DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new budget for Iowa’s courts has been approved that includes a statewide hiring freeze. The Supreme Court approved the fiscal year 2017 budget, which starts July 1. The freeze was required because of a more than $5 million shortfall in this year’s legislative appropriation. State Court Administrator David Boyd says “With this budget, the supreme court tried to minimize disruption of services to Iowans despite the significant shortfall in our appropriation.”

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A police officer was involved in a serious crash this morning in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. The officer, 34-year-old Jeffrey Davis, was heading to a call with lights and sirens on. He had a green light going through an intersection, but a truck driven by 61-year-old Peter Roeder turned in front of him. The police SUV and the truck collided. The man in the truck was taken from the scene in critical condition. The officer was treated and released.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A federal grand jury in Cedar Rapids has indicted five people in connection with thefts from multiple Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in five states, including Dubuque and Waterloo. The five were charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. The indictment lists 38 thefts between February and May at stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – A Vinton man faces multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted multiple people, including two police officers. KWWL-TV reports police responded in Vinton Sunday night for a report of a person breaking windows. They found a 37-year-old woman with serious injuries to her head following an assault. Officers also found 38-year-old Roger Hartman with minor injuries. Ambulances took Hartman and the woman to the hospital, where he assaulted two officers. He’s in jail.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man is in the University of Iowa burn treatment center after a fire pit incident, according to KCCI-TV. Curt Carpenter suffered severe burns to his arms and legs after something went wrong with a decorative fire pit over the holiday weekend. The fire pit was a propane pit that was built into a bar in the home’s backyard. It had just been installed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman is recovering after her thumb was severed in a dog attack. WHO-TV reports a shepherd-mix named Denali was in his fenced-in backyard barking at the neighbor’s 10-pound Chihuahua-terrier mix named Jackie, who was in her own fenced in yard. Denali pushed its head through the fence and grabbed Jackie by her throat, killing her. Jackie’s owner ran out to separate the dogs, and she was bit.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – When drivers pull over to fuel up this summer, they’re paying less than they have in years past. KCRG-TV reports the national average gas price for regular unleaded is at $2.32 a gallon. That’s down 42 cents compared to the same date last year. The price is an 11-year-low for the start of the summer driving season. Among the lowest prices in Iowa are in Davenport, at $2.15 a gallon.