IOWA (IRN) – Eight people, including six children, have lost their lives to house fires in the last week in Iowa. The first happened Monday in Walcott at a mobile home, killing a 2-year-old. Then Wednesday, flames in Mason City killed four children. And Thursday, two adults in their 70′s died when their Cedar Rapids home caught fire. The latest tragedy struck Friday morning in Onslow, killing a child. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman accused in connection with a deadly shooting in Cedar Rapids this year has been extradited back to Iowa from Illinois. Pierra Baugh, 33, is awaiting trial in the Linn County jail, facing multiple charges, including 1st degree murder. She’s being charged in connection with the death of Cordal Lewis. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Democrats have reelected their legislative leaders as they prepare for the 2023 legislative session, where they will hold fewer seats than they have in decades. Republicans are expected to hold a majority of either 63 or 64 seats in the 100-member Iowa House and a 34-16 majority in the 50-member Iowa Senate. Legislative Democrats voted to keep Rep. Jennifer Konfrst and Sen. Zach Wahls as their party’s leaders in the Iowa House and Senate, respectively, for the 2023 Iowa legislative session, which begins on Jan. 9. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Rob Sand has earned another term as the state auditor. Sand’s opponent, Republican Todd Halbur, conceded Friday. With 99 counties reporting, Sand collected 50.08% of the vote total. Halbur said the Iowa Republican Party didn’t give him enough support. The Iowa Republican Party says Halbur didn’t work hard enough.

ONSLOW, IA (IRN) – One person has died and multiple people were injured in a house fire in Onslow, in Jones County, early Friday morning. Officials have not confirmed exactly how many people were injured. Fire crews responded to the fire just after 4 a.m. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A central Iowa man has been arrested again, this time for strangling his girlfriend. Ricky St. John was booked into the Polk County Jail Wednesday night for domestic abuse assault. St. John also pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after he choked and killed Timothy Neal in 2017 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he was released in May 2022. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – An early Wednesday morning house fire that killed four children and injured two more people in Mason City originated in an electrical power strip on the main floor of the home. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a fire broke out Thursday just after noon in Cedar Rapids. The two victims are 72-year-old Charles Osterkamp and 70-year-old Sheri Osterkamp. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. MANHATTAN, KS (IRN) – Not only did No. 4 Iowa lose at Kansas State, but All-American Caitlin Clark had to be helped off the court after injuring her ankle on the final play. No update on the injury was available. Gabby Gregory hit a free throw with four seconds left to put the Wildcats on top 84-83.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have made an arrest in connection to a bank robbery in Des Moines. Police say 55-year-old Joe Mitchell Pendegrass, of Des Moines, is charged with robbing the U.S. Bank downtown. Police say he walked into the bank Tuesday and got away with some cash. Pendegrass allegedly had a weapon on him but didn’t show it. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Four children died in a house fire in Mason City Wednesday morning. Drako Mcluer, age 6, John Michael Mcluer, age 12, Odin Thor Mcluer, age 10, and Phenix Mcluer, age 3 were all pronounced dead at the hospital. Six people in total were transported to the hospital. A 55-year-old and 11-year-old were able to evacuate the home before firefighters arrived. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – Marshalltown police have arrested a man who threatened two teenagers outside a school using a gun. Jose Luis Galaviz, 19, is facing six charges for the accusations by the Marshalltown Police Department. A police investigation revealed Galaviz threatened a 14 and a 17-year-old and displayed a gun during the incident. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol was busy Wednesday morning during the season’s first snowfall. Statewide troopers covered 55 crashes and also responded to 49 motorist assists calls. TIPTON, IA (IRN) – It takes just seconds to saw a six-inch hole into an old Igloo cooler, turning it into a cat shelter. From there, they can be placed outside where outdoor cats can use them to cuddle up for a warm nap, or just to safely get out of the cold. Sue Schroeder of Tipton started on this project several years ago and has made it a priority every year as soon as the weather gets colder. The insulation better protects the cats from harsher temperatures and elements. She gets the coolers from Goodwill, online, and from the landfill.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating the robbery of a downtown Des Moines bank that happened Tuesday afternoon. It happened around 4:15 p.m. at the U.S. Bank. A male suspect entered the bank and said he had a weapon. No weapon was displayed. The suspect fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured in the robbery. IOWA CITY IA (IRN) – According to a new report, in 2020, there were 38 reports of sexual assault on or near the University of Iowa campus. That number jumped to 68 in 2021. MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Investigators believe snowy road conditions early Tuesday morning were the cause behind a crash that claimed the life of a Fremont man southeast of Oskaloosa. The investigation shows 22-year-old Morgan Sanders, of rural Fremont, was traveling northbound when the snowy conditions caused him to lose control of his 2008 Ford Mustang. The car then slid sideways into the southbound path of a 2013 Toyota Tundra driven by 29-year-old Ethan VanDeKieft of Oskaloosa. Sanders was pronounced dead at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Sara Craig Gongol led Kim Reynolds’ first gubernatorial election campaign, served four years as her chief of staff, and remained in the position as Reynolds won re-election last Tuesday to another four-year term. Craig Gongol is resigning effective December 1st to become the new executive director of the Republican Governors Association. MAR-A-LAGO, FL (IRN) – Former President Donald Trump, aiming to become only the second commander-in-chief ever elected to two nonconsecutive terms, announced Tuesday night that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. This means Iowans may see the former president many times as he travels the state prior to our first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses.

IOWA (IRN) – Tyson Foods’ pork division continued to struggle in its most recent quarter, capping one of the company’s worst years on record. A dominant presence in Iowa, the meatpacking giant’s pork division lost $55 million during the quarter that ended Oct. 1. The Arkansas-based company’s profits have dropped amid increases in costs for hogs, transportation and wages. In addition, U.S. pork exports have declined over the last two years, as has domestic consumption. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Quntonio Herron, the Iowa man who spent months on the run after a deadly crash, will serve up to 25 years behind bars. Last week, Herron pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Herron was speeding last May when he slammed into two motorcycles in Des Moines, killing two and leaving a third with life-altering injuries. CHARLOTTESVILLE, VI (IRN) – UNI men’s basketball game against Virginia Monday night was canceled following a deadly shooting on campus in Charlottesville, Virginia. Three Virginia Cavalier football players were killed late Sunday night and the suspect, a former UVA football player, is suspected of killing them. UNI players were confirmed safe at their hotel. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa will receive $6.17 million as part of a $391.5 million settlement reached with Google over its location tracking practices. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, along with the attorneys general from 39 other states, opened an investigation into Google’s location tracking after a 2018 Associated Press article revealed that Google still records movement data even when told not to. GRIMES, IA (IRN) – The first sanctioned girls wrestling meet was held at Dallas Center-Grimes Monday night. Athletes were ecstatic to be a part of girls’ sports history in Iowa. Monday’s match-up included DCG, Ankeny, Spencer and Waverly high schools.