for claiming that she is black, while her parents claim she is white. Joshua Dolezal’s alleged crimes are against an adopted family member. His parents and a brother are defending him, saying the allegations are untrue.
GARWIN, IA (IRN) – The former City Clerk of Garwin has been arrested by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Anna Lori Leytham, 51, of Garwin has been charged with five counts of Theft in the 1st Degree and one count of Ongoing Criminal Conduct. An audit revealed that Leytham has allegedly embezzled over $600,000.
HENRY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – There may be someone impersonating a law enforcement official in Henry County. KCII radio reports that the Henry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report from a female who was pulled over in rural Henry County Monday afternoon. She was pulled over by a black and white vehicle with the word “Police” on it. It also had blue and red flashing lights on the dash and a spotlight. The impersonator returned to his vehicle after questioning the driver about her expired registration, which in fact was not expired.
WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bomb squad was called to the parking lot at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines Tuesday. WHO-TV reports that several suspicious packages were found outside the Younkers store. The bomb squad x-rayed the boxes and determined that they contained clothing.