OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A former Omaha school teacher and softball coach accused of child sexual assault has taken a plea deal. KETV-TV reports that 47-year-old Daryl Clark of Crescent, Iowa pled no contest Monday to enticement by electronic device and to attempted visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors had already dropped three counts of child sexual assault when they determined the girl had been 16, the age of sexual consent in Nebraska.
WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Firefighters were called to Valley West Mall in West Des Moines early Tuesday morning according to WHO-TV. A fire alarm at the mall’s Younkers store went off around 5:00 a.m. and when fire crews arrived there was smoke in the building. A fire was discovered in the mechanical room and was quickly put out.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The man charged for the murder of a cab driver in Iowa City has now been charged with the murder of a bail bondsman. KGAN-TV reports 41-year-old Curtis Jones has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of 34-year-old Jonathan Wieseler, in addition to the previous murder charge. Jones was granted parole a year ago on a burglary charge, despite a parole officer deeming him a high risk to commit more violent crimes.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Denison children are safe after officials issued a statewide Amber Alert Monday. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said 12-year-old Beyonce Carrasco and 13-year-old Rodolfo Penaflor Jr. left Denison in the middle of the night in Penaflor’s mother’s car. KCCI-TV reports Penaflor threatened to harm Carrasco and himself. Police stopped them on I-235 in Des Moines.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Ten people were killed in highway construction work zones so far this year, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The 10 deaths include three road construction workers, and it’s the second consecutive year with above average fatalities. Last year, 13 people died in work zone crashes, including one road construction worker. Iowa has averaged 655 work zone accidents annually over the past decade and 6.8 fatalities per year.
GRANDVIEW, IA (IRN) – A man from the southeastern Iowa town of Grandview is one of the final twelve contestants on the television show “The Voice.” KWQC-TV reports Adam Cunningham’s parents started a gospel group when Adam was eight years old and would travel to different cities, singing at banquets, churches, and more. His parents say they are excited for him, and proud of him.