IOWA (IRN) – Much of Iowa is seeing dangerous blizzard conditions. Authorities urge people to stay home if possible. OELWEIN IA, (IRN) – An Oelwein woman who crashed her car while under the influence of drugs, killing her son, has pled guilty to vehicular homicide. On July 19, 2020, Robyn Reaves was under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine when she lost control of her car in rural Buchanan County. The vehicle went into the ditch and hit a culvert, killing 9-year-old Ace and injuring 6-year-old Ryker. An investigation found that Reaves was speeding well over the posted speed limit and never hit the brakes before going off the road. WEST DES MOINES, IA – A West Des Moines man will survive a brutal pit bull attack. On Dec. 8, the man was attacked by his own two dogs at an apartment. When police arrived, the attack was still ongoing. One of the dogs was soon put down, but the other escaped and was on the run for a while. The dog was eventually captured and was taken to a shelter pending the investigation. Police say the man faces a long road to recovery. IOWA (IRN) – As the seasonal flu continues circulating, there is good news. This year’s flu shot is a good match for the virus’ common strains according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bad news is just 32.3 percent of Iowans have gotten their flu shot this season. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has a new favorite liquor. The latest state report shows for the first time, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is the top-selling brand in the state. Black Velvet whiskey has held that title since 2012 but is now the runner-up. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division says Tito’s accounted for 393,000 gallons of the 6.6 million gallons of liquor sold in Iowa this year. In all, Iowans spent about $431 million on booze this year.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines sex trafficking victim who admitted to killing her alleged rapist when she was 15 pleaded not guilty to escape charges Monday. Police say 18-year-old Pieper Lewis cut off her tracking monitor and fled the Fresh Start Women’s Center, where she was serving her probation, in early November. Lewis is on probation for killing 37-year-old Zachary Brooks in 2020. She claims she had been trafficked to Brooks, and he raped her multiple times in the weeks leading up to his death. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – The Marshalltown Fire Department was called to a house fire early Tuesday morning. They found a building on fire and were able to quickly put it out after the cold temperatures caused a fire hydrant failure. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire was an improperly used wood-burning stove. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A winter storm warning is in effect through Friday. Predictions anticipate an accumulation of at least 3 inches of snow in most parts of the state by Saturday. Snow and wind will start to pick up by tonight and will lead to treacherous conditions for travel through Saturday morning. By Thursday afternoon, there will be potential wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph. The strong winds continue into Saturday morning, with blizzard conditions likely. AMES, IA (IRN) – The major winter storm has Iowa State University canceling basketball games out of concern for the safety of student-athletes. Tonight’s men’s basketball game against Omaha and the Thursday women’s game against Drake have been called off and will not be made up.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have identified a woman and her daughter found shot to death Monday inside their home in the Merle Hay neighborhood. Officers were called to the home just before 3 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting. The victims were identified as 47-year-old Danielle Remily and her 20-year-old daughter, Emma Parker. The 22-year-old suspected gunman had a previous relationship with Parker. After the shooting, the man called 911 to report that he’d shot two people and that he was walking to Riley Park to take his own life. Officers found the suspect at the park with an apparent gunshot wound and is in critical condition. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A man is now in custody as a suspect in an armed robbery in Iowa City. Iowa City Police have identified Dewayne Corely-Jones, 20, as the suspect. Corely-Jones was caught last week in Illinois and is currently in custody at the Peoria County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds joined 24 other governors in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to put an end to the Federal Public Health Emergency. Reynolds says, “We have returned to life as normal and it is time the federal government’s policies reflected that.” IOWA (IRN) – Dangerously cold temperatures are expected across the state starting Wednesday. During this storm, Iowa will likely experience impactful snow with sub-zero wind chills and 50 mph wind gusts. The wind gusts will make blizzard conditions likely.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead and another injured after an early morning shooting in the Merle Hay neighborhood in Des Moines shortly before 3:00 this morning. First responders found two people, both with gunshot injuries, dead in a home. A third person, also with a gunshot injury, was located nearby at Riley Park. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Racist and vulgar graffiti was spray painted all over a Des Moines park over the weekend. Picnic tables, the playground, sidewalks, and the parking lot.at Woodlawn Park are covered with gay and racial slurs and words of antisemitism. OXFORD, IA (IRN) – There were travel troubles along Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa Sunday night after a tractor-trailer caught fire near the Oxford Exit. Oxford and Williamsburg crews arrived in minutes. Upon arrival, they found the trailer in flames. They managed to save the tractor. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Ross Wilburn, Chair of the Iowa Democrats, announced that he would not seek re-election Saturday. Iowa Democrats are coming off a rough midterm election in the state and losing their first-in-the-nation status for caucusing. IOWA – A one-two punch of weather systems this week will bring disruptions to travel, as well as significantly increase the chances for a white Christmas. The first storm system will likely arrive on Monday afternoon and give much Iowa a chance for a round of light snow. Blizzard conditions are likely Thursday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A judge has sentenced Dimione Walker to life in prison. A jury found Walker guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting at Taboo Nightclub in April. Surveillance video from the nightclub shows him firing at Michael Valentine eight times and hitting him seven. Valentine later died. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The family of an Iowa State University student killed in a rowing accident last spring will two million dollars from the state in a wrongful death lawsuit. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Eight people from Burlington are facing federal drug charges The announcement was made Friday by the FBI and the Burlington Police Department. The charges result from a joint federal and state investigation of a drug trafficking organization that operated out of Burlington. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines police officer was injured after he was involved in a crash on Interstate 35 northbound. Officers had been dispatched to a vehicle that went into the ditch. When the officer exited his vehicle to assist that driver, another vehicle hit the back of his cruiser, propelling it into the officer. The officer and the two drivers of the other vehicles suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The weather may have played a role.