DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Court documents reveal new information in the eighth homicide of 2017 in Des Moines, according to KCCI-TV. James Russell Walden, 60, is charged with the first degree murder of Sheila Ray Keenan. Keenan was struck in the head and upper torso with a blunt object, ultimately causing her death. A witness saw Walden washing blood from his hands. He told the witness, “I had to knock her out because she was in my pockets.”

JACKSON JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement is investigating the killing of a bald eagle in Winneshiek County. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the state and federally protected bird was found March 3 in a ditch four miles north of the Turkey Valley Community School. The eagle had been shot to death.

DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A jury found Imere Hall guilty of murder and first-degree robbery in a fatal shooting in the small town of Key West in Dubuque County. KCRG-TV reports Hall was one of several people who broke into Collin Brown’s home at a trailer park last April. Someone shot and killed Brown when he tried to run away. Hall faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa House has approved a gun bill that includes an anywhere stand-your-ground provision and allows citizens to sue local governments that impose weapons restrictions. KCCI-TV reports it would allow children under age 14 to use handguns with parental supervision and allow weapons on the Capitol grounds.

SEYMOUR, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service reports at least ten tornadoes hit Iowa Monday evening. Perhaps the most serious damage occurred in the Wayne County town of Seymour. Two houses were completely destroyed, and many others suffered significant damage. The Seymour School Building took a direct hit, with windows blown out and the gym roof destroyed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Over the weekend, people in Texas and all over the world learned they need to head to Iowa if they want to get a great plate of barbecue. WHO-TV reports Des Moines’ own Smokey D’s claimed another major barbecue title Saturday, being named the overall grand champion at the Rodeo Houston World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. The restaurant also won for best ribs.