DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man pled guilty Tuesday to a federal charge for allegedly threatening his girlfriend and her son with a gun. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Robert Drafahl, 46, faces up to 10 years in prison. Drafahl was previously convicted of a felony in 1988.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Layoffs have begun at the Kraft Foods plant in Mason City. KIMT-TV reports Kraft employees have been receiving emails saying they are losing their jobs.  A Kraft spokesperson says they are in the process of eliminating 2,500 positions across the U.S. and Canada.  

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A man has been placed on three years probation and ordered to spend 15 weekends in jail for helping his son avoid arrest after shooting a Sioux City police officer. KCCI-TV reports Levon Dean Sr., 55, and several others were sentenced for their roles in aiding Jamal Dean to avoid arrest. Jamal Dean shot a Sioux City police officer during a traffic stop in 2013. He’s serving 25 years in prison for attempted murder.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it completed several raids in the Des Moines area early Wednesday morning and say they were successful.  WHO-TV reports a months-long investigation led to half a dozen raids in Des Moines and the surrounding metro. The ATF says they were executing search warrants related to guns and drugs.

FARGO, N.D. (IRN) – An Iowa man accused of robbing a downtown Fargo, N.D. motel at gunpoint has pled not guilty in federal court. KCCI-TV reports Eric Webb, 30, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with armed robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Webb was shot by a Fargo police officer shortly after the June 4 holdup.

CRESCO, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has cited Donald Burnikel, a Howard County supervisor, for allegedly shooting a red-tailed hawk. Burnikel is accused of killing a protected non-game species. According to witnesses, Burnikel shot the bird with a handgun in the backyard of a home in Cresco.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids has announced a microloan program for small businesses, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. City officials say microloans as small as $1,000 can help turn an idea into a business. A total of $75,000 has been made available for the program. Recipients will pay 4 percent interest and must repay the loan in three years.

DES MOINES (IRN) – One of the headlining acts at the Iowa State Fair’s grandstand has cancelled her tour because of vocal health issues. WHO-TV reports Meghan Trainor called off her remaining tour dates because of a hemorrhaged vocal cord. The ‘All About That Bass’ singer was set to perform at the grandstand on the final Saturday of the fair.