DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Court of Appeals is affirming a district court’s denial of Mark Becker’s application for post-conviction relief. KWWL-TV reports Mark Becker was found guilty of the first-degree murder in the 2009 death of Aplington-Parkersburg teacher and head football coach Ed Thomas. Becker claims his legal team was ineffective for several reasons, including they failed to file for a motion of a change of venue due to pretrial publicity. The appeals court disagrees, saying Becker’s legal counsel was effective.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Several residents of a twelve-unit apartment building in Cedar Rapids jumped from second story windows to escape a fire in Cedar Rapids yesterday. KCRG-TV reports six or seven people stretched out a blanket to help break the fall of those jumping. All injuries were minor, and officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of Des Moines residents could be missing their mail after someone broke into a mail truck. KCCI-TV reports the the thief or thieves broke into a locked mail truck Monday morning stealing an estimated 600-700 letters, small packages and personal items. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects involved in the break-in. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.

IOWA (IRN) – Authorities are warning Iowans to avoid being taken by a scam that has been making its way across the state. The scammers are with a group called Warrior Box Marketing, and they come knocking at your door and say they are seeking donations for soldiers. Don’t be fooled. It’s a scam.

IOWA (IRN) – Seven tornadoes touched down yesterday in Iowa as a tornado watch covered more than a third of the state. The National Weather Service reports tornadoes were confirmed north of Perry in Dallas County, near Paton and Scranton in Greene County, near New Providence and Hubbard in Hardin County, and two between Chillicothe and Eddyville in Mahaska and Wapello counties. There were no reports of injuries.