WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating an overnight robbery at a Waterloo home, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. The victim told police the suspects entered his home and beat him with a pistol. The attackers then fled with cash.
CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – The coordinator of a Clear Lake animal shelter was taken to jail Monday for refusing to release a dog to its owner. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports 57-year-old Debbie Kern was ordered by a judge to turn over the dog, but she refused, believing it had been abandoned and abused. The shelter later obeyed the judge’s order.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The businessman picked as the next University of Iowa president had visited campus two months earlier at the invitation of the presidential search committee chair, according to KCCI-TV. Bruce Harreld’s visit raises more questions about whether he was given special treatment during the search. Critics say Harreld is unqualified but the Iowa Board of Regents hired him anyway.
BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Following a power outage Saturday night, the city of Burlington discharged partially treated wastewater to the Mississippi River, according to the Iowa DNR. When a breaker tripped, the power loss shut off all pumps causing partially treated wastewater to overflow. 27,000 gallons discharged to the river before pumping resumed. The same breaker tripped on Aug. 8, causing a wastewater discharge of 22,000 gallons.
DELAWARE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 20-year-old has died following a fiery crash in Delaware County Monday. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the 20-year-old was driving on Highway 38 south of Greeley and hit a silage chopper. The car caught fire and the driver died at the scene. The driver’s name has not been released. The other driver suffered minor injuries.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An in-home camera feed revealed a caretaker was physically abusing one of his patients. The Des Moines Register reports Benjamin Songol, 30, was arrested Sunday on a charge of wanton neglect of a dependent adult. Video shows Songol slapping a 20-year-old patient who requires 24-hour care. The patient has the mental capacity of a two-year-old. Songol works for The Homestead, an organization that works with people with autism.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Before the next legislative session begins, some Iowa lawmakers will explore the idea of building a tobacco-free casino in Cedar Rapids. KWWL-TV reports three members of the Iowa House and three members of the Senate will serve on a legislative interim commission. The commission will meet this fall and prepare a recommendation, if any, to be submitted to the 2016 Iowa Legislature.
DES MOINES (IRN) – President Obama visited North High School in Des Moines Monday to share his mission to put more kids in college. KCCI-TV reports Obama went to North to make the point that struggling schools can get better. He also shared improvements that have been made to simplify the college loan process, and a proposal to offer free college tuition by eliminating some corporate tax loopholes.