DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One man is dead and one man has been arrested for first degree murder after a shooting Thursday night in Davenport, according to KWQC-TV. The victim is identified as 29-year-old Brandon Smith. Police say 18-year-old Quantrell McDaniel was charged with shooting Smith after a confrontation outside a convenience store.
INDEPENDENCE, MO (IRN) – A class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of anyone who bought diesel-engine Volkswagens in Iowa, according to KWWL-TV. A Missouri law firm filed the lawsuit on behalf of a Missouri man who bought a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta from a dealership in Iowa City. It follows similar lawsuits filed in other states this week after Volkswagen acknowledged rigging emissions technology on its diesel vehicles to pass air-quality tests.
ELKADER, IA (IRN) – A restructuring at Caterpillar raises worries that Iowa equipment manufacturers might be impacted. The Des Moines Register reports the Peoria, Ill.-based construction and mining equipment manufacturer plans to slash 10,000 workers from its payroll. It’s weighing closing 20 or more facilities. Caterpillar has one plant in Iowa, a facility in Elkader that manufactures excavator buckets and employs about 35 workers.
COUNCIL BLUFF, IA (IRN) – Two greyhounds that compete at Bluffs Run Greyhound Park in Council Bluffs have tested positive for a potential performance-enhancing drug. The Daily Nonpareil reports two dogs tested positive for ractopamine, a drug usually administered to livestock that can increase muscle mass, open airways for oxygenation and decrease fat.
MINGO, IA (IRN) – A Jasper County family is homeless after a morning fire on Thursday, according to WOI-TV. Firefighters were called out to Mingo for an apparent electrical fire. Only one person was inside the house when the fire started, although the family says they still can’t find a cat. The Red Cross is giving the family a place to stay.
DES MOINES (IRN) – A teen has been charged with assaulting a police officer on a Des Moines street Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the 16-year-old boy had just run away from a mental health services center when he walked up to the officer and punched him in the head. The officer suffered a severe cut above his eye. After he was subdued, the teen said he wanted to shoot the officer and then planned to walk to a bridge to jump off and kill himself.
SOLON, IA (IRN) – Tens of thousands of dollars were misused by an eastern Iowa fire department, according to a state audit. State Auditor Mary Mosiman released a report Tuesday, revealing over $67,000 worth of funds were improperly handled by the Solon Volunteer Fire Department. Among expenses were stag parties, alcohol, and gift cards. KWWL-TV reports that regardless of the findings people in Solon are saying they support their fire department.
NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Newton Police have located two suspects wanted in a string of burglaries. WHO-TV reports 16-year-old Adam Joe Halterman Jr. and 17-year-old Daniel Wallace have been identified as the burglars. Wallace says they were just hanging out one day when the idea came to them to break into people’s homes and steal what was inside. The plan was to sell the items to people on Facebook. Wallace says in retrospect it was a “stupid” idea.