MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake man has taken a plea deal to avoid a kidnapping trial. Thyago Silva Miranda, 31, was accused of abducting a woman on December 19, 2021. Police say he slammed the woman against the side of his car and then forced her inside. The woman was released somewhere north of Manly in Worth County in 20 degree weather after Miranda took her cell phone. He was initially charged with third-degree kidnapping but pleaded guilty to domestic abuse assault causing mental distress. Miranda has been sentenced to 74 days in the Cerro Gordo County Jail and fined $855. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man argued with construction workers over road work Thursday before hitting one of the workers with his car. 66-year-old Bruce Schutte pulled up to a ‘road closed’ sign and tried to move it out of the way. Workers confronted Schutte, who told them to move, or he would run them over. Schutte got back in his car and accelerated toward a worker and then allegedly hit him, leaving him with injuries to his knee, hip, and elbow. Schutte took off but was later taken into custody by police. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former refugees from Bosnia in Iowa are helping refugees who just arrived from Afghanistan. The Bosniak American Association of Iowa and Des Moines Refugee Support collected food and hygiene products for Afghan refugees at the Ezan Mosque Sunday. Volunteers immediately delivered the food to the refugees in need across Iowa. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Saturday was the first day of the last season for Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque. The track is one of only four in the country, but in just a few weeks, that number will be down to three. IOWA (IRN) – Easter snow stuck around Central Iowa most of the day Sunday, leading to a gray and dreary holiday. The snow, which at times mixed with rain, kept temperatures down in the low 30s most of the afternoon. Warmer ground temperatures were able to keep roads clear in all but the heaviest snow showers. In a few cases, some light accumulations were reported, generally around an inch, though New Virginia did report several 2 to 3.5 inch totals.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man argued with construction workers over road work Thursday before hitting one of the workers with his car. 66-year-old Bruce Schutte pulled up to a ‘road closed’ sign and tried to move it out of the way. Workers confronted Schutte, who told the workers to move, or he would run them over. Schutte got back in his car and accelerated toward a worker and then allegedly hit him, leaving him with injuries to his knee, hip, and elbow. Schutte took off but was later taken into custody by police. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa House has passed a moratorium on the Iowa Utilities Board scheduling of eminent domain hearings for carbon-capture pipelines. The bill would not change rules regarding the use of eminent domain but rather provide 11 months for negotiations between landowners and companies. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Grand View men’s volleyball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 3-1 Saturday to win their second straight NAIA volleyball championship. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – There was a great show of support Saturday for Afghan refugees in central Iowa. A wide variety of household goods were dropped off at the Johnston Lions Club. The Johnston Area Democrats asked for items to help refugees who escaped Afghanistan with just the clothes in their suitcases. It added up to 15 pickup truck loads of goods.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two teenage pedestrians were hit by a car near Lincoln High School in Des Moines. One vehicle, traveling eastbound, was attempting to cross Southwest Ninth Street at Kirkwood. The vehicle was struck by a northbound car. The collision sent a car onto a sidewalk, where it hit the two teenagers. Both were transported to the hospital with injuries. SAINT ANSGAR, IA (IRN) – A northern Iowa man who pleaded guilty to taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has a new sentencing date. Daryl Johnson, of St. Ansgar, is due back in court on June 1. Johnson and his son, Daniel, who lives in Minnesota, pleaded guilty to felony charges back in January. Each faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Six other Iowans face charges in connection to the insurrection. DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The new owners of the “Field of Dreams” site in Iowa plan to use $80 million in private investment to make the popular tourist attraction a destination for youth baseball and softball tournaments. Go the Distance says the money will be used to build baseball and softball fields, team dormitories and a hotel, among other improvements. Go the Distance’s CEO is longtime Chicago White Sox star and hall-of-famer Frank Thomas. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – For the first time since the pandemic, churches are celebrating the Easter holiday without COVID restrictions. Many worshipers will be returning to the pews for the first time since the pandemic started a couple years ago.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Abby Finkenauer WILL appear on US senate primary election ballot on June 7th per Iowa Supreme Court decision today. The Court cites recent legislation to allow three signatures on her petition that did not include valid dates. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Republican National Committee reaffirmed its rules Thursday, keeping the Iowa Republican Caucuses first. This comes just a day after the Democratic National Committee made a decision Wednesday, requiring all states to apply for the five spots. Iowa Democrats say they plan on doing everything they can to keep the status quo. TAYLOR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A woman and a 1-year-old boy were found dead inside of a house on Wednesday after it caught fire in the southern Iowa town of Bedford in Taylor County. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking Iowans to make healthy and safe choices when it comes to alcohol. The IDPH says between 2008 and 2019, the number of alcohol-related deaths in the state increased by more than 73%. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – With a shortage of baby formula, Mother’s Milk Bank at the University of Iowa says they are unable to meet the demand that parents need. The solution to the problem is finding more donors. WEST LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – West Liberty could be without a fire department in a matter of weeks. The volunteers who make up the department sent the city a letter this week demanding they change how financial resources are divided up and accusing city leaders of micromanaging, and making it difficult to recruit and retain volunteers. The city says the allegations are unfounded.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa may have much more competition to be first in the Democratic Party’s presidential nominating process. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted on Wednesday to adopt a plan that requires states to make the case they should be first in the presidential nominating process. The DNC will look at diversity, competitiveness and feasibility when trying to determine which states come first. States must have their applications in by June 3. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The tornado count from Iowa’s Tuesday outbreak is now at eight. New information from the National Weather Service shows the strongest ones were rated at EF2 outside Gilmore City in Pocahontas County and in Humboldt County near Bradgate. In the northeast part of the state, an EF1 hit southwest of Mason City, and an EF0 was briefly on the ground in Hancock County. Three weaker tornadoes were reported in Mitchell and Howard counties. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Multiple charges have been filed against the man who caused a crash after driving the wrong way on I-380 and then fled the scene naked back in January. On January 6th, Cedar Rapids Police received a report of a black SUV traveling the wrong way on I-380 Southbound near Quaker Oats, before creating a multiple motor vehicle crash on I-380. 33-year-old Andrew Robert Cairy faces numerous charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Bishop Demetrius Sinegal of the Kingdom Church flew in from Texas and called for a full investigation into the November 15th marriage of Des Moines Bishop Dwight Reed and Jordan Reed of the Christ Apostolic Temple. Dwight is 63 years-old and Jordan is 19.