DUNLAP, IA (IRN) – Officials pulled a man’s body from a western Iowa sand pit hours after the dump truck he was driving drove into water in the pit. KETV reports rescue workers were called Thursday morning to Hallett Materials in Harrison County just south of Dunlap for reports of a missing truck and driver. Crews discovered the truck submerged in the sand pit under ice and water. The driver was trapped inside the truck, where he died.
FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A 35-year-old Burlington resident has been given 50 years for killing a man whose body was found in a southeast Iowa park. KCRG-TV reports Joseph Mayorga Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder. Mayorga shot 47-year-old James Nelson, whose body was found Feb. 11 last year. It’s not clear whether Nelson was shot there or was killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the park.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Senate budget committee approved a plan Thursday to cut $52 million from the state budget. Almost half of the proposed cut would come from Iowa’s higher education. The University of Iowa, Iowa State and the UNI would lose $19.3 million, while another $5.4 million would come from Iowa’s community college budget. Other severe cuts are to the court system, and human services.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines family escaped a house fire without major injuries thanks to a passing UPS driver, according to KCCI-TV. The driver spotted smoke coming from the home yesterday and knocked on the door to alert the two family members inside. One was sleeping in the basement. They are OK.
SPENCER, IA (IRN) – Boys on a northwest Iowa high school basketball team were met with racist chants by students from a rival team Friday night, according to the Storm Lake Times. The Storm Lake Tornadoes traveled to Spencer to play against the Tigers, but some in the Spencer student section chanted taunts against the Storm Lake players, such as “go back to where you came from.” Storm Lake is 84% minority, while Spencer is predominately white.
OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A woman is facing a felony charge after she brought a Taser into the Wapello County Jail hidden in her bra. KTVO-TV reports 24-year-old Rosa Snyder of Des Moines was arrested Monday for shoplifting at Walgreens in Ottumwa. Arresting officers asked Snyder if she was carrying any contraband, and she said no. When guards inside the jail asked her the same question, Snyder told them she was carrying a Taser in her bra.