DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol is understaffed and spread too thin, according to a union chief. The Des Moines Register reports that the state patrol currently has 358 troopers. That’s about 100 fewer than the year 2000, before budget cuts led to staff reductions. Officials say there are as few as five troopers on duty overnight covering the entire state. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former administrative law judge for Iowa Workforce Development turned herself into authorities Wednesday morning. WHO-TV reports Susan Ackerman is charged with filing a false document. Her daughter says the charges are retaliation for Ackerman’s testimony before a legislative oversight committee. Ackerman and other IWD judges claimed IWD Director, Teresa Wahlert tried to influence their rulings in unemployment appeals cases to favor businesses over employees. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – Bettendorf police are investigating an officer’s shooting of a 19-year-old man holding a toy gun. KGAN-TV reports officers who were sent to a Home Depot store Monday to check a disturbance confronted a man with what appeared to be a handgun, but turned out to be a realistic-looking air gun. One of the officers shot the man, identified as Joshua Price, of Bettendorf. His injuries are not life-threatening. DELAWARE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A former Delhi City Clerk has been arrested for theft, according to KWWL-TV. The state auditor says Angie Billings spent approximately $246,000 inappropriately. Billings put much of it on the city’s credit card, including $16,000 at convenience stores, $14,000 at WalMart, $7,800 for personal cell phone service, $2,700 for fitness equipment and weight loss supplements, and almost $2,000 in charges to a psychic hotline. IOWA (IRN) – Home sales in Iowa are surging, according to a new report. The Iowa Association of Realtors says homes sold in November were up 14.9% compared to last year. The median sale price for this November was $8,000 more than November of last year to $148,000. In all, realtors sold more than 3,000 homes across the state in November. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Newton drivers pulled over for minor traffic offenses received a surprise Sunday night. Instead of giving them a ticket, Jasper County deputies gave them a turkey. Deputies ended up handing out 25 turkeys instead of tickets. The turkeys were donated.

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol has identified two victims of a fatal crash near Anamosa Sunday as six and eight year old children. The family’s sport utility vehicle slid through a stop sign and was struck by a semi. Six-year-old Donald Hunter and eight-year-old Diamond Hunter were transported to area hospitals but died. 32-year-old Brandon Hunter, 31-year-old Molli Hunter and 13-year-old Hope Hunter are all at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The driver of the semi truck was not injured. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – One person was shot by a police officer yesterday at Home Depot in Bettendorf, according to WQAD-TV. Police were called to a disturbance at the store, and encountered a man armed with a handgun. In the altercation, the man was shot. He was airlifted to Iowa City for treatment. RIVERSIDE, IA (IRN) – Firefighters from five departments fought a fire in downtown Riverside Monday evening that killed one person. KCII-radio reports the fire was in an apartment, with heavy smoke filling downtown as crews battled the fire in freezing temperatures. 52-year-old Tracy Lynn Williams of Kalona was transported from the scene via ambulance, but was later reported to have died. A firefighter was also injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have made an arrest in three cases where the suspect used Facebook to set up the meeting with the victim. KCCI-TV reports 16-year-old Joseph Eugene Shade was arrested and charged in adult court with three counts of first-degree robbery. Shade robbed two victims at gunpoint of cell phones, and one of a designer belt. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There were no serious injuries after an SUV hit a school bus Monday morning in Des Moines near Lincoln High School. WHO-TV reports an SUV slid into the back of the bus. Kids reported minor bumps and bruises and the SUV driver was not injured. Police believe slick roadways played a role in the crash. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating cases where people received counterfeit bills while selling something over Craigslist. KCRG-TV reports the cases involved $20 and $100 bills, and happened over the past two months. Police say look for watermarks, and don’t accept cash for items priced more than $100. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The popular mayor of Iowa’s second largest city says he will not run for re-election as he explores whether to run for governor as a Republican. WQAD-TV reports Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett announced Monday that he will not seek a third four-year term in November. If he runs for governor, Corbett would likely face Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds in a Republican primary ahead of the 2018 election.

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – A train and a car collided in Columbus Junction Friday according to KCII-radio. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro struck by the train was driven by 51-year-old Tang Naw of Columbus Junction. The Naw vehicle had stopped at the railroad crossing, but was struck by a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, which pushed the Camaro onto the tracks. The Malibu was driven by 35-year-old Lai Kingbual of Columbus Junction. Both were hospitalized. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are asking for help from the public to find the driver of a car that hit a six-year-old boy Friday evening. KCCI-TV reports witnesses told police the boy stepped into the roadway and was struck by a vehicle. The child sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. CASS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A truck driver from Wisconsin died Saturday night after crashing off Interstate 80 in Cass County. 68-year-old Gerald Calaway was traveling westbound when he lost control, crashing into the median where his truck continued for nearly 1,000 feet before it slid down into a ditch. Authorities found Calaway pinned under the steering column of his truck. ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed and three were injured in a crash in Anamosa Sunday. KCRG-TV reports a semi-truck was southbound on Highway 151 when a Hyundai SUV slid through a stop sign and was hit by the semi. Names haven’t been released. CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A northern Iowa man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a house guest. KCCI-TV reports 47-year-old Stephen Brodersen Jr., of Greene, was sentenced Friday. He says the encounter was consensual. The 25-year-old woman said no, it wasn’t. Jurors agreed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Severe winter weather and bitter cold hit Iowa over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol responded to 219 crashes between 6 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Sunday, according to the Des Moines Register. Most crashes, if not all, were weather-related. Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines reports they saw 39 patients as a result of slips, trips, falls, or car accidents this weekend, but no hypothermia or frostbite patients.

MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured Saturday morning in a single-vehicle accident east of Winterset, according to KCCI-TV. 79-year-old Jack Daniels was transported to a Des Moines Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries after the vehicle left the roadway and flipped. The deceased woman has been identified as 78-year-old Joyce Daniels. Slick road conditions are believed to have played a role in the accident. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 24-year-old man has been released from the hospital after a shooting in Davenport Friday night. WQAD-TV reports several people were arguing and fighting prior to the man being shot. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo firefighters battled dangerously cold temperatures in addition to flames at a house fire Saturday night. No one was injured, but a pet cat was still missing as of 9:00 p.m. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced family. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds graduated from Iowa State University yesterday. WHO-TV reports she received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in political science, business management and communications. This is Reynolds’ first post-secondary degree.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – After two skirmishes with police, an Ottumwa man is behind bars on drug and firearms charges. KTVO-TV reports an officer observed a man walking in the middle of the road in Ottumwa Friday. The police made contact with 30-year-old Marcos Navarro, who began making suspicious movements by reaching into his coat. Navarro fled after a scuffle, fell, and then a second scuffle ensued when a handgun was wrestled from his possession. He’s in jail. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A judge has found a former Cedar Rapids substitute teacher guilty of sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist or school employee, according to KGAN-TV. 24-year-old Mary Beth Haglin faces up to two years in jail and she will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years. She says she made a mistake, but that the relationship with the 17-year-old boy was consensual. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Alcohol is likely to blame for a hit-and-run crash that injured one man in Des Moines last night, according to KCCI-TV. Police say a man struck another vehicle, then fled the scene. He made it about a block when he slid under a semi which tore back his car’s roof. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The city of Waterloo is seizing a dilapidated 125-year-old former church after the structure’s owner said the building was beyond repair. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports the Rev. Helen Seenster says she wanted to convert what was once the Apostolic Pentecostal Church into a community center, but it has fallen into disrepair and is a frequent target for vandals and thieves. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Residents of Dubuque can report snow and ice removal issues on city sidewalks using an app. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the MyDBQ app allows residents to request non-emergency city services using their smartphones or tablets. Each request is assigned to an employee in the appropriate department. Nearly 1,300 people have downloaded the app and submitted about 500 requests since it was launched in last year.