PRESTON, IA (IRN) – An apparent explosion destroyed a home in Jackson County early Thursday morning. The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports law enforcement officials are declining to release any information about the incident, but nearby residents say they believe at least one person was injured.
CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A former cleaning crew member has pleaded guilty to stealing cash from sympathy cards and other items from desks at Cedar Falls City Hall. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that shortly after 37-year-old Vikki Lee Laws was sentenced to two years of probation in the City Hall thefts, she was arrested for allegedly using another person’s ATM card. Laws was charged with second-degree theft and identity theft.
WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s time for Confederate flags to come down. Calls to remove the flag from the South Carolina State House came after nine people were shot to death at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston last week. KCII-radio reports that Grassley says the flag is a symbol of hatred and may be historical but it doesn’t lend itself to the future.
UTE, IA (IRN) – Authorities say the pilot of an ultralight aircraft has been hospitalized after crashing into a western Iowa cornfield. KCCI-TV reports the accident occurred early Wednesday, about five miles northeast of Ute in Crawford County. Authorities say it appears the aircraft was caught in a downdraft, and estimate that the pilot, 27-year-old Brian Borkowski, of Irwin, plummeted 50 to 60 feet as his aircraft went down.
IOWA CITY, IA – Iowa City police have arrested an Iowa City man they say was attacking women in a park. KCRG-TV reports the police department took five reports from women who described being accosted by a man. The victims reported the suspect would ride past them on a bicycle, then approach them from behind and grab them. The suspect, 44-year-old Anthony M. Long, was identified when police used a plain clothes female officer in the area.
CENTRAL IOWA (IRN) – Severe thunderstorms hit central Iowa Wednesday night. West of the Des Moines metro, Raccoon Valley Radio reports golf ball sized hail, several tornadic funnel clouds, and winds in excess of 70 mph. WHO-TV reports in Clive, the city evacuated residents of an apartment complex, and in Indianola, officials prepared to evacuate a trailer park due to flooding. Flood warnings continue in much of central Iowa.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a laser strike on a Delta aircraft flying into the Des Moines Airport on Tuesday night. KCCI-TV reports the pilot said a bright green laser light burst into the cockpit, possibly coming from the ground near the Iowa State Capitol building. The pilot was able to steer the craft away from the threat, which is intended to cause pilots eye damage.
EVANSDALE, IA (IRN) – At least two people were hurt when part of a building under construction collapsed in Evansdale in Black Hawk County Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports it happened Wednesday afternoon as crews were working on building a new gas station. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.
OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and willful injury in Ottumwa. Earlier this month, the Ottumwa Police Department received a report that a male victim was assaulted and held against his will. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 38-year-old Fredrick Grace Jr. of Ottumwa, who is charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury.