FORT DODGE (IRN) – A Fort Dodge man convicted in the death of a newborn faces 50 years in prison. KCCI-TV reports Brandon Thoma will serve 20 years before the chance of parole. Thoma was charged with first-degree murder before pleading to child endangerment resulting in death. The child’s mother, Taylor Blaha, was convicted for second degree murder and also received 50 years in prison. The two drowned their newborn and disposed of the body last November — the body has not been found. OSKALOOSA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman is accused of making multiple threats to courthouses in southeast Iowa. The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office arrested Erika Jo King of Ottumwa Thursday evening with an outstanding warrant from Jefferson County. King is charged with 1st degree harassment and making threats of terrorism. Wapello County and Jefferson County were also allegedly threatened by King. IOWA (IRN) – Approximately 36,000 Iowans pay $650 each year for the blood thinner Eliquis, but that cost could fall now that it’s eligible to be negotiated by Medicare. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the measure part of the Inflation Reduction Act allows the federal government to talk down the price of certain prescription drugs. Based on the drugs listed in the first wave, more than 60,000 Iowans could benefit from lower costs. JOHNSTON (IRN) – An investigation into a shooting in Johnston shows the shooter acted in self defense. WHO-13 reports the Johnston Police Department and Polk County Attorney’s Office determined Dalton Meier used reasonable force on May 9th. Witnesses say 62-year-old Steven Miller attacked another person and at one point had a knife, when he lunged at Meier, who shot him in response.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The murder trial of a man accused of killing two other students at Starts Right Here education center began on Thursday. WHO-13 reports Preston Walls is accused of killing Gionni Dameron and Rashad Carr this past January. Testimony began Thursday afternoon. Walls attorney claims the student acted in self-defense. Co-defendant Bravon Tukes is scheduled for trail in October. DES MOINES (IRN) – A man found guilty of murder in an attempted robbery will face life in prison. KCCI-TV reports Dontaye Burton received his sentence Wednesday for the shooting of Sean Chapman. Two other men were charged but acquitted in the case. AMES (IRN) – Minnesota is moving forward with an environmental review for a proposed pipeline from an Iowa-based company. The Des Moines Register reports Summit Carbon Solutions of Ames intends to build a $5.5 million pipeline across five states to transfer carbon dioxide to an underground location in North Dakota. The pipeline is facing resistance in both Dakota states and there are ongoing hearings in Iowa about the proposal. CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – A popular yeast company is expanding in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports Red Star Yeast will add to its existing facility in the community. The plant will add a 10th fermenter used for production.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is appealing a Polk County District Count Decision to allow Spanish on certain election materials. KCRG-TV reports Bird is challenging the act as protecting “election integrity.” Polk County District Court Judge Scott D. Rosenberg cited the Voting Rights Act in favor of a second language, in a statement released to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. CEDAR COUNTY (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League of Iowa rescued 30 dogs recently in Cedar County. WHO-13 reports the league is asking for resources, as they were near capacity before the rescue. The dogs were rescued from an unlicensed breeder. BREMER COUNTY (IRN) – A Florida man faces charges for a Feburary crash related to the death of an Altoona man. KCCI-TV reports 22 year old Derrius Taylor was killed earlier this year by a vehicle driven by Carter Harris in Bremer County. Harris faces a felony charge of vehicular homicide.

*NOT FOR RVR* REDFIELD (IRN) – A single vehicle crash caused a fatality in Redfield Tuesday morning. According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at 1:38am to the east side of the Redfield dam of a vehicle that was believed to have entered the water. Raccoon Valley Radio reports that first responders located a 2012 Hyundai Sonata submerged under water. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office utilized a diver and towing crew to pull the vehicle out of the water and found 32-year-old Jordan West from Minburn in the driver’s seat, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. ANKENY (IRN) – Both parents of a two-month-old child who died in 2022 are now facing criminal charges. WHO-13 reports 25 year old Breanna Peters of Cedar Rapids was booked into the Polk County Jail Tuesday for child endangerment causing death. Breanna and her husband Charles were Ankeny residents when their two-month-old son died in February 2022. Doctors discovered several internal injuries, according to court records, and the cause of death was ruled a homicide. Charles was arrested last week and faces the same charge as Breanna. IOWA CITY (IRN) – The Iowa City Public Library was closed late Tuesday after a bomb threat. KCRG-TV reports Iowa City Public Safety made the announcement after receiving a message at 3:30 p.m. An investigation is ongoing but the library is expected to reopen soon. BOONE (IRN) – An Iowa staple of grocery stores is moving its headquarters to a larger city. The Des Moines Register reports that Fareway is moving headquarters from Boone after 85 years in the community. CEO Reynolds Cramer told the Register says the brand needs more space than can be provided in its current location, and the store will be heading to Johnston in 2024. Cramer says 80% of their corporate employees live in Polk County despite their split sites located in Boone.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY (IRN) – Several people were injured when a vehicle struck a house in Plymouth County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Dodge Ram driven by 32 year old Jesus Almaraz left Highway 3 after Almaraz suffered a medical emergency. The truck went airborne before striking a house. All four people inside the vehicle were injured, as was someone in the home. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has identified a teen killed in a crash on August 12th. Gabriel James Martin, 16, was riding in the bed of a pickup that lost control in Polk County. Four of the other juveniles in the vehicle at time time were uninjured in the rollover. The family released the details of Martin’s passing. An investigation is ongoing. IOWA (IRN) – Topsoil and subsoil moisture is now short in two-thirds of the state, according to the latest report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Most crops remain well ahead of their 2022 schedule, as 96 percent of corm has reached the dough stage and 62 percent is denting. Hay and soybeans also remain ahead of last year’s schedule. IOWA (IRN) – A survey of Iowa State Fair goers shows more than half of Iowa’s drivers have admitted to using a mobile device while driving. The results of a poll of more than 1400 Iowans from all 99 counties showed 51% of those individuals have driven while distracted. Despite that usage, 85% of Iowa’s surveyed support hands-free legislation. While several bills related to the topic have been introduced for the past four sessions, nothing has been successfully signed by the governor.