DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted of first-degree murder Friday, nearly three years after Mollie Tibbetts disappeared while jogging near her Brooklyn, Iowa, home. Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, went out for a run on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, and disappeared. The search for her drew national attention and kicked off a month long manhunt, which ended when Bahena Rivera, a Mexican national who is now 26, allegedly led investigators to the rural cornfield where they found her remains.

CLARKE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a train hit a vehicle on Thursday in Rural Clarke County. Four juveniles were in the vehicle at the time, and two are dead. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger were transported by helicopter to a local hospital suffering from life-threatening injuries. The train crossing had gate arms, flashing lights and bells.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – State Auditor Rob Sand says he is not planning to run for U.S. Senate or Congress in 2022, but is considering running for governor of Iowa. Sand says he will likely make an announcement by Labor Day about whether he plans to run for governor or seek re-election for his current office.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer reportedly has her sights set on Sen. Chuck Grassley’s seat. Finkenauer, a Democrat, served one term as representative for Iowa’s 1st District. She was voted out by current Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in November. 87-year-old Chuck Grassley has not yet announced if he will run for an eighth term.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Thursday morning, showers and thunderstorms rolled through eastern Iowa, bringing yet another day with measurable rainfall in Cedar Rapids. This brings the streak of consecutive days with at least 0.01 inches of rain to 14. The old record was 11 days, accomplished both in March of 1990 and August of 2007.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – Vinton has a new glow-in-the-dark trail. It stretches two miles through the city, and is the longest glow-in-the dark trail in the country. By day, the two mile stretch looks like a regular path, except for the 3,000 pounds of glow stones scattered along it. The glow stones run on solar power, and after only 15 minutes of charge, can light the path for 15 hours.