SIOUX CITY – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement late Wednesday about the death of an Iowa State Senator. Rocky DeWitt of Woodbury County represented District 1 after he was elected in 2022. De Witt died from cancer. Reynolds called DeWitt dedicated to helping his neighbors in northwest Iowa.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau are collaborating to educate the public on Iowa’s new Hands-Free Driving Law. Governor Kim Reynolds signed bill SF 22 into law on April 2nd, making Iowa the 31st state in the nation to enact hands-free legislation. The law will go into effect on July 1st with an initial warning period through December 31st. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes. A 2024 GTSB survey of over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county revealed that 90% of respondents considered using a cell phone while driving to be extremely dangerous, even though 50% admitted to driving with a phone in their hand.

DAVENPORT – An Oxford man was sentenced on Wednesday to 13 years in federal prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activities and Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court document, 44-year-old Eric Gene Rundle communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a fifteen-year-old girl. Rundle made plans to meet and engage in sex acts, and was arrested at the meeting location. Rundle had a cell phone with him which was searched. Rundle used the device to receive, view, and possess images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.