MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake man has taken a plea deal to avoid a kidnapping trial. Thyago Silva Miranda, 31, was accused of abducting a woman on December 19, 2021. Police say he slammed the woman against the side of his car and then forced her inside. The woman was released somewhere north of Manly in Worth County in 20 degree weather after Miranda took her cell phone. He was initially charged with third-degree kidnapping but pleaded guilty to domestic abuse assault causing mental distress. Miranda has been sentenced to 74 days in the Cerro Gordo County Jail and fined $855.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man argued with construction workers over road work Thursday before hitting one of the workers with his car. 66-year-old Bruce Schutte pulled up to a ‘road closed’ sign and tried to move it out of the way. Workers confronted Schutte, who told them to move, or he would run them over. Schutte got back in his car and accelerated toward a worker and then allegedly hit him, leaving him with injuries to his knee, hip, and elbow. Schutte took off but was later taken into custody by police.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former refugees from Bosnia in Iowa are helping refugees who just arrived from Afghanistan. The Bosniak American Association of Iowa and Des Moines Refugee Support collected food and hygiene products for Afghan refugees at the Ezan Mosque Sunday. Volunteers immediately delivered the food to the refugees in need across Iowa.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Saturday was the first day of the last season for Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque. The track is one of only four in the country, but in just a few weeks, that number will be down to three.

IOWA (IRN) – Easter snow stuck around Central Iowa most of the day Sunday, leading to a gray and dreary holiday. The snow, which at times mixed with rain, kept temperatures down in the low 30s most of the afternoon. Warmer ground temperatures were able to keep roads clear in all but the heaviest snow showers. In a few cases, some light accumulations were reported, generally around an inch, though New Virginia did report several 2 to 3.5 inch totals.