DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The man accused of getting drunk and colliding with a utility vehicle, killing four boys, has asked the judge for a sentence of no more than 10 years. KWWL-TV reports Joseph Connolly, 25, faces four counts of vehicular homicide by operating under the influence, four counts of vehicular homicide by driving recklessly and other charges. He was driving a pickup last August when he ran through a stop sign and hit the vehicle near Epworth.
CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – Those in the area of a water treatment facility near downtown Clear Lake were evacuated on account of a chlorine leak Friday morning. KIMT-TV reports the Mason City Hazmat team was called in to assess the situation. A noticeable scent of chlorine was in the air, and no injuries were reported.
CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A Coralville woman is accused of racking up nearly $20,000 in fraudulent charges on her grandparents’ credit cards. KCRG-TV reports over the course of two months, 32-year-old Leslie A. Cady used her grandparents’ credit cards to buy merchandise and online games, rent motel rooms and obtain cash advance withdrawals. Cady’s unauthorized purchases totaled nearly $20,000. She faces 10 years in prison on two felony charges.
FRUITLAND, IA (IRN) – A train derailed early this morning near the Muscatine County town of Fruitland, according to KWQC-TV. Officials with Canadian Pacific Railroad say six cars turned on their side. Five cars were carrying automobiles and one was empty. No one was injured and the cause is under investigation.
OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Authorities pursued a man who ran away from a halfway house to a cornfield north of Ottumwa Wednesday. According to KCCI-TV, Christopher Showalter, 36, escaped two weeks ago. Showalter assaulted his ex-girlfriend Tuesday and ran into a 130-acre cornfield. Dozens of squad cars, a helicopter, a fire ladder truck and two planes searched the field until Showalter was caught eight hours later.
WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man who was living in the country illegally was sentenced to more than a year in federal prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa says 34-year-old Alejandro Paredes-Barradas had been deported back to Mexico in 2007 after three convictions for operating while intoxicated and other charges, but returned to the country.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa is receiving criticism for hiring a part-time, out-of-state public relations representative to work three days a week; for $20,000 per month. The University of Iowa tells WHO-TV it has contracted for six months with Terri Goren of Goren and Associates in Atlanta to oversee the Communication and Marketing divisions. Students are not happy.
MOUNT PLEASANT, IA (IRN) – Iowa Wesleyan College is becoming Iowa Wesleyan University, according to College President Steve Titus. The guiding vision for the change is for the institution to become the regional comprehensive University for the people of southeast Iowa.