WORTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – 41-year-old Tyrone Washington Jr., was denied a new trial today in Worth County court and sentenced to life in prison without parole. KIMT-TV reports Washington was convicted of first-degree murder of his former girlfriend in July. He then asked for another trial claiming self-defense.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) –  A Linn County Jail inmate didn’t return from work release for more than a day because claimed his wife was dying. KCRG-TV reports deputies called the hospital and learned his claim was false. 53-year-old Kenneth Kistner was serving a 180-day sentence for contempt of court on a revocation of probation in a drunken driving case. While still at-large Kistner called authorities to say he needed time to sober up before coming back to jail.

POLK CITY, IA (IRN) – Investigators are working to find the thieves responsible for breaking into a Polk City maintenance facility and stealing about $150,000-worth of city property. WHO-TV reports two city trucks were stolen. They’re both white with the city logo on the doors, utility boxes, and official city license plates. Tools were also taken from the facility.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – MidAmerican Energy is warning its customers of a scam. More than 100 reports have come from customers saying they’ve received telephone calls from someone claiming to be with MidAmerican. The scammer claims the customer is past due on their utility bill, and it must be paid immediately via credit card or prepaid debit card. MidAmerican Energy says if anyone gets a suspicious call, hang up and report it to customer service.

JOHNSTON, IA – Authorities are investigating an assault of a student on a Johnston school bus Thursday, according to KCCI-TV. The bus driver, 61-year-old Robert Scarbrough is charged with assault causing injury and child endangerment. Police say a special needs student directed an inflammatory comment toward the bus driver who grabbed the student’s coat, hit the boy in the face and pushed him to the floor.

DES MOINES (IRN) – An Urbandale man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery. Hassam Abusharkh (UH-bush-ark) was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for robbing the Farmers and Merchants State Bank in St. Charles in March of this year.

MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – Police say the driver who struck a school bus in Delaware County earlier this month was under the influence at the time of the crash. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 41-year-old Monte Klink of Arlington is charged with serious injury by vehicle and second-offense operating while intoxicated. Klink failed to yield at an intersection and struck a West Delaware County Community School District bus carrying 32 students, causing it to rollover.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The cost of finding a new University of Iowa president has exceeded $300,000, including a $200,000 charge by the search firm involved. KCRG-TV reports Bruce Harreld, who starts his UI job on Monday, has signed a five-year contract calling for a beginning salary of $590,000 and a deferred compensation package of $1 million. Faculty and students have objected to the hire because of the way it was conducted, and because Harreld has no experience on a university faculty.