WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One bus driver was fired and another placed on administrative leave after incidents involving students in Waterloo, according to KCCI-TV. The fired driver failed to check the bus Tuesday and left a 6-year-old boy alone for nearly two hours inside the vehicle at the bus yard. An employee found the boy sleeping on the bus after frantic calls from his mother. In the other incident, a 9-year-old girl with autism was taken from a school program to her home Monday instead being taken to a YWCA for daycare. The girl then crossed two busy streets as she walked to a store, where she was found in an aisle, playing with toys.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The attempted use of a counterfeit bill led to a police chase on Wednesday in Dubuque, according to KCRG-TV. Three men from Milwaukee were arrested. The Dubuque Police Department received a report of an attempt to use a fake $100 bill at Kohl’s. An officer wearing plainclothes made contact with the suspect as he entered his vehicle. He and two passengers then fled in the vehicle, allegedly driving recklessly. A chase ensued, and stop sticks were deployed to bring the chase to an end.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League rescued cats on Wednesday from a hoarding case in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports Animal Control Services were on site for the fourth hoarding case the ARL has been involved with in 10 weeks. So far 32 cats have been rescued, but ARL officials are working to capture more.

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – The Charles City Police Department has confirmed it’s investigating a report of its police dog attacking someone at the home where the dog lives. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the incident happened on June 25 involving the dog named “Jordy” and a person at the house.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s controversial use of private insurers to run its Medicaid program just got $386 million more expensive. The Des Moines Register reports that’s how much more state and federal money Iowa officials have agreed to pay through this fiscal year for two national companies to manage the giant health care program.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines International Airport has announced plans to add 1,000 more parking spaces to combat shortages. Airport General Manager Kevin Foley says the parking shortage is a good sign because it reflects an increase in the number of people using airport facilities. The new parking spaces should be finished by Thanksgiving. He says the $3 million project “only buys us two or three years” before more spaces will be needed.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Officials discovered a body in the Cedar River yesterday after a multi-day search for a missing boater. KCRG-TV reports search teams recovered a body of a white male. Officials believe this body to be that of Ricky Veenstra, 59, of Cedar Rapids, who had been missing since Sunday.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A repeat offender is going to prison for stealing tools. KIMT-TV reports Timothy Charles Williams, 30 of Springville, pleaded guilty to 2nd degree theft for trying to sneak over $1,000 worth of tools out of a Mason City store. Law enforcement says he put the tools inside the package for a mailbox, then bought the mailbox and left without paying for the tools. He’s a repeat offender who will spend up to five years in jail.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning on Tuesday about a dangerous species of tick. According to the CDC, Asian longhorned ticks have appeared in 11 states across the country and their bites can cause serious illness in animals and in people. Ryan Smith, assistant professor of entomology at Iowa State University, said he is not aware of any reports in Iowa or the Midwest.

IOWA (IRN) – The state of Iowa has earned a high ranking on a dubious list. Online news site 24/7 Wall St. has labeled Iowa one of the top “states that are falling apart.” The study relied on data including road condition rankings, deficient bridges and state spending on highway projects. Iowa finished third on the list, behind only Alaska and Rhode Island.

ATALISSA, IA (IRN) – A man died after he was struck in the head by a firework in the eastern Iowa town of Atalissa last week around the July 4 holiday. The Des Moines Register reports first responders were notified of the accident, and when responding, found James Don McMichael, 53, dead. The impact of the firework is the probable cause of death.

TIPTON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa trooper pointed his gun at and knocked down a motorcyclist for no apparent reason during a traffic stop, then falsely charged the man with eluding law enforcement. KGAN-TV reports dash camera video released Monday shows then-Iowa State Patrol officer Robert Smith pulling over motorcyclist Bryce Yakish for speeding. What appears to be a routine stop escalates immediately when Smith runs out of his car with his gun drawn and strikes Yakish in his helmet. The force knocked the 150-pound Yakish backward and onto his motorcycle, and both fell to the ground. Yakish is repeatedly heard complaining of neck pain. Smith now works as an officer in Durant.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – The search for a missing Marshalltown woman ended in tragedy Monday. KCCI-TV reports search crews found the body of 18-year-old Jazmin Raya in the Iowa River just north of downtown Marshalltown. Raya was 18 but communicated like a child due to autism. It’s not clear if that contributed to her death. An autopsy will be performed.

HUDSON, IA (IRN) – A multi-vehicle accident near Hudson in Black Hawk County left one person dead on Monday, according to KCRG-TV. The SUV attempted to pass two pick-up trucks that had livestock trailers containing live elk attached. While passing, the SUV struck a Tesla S head-on, which caused the SUV to hit the pick-ups and their trailers. The Tesla also collided with one of the pick-up trucks and its trailer. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene.

ADAMS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is paying a Red Oak man $10,000 after wrongfully arresting him for criticizing officers on Facebook. WHO-TV reports Jon Goldsmith was arrested last year after he criticized the actions of a deputy at a festival in Corning after the deputy body-slammed a man. Goldsmith and the ACLU sued, and a judge ruled the department must also take part in a free speech training and adopt a social media policy that will be approved by the ACLU.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Former pro football and baseball player Bo Jackson is coming to Cedar Rapids. The star player will join other famous former players for the inaugural “Perfect Game Cares” charity softball game. Proceeds from the game benefit the Perfect Game Cares Underserved Youth Initiative.

MANLY, IA (IRN) – A Lake Mills woman is in jail after allegedly pointing a gun at someone while intoxicated. KIMT-TV reports Jennie Aasland was arrested after she allegedly pointed a gun at a woman and her family Sunday in Manly. When officers arrived, a pistol was found in the gravel between the Aasland and the victim.

IOWA FALLS, IA (IRN) – A north-central Iowa couple have been killed in a crash at an intersection near Iowa Falls. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the two were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The second vehicle, driven by a 16-year-old, failed to stop and yield at an intersection, striking the couple’s car, and then hitting a utility pole. The 16-year-old, another 16-year-old, and a 17-year-old in the car were hospitalized.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews are at Palisades-Kepler State Park in Linn County searching for a missing boater. KWWL-TV reports an adult male fell out of his boat and into the river. As of 12:30 p.m., the boater hadn’t been found and rescue crews were still searching.

LEON, IA (IRN) – The DCI is investigating an incident in Leon that happened just after 3 a.m. Sunday when an officer shot a man during a traffic stop. According to police, the man sprayed the officer with mace, and the officer opened fire. The man, in his 50s, survived and is in the hospital.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City has joined a national fundraiser to raise money for immigrants at the Mexican border. KCRG-TV reports from July 5-7, they donated 10% of their funds to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, a non-profit immigration legal services provider in Texas. The fundraiser is called Bookstores Against Borders, and so far, 80 bookstores have raised almost $28,000.