DES MOINES, IA (IRN0 – A $282 million water quality bill was passed by the Legislature this week. The Des Moines Register reports for farmers, it means about $150 million in new funding for cover crops, bioreactors and buffers as they seek to curb the high levels of nitrates and phosphorus entering Iowa’s waterways. Critics say the bill is a drop-in-the-bucket distraction. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dozens of tissue samples from hunted deer in Iowa have been turned over to be tested for chronic wasting disease. Chronic wasting disease is a neurologic disease of deer, moose and elk that is always fatal. The disease first appeared in Iowa’s deer herd in 2013 and every year since. The nine-day collecting effort ends today. PALO, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s only nuclear power plant could wind up shutting down years earlier than planned, according to KGAN-TV. That’s the warning from operators of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant in Palo. In its latest quarterly filing, NextEra Energy said it is unlikely the company will extend its current contract with the plant’s primary customer, Alliant Energy. That contract expires in 2025. No deal would mean the plant could shut down after 50 years of service. The plant is licensed to continue operations until 2034. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Organizers of the 2018 Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) announced this year’s route Saturday night. The route winds through the middle of the state, starting in Onawa and traveling through Denison, Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, Iowa City and ending in Davenport. The 46th annual ride will be the fourth flattest in the ride’s history, as well as the seventh shortest. This year’s ride will be held from July 22-28.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state agency that came under widespread scrutiny after the unrelated starvation deaths of two 16-year-old central Iowa girls faces proposed budget cuts, which Democrats say could lead to another tragedy. Despite high caseloads and short staffing, Republicans in the Legislature have proposed to cut the Iowa Department of Human Service’s budget by nearly 10 percent. Republican legislators say they’re confident they can protect both taxpayers and Iowa children. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Also related to the legislative session, Republican lawmakers want to allow $5,000 to $6,000 per student that now goes to the public schools to be diverted to help pay for private or homeschool education. Opponents say it would be the beginning of the end of Iowa’s strong public school system, which is currently ranked 13th in the country. ALDEN, IA (IRN) – A man from the northern Iowa town of Alden currently awaiting sentencing for sexually assaulting a child has won a $100,000 lottery prize. 61-year-old Dean Edward Hilpipre presented his winning lottery ticket Wednesday and received his prize. Lottery officials say anyone from anywhere can win the lottery. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Seven employees fell mysteriously ill inside a Walgreens in Clive Friday, according to WHO-TV. What caused them to become sick, however, is unknown. The employees were sent to the hospital with vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. A Haz-Mat team was able to rule out carbon monoxide and natural gas, and believe something might have come in through the ventilation system. The Walgreens closed for the rest of the day, and all employees have recovered.

DUNLAP, IA (IRN) – Officials pulled a man’s body from a western Iowa sand pit hours after the dump truck he was driving drove into water in the pit. KETV reports rescue workers were called Thursday morning to Hallett Materials in Harrison County just south of Dunlap for reports of a missing truck and driver. Crews discovered the truck submerged in the sand pit under ice and water. The driver was trapped inside the truck, where he died. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A 35-year-old Burlington resident has been given 50 years for killing a man whose body was found in a southeast Iowa park. KCRG-TV reports Joseph Mayorga Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder. Mayorga shot 47-year-old James Nelson, whose body was found Feb. 11 last year. It’s not clear whether Nelson was shot there or was killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the park. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Senate budget committee approved a plan Thursday to cut $52 million from the state budget. Almost half of the proposed cut would come from Iowa’s higher education. The University of Iowa, Iowa State and the UNI would lose $19.3 million, while another $5.4 million would come from Iowa’s community college budget. Other severe cuts are to the court system, and human services. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines family escaped a house fire without major injuries thanks to a passing UPS driver, according to KCCI-TV. The driver spotted smoke coming from the home yesterday and knocked on the door to alert the two family members inside. One was sleeping in the basement. They are OK. SPENCER, IA (IRN) – Boys on a northwest Iowa high school basketball team were met with racist chants by students from a rival team Friday night, according to the Storm Lake Times. The Storm Lake Tornadoes traveled to Spencer to play against the Tigers, but some in the Spencer student section chanted taunts against the Storm Lake players, such as “go back to where you came from.” Storm Lake is 84% minority, while Spencer is predominately white. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A woman is facing a felony charge after she brought a Taser into the Wapello County Jail hidden in her bra. KTVO-TV reports 24-year-old Rosa Snyder of Des Moines was arrested Monday for shoplifting at Walgreens in Ottumwa. Arresting officers asked Snyder if she was carrying any contraband, and she said no. When guards inside the jail asked her the same question, Snyder told them she was carrying a Taser in her bra.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Texas woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing a fatal Davenport crash in 2017. The Quad-City Times reports that 58-year-old Lauria Lee Kelly was speeding and had run at least two stop lights when her pickup hit a car, killing the driver, 53-year-old Cynthia Elaine Jones, of Davenport. NEVADA, IA (IRN) – A former teacher in the North Polk Community School District has been sentenced for having a sexual relationship with a teenage student. KCCI-TV reports Kevin Muehlenthaler, of Ames, was given six years in prison at his sentencing. A jury had found the 30-year-old Muehlenthaler guilty of three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. The relationship began in 2013 when the girl was 16. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A body was pulled from the Des Moines River near the Grand Avenue bridge in downtown Des Moines yesterday. KCCI-TV reports construction crews spotted the floating body. A deceased male was recovered by water rescue crews. The body has not been identified, and police are investigating. RENWICK, IA (IRN) – The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department has found an abducted Nebraska woman. WHO-TV reports the abducted woman was able to post on social media, and her family contacted authorities. Deputies found her in the northern Iowa town of Renwick. A Nebraska man has been charged with kidnapping. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A U.S. mine safety agency released their final report concerning a 2017 fatal accident at the Linwood Mine in Davenport. KWQC-TV reports a mine worker was fatally injured when he crossed over a berm that barricaded off a section of the mine to search for crystals. A section of the mine collapsed, burying him. The report says the accident occurred because safety protocols weren’t followed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN0 – A 21-year-old Iowa Statehouse clerk was arrested Wednesday for public intoxication at the state’s Capitol building, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Troopers arrested Jessica Leeper, of Altoona, shortly after 10 a.m. Staff reported she smelled of alcohol and was acting strange. Once troopers met with Leeper, she became belligerent, pushing and kicking them. She screamed as troopers escorted her out of the building.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who suffered life-altering injuries after three teenagers brutally beat him and stole his car in 2013 has died. The Des Moines Register reports that 41-year-old Mike Wasike of Des Moines died Monday. The teens stopped him by walking in a formation in the middle of the road so he couldn’t maneuver around him. When Wasike exited his vehicle, one struck him on the back of the head with a handgun, causing an injury that left him unable to speak, feed himself or walk. The teens stole the car because one needed to make it home before curfew. CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A woman from Missouri has been charged with stealing nearly $2,000 from a patient in a Centerville care center. KTVO-TV reports 66-year-old Lucinda Rae Giese of Lampe, Missouri, was arrested Sunday and charged with Dependent Adult Abuse and Second Degree Theft. The patient was at the Golden Age Care Center when staff noticed suspicious activity and notified authorities. Giese is not an employee of the center, and her relationship to the victim is unknown. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police are investigating two sexual assaults that happened Saturday morning. KGAN-TV reports the first incident happened around 2 a.m. A female student says a man offered to give her a ride back to her residence hall from downtown, but after she got into his vehicle, he sexually assaulted her. He then drove her home. At 3:30 a.m., another woman reported a man attempted to sexually assault her. DES MOINES, IA – A West Des Moines mother convicted of starving her 16-year-old adopted daughter to death has requested a new trial. Nicole Finn submitted a hand-written motion for a new trial and new counsel last week. A jury found Finn guilty of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping in the starvation death of Natalie Finn, who weighed just 85 pounds at the time of her death. Nicole Finn claims she did not receive a fair trial AMES, IA (IRN) – A state lawmaker charged with OWI while possessing a firearm will benefit from a law he helped change. The Des Moines Register reports Representative Chip Baltimore, a Boone Republican, was arrested last week and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a firearm while under the influence. Less than 10 months ago he voted to support legislation reducing penalties for carrying a gun while drunk. DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Field of Dreams baseball field near Dyersville has been vandalized, according to KCRG-TV. Someone drove through the field leaving deep tracks. It was the site of the 1989 movie by the same name, starring actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. Opening Day is April 1.