CARROLL – A man who sexually exploited multiple children and possessed millions of files of child pornography was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison. Lucas Oliver Knowles of Carroll received the prison term this past week after a February 23, 2024, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Knowles admitted that he had been collecting child pornography since approximately 1996 and may have millions of images. CEDAR RAPIDS – A man wanted in connection to a death in Cedar Rapids was arrested on Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports Donnie White is accused of killing 38 year old Brittany Hopkins, who was found dead last month. White was found in Las Vegas and faces a count of first degree murder and nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy. IOWA – The Iowa State Patrol responded to 74 crashes in northwest Iowa related to a powerful blizzard on Wednesday. Thirteen injuries were reported as several communities were pummeled with at least a half-a-foot of snow and wind gusts over 50 MPH. At one point, Interstate 29 was closed for several hours from Sioux City to near Council Bluffs. Several power outages were also reported. AMES – A century after playing championships inside State Gym, the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa State University have entered into an agreement to have the Boys State Basketball Tournament move to Hilton Coliseum starting in 2027. An initial five-year deal with support from Discover Ames will place the five-day, 32-team boys’ tournament inside Hilton Coliseum as the first-of-its-kind multi-use CyTown district is developed at the Iowa State Center and slated to come online in 2027.

IOWA – A large, potent winter storm is set to bring blizzard conditions to parts of the Midwest today, including portions of western and northern Iowa. Those locations are expected to bring moderate to heavy snowfall and strong winds gusting to 50 mph or more producing near zero visibilities and blizzard conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Main communities impacted are Algona, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Carroll, and Mason City. Those wind gusts over 50 mph or more will also extend farther south and east into locations receiving little or no snowfall. This may result in some tree and power line damage, even in locations that don’t receive much in the way of wintry precipitation. CEDAR RAPIDS – A woman charged with human trafficking has pleaded guilty to prostitution and conspiracy charges. KCRG-TV reports Tana Torres and Jarod Anderson picked up a teenager and forced her into prostitution. Torres entered the plea this week after a jury found Anderson guilty of human trafficking and sexual abuse charges last week. Torres testified against Anderson, claiming she was also a victim and sharing that he targeted women from the area who were at a low point in their lives. DES MOINES – Des Moines Area Community College has had its lawsuit claiming Drake University defamed it as part of a legal dispute over school logos has been denied. Iowa Capital Dispatch Reports DMACC was cautioned about its move the accusation. This stems from a lawsuit Drake University has brought against the community college for a block-lettered “D” logo and blue-and-white color scheme. A chief district judge ruled Drake would like prevail in the case, and ruled DMACC needed to stop using the newly-created logo. The defamation claim came from an email sent to Drake University Alumni about the lawsuit.

IOWA – Another powerful storm system is taking aim on Iowa, this time, with a final gasp of winter-like conditions for many on Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, the northwest third of the state will likely see a combination of wet, heavy snow and wind gusts up to 50 MPH throughout much of the day. Widespread travel impacts are expected in areas such as Algona, Storm Lake, Mason City, Carroll, and Fort Dodge. While the rest of the state may avoid blizzard-like conditions, high winds will impact most Iowans at the same time regardless of the amount of snow involved. This comes just days after more than 14,000 MidAmerican customers lost electricity during severe thunderstorms last Friday. IOWA – Iowa’s Labor Force Participation Rate rose to 67.0 percent in January, up from the 66.4 percent first announced for December, after growth and an annual revision of labor statistics added 31,000 people to the official estimate of Iowa’s workforce. That report was released on Monday. Even after the revision, January’s Labor Force Participation increased slightly from the revised December rate of 66.9 percent. Meanwhile, Iowa’s unemployment rate in January held steady with the revised December rate of 3.3 percent, while the U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent. The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 56,500, up 200 from revised December data.IOWA – Ten restaurants have been selected as finalists for Iowa’s best burger in 2025 by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. KCCI-TV reports Arcadia of Polk City, Big Head Burger of Waterloo, Dan’s Road House in Cresco, Halftime Bar and Grill in Pleasantville, Lewis and Lewis of Oskaloosa, Salsa Guy Cafe in Cedar Rapids, Smash and Grab in Knoxville, The Roadhouse of Sac City, and Wilder in Iowa City are the finalists.

HARLAN – An investigation continues into an officer-involved shooting in Harlan. A press release issued by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation identified Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Captain Chad Butler has the one who shot and killed 36-year-old David Plagmann, who is accused of pointing a rifle at police. Following that incident on March 6th, police found 31-year-old Alexis Martin, and investigators believe Plagmann is responsible for her death. DES MOINES – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he made a trip to Iowa to answer to voters upset with Democrats who aren’t doing enough to push back against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The Des Moines Register reports 1,500 people registered to attend a town hall with the 2024 Vice Presidential Candidate. Walz is on a tour of swing districts of Republicans who are not holding public town hall events in swing districts. Republicans in the state were critical of Walz, accusing him of furthering his own political fortunes and fundraising. IOWA – Drought conditions scaled back statewide in the latest weekly report. The U.S. Drought Monitor Shows 56% of the state is in moderate conditions, down from 73% last week. The worst conditions are in northwest Iowa, primarily in the Sioux City area. The latest National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center report shows near normal rainfall expected over the next two weeks. A winter storm could impact much of the state this Wednesday as well.

IOWA – Widespread thunderstorms brought gusty winds to most of Iowa on Friday. Nearly 12,000 customers were without power in central Iowa at one point due to reported gusts of up to 73 MPH. Multiple semis were overturned on four-lane highways as well. Much cooler air sweeps into Iowa by Sunday morning, with wind chills into the single digits in northern Iowa. DES MOINES – A Marshalltown woman pleaded guilty this week to diverting controlled substances for her own use and falsely noting the administration of a controlled substance in a patient record. According to court documents, Amanda Nicole Manatt was employed as a registered nurse at a hospital in Marshall County in 2023 and at a hospital in Story County in 2024. Manatt obtained controlled substances intended for patient use and took fentanyl and hydromorphone for her own use. She also falsely documented the administration of a controlled substance in a patient record. Manatt is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11th and faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.IOWA CITY – Longtime Iowa Head Men’s Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery has been let go from his position. KCRG-TV reports the university is parting ways after 15 seasons with McCaffery on the sides. He had the most wins in Iowa Hawkeyes program history at 297 and Iowa finished 17-16 this year. However, attendance at Carver Hawkeye Arena had dropped significantly this past winter, and he never led a Hawkeyes team into the Sweet 16 despite seven NCAA tournament appearances.