IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested in a case where an Iowa City woman awoke while being sexually assaulted in her own home. KCRG-TV reports 47-year-old Robert Bryant’s charges were based on a DNA analysis. He faces charges of burglary and sexual abuse.
SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa woman has been imprisoned for duping dozens of people into buying nonexistent tickets to the Super Bowl and other big events. The Sioux City Journal reports that Ranae Van Roekel, of Boyden, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and to pay nearly $470,000 in restitution. Van Roekel was a self-employed ticket broker who ran the business Get ’em Now Tickets.
MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – In a meeting that only lasted three minutes, Muscatine’s City Council voted unanimously to remove Mayor Diana Broderson from office. She becomes the first Iowa mayor to be impeached. WQAD-TV reports the city’s attorney says Broderson has misused her power to obtain personal benefits and that her actions have cost the city about $100,000. Broderson says that’s not true, and she’ll see the council in court.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Public Library has removed cameras from its bathrooms, according to KCRG-TV. It happened before Gov. Branstad signed a bill Thursday that bans such cameras in restrooms in government buildings. The library installed the cameras in 2007 to prevent theft and increase safety, but some argued they were an invasion of privacy. Lawmakers took up the bill after the ACLU of Iowa filed a complaint.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are seeing an increase in “ghost” calls to 911, especially from Apple Watches, according to KCCI-TV. “Ghost” calls are made by accident. Apple Watches have a feature that makes it easy to dial 911 by holding down a button. Police say it happens 10-20 times a day, and they take each call seriously. They say if you do happen to make such a call, please stay on the line and tell the dispatcher it was a mistake.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa baseball program will honor the 45th anniversary of the 1972 College World Series team prior to today’s series opener against Ohio State. KWWL-TV reports the Hawkeyes went 25-17 and advanced to the College World Series for the first and only time in program history. Twenty-six members of the 1972 team will be in attendance for a reunion.