CARROLL – A Carroll man and a juvenile died in a single vehicle crash Monday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports that Ford F-150 driven by 41-year-old Joshua Shelton was traveling southbound on Highway 71, and attempted to pass another car. Shelton lost control and entered the west ditch, hitting an electric pole. Shelton and an unidentified juvenile, both from Carroll, died from injuries. ANAMOSA – A teenager has died from injuries suffered in a January 20th sledding accident in Anamosa. The Iowa State Patrol reports 13 year old Adam McWherter was on a sled and entered Buffalo Road at 11:30 that morning. A GMC Envoy driven by David Thomas of Anamosa hit the sled as it entered the road. McWherter was transported with injuries to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, and was pronounced dead over the weekend. PLEASANT HILL – The City of Des Moines will receive $34 million from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program to complete the Southeast Connector Project from SE 30th in Des Moines to US 65 in Pleasant Hill. The program was authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Specifically, this grant will advance plans to construct the final section of the Southeast Connector providing a direct and continuous travel route between SE 30th Street in Des Moines and US 65 in Pleasant Hill and offer improved access to US 65 and the metros three Interstate highways.

LAURENS – While assisting the Laurens’ Police Department with a single vehicle fatality crash Friday, an unrelated vehicle hit both an Iowa State Patrol and Lauren’s patrol car before fleeing the scene. After the suspect was located driving on Hwy. 10, the Pocahontas Police Department was able to successfully deploy stop sticks. The driver continued revving their vehicle until a fire started. The suspect, who has not been identified by police, attempted to flee on foot before being taken into custody, and now faces several felony charges. DES MOINES – The work of a Des Moines community activist filled up the gas tanks of hundreds of people Sunday afternoon. KCCI-TV reports Rob Johnson led what’s become an annual project to fill cars with $28,000 worth of gas. Johnson’s gas giveaway was about half that amount last year. COLUMBUS – The biggest star in college basketball is okay after a collision post game Sunday. ESPN reports National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and an Ohio State fan ran into each other as the Buckeyes crowd stormed the floor after upsetting the No. 2 in the nation Hawkeyes. Clark says she was shaken up but is not injured after the incident.

IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly to 3.2 percent in December amid hiring gains in both construction and manufacturing. The state’s jobless rate was 3.3 percent last month and 3.0 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent. Iowa’s labor force participation rate dropped to 67.7 percent in December, down 0.4 percent from last month, as 8,500 Iowans left the workforce. The national labor force participation rate is 62.5 percent. DAVENPORT – A Davenport man was sentenced this week to 100 years in federal prison for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography. According to court documents, 51 year old David Michael Woods sexually abused two children in his care, allowed other adult men to sexually abuse the children, produced recordings of the abuse and other sexual images of the minors, and distributed the images he produced to others. Woods was convicted after a jury trial in September 2023. PERRY – A reopening plan has been formalized for Perry Schools following the January 4th shooting. Raccoon Valley Radio reports an open house with counseling services will proceed each re-opening — elementary students will be welcomed back Wednesday, followed by the middle school next Thursday. Perry High School is scheduled to resume on January 31st. Each day will include early dismissals as well. IOWA – While bitter cold will last through Sunday morning statewide, a significant forecast shift is on the way. Many Iowans will have to figure out how to navigate slush and puddles by the early next week as highs and overnight lows top the freezing mark, which may be coupled with rounds of rainfall. The Iowa DOT advises drivers to be aware of potential overnight refreeze of snowmelt and precipitation.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines teenager responsible for a shooting that resulted in two deaths at an academy in Des Moines will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. WHO-13 reports Preston Walls was sentenced to 65 years this week, after he was found guilty of second degree murder and manslaughter for killing Gionni Dameron and Rashad Carr on January 23rd, 2023 at the Starts Right Here school. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has backed off on parts of a controversial bill that would have made significant cuts to service among Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. In a statement released Thursday, Reynolds announced several changes to legislation that would have reduced the AEAs to just performing special education services and directly funded schools instead of the organizations. An amendment to that legislation is expected by early next week, according to KCRG-TV. WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Chuck Grassley has been released following a brief stay at an Iowa hospital. The oldest member of the upper chamber in the U.S. Capitol fought an infection earlier this week, missing his first votes on the floor in four years. A statement from his office says Grassley is expected to return to office next week. CLIVE – A Pottawattamie County man has claimed a $2 million Powerball prize, while a second multimillion-dollar prize is still up for grabs. Danny Buckelew of Treynor matched all five white balls in the Powerball drawing on Oct. 7, 2023.

MARSHALLTOWN – A Marshalltown man was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to crimes of insurance fraud. In 2018, following the EF-3 tornado that hit Marshalltown, 32 year old Timothy D. Sletten engaged in two separate schemes to defraud State Farm, the insurer of Sletten’s numerous residential rental properties. Following the 2020 derecho disaster in Marshalltown, Sletten again presented false work invoices from contractors. State Farm paid Sletten loss claim benefits totaling just over $180,000. State Farm opened an internal investigation that caused the company to deny payment of disaster-related claims made by Sletten. Additionally, Sletten was fined $50,000 and ordered to pay full restitution. IOWA – After most of the state received between 18-24″ of snow last week, which was followed by bitter arctic air, more snow and cold remains in the short term forecast. The National Weather Service projects 1-3″ of snow this afternoon and evening across the vast majority of Iowa, which will be followed by additional wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero continuing through most of the weekend. Warmer days are on the horizon though, as are chances for widespread rainfall. WEST BRANCH – Multiple schools went into a lockdown statewide Wednesday following calls of active shooters on the premise. KCRG-TV reports Marion High School, Cascade Junior/Senior High School, and West Branch schools were among those who received calls that attempted to prompt tactical team responses from police. DES MOINES – A country music legend is set to return to Des Moines. Willie Nelson has announced a performance at the Water Works Lauridsen Amphitheater on May 25th, according to KCCI-TV. Tickets go on sale this Friday.