CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Former Vice President Mike Pence will join Iowa Senator Joni Ernst for an event in Des Moines on Saturday. Pence is expected to speak on foreign policy at the Bastion Institute Panel. Many expect Pence to announce a 2024 presidential run at some point. He has not formally made that announcement.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former pastor at a church in Des Moines has been arrested for allegedly trying to force a woman in his congregation into an intimate relationship. Jose Artero, 47, is charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. Artero showed up drunk at the residence of a 20-year-old female congregation member in November and exposed himself. The woman was able to push him out the door and call police.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Altoona police have charged a woman with first-degree murder for the shooting death of John Killen. Forty-three-year-old Marique Ruth, of Altoona, is charged with the crime. Forty-one-year-old Killen was shot in his home in August. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a 58-39 vote, the Iowa House passed Gov. Kim Reynolds’ nearly 1,600-page government restructuring plan on Wednesday. The bill passed the Iowa Senate last week. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk where she is expected to sign it into law.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Ahead of the University of Iowa and Auburn NCAA tournament game, a Cedar Rapids brewery is getting national attention as the beer for the Hawkeyes. For the last 3-years, “The Athletic” sports website reached out to breweries near all of the NCAA tournament teams and asked the brewer to pick the one beer they’d drink through the whole tournament as part of its NCAA Beer Guide. Ely Nano brewery’s House Divided was chosen in this year’s bracket of beers to represent the Iowa Hawkeyes.