MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa parolee accused of embezzlement has taken a plea deal. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 45-year-old Julie Fingalsen pled guilty to theft as a habitual offender. Prosecutors dropped a forgery charge in exchange for Fingalsen’s plea. She forged and deposited or cashed more than a dozen checks while working for a law office, $41,000 while working for a chiropractor, and $50,000 while working for an optometrist.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman was taken to the hospital with severe burns this morning after an explosion. Fire crews believe it may have been caused by a gas leak. The woman was the only person home at the time, and the fire was contained to the home.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Boone. Witnesses say a man was threatening people with a gun about 11 PM Monday. When the man was confronted by police, he drew a gun. Officers ordered him to drop the gun numerous times, but he refused. He raised his arm and took aim at the officers. Officers fired their weapons, hitting the man. He died later from his injuries.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Mason City police say someone stole a rifle and shotgun from an unmarked police vehicle over the weekend. KCRG-TV reports an officer had placed the weapons on the back seat while dealing with a maintenance issue related to the trunk, and one of the doors may have been unlocked. The weapons stolen were a Colt M-16 A1 rifle and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun. Rounds of ammunition also were stolen.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – An inmate who escaped from the Newton Correctional Release Center Monday is back in custody. WHO-TV reports 31-year-old Timothy Formaro Jr. was discovered missing during a routine count Monday night. Following a search of the facility, it was determined Formaro had escaped. He is serving a 25 year sentence for prohibited acts and domestic abuse assault. Formaro was located around 2:30 a.m. and taken into custody.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man is accused of trying to hire an undercover state agent to murder a business associate and his family. KWWL-TV reports police have arrested 36-year-old Justin DeWitt, of North Liberty. DeWitt offered payment to the agent to complete the murders. He faces four counts of attempted murder and solicitation to commit murder. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 140 years in prison.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he has no intention of becoming Donald Trump’s running mate. KCRG-TV reports when asked at his weekly news conference whether he’d consider joining a Trump ticket he declined to answer with an emphatic no, but said he didn’t want to get into that type of speculation. He says he’s honored to serve the people of Iowa. Branstad’s 40-year-old son, Eric, is Trump’s state director in Iowa.