DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two juveniles have been arrested following a robbery of a Des Moines convenience store early Wednesday morning. WHO-TV reports the two suspects attempted to rob a Kum & Go around 3 a.m. before taking off in a stolen vehicle. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and tried to flee on foot, but were apprehended. CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A child endangerment charge has been filed against an 18-year-old from Boone. KIMT-TV reports when Nathan Jacobson was taking care of a two-month old baby in October in Floyd County, the infant suffered multiple bruises on the face and head, subdural bleeding, retinal bleeding and an altered mental state. The baby had been dropped, shaken and slapped. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After four traffic deaths over the holidays, the number of traffic deaths in Iowa this year is now 395, making 2016 the deadliest on Iowa roads since 2008, according to KCCI-TV. Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, with the Iowa State Patrol, says distracted driving is a big problem. He adds, “It’s just so hard to imagine what it would be like if people would put their phones down and pay attention to the road and look where they’re going.” CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Authorities investigated a potential bomb threat outside a Cedar Rapids day care yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. Someone called police after finding a suspicious package on a nearby bench. Police determined it wasn’t a threat, but won’t say what was inside. DEWITT, IA (IRN) – The DeWitt Police Department made sure one little girl got to have a merry Christmas after thieves stole all of her Christmas presents. KWQC-TV reports on December 23, Tiffany Lagrone discovered that someone had broken in and stolen Christmas gifts intended for her daughter, Molly. Several officers pitched in to buy Molly all new Christmas presents, and delivered them on Christmas Eve.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Webster County authorities are looking into a death in Fort Dodge. WHO-TV reports man’s body was discovered in a field southwest of the city Monday. An autopsy is being performed to help confirm the identity and the manner of death. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Cedar Rapids are working to determine how an ATM wound up in the middle of the Cedar River. KGAN-TV reports several ATM thefts were reported in the area recently. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A firefighter was injured Monday while battling a fire at a Des Moines tire shop. KCCI-TV reports the Des Moines Fire Department was called to a fire at Don’s Tire and Auto. The fire started as employees were working on a vehicle on a lift inside the building. All employees escaped the building safely, but one firefighter suffered non-life threatening injuries. GLADBROOK, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed a rural Gladbrook home Monday, according to KCRG-TV. Firefighters battled wind gusts topping 30 miles per hour trying to get the fire under control. The home was a historic farm house. No one was hurt. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 67-year-old Bettendorf woman has been accused of stealing more than $434,000 from her employer. KWWL-TV reports Joan Maureen Smith is accused of stealing from Chest and Vascular Surgery in Davenport while she worked there from 1989 to this year as officer manager. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The bowl game buzz is building for Iowa football fans as the Hawkeyes get ready for the Outback Bowl. WHO-TV reports the team left Monday, giving them exactly one week to gear up for their game against the Florida Gators, who are currently three point favorites. The Outback Bowl kickoff takes place on January 2nd at noon.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Uber driver was arrested last week in Des Moines for driving under the influence. WOI-TV reports Jordan Lettow was seen driving the wrong-way on a one-way street. He had just picked up a passenger from downtown Des Moines. Police determined that his balance was impaired. Lettow admitted he had two glasses of scotch at dinner. Police found two unsealed bottles of scotch, meth and other drug accessories in the search. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Two people escaped a house fire in Burlington Christmas Day. KWQC-TV reports first responders were called to a report of flames coming from the basement. The chimney cleanout door apparently failed. Embers from an active fire in the living room fireplace were determined to have flowed out of the ash collection box in the basement onto combustibles. BLAIRSBURG, IA (IRN) – A Clarion woman was killed in a car crash two days after she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. KCCI-TV reports 24-year-old Andrea Matul lost control on a slush-covered highway, crossed the centerline and hit another vehicle near Blairsburg, in Hamilton County. Matul was born in Guatemala but moved to the United States in 2000 and graduated from Clarion High School in 2011. VAN HORNE, IA (IRN) – A 24-year-old man is facing charges for a shooting in Van Horne that sent a Belle Plaine man to the hospital. KCRG-TV reports Steele Unkrich faces numerous charges in the Christmas Day shooting. Police say Unkrich and the victim know each other. ATLANTIC, IA (IRN) – A new ethanol plant is set to open in southwest Iowa under an agreement between Cass County officials and a private company. The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reports the plant northwest of Atlantic is expected to bring at least 49 jobs to the area. Construction is set to begin in early 2017, with the planT opening around June 2018. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One Des Moines East Village organization helped out those in need this holiday season. Joppa Outreach, a faith-based organization in Des Moines that relies on volunteers to help the homeless, partnered with Gusto Pizza to deliver meals around the community Christmas Day. They also handed out winter supplies like clothing, heaters, and propane for those who may need a little help staying warm in the cold weather.

SAC COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A four-vehicle accident claimed the life of a woman in Sac County Saturday. A semi attempted to pass a car that was in front of it. During the pass, the semi collided head-on with a pickup. A passenger car that had been following the pickup rear-ended it. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa officials say this year’s deer harvest is down slightly this year. Between both shotgun seasons, hunters reported 5 percent fewer deer than last year’s seasons. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says hunters purchased 2,118 fewer licenses, or tags, for shotgun seasons this year compared to last year. AMES, IA (IRN) – A vaccine that an Iowa company helped develop is expected to stop one of the world’s deadliest viruses. The Des Moines Register reports that a study published Thursday shows the vaccine is 100 percent effective in protecting people against Ebola, an infectious virus that has killed thousands and traumatized millions. Ames-based NewLink Genetics helped test and refine the Ebola vaccine that was invented by Canadian scientists. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines family’s best Christmas gift came early when a brave 3-year-old girl helped save her mother’s life. KCCI-TV reports 25-year-old Staci Myers suffered a stroke when she was running errands with her daughter, Zyla. Her husband, Robert Dalton, received a call from her, and when he heard moaning, he started yelling her name into the phone. Zyla picked it up, and told her dad where they were and what was happening, and he was able to find them.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The company building an oil pipeline across four Midwestern states says it is halting land restoration work in Iowa until spring. KGAN-TV reports Dakota Access says it had hoped to be finished with land restoration over the completed pipeline in Iowa by Dec. 31 but a regulatory delay this spring and “several incidents of trespassers interfering with construction work” prevented it from finishing land restoration. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A longtime treasurer for the Unity Lutheran Church in Des Moines has been charged with seven felony counts of theft, according to KCCI-TV. 69-year-old Carol Jean Padgett is accused of stealing up to $70,000 from the church over seven years. She allegedly hid bank statements and told board members the church had to close due to insufficient funds. Church officials grew suspicious and checked, and found many small ATM withdrawals. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Firefighters responded to a duplex fire in Dubuque yesterday, according to KWWL-TV. One man was inside the apartment at the time. He hurt his foot going down the stairs evacuating. Authorities say it started in the kitchen, and no one else was injured. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Ottumwa firefighters worked quickly Thursday afternoon to rescue a stranded dog from the Des Moines River. KBIZ-radio reports the dog ran off the edge of a levee, falling an estimated 30 feet to the icy river below. His owner hung over the side of the river wall trying to calm the scared pooch while police and firefighters planned and executed the rescue. The dog is OK. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the number of hogs and pigs on Iowa farms has reached a new record high. As of Dec. 1 Iowa had 22.4 million hogs and pigs, the largest inventory ever reported. Iowa is the nation’s leading hog producer by far. North Carolina is in second place, with less than half our numbers. We have more than seven times the number of hogs as we do people.