AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames house fire this morning that caused thousands of dollars in damages remains under investigation, according to KCCI-TV. Authorities said nobody was home during the fire and that residents of a neighboring duplex were evacuated without injury. Firefighters said $30,000 in damages to the building have rendered the home uninhabitable.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs high school band teacher has been arrested on accusations that he engaged in sexual activity with one of his female students, who is now 17.
The Des Moines Register reports Frederick Mendell, 56, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – Five people were taken to the hospital following crashes early Thursday morning on I-80 near the exit for Tiffin. Around 2:30 a.m., one driver made a U-turn from I-80 west to I-80 east after missing the off ramp. As he made the cross, he was broadsided by another vehicle. Both vehicles flipped and landed on their roofs. As troopers were investigating, a semi rear-ended another semi that was waiting in stopped traffic.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A Boone County man who couldn’t speak called 911 for a medical emergency Wednesday, yet first responders couldn’t find him because his flip phone was too old for police to track. WHO-TV reports the 78-year-old caller was able to confirm his address after several hours had passed, and first responders were able to get him to the hospital.

ALLEN PARK, MI (IRN) – Two former Hawkeye tight ends went in the first round of the NFL Draft yesterday. The Detroit Lions selected tight end T.J. Hockenson with the No. 8 overall pick and the Denver Broncos selected Noah Fant with the 20th pick. The two became the first tight end teammates ever selected in the first round of the draft.