IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa City men face a number of drug possession charges for selling drugs out of their apartment, according to KCRG-TV. One of the men tried to flush the drugs down the toilet as officers tried to enter the apartment. Lucas Froeschner and Jared Kuddes were arrested after a raid by the Iowa City Police Street Crimes Unit and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY (IRN) – German drug and farm chemical company Bayer AG says it has signed a deal to acquire seed and weed-killer company Monsanto for $66 billion in cash. The deal is subject to approval by Monsanto shareholders and anti-trust regulators. Monsanto lists 21 offices in the state of Iowa.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Wapello County has become the third Iowa county to approve a higher minimum wage. KGAN-TV reports under the plan, on January 1 the county’s minimum wage will rise to $8.20 an hour from the current national minimum of $7.25. Two more incremental increases will bring it to $10.10 on January 1, 2019.

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – A man tried to get a little girl into his truck in Bettendorf. WQAD-TV reports a 12-year-old girl was walking down a sidewalk when a man between 50 and 55 years old pulled up in a purple or plum-colored Ford pickup, pushed open the passenger-side door and said “get in the truck.” She didn’t. She called police instead.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of stealing money from a Mason City dental office has pled guilty. 58-year-old Pamela Harris was the office manager of the dental practice and had been employed there for 21 years. She stole nearly $500,000 from the practice by using the dentist’s rubber stamp on checks and by using office credit cards for personal use. She faces up to 20 years in jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The number of State Troopers working Iowa’s roadways has fallen dramatically. KCRG-TV reports just 267 troopers are working Iowa’s roads, which is a historic low. In 1998 there were 369 troopers working Iowa’s roadways–over 100 more than now. The dip in troopers comes at a time when fatal crashes in Iowa are surging. Deaths are up 19% from this time last year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Planning is underway for a new $500 million terminal at the Des Moines International Airport, according to KCCI-TV. Airport general manager Kevin Foley says the airport, which was built in 1948, currently has too many passengers and not enough space. The new terminal would overlap the existing terminal and curve to the northeast. The plan includes 14 gates and a new parking garage.