RUNNELLS, IA (IRN) – A Runnells man and a Minnesota woman face charges in a human trafficking case. KCCI-TV reports 50-year-old Michael Lee Williams of Runnells and 48-year-old Cynthia Mitteness of Mayer, Minnesota have been charged. The abuse was discovered by the father of a 9-year-old female Minnesota resident after he saw alarming social media messages between his wife, Cynthia Mitteness and Michael Williams regarding abuse of the child.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is closing two driver’s license stations and seven maintenance garages because of reduced funding from the Iowa Legislature. KCRG-TV reports the changes do not include layoffs, but 67 open positions will be permanently removed. The driver’s license stations closings are in Spencer and Carroll. The maintenance garages are in Sabula, Akron, Soldier, Corning, Gowrie, Rock Valley, and Centerville.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A store clerk’s unexpected scream foiled a robber’s plans in Des Moines Monday, according to KCCI-TV. A man approached the walk-up window at the Southside Tobacco & Liquor and asked for two cigarette cartons. When the clerk came back with them, the man pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her demanding money. She screamed “he has a gun,” and the man ran away.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new gas station chain is coming to Iowa, according to the Des Moines Business Record. Brookwood Financial Partners announced that it will acquire 21 convenience stores in Iowa from Kum & Go. The new gas station brand will be called Yesway.
The company plans to have 31 stores in Iowa and plans to grow to up to 1,000 stores in the Midwest.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The man who led Cedar Rapids police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash that killed a city employee and Palo firefighter will spend up to 40 years in prison. KCRG-TV reports on Monday, a judge sentenced 48-year-old Lawson Chadwick for homicide by vehicle while under the influence of meth, among other charges.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A small Confederate flag on Rep. Steve King’s desk at the U.S. Capitol is sparking criticism, according to KCCI-TV. Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, called King’s actions “anti-Iowa,” as “Iowa fought on the Union side,” and says that “the Confederate flag is a symbol of division and slavery.” Governor Branstad agrees. Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann says he’s “embarrassed,” and “disgusted,” by the display.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (IRN) – Former ISU basketball star Georges Niang has signed a three year contract worth $2.6 million dollars with the Indiana Pacers, according to KWWL-TV. The first year is fully guaranteed at $650,000. Niang has played in five summer league games so far with the Pacers, averaging more than ten points and six rebounds a game.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A 6-year-old boy from Waukee thought police officers in town might be sad because of the shootings of officers in Dallas, and decided to do something to make them happy. WHO-TV reports Brendan Bowman used the money the Tooth Fairy gave him to buy donuts for police officers because he wanted them to know he was thinking about them. Chief John Quinn says the entire department was “touched” by the boys gift.