Category: State News

IOWA CITY, IOWA (IRN) – An appeal from Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s attorney’s for the prosecution to produce any evidence it may have regarding a sex trafficking operation they claim may have exonerating evidence has been denied. Sentencing earlier this week was delayed by Judge Joel Yates to hear the arguments from defense attorney’s, but the claim was deemed to be too broad. Rivera is facing life in prison for his conviction of first degree murder for killing Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts.

DES MOINES, IOWA (KCCI) – President Joe Biden has nominated former Iowa Governor Chet Culver to the board of the Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corp, which works to ensure rural areas have access to credit. According to KCCI News in Des Moines, the position must be confirmed by the Senate, and will be Culver’s second term on the board after serving from 2012 to 2019.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has updated the number of tornadoes produced earlier this week, with preliminary data showing approximately 26 dropped down across the state. The NWS states Wednesday had the third most tornadoes to ever touch down in Iowa in a single day, with the most taking place in August of 2014 with 35 were reported across the state.

IOWA CITY, IOWA (KCRG) – A federal appeals court has upheld a 2019 ruling against the University of Iowa, stating the university discriminated against a Christian club by stripping it and other clubs of their registered status. According to KCRG News in Cedar Rapids, A three-judge panel of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeal on Friday found that a lower federal court correctly ruled that the university can’t selectively deregister student organizations. The appeals court said Friday that the university selectively enforced its policy requiring all clubs to offer equal opportunity and access.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has declared the Lake City tornado that touched down on Wednesday was an EF3, with winds between 136 mph and 145 mph and traveled approximately 10 miles, while four tornadoes were rated EF1, and at least 12 tornadoes touched down across the state.

IOWA CITY, IOWA (IRN) – A hearing was held Thursday regarding the sentencing of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the man convicted in the killing of Mollie Tibbetts. Rivera’s sentencing was delayed following claims from the defense regarding a confession to Tibbetts’ murder and an alleged sex trafficking ring as well as what the defense states as new evidence, two unconnected people have each come forward to say that the same man, Gavin Jones, admitted that he killed Mollie Tibbetts.

DUBUQUE, IOWA (KCRG) – Dubuque is no longer being considered as dropping its metropolitan status, a designation from the Office of Management and Budget. According to KCRG News, a proposal suggested dropping 144 cities from metropolitan status since they don’t have a population of at least 100,000, but the OMG announced the current threshold will remain at 50,000.

DYERSVILLE, IOWA (IRN) – Iowans wishing to attend the Field of Dreams game can apply for the lottery beginning today. Public registration for the lottery takes place until July 23. Fans must have an Iowa ZIP code and can only register once and must be 18-years-old. Winners of the lottery will be selected in a random drawing.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – Severe weather struck central Iowa Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage with wind and rain. The National Weather Service confirmed multiple tornadoes touched down across the state, with severe weather and flash flood warnings and as much as nearly 6 inches of rain falling in some places. First responding agencies across Iowa are checking their areas for damage.

CARROLL, IOWA (KCCI) – The cause of a small plance crash in a field south of Carroll has been released by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to KCCI Des Moines, the plane lost crashed due to the loss of the engine, with the pilot alive without serious injury, however the plane is likely a total loss.

IOWA CITY, IOWA (IRN) – The sentencing of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the man convicted in the killing of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, has been delayed. Judge Joel Yates delayed the sentencing after defense lawyers stated they needed more time to investigate new information pointing to other potential suspects. Rivera is facing a sentence of life in prison without parole.

QUAD CITIES, IOWA (KWQC) – The Quad Cities area has been listed as one of the least expensive places to live in the country according to US News and World Report. According to KWQC News in Davenport, the Quad Cities area ranks as the third cheapest location in the country, while Des Moines was only two spots behind in 5th place. The Quad Cities landed at 86th in the “best places to live” rankings and 129th in “best places to retire”.

CARROLL, IOWA (KCCI) – A small plane crashed in a field south of Carroll near Swan Lake Tuesday evening. According to KCCI News in Des Moines, the plane appears to be a crop duster and mostly intact from the crash, and a landowner said the pilot was not injured but that his not yet been confirmed.

DES MOINES, IOWA (WHO) – A Des Moines resident who was in jail for his videotaped confrontation with a police officer in the January 6th Capitol Riot has been released from jail. According to WHO13 Des Moines, a federal judge released 41-year-old Douglas Jensen from jail after being inside for more than six month. Jensen will be under house arrest with electronic location monitoring, is barred from accessing the internet on any electronic devices, and is currently awaiting trial.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – State Senator Zach Nunn became the third Republican to announce their intention to run for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd District, a seat currently held by Democrat Cindy Axne. Nunn was previously in the Iowa House, and joined the Senate in 2018. Nunn joins Mary Ann Hanusa and Nicole Hasso in the Republican Primary, while Axne has not indicated whether she will run for office in 2022.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (KCRG) – A former employee of the Cedar Rapids School District has plead guilty to federal charges of enticement of a minor. According to KCRG News, 46-year-old Miranda Breeden faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison after having sex with a 14-year-old student for whom she was his therapist. The sentencing could reach a maximum of a life sentence.

NEWTON, IOWA (KCCI) – Newton High School Football defensive backs coach Ryan Arguello has been indicted on charges of federal wire fraud. According to KCCI Des Moines, the indictment is a result of Arguello’s business obtaining loans from private lenders using properties he did not own as collateral and is accused of putting fake county filing stamps on the mortgages. Arguello was charged with seven counts of federal wire fraud, which can each come with a penalty of up to 20 years behind bars and up to a $250,000 fine.

DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds decision to send Iowa State Troopers will cost Texas no funds at this time, and will come at the expense of Iowa, but a spokesman for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said there still is a chance Texas could later reimburse some costs. According to AP News, the total cost of the mission is unknown and final payment details won’t be available until it is over. Approximately 5% of the Iowa State Patrol is traveling to the Texas border.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (AP) – A murder trial in the stabbing death of a man found buried in a Cedar Rapids home in 2019 is beginning this week. According to AP News, Drew Blahnik is charged with first-degree murder, obstructing prosecution, and the abuse of a corpse in the December 2018 death of Christopher Bagley. The murder is alleged to be in retaliation for his robbery of a large-scale marijuana trafficker.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – Test Iowa will begin offering free, self-administered COVID-19 test kits. The kits will be available from sites in their community or have a kit sent to their home at no cost from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The tests will have step-by-step instructions and results through email. Current drive-through sites in Des Moines and Davenport will remain open through Friday.