DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Frontier Airlines announced new flights from Des Moines to Las Vegas today. Flights will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, beginning August 14. MARION, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of stabbing his ex-girlfriend in the Marion Hy-Vee parking lot in 2015. KGAN-TV reports a judge determined that the jury should have been instructed to consider an insanity defense for Nicholas Luerkens. Luerkens stabbed 29-year-old Lynnsey Donald to death in front of her son. He then tried to kill himself on the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has named the former pharmacy technician who admitted to watering down the opioid prescriptions of hospital patients and stole the powerful painkillers. KCCI-TV reports Victor Van Cleave diverted approximately 252 vials of Fentanyl and 18 vials of hydromorphone in 2016 while working at Methodist in Des Moines. Van Cleave replaced the missing medication for over 700 patients with salt water. OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – The Oelwein Police Department has taken eleven people into custody following a months-long investigation. KWWL-TV reports the suspects were arrested in the Oelwein area, and are all connected to a drug ring that includes the sale and distribution of methamphetamine. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Republican Congressman Rod Blum is finally holding open meetings for constituents, but you’ll have to prove you really are a constituent to get in the door. WHO-TV reports Blum will begin a series of town hall meetings on Monday, his first of the year. To attend you must bring an ID to the meetings to prove you live in the First District or you won’t be allowed in the doors. Some Republicans have accused liberal advocacy groups of paying protesters to fill town hall meetings across the country. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A group of Cedar Rapids students traded books and pencils for fishing poles and bait on Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports the fifth graders at Truman Elementary School went to the Prairie Park Fishery as part of a physical education class. Teachers say fishing is a great lifetime sport that kids can do on their own, with friends, or with their parents and grandparents. The kids did manage to snag a few fish, which were caught and released.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The last carrier of individual health insurance policies in most of Iowa may leave. Medica announced Wednesday that its ability to stay in the Iowa insurance market “is in question at this point.” Aetna and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield have already left. The Des Moines Register reports that the carriers’ exits would not affect Iowans who obtain insurance through their employers or through a government program. It could, however, leave more than 70,000 Iowans who buy their own coverage without any options for next year. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A narcotics search warrant led to an arrest Tuesday in Burlington, according to WQAD-TV. Over five pounds of crystal meth, six grams of marijuana, two grams of ecstasy, and a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen were among the items recovered. The meth is estimated to have a street value of close to $160,000. 35-year-old Carlos Jermain Walls faces multiple charges. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – The body of Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge, who was killed in the line of duty on Monday, was returned home to Pottawattamie County Tuesday. KETV reports the community lined the streets and interstate overpasses to show their support for the motorcade that escorted the deputy’s body from the medical examiner’s office in Ankeny to Council Bluffs. Memorial services are still being planned. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A third person has been arrested and charged Tuesday in the Madison County bridge arson case. KCCI-TV reports 19-year-old Alivia Bergmann of Des Moines was arrested in South Carolina. Bergmann admitted to helping set the fire. 18-year-old Joel Davis and 17-year-old Alexander Hoff have also been charged. Deputies say the arson was Hoff’s idea and that he wanted to burn the bridge after he and a girlfriend broke up because it held significant memories. BUENA VISTA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Police in northwest Iowa are investigating a case of suspected arson. The Storm Lake Pilot Tribune reports someone set fire to construction equipment that was used to build the Bakken oil pipeline near Newell in Buena Vista County. EARTH (IRN) – The annual Eta Aquarid (AY-tuh ACK-wuh-rid) meteor shower will peak this week. While the shower is predicted to end May 28, the best time for viewing will be Friday or Saturday morning, just before dawn. As many as 30 meteors per hour can be expected. Astronomers say Iowans should look toward the southern horizon.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines woman accused of starving and neglecting her teenage daughter wants a separate trial from her former husband and wants her murder trial moved out of Polk County. Nicole Finn and Joseph Finn II are charged with the October starvation death of 16-year-old Natalie Finn and the suspected abuse of two of Natalie’s siblings. Both have pled not guilty. The Des Moines Register reports that lawyers for Nicole Finn cited pretrial publicity and other factors in her request last week for a change of venue. OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – A fire broke out overnight in Oelwein, according to KWWL-TV. The large building is near the railroad tracks and was filled with wood. Fire crews say they are concerned someone might have been staying in the building overnight to stay warm. MILFORD, IA (IRN) – A northwest Iowa man was killed after exchanging gunfire with police officers Monday. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports Milford police officers were called Sunday night to a problem at a home. As officers approached the home, a man inside fired several shots, and a Milford officer returned fire while retreating to safety. Officers entered the home several hours later and found 52-year-old Robert Brunner dead. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are looking for a suspicious vehicle and two men after two teens reported the men approached them Monday. KCRG-TV reports the 13-year-old girls reported a dark colored SUV or van stopped next to them as they were walking. The girls said a male passenger waved them over and said he had a question. The girls did not respond to the request, but instead ran to a safe location and called police. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republicans are accusing Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller of playing politics in his assessment that Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds won’t be able to appoint her replacement once she takes over for Gov. Terry Branstad. Branstad is in Washington, D.C. this week for confirmation hearings to become the U.S. Ambassador to China. That’s a reversal from Miller’s assessment last December that Reynolds could appoint a new Lt. Governor. STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council announced the 2017 Iowa’s Best Burger Monday. Iowa’s Best Burger is at Smokin’ Hereford BBQ in Storm Lake. The Hereford Burger is 8 ounces of hand-pattied beef dressed with a house seasoning, grilled over a hot flame, and made to order. Possible toppings include: bacon, fried banana pepper, coleslaw, blue cheese or spicy mac & cheese.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – An inmate who was being taken from the Pottawattamie County Jail escaped this morning, killing one deputy and injuring two other people. Dep. Mark Burbridge, a 12-year veteran of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, according to KETV. The suspect, believed to be Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, carjacked someone and drove to Omaha, before carjacking another person. Correa-Carmenaty then led police on a high-speed chase before crashing. He has been taken into custody. MARENGO, IA (IRN) – Jurors are scheduled to be chosen today for the trial of a federal inmate from Iowa charged with killing his fiancee, who vanished without a trace in 2000. KCCI-TV reports Tait Purk has pled not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing Cora Okonski. Purk told police that she left their home to walk to the store to buy cigarettes and never returned. Her body has never been found. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating after a woman was injured during an early Monday morning incident. WHO-TV reports people in an apartment complex were up late drinking when they got into a dispute with neighbors over a cell phone. During the altercation a woman used a knife to cut another person on the head. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa student is accused of threatening to bring a gun to a graduation ceremony. KCRG-TV reports 25-year-old Soliman Altamimi is charged with threat of terrorism and third-degree harassment. Altamimi went to school officials on Friday and asked to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. When staff members said “no,” he then allegedly threatened to bring a gun to graduation, and repeated the threat to officers. Police say he made a similar threat in November. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police responded to a call early Sunday morning near the University of Iowa reporting that a strong-armed robbery had occurred. KGAN-TV reports the victims said they were walking when a vehicle pulled over and a group of men got out, assaulted them, and then stole their wallets. The suspects returned to their vehicle and left the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Scaffolding will soon envelop the Iowa Capitol dome as workers continue a $10 million renovation project. KCCI-TV reports the work is needed to fix internal cracks and exterior weathering. Officials hope the external work will be completed by Thanksgiving, but the internal fixes are expected to take at least a year. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines pet shelter is making a push to get more animals adopted into loving homes. WHO-TV reports now through May 5th at Furry Friends Refuge, all cats over the age of five months can be adopted for just $5. This is part of the organization’s “Cinco de Meow” special.

VAN BUREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Van Buren County mother accused of starving her infant son to death is expected to be in court next week. KTVO-TV reports Angel Poole faces one count of Child Endangerment Causing Death. Poole’s two-month-old son weighed just five pounds when he died in July 2016. If she is convicted she faces up to 50 years in prison. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police are investigating after someone partially blinded a girl with a BB gun Friday. KCRG-TV reports someone shot at the 14-year-old girl and the BB hit her in the eye. She told officers she had seen five to eight young boys with BB guns right before being hit. She said she didn’t recognize anyone in the group. The BB was lodged in her eye socket before removed, and she will suffer partial loss of vision. IOWA, (IRN) – The Iowa Republican Party is taking to social media to praise President Trump on his first 100 days in office. The account has posted several tweets starting with the hashtag “#100days,” naming various things the president has done while in office so far. Iowa Republican Chairman Jeff Kaufmann says “with President Trump at the helm, Republicans at all levels will continue to push an agenda that benefits the people of Iowa and Americans across the country.” PHILADELPHIA, PA (IRN) – For the 40th straight year the Iowa Hawkeyes had a player drafted in the NFL Draft. Quarterback CJ Beathard and tight end George Kittle went to the San Francisco 49ers, defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson to the Minnesota Vikings, and Desmond King to the San Diego Chargers. Drake All-American tight end Eric Saubert was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Iowa State did not have any players drafted for the 3rd straight year.