IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Illinois woman is accused of assaulting a man with a fence post and pepper spray, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The victim and a witness told police that 22-year-old Sashonia D. Brown, of South Holland, Ill., had gotten in a fight with the victim over a relationship dispute. Brown faces charges of assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief and providing false information.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Terry Branstad has been under pressure from Iowa House and Senate Republican legislators to eliminate all government funding for Planned Parenthood, including for programs that provide non-abortion services. The Des Moines Register reports Branstad said Tuesday he doesn’t have legal authority to strip Planned Parenthood of taxpayer funding and any effort to do so would probably result in state officials being sued and losing in court.
NORTHWOOD, IA (IRN) – A 61-year-old Minnesota man has been accused of stealing from his employer in northern Iowa. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Duane Hansen, of Twin Lakes, Minnesota, is charged with felony theft for stealing at least $13,000 from BP Jo Stop in Northwood over the past two years. Hansen told an investigator that he’d taken $125 to $200 each week from the store.
GLENWOOD, IA (IRN) – No arrests have been reported after an altercation in which the Glenwood Community High School principal and his stepson were injured and another man shot. The Des Moines Register reports the incident involved three juvenile girls and six adults. The adults included the principal, Richard Hutchinson; his stepson, Hurl Beechum; and Colton McDaniel, who was shot. All three were treated at a hospital.
ATLANTIC, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist was killed Saturday on Interstate 80 near Atlantic. Three others were hurt as they escorted the remains of a fellow veteran to Nebraska. WHO-TV reports Bill Henry, the man being honored, was part of a motorcycle procession escorting remains to Arlington National Cemetery when he was killed. In tragic coincidence, 38-year-old Ryan Lossing, in a ride honoring Henry, died the same way.
DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines woman says a trip to get groceries Saturday ended with her daughter nearly getting abducted. WOI-TV reports the woman stopped at a grocery store and left her dog and 10-year-old daughter in the car with the windows cracked. While she was inside, a man grabbed her daughter’s hair through the open window telling her to get out of the car. The man ran off and police are still looking for him.
SPENCER, IA (IRN) – The DNR is investigating a fish kill running about 20 miles along Stoney Creek northwest of Spencer. The fish kill was reported north of Everly Monday morning, but residents in the area said they’d been seeing dead fish over the weekend. DNR staff has not identified the pollutant source, but believe it is from fertilizer or animal manure because of elevated ammonia levels found just west of Spencer.
DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The city of Davenport is trying something new to help keep city streams clean–a giant litter trap. The 20-foot-long trap is on Duck Creek and it catches floating debris. It floats on top of the water and rises and falls with changing water levels. The debris is then removed as often as need be and disposed of. The trap has already caught things like propane tanks, volleyballs, and basketballs among other litter.