CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Brazilian man was sentenced after disrupting an airline flight, causing an emergency landing in Cedar Rapids last year. KCRG-TV reports Guilharme Alves De Melo, 34, was sentenced to one year and one day of prison for a charge of intimidating a flight crew. Alves allegedly “lost it,” became disruptive, and was scaring other passengers while on an international flight going from Calgary, Canada to Chicago. Passengers and crew restrained him with zip ties.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa school districts wouldn’t be required to employ nurses or librarians under a Republican-sponsored bill that advanced in the Iowa Senate Tuesday.
School districts would still have the option of hiring nurses and librarians.

COLUMBUS, OH (IRN) – Following Iowa’s 90-70 loss to Ohio State, men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery reportedly cursed at an official and called him a cheater. KCCI-TV reports when asked about the incident in the media session, McCaffery declined to comment.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Snow kept around 300 Ankeny Centennial High School students stuck in Minnesota an extra two days after a singing competition. WHO-TV reports nearly a dozen busloads of show choir students were reunited with their parents yesterday. Senior Shantal Hernandez says, “It wasn`t really a problem because we were spending the days with our best friends in the hotel, and we literally went to the Mall of America, so … it was a good time.”