NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A former Newton day care owner was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison in connection with a fatal dog attack on a 4-year-old girl.  KCCI-TV reports Jordyn Arndt, 4, died from injuries suffered in the dog attack in April 2013. Jena Wright, 26, was convicted of child endangerment causing serious injury, neglect of a dependent person, assault on a police officer and interference with official acts.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist had to be airlifted from the Cedar Valley to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Sunday night. According to KWWL-TV, Paul Brase, 42, was on Highway 218 heading towards Waterloo when he crashed. The 42-year-old from Shell Rock remains in the hospital. His condition is not known.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Gov. Terry Branstad announced today that six communities are in the second round of sites to achieve certification through the Iowa Economic Development Authority certified site program. These six sites are located in the communities of Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Norwalk, Marion, Mason City and Perry.  Branstad says certified sites are better able to compete for large-scale economic development projects.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Some residents in Sioux City may have gotten an early wake up call with a thunderstorm that went through the area Monday morning. KTIV-TV reports high winds took down trees in the community, and 600 people were without power. Much of the state faces either a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning through early evening.

DICKINSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Women are closing the gap with men in binge drinking, according to the Des Moines Register. In 85 of 99 Iowa counties, the rate of increase in binge drinking from 2002 to 2012 was larger among females than males. The largest increase was in northwest Iowa’s Dickinson County, home to the Iowa Great Lakes. More than 1 in 4 women in the county are binge drinkers.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Recent rainfall has resulted in 100 percent drought-free conditions for the first time in Iowa since November last year. The Iowa DNR reports streamflow remains normal to above normal for most of the state, while groundwater in one small area of northwest Iowa is slightly below normal.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Researchers at the Critical Materials Institute in Ames have developed a new method for re-using rare-earth materials: by collecting the waste left over from creating magnets. The Ames Tribune reports by recovering some of the metal, researchers hope to decrease the high demand for rare-earth materials commonly used in high-tech products.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A mid-year tuition hike could be a reality for students attending Iowa’s three public universities. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Board of Regents approved a freeze on tuition rates for the third consecutive year late in 2014. But according to Board of Regents staff, a state funding shortfall means the freeze could end in January.