HUMBOLDT – A former middle school teacher accused of sexually exploiting a student is now heading to federal court. WHO-13 reports Samantha Ann Meyer-Davis now has federal charges of sexual exploitation, enticement, and both receipt and possession of child pornography. Criminal complaints from state charges in February indicated that Meyer-Davis engaged in sex acts with a student for more than a year while employed in the Humboldt School District. CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s been four years since a powerful derecho devastated much of central and eastern Iowa. KCRG-TV reports damage in Cedar Rapids is still visible from wind gusts that exceeded 100 MPH for several minutes, which caused nearly two-thirds of the city’s tree line to sustain some sort of damage. A warehouse remains untouched in the four years since, according to the TV station, which hasn’t been demolished due to an alleged insurance dispute. DES MOINES – There’s been an increase in presold tickets ahead of the 2024 Iowa State Fair that begins today. KCCI-TV reports the $11 presale sold 16,000 more entries this year than in previous summer seasons. The fair will continue until August 18th.  

KOSSUTH COUNTY – A man found guilty in July for killing an Algona Police Officer is requesting a new trial. WHO-13 reports Kyle Ricke was convicted for first degree murder for the death of Officer Kevin Cram. On Monday, lawyers filed a motion claiming there was insufficient evidence for premeditation, and that there was 90 seconds that passed from when Ricke walked away from Cram before coming back and shots were fired. A sentencing is scheduled on August 21st. PLEASANT HILL – Davis County Sheriff David Davis was responsible for rear-ending a car and causing two major injuries in Pleasant Hill on Friday. KCCI-TV reports Travis Pinegar and his grandson were stopped at a red light on University Avenue when the Dodge Charger they were driving in was hit from behind. Davis was traveling 45 MPH in a Ford F-250. The impact pushed the Charger into the intersection, causing another collision. Pinegar had a fractured skull and brain bleed, and his grandson was injured but released from the hospital. Davis admitted fault and was cited for following too closely and failure to obey a traffic signal. MARSHALLTOWN – A mall in Marshalltown that was once a center for business has been left in the dark for nearly a year. KCRG-TV reports Kohan Retail Investment Group has not paid to keep the lights on since November. Nearly all businesses that were in the space have left. Previous tenants cited doubling of bills and rent, and received no answers as to why any of it happened. Those tenants claim Kohan has done similar work at other malls in the country.    

CERRO GORDO COUNTY – A Clear Lake teenager died in a crash near the community Monday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Subaru Outback driven by 15-year-old Jannali Bear-Don’t-Walk was traveling on Hickory Avenue when he lost control, crossing into the path of a GMC Pickup driven by 50-year-old John Furst of Clear Lake. The collision resulted in the death of the young driver and injured a juvenile passenger. Furst remained unharmed. COLFAX – A Colfax man who fled from a crash that killed his passenger has bene arrested. KCCI-TV reports 44-year-old Todd William Phillips is accused of driving while barred, vehicular homicide, OWI, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Johnson Police say they found 46-year-old Michelle Shawhan critically injured on July 27th after a report of a crash. They accuse Phillips of fleeing on foot before police arrived on scene. WAUKEE – A teenager in Waukee was arrested on Monday in connection to the death of a 23-year-old during a family dispute. The Des Moines Register reports found Brian McGee critically injured with multiple stab wounds Monday morning. A 16-year-old has been arrested in connection to the fatality. MARSHALLTOWN – A train derailment is now in clean-up mode after the incident near Marshalltown over the weekend. WHO-13 reports 30 rail cars full of coal went off the tracks in a rural road. No injuries were reported. Union Pacific is handling the investigation.

ST. CHARLES – A music festival in Iowa drew some of the biggest pop stars and act in the business, but also brought several complaints from fans of disorganization and lack of preparedness for late summer heat. The Des Moines Register reports that attendees were frustrated with a lack of hydration options, and several issues with long parking delays and waiting lines. One attendee told the Register called preparations the worst they’ve been in six years of attending. Hinterland officials loosened restrictions on bringing personal items and water into the facility to combat the concerns. DES MOINES – A woman died in Des Moines Friday, one week after she was shot multiple times. KCCI-TV reports 42-year-old Nikki Marie Loffredo succumbed to injuries from a July 27th attack. Forty-three year old James Bernard Johnson faces one count of first degree murder in relation to the incident. IOWA – Nearly 50 nearly homes in Iowa owe over $10 million in fees the state has not collected, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Accura Healthcare has a plurality of what’s owed, as it operates 18 facilities that owe $3.6 million of the total, while two of its executives made just under $300,000 in political donations. All of Accura’s Iowa-based locations are considered to be in repayment plans, and are not part of the seven care locations that could be sanctioned. The fees are part of Quality Assurance Assessment, a legal method aiming to increase revenue for nursing home providers, which in turn, allows for more Medicare reimbursements. The additional money is meant for staff salaries and investments back into the facilities, but those making up the $10.7 million have not done so.    

SIOUX CITY – A fire broke out on a vehicle carrying an Iowa-based minor league baseball team to a game on Friday. KTIV reports that the Sioux City Explorers were heading to Illinois when their busy caught fire. Iowa lawmaker and Explorers pitcher J.D. Scholten was on the bus at the time, and says everyone is safe. The team boarded a new vehicle later that morning and continued east to compete. DES MOINES – It was a surprise for dozens of Des Moines North High School students that featured not only Iowa’s most famous native athlete, but a boost to their education. Reigning two-time unanimous women’s basketball college player of the year Caitlin Clark stopped by the school on Friday to distribute 350 backpacks full of supplies to 350 students living the Des Moines metro, regardless of the school they attend. The former Hawkeye is on break from the WBNA during the Olympics and is working to bolster her charitable work before returning to the Indiana Fever.