POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The trial of a Bondurant man charged with the murders of his family has been scheduled. 21-year-old Chase Nicholson will go to trial July 17 for the murders of his father, mother, and sister. Nicholson’s parents Mark and Charla, and sister Tawni, were found dead in their home on April 6th. He has admitted to using a shotgun to kill them.
MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa man has been accused of stealing from his employer, according to KIMT-TV. 31-year-old Joel Phillip Pals of Belmond was arrested Wednesday and charged with 2nd degree theft and two counts of forgery. Police say he created false sales contracts while working as a salesman for Advanced Systems Inc. in Mason City. He also allegedly forged customer signatures on two occasions, resulting in thefts of over $5,400.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A fire in a multiple story apartment building in Des Moines killed three people Thursday, and others suffered serious injuries. KCCI-TV reports it’s unclear what caused the fire, but officials say the blaze was strongest near the top of the apartments. Fire crews rescued ten people trapped in the building.
DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A teacher who’s worked with the Dubuque School District for nearly 20 years is now on paid leave following his arrest. KCRG-TV reports 46-year-old Douglas Spahn faces charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Spahn says he uses marijuana to treat his back pain. He’s a wellness teacher and football coach at Hempstead High School.
OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Iowa tight end Noah Fant, a Nebraska native, was threatened with a handgun in a park in Omaha, according to KETV. The 19-year-old Fant said someone pointed a gun at him and demanded he leave the area. Police later saw an intoxicated Matthew Trimble run into his garage when he saw a police cruiser. Trimble admitted confronting Fant, and has been charged with terroristic threats and having a gun in a prohibited place.
HAMBURG, IA (IRN) – On August 21 there will be a total solar eclipse in the midwest. The eclipse will be less than total across much of Iowa. However, WHO-TV reports the total eclipse can be viewed from a small triangle of southwest Iowa in Hamburg. In Nebraska and Missouri they are preparing to welcome lots of visitors who want to experience a total eclipse. That’s not the case in Hamburg, where residents say it will be business as usual.