AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames man has been charged with child endangerment, first-degree arson and domestic assault with injury.  KCCI-TV reports Margarito Hernandez, 39, put gasoline on a kitchen stove and lit it. The house filled with smoke and gas, while he hit his wife in the head several times. Three children were inside the home during the assault.

WEVER, IA (IRN) – The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bomb threat at the Iowa Fertilizer Plant in Wever on Thursday.  KHQA-TV reports no bomb was found. The message was inscribed on the wall of a port-a-potty.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Police have released the name of the woman who died after being attacked in downtown Dubuque Tuesday. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Nancy Krapfl, 66, of Dubuque, was the victim of sexual assault and murder. Helmon Betwell, 19, told police that she “was in the wrong place at the wrong time” and he attacked her because “there was nothing better to do.”

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A 26-year-old Sioux City man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and beating her with a hammer. The Sioux City Journal reports Russom Katem pled guilty to second-degree burglary, assault while participating in a felony and domestic abuse assault with a dangerous weapon. Katem struck her several times in the head when she refused to have sex with him.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man is dead after he jumped into the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids Thursday night, according to KGAN-TV. Officers say the man crashed an SUV on 2nd Avenue before leaping into the river. Firefighters were able to pull the body out of the water, but the person died. His name has not been released.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – The Waukee School District is on edge after receiving two bomb threats in three days, according to WHO-TV. On both Monday and Wednesday students from Waukee High School and Prairieview School were placed on lockdown.  On Thursday some parents were not willing to send their children back to school. Those behind the threats face a felony terrorism charge and a 5-year prison sentence.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – The Mason City Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted man. KIMT-TV reports 22-year-old Valentine John Flores of Mason City is wanted for first-degree robbery.  Mason City resident William Whipple reported to police that he had been robbed. When police responded, Whipple was found unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) –  (KWWL) – The University of Iowa has a new president. KWWL-TV reports Bruce Harreld, a former executive at IBM, Kraft Foods and Boston Market was named to the position Thursday afternoon. University faculty and students considered the businessman the least qualified of all finalists because of his lack of experience in University administration. Harreld’s contract is for five years, and he will make $590,000 a year.