CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls Police have arrested a man accused of robbing a child and assaulting the child’s mother at Chuck E Cheese. KCRG-TV reports 23-year-old Deonte Jenkins turned himself in. A tip helped police identify Jenkins who was seen on surveillance video taking $85 from the child’s gift bag in May. The camera also caught Jenkins pushing the child’s mother into a wall when she confronted him about the theft. He faces up to 2 years in jail if convicted.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A total of 72 more stores operated by Sears are getting the axe. The Business Insider reports that another 16 Sears stores, 49 Kmart stores and seven auto centers will be closed; most locations by September. The new round of closings is in addition to 180 that were announced earlier this year. The Iowa stores closing are the Kmarts in Marshalltown and Iowa City.
QUAD CITIES (IRN) – Officials in the Quad Cities are looking for a man who fell into the Mississippi River last night. WQAD-TV reports Van Thang was walking along the river, when he said he heard someone screaming for help. He jumped in the river to try to save a six year-old boy and another man. He was able to save the boy, but the man drifted away.
GRIMES, IA (IRN) – The state fire marshal has approved the sale of consumer-grade fireworks in 12 locations across the state, but prospective retailers are having a tough time getting approval. KCCI-TV reports Shooters Fireworks in Grimes has been ready to sell fireworks since the first of the month but their permit hasn’t been approved. Sales have been approved in Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Ottumwa and three locations in Spirit Lake.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Education has ordered Iowa City schools to make changes to the use of seclusion rooms. Those are confined spaces with padded walls. KCRG-TV reports the schools handled a majority of cases properly, but it was found the staff sometimes used those rooms for minor incidents, not for a safety risk.
URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A group of veterans who served in Afghanistan are showing their appreciation to a Vietnam vet. WHO-TV reports a veteran owned company in Urbandale is giving a new roof, free of charge, to a veteran in Carlisle this week. It’s their way of saying thank you, and the couple on the receiving end is grateful. Titan Roofing & Exteriors is hiring veterans to work, and when possible, tries to help a veteran in need of a new roof.