Wednesday, July 29, 2015
DES MOINES (IRN) – Bird flu restrictions are forcing a young magician to come up with new animals in his act, as the Iowa State Fair says he can’t use his pet doves because of the avian flu outbreak. That means 19-year-old Michael Osman – or Mike Oz on stage – can’t use his doves when he competes Aug. 13 in the Iowa State Fair Bill Riley Talent Search. Osman says he’s started experimenting with fish instead. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man who fought extradition from Canada has pled guilty to charges he helped smuggle thousands of pounds of high-grade marijuana into the United States. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports Jason Leonard Boyachek, 42, of Edmonton, Alberta, pled to a single count of conspiracy to distribute over 800 pounds of marijuana during a Monday appearance in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He faces 10 years to life in prison. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) An Iowa man who pled guilty to torturing his roommate’s cat will not be going to prison, according to KCCI-TV. Instead, 21-year-old Leo Nopoulos was sentenced to probation after authorities say he tortured the animal for hours. Tom Colvin, the executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says probation is not enough. He wants Nopoulos to go to prison. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Strong storms moving through the state Tuesday evening produced heavy rain and caused over 7,000 homes and businesses in central Iowa to lose power. More than six inches of rain fell in Warren County. Flash flooding happened throughout the area, and flooding along Volunteer Creek in Carlisle caused the evacuation of several homes. Des Moines rainfall totalling 2.44 inches broke the record for that date set in 1892. DES MOINES (IRN) – A man in handcuffs ran away from a Polk County Deputy, but was later captured. The Deputy noticed a vehicle speeding in rural Polk County Tuesday, and pursued it until it struck a utility pole. After the driver, Maurice Daye, 27, of West Des Moines was placed into handcuffs, he broke free from the deputy’s grip and took off running on foot. He was apprehended shortly later without incident. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A child riding a bike was injured Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports the driver failed to yield at a stop sign and struck the child. The child was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa officials are planning multi-million dollar projects for Kinnick Stadium, according to KCCI-TV. New stadium plazas and patios will be added, among other amenities. Plans call for a $35 to $45 million dollar upgrade. According to officials, the north stands are functionally obsolete. The request comes at a time when the school predicts a $3 million drop in football revenue for next season due to slow ticket sales.