MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – The Marshalltown Fire Department is asking for the public’s help with a series of arson cases, according to KCCI-TV. Authorities say they have responded to six fires that were intentionally set. All the homes were abandoned or unoccupied at the time of the fires.

GLIDDEN, IA (IRN) – A bicyclist has died after being struck by a pickup truck in western Iowa.
The Iowa State Patrol reports that 60-year-old Joleen Stork was mountain biking Friday on a county road just north of Glidden when a pickup truck drove up behind her and struck the bicycle. Stork was thrown into a ditch and pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say the driver did not see Stork on her bike.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Navy’s newest Virginia Class attack submarine will be named the USS Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports this continues a military custom of having American warships with ties to Iowa, its communities and its military heroes. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus plans to visit Ames Wednesday to make the announcement official at a news briefing at Iowa State University. He will be joined by Gov. Terry Branstad and ISU President Steven Leath.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is envisioning a different look for Des Moines’ main waterways, according to WHO-TV. The proposal is seeking to remove downtown dams on the Des Moines River, which would make the river safe for kayakers and tubers. The plan also calls for the addition of natural boulders to allow for a whitewater course.

FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Oelwein man was killed while turkey hunting Saturday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports the shooting happened in Fayette County just north of Maynard. Dead is 63-year old Michael Adams. Someone in his hunting party fired a 12-gauge shotgun hitting Adams in the face and chest. The Iowa DNR is investigating.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old man accused of stabbing a Bettendorf High School classmate last April has pled guilty to a reduced assault charge in the case. The Quad-City Times reports Drew Romkey pled guilty on Friday to assault causing serious injury. Romkey stabbed 18-year-old Jacob Woodard four times in the stomach. Woodward survived.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames Police Department has taken 34 reports of car windows being shot out with BB guns in a spree of vandalism, according to WHO-TV. Police believe two juvenile suspects may be responsible but haven’t announced any arrests.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – A program that offers new dentists help paying off their student loans is helping attract dentists to small towns in Iowa, according to KIMT-TV. Since the program started in 2002, 28 of the 31 dentists who received grants through the program have remained in Iowa. Delta Dental provides most of the grant money while the state and local communities add to the total. The state has designated 65 of Iowa’s 99 counties as being short on dentists.