BOONE, IA (IRN) – Two 14-year-olds and an 11-year-old were charged with torching nine Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency buses. It happened on November 20th in Boone. Nine HIRTA buses were damaged or destroyed in the fire. All three were turned over to juvenile court to face charges.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A woman was arrested after she hit a teenager with her vehicle and fled the scene. KCCI-TV reports on Thursday the Clive Police Department arrested Nicole Marie Poole Franklin, 42, of Des Moines, on a charge of attempted murder. A 14-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk to school for a basketball game when she was hit by a vehicle that left the roadway. The teen suffered a number of injuries. Investigators say it was an intentional act.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale grandmother is facing charges after she allegedly left her two grandchildren by themselves at an apartment. Officers responded to the call and found a 1-year-old and 3-year-old alone. Ten minutes later, Elizabeth Toujlah came home and told officers she went to a nearby grocery store to buy medicine and milk. She said she didn’t want to take her grandchildren out in the cold. She’s in jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former executive with the Metro Waste Authority is accused of stealing nearly two million dollars from the organization using a series of sham companies.
State Auditor Rob Sand announced the results of the investigation into MWA finances on Thursday. Sand’s office found that former MWA Director of Operations Jeff Dworek was responsible for “improper disbursements” of $1.83 million dollars. The FBI is also investigating.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines school principal apologized after coming under attack Thursday on social media from parents and others for taking pizzas away from a classroom of kids being rewarded by their teacher before the holiday break. One parent called the principle a “Grinch.” The principal said he was just trying to be fair to all students.