KEOKUK COUNTY – A Keokuk County man faces murder charges in relation to the discovery of a dead person’s remains. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with the Ottumwa Police Department and Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant near Ollie. The search warrant was part of an effort to locate, who was reported missing on January 20, 2024. During the search, investigators found the remains of an adult, who they believe to be 40-year-old Craig Smith, although his condition made it impossible to find out immediately. This afternoon, DCI agents charged 44-year-old Jeffrey Gautreaux with Murder in the First Degree and Abuse of a Corpse. SAC CITY – A reward for information leading to the location of an Iowa man missing for two months has increased. KCCI-TV reports $25,000 will be given to someone by Sac County to find David Schultz, who was last seen on November 20th. Volunteers have searched more than 100,000 acres to find the man declared missing after his wallet and phone were left behind in his semi-truck, which was found north of Sac City. CORALVILLE – State wrestling champions were crowned on Friday night at Xtream Arena as the second ever Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union girls tournament was hosted over two days. Wrestling remains the focus in Coralville, as the Iowa High School Athletic Association state dual tournament will be decided today in the same location.

IOWA – In the midst of increasing criticism about how the organization has handled a sports betting investigation, the Iowa Department of Public Safety released a statement this week about the process. KCCI-TV reports the statement details the roles of DCI agents in enforcing wagering laws and the sections of Iowa Code used to justify those actions. Lawyers for athletes targeted by the investigations have claimed that special agents had no reason to track the use of sports wagering apps through the use of geofencing without a warrant in both Iowa City and Ames. DAVENPORT – A Davenport man was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography Thursday. The Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. According to public court documents, Benji Clark Engesser, Jr., 23, was identified by law enforcement when a parent reported that they found their minor child exchanging sexual pictures with an adult. The phone number associated with the adult was traced to Engesser. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds proposed new legislation that would strictly define woman, man, and sex, just one day after a Republican house committee rejected a proposal to eliminate gender identity in Iowa civil rights code. KCRG-TV reports House Study Bill 649 was submitted this week, with the Governor’s office releasing a statement alongside its public notification. The changes would impact a wide range of state documents and would essentially force transgender Iowans to include their birth genders and their new identities on various forms.

DES MOINES – One of two versions of legislation proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds to overhaul the Area Education Agencies in Iowa has been paused in the Iowa Legislature after public hearings held Wednesday. Iowa Starting Line reports House Study Bill 542 has been tabled following strong opposition from a wide range of educators, parents, and students who utilize the services of the AEAs. Governor Kim Reynolds remained defiant and released a statement to praise an Iowa Senate education subcommittee for advancing Senate Study Bill 3073 — although members who voted in support of the measure intended to further amend the Governor’s proposal heavily that would currently move AEAs to state government control and significantly reduce funding and services to those agencies as written. GUTHRIE COUNTY – A Guthrie Center man has died from a crash that involved a pickup truck and a bicycle Wednesday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports they were called to assist the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office with the fatal collision near Guthrie Center at 5:38 p.m. on Highway 44. According to the state report, a Ford F-150 operated by 83-year-old Francis Junior Flanery of Panora was westbound, and a bicycle ridden by 69-year-old Wayne Wesley Haynes was also in that lane. The pickup struck the bicyclist in the travel portion of the roadway. Haynes was transported to Guthrie County Hospital, where he died from his injuries. The crash remains under investigation. IOWA – As a wild January wraps up today that included heavy snow, a blizzard, snow squalls, freezing rain, subzero wind chills, and just about everything that winter has to offer, February will start with a stretch of well-above average temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, daytime highs will range from 40s to 50s statewide well into next week, with mainly dry conditions coupled with the mild air. While not quite record breaking, most of these temperatures are 15-20 degrees above the typical daytime high in early February. CORALVILLE – Coralville will become the mecca of Iowa High School Wrestling over the next three days. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union welcomes hundreds of wrestlers for their second-ever state tournament today and Friday at XTREAM Arena. That will be followed up by the 2024 Iowa High School Athletic Union team dual championships Saturday, also in Coralville.

JEFFERSON – A boy in Jefferson is safe after an Amber Alert was issued Tuesday. The Iowa Department of Investigation and Jefferson Police accuse Brandon Duong, age 34, of taking his seven-year-old biological son, Bryson Duong, from Greene Elementary School in Jefferson. A court order restricting Brandon Duong from having custody had been issued in December 2023. At approximately 4:53 p.m., law enforcement located Brandon’s vehicle in the area northeast of Remsen, in Plymouth County. Duong led officers on a high-speed chase and eventually crashed his vehicle. Duong left the vehicle on foot, carrying Bryson, and was in possession of a rifle. Several law enforcement agencies responded to the area, negotiated with Brandon, and eventually placed him under arrest. Bryson is in the care of the Department of Human Services. Brandon has been charged with one count of Kidnapping in the First Degree and will be transferred to the Greene County Jail. DES MOINES – The man charged with destroying a display at the Iowa Capitol has been charged with violating individual rights. KCRG reports Michael Cassidy of Lauderdale, Mississippi, is charged with Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. The controversial display featured a Baphomet Alter that was damaged “beyond repair.” Officials say the cost to repair the damage exceeded $750. DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers are trying to pass a hands free bill that also bans traffic cameras in the same legislation. KCCI-TV reports Senate Study Bill 3016 requires drivers to put down devices but also prohibits the use of municipalities to use red light and speed cameras. Bill sponsor and senator Brad Zaun says the two are combined in an attempt to pass both issues that have stalled otherwise. FREMONT COUNTY – One person was found dead in a garage fire in southwest Iowa. KETV reports the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office an unidentified person was located in a detached garage southwest of Shenandoah. Several fire departments responded to the blaze just after midnight this morning.

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they found a man missing since 2013 last fall. KCRG-TV reports Brian Burns was found near Manchester in November, nearly 10 years after he was first reported missing. Brian Burns was the cousin of Jerry Burns, who was found guilty in the killing of Michelle Martinko. Police have not determined in the incidents are connected. FORT DODGE – Webster County officials are investigating a shooting north of Fort Dodge. KCCI-TV reports gunfire was reported to the sheriff’s office Sunday, and 39 year old Molly Barlow and 63 year old Phyllis Versteeg were both found dead in a garage shortly after. The juvenile who reported the shooting told police the suspect had fled the scene, and deputies say the found 41-year-old Duran Barlow dead with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds nearby. CORDYON – Cleanup is underway following a roof collapse at Wayne Junior-Senior High School in Cordyon. The Des Moines Register reports that more than seven feet of snow had collected on a portion of the roof over the middle school cafeteria. Hundreds of gallons of snow melt poured into the walls and flooring. Students had to move several activities upon returning to class on Monday. DES MOINES – Flat tires became a near-epidemic, at least along a Des Moines street Friday night. WHO-13 reports more than a dozen vehicles suffered tire damage with a giant pothole near Grandview Park School. The Morlans from Ankeny reported more than $3000 in damage, and said several cars hit the hole and suffered damage before city crews responded.