DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and Key West Fire Department responded to a structure fire Saturday. Crews saw heavy smoke coming from the roof when they arrived on scene. The fire most likely originated in a chimney of the home and does not appear suspicious. No injuries were reported. But the home suffered $50,000 worth of damage.

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – Staff at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf are trying to figure out who left offensive graffiti in a bathroom at the school. WQAD-TV reports the graffiti consisted of a poem written in pencil that was offensive to those of several different races, sexual orientations, religious and ethnic backgrounds. A reward of $500 has been offered by the school for information leading to identifying the vandal.

IOWA (IRN) – Saturday was the day medical marijuana advocates and patients had been waiting for, the first day it was legal to purchase medical cannabis in the state of Iowa. Advocates say they’d like to see the state expand the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana, and the elimination of the 3% cap on THC that can be in the product.

AMES, IA (IRN) – David Montgomery ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns and No. 24 Iowa State barely survived a near-upset by non-scholarship FCS school Drake on Saturday, winning 27-24.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured in a crash Friday after another driver went through a stop sign and t-boned the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The deputy and the other driver suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Charges are pending.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A man involved in a fatal crash is pleading guilty to homicide by vehicle by reckless driving in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports Thomas John Parcher, 29 of Marble Rock, was driving in December 2017, when he went off the road and rolled several times. A passenger, Tonya Martin, 50 of Rockwell, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Parcher was tested and found to have a blood alcohol content of .136 after the crash.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department is making a push to have the cameras on Interstate 380 issue tickets to speeders again. The I-380 Automated Traffic Enforcement cameras continue to monitor traffic patterns, but they have been not issuing tickets in Cedar Rapids since April 2017.

IOWA (IRN) – Data shows more farmers in Iowa are struggling to make ends meet, leading to a significant spike in farms declaring bankruptcy. According to numbers from the Iowa Farm Bureau, just five years ago in 2013, only four farms declared Chapter 12 bankruptcy. In 2017, the total number of bankruptcies climbed to 18 — the highest total since 2001.

PROMISE CITY, IA (IRN) – A Promise City man has avoided spending the rest of his life in prison for running a drug ring. KTVO-TV reports TImothy McClain was sentenced to nine years in a federal prison. A search warrant of McClain’s Promise yielded $225,000 in cash and nearly 200 grams of meth. In his plea deal, McClain acknowledged he was part of a multi-state drug ring. He admitted that in early 2017 he had come into possession of nearly four pounds of meth.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale school worker died Thursday after she was struck by a car in a crosswalk in front of the high school, according to KCCI-TV. Dawn Ipson, a member of the nutrition services team at the school, was crossing the street when she was hit.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A railroad officer shot someone in Mason City Thursday. KIMT-TV reports one person was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound. The Union Pacific employed officer is reported safe. The DCI and Union Pacific are investigating.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Transportation Security Administration intercepted the 11th firearm at the Des Moines International Airport so far this year. Staff discovered a loaded Smith & Wesson Wednesday during an X-ray screening of a passenger’s carry-on bag. The gun reportedly had five rounds in it. Charges are pending.

FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – A Canadian woman is thankful to be alive after spending more than three days stranded in her car when it became stuck in the mud on a rural Iowa road. The Des Moines Register reports Terry Harnish, 72, of Hubbards, Nova Scotia, was visiting friends on Thanksgiving when she took a wrong turn onto a dirt road outside Fairfield and became stuck. She was rescued Sunday after her car was discovered by a group of snowmobilers. She said, “I was a bit concerned. I knew my angels and God would save me, but I’m glad those boys came along.”

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – One person was transported to the hospital this morning after being struck by a vehicle near Urbandale High School. KCCI-TV reports Urbandale police were called to the school just before 7 a.m. Police at the scene called the accident “serious,” and said the driver involved in the accident is cooperating.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A 20-year-old man convicted of stabbing and killing another man during a drug robbery will spend 20 years in prison. KCRG-TV reports Darius Alexander admitted he killed 18-year-old Christopher Arteberry during an attempt to steal marijuana.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Learfield Sports has suspended Iowa play-by-play broadcaster Gary Dolphin for two games for negative comments directed at Hawkeyes guard Maishe Dailey that inadvertently made it to the air during a commercial break on Tuesday. Dolphin, who has broadcast Hawkeyes games for over 20 years, will miss Friday’s game against No. 22 Wisconsin and Monday’s game at No. 9 Michigan State. Dolphin apologized.

DALLAS, TX (IRN) – The Big 12 has named ISU football coach Matt Campbell its Co-Coach of the Year. Under Campbell, ISU has had another record-setting season. ISU’s six Big 12 wins were the most conference wins in school history. The team is bowl eligible for the second-straight season, and are ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A 1978 gold Krugerrand was dropped in a Salvation Army kettle at Sam’s Club in Dubuque yesterday, according to KWWL-TV. The coin was discovered while sorting money. It’s worth just over $1,200.