POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The trial of a Bondurant man charged with the murders of his family has been scheduled. 21-year-old Chase Nicholson will go to trial July 17 for the murders of his father, mother, and sister. Nicholson’s parents Mark and Charla, and sister Tawni, were found dead in their home on April 6th. He has admitted to using a shotgun to kill them. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa man has been accused of stealing from his employer, according to KIMT-TV. 31-year-old Joel Phillip Pals of Belmond was arrested Wednesday and charged with 2nd degree theft and two counts of forgery. Police say he created false sales contracts while working as a salesman for Advanced Systems Inc. in Mason City. He also allegedly forged customer signatures on two occasions, resulting in thefts of over $5,400. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A fire in a multiple story apartment building in Des Moines killed three people Thursday, and others suffered serious injuries. KCCI-TV reports it’s unclear what caused the fire, but officials say the blaze was strongest near the top of the apartments. Fire crews rescued ten people trapped in the building. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A teacher who’s worked with the Dubuque School District for nearly 20 years is now on paid leave following his arrest. KCRG-TV reports 46-year-old Douglas Spahn faces charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Spahn says he uses marijuana to treat his back pain. He’s a wellness teacher and football coach at Hempstead High School. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Iowa tight end Noah Fant, a Nebraska native, was threatened with a handgun in a park in Omaha, according to KETV. The 19-year-old Fant said someone pointed a gun at him and demanded he leave the area. Police later saw an intoxicated Matthew Trimble run into his garage when he saw a police cruiser. Trimble admitted confronting Fant, and has been charged with terroristic threats and having a gun in a prohibited place. HAMBURG, IA (IRN) – On August 21 there will be a total solar eclipse in the midwest. The eclipse will be less than total across much of Iowa. However, WHO-TV reports the total eclipse can be viewed from a small triangle of southwest Iowa in Hamburg. In Nebraska and Missouri they are preparing to welcome lots of visitors who want to experience a total eclipse. That’s not the case in Hamburg, where residents say it will be business as usual.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has designated an “acting” Lt. Gov. with full scope and title to operate the office but, will not be in line of succession. KCCI-TV reports Public Defender Adam Gregg, of Johnston, is her choice. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – President Trump’s new budget calls for a 21%, $4.7 billion cut to USDA programs. Over ten years, it would cut the crop insurance program by nearly $29 billion. The budget is drawing criticism. Crop insurers say the cuts to insurance would make it more difficult for farmers to bounce back. Senator Chuck Grassley says “the President proposes, Congress disposes. And ultimately Congress will write the budget. Not the President.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A child was struck by a vehicle in Des Moines yesterday, according to KCCI-TV. The 8-year-old girl ran out into traffic and was struck by a truck. A nurse on scene attended to the injured child, who was later taken to Blank Children’s Hospital. She is being treated for serious injuries. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person was killed in a motorcycle crash in Dubuque, according to KCRG-TV. The motorcyclist hit a parked car. An investigation is underway. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fake food inspectors are scamming ethnic restaurants in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals reports the scam involves people posing as food inspectors who promise restaurant owners a renewed license in exchange for a $5 payment by credit card. Their credit card information is then stolen. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump is coming to Iowa. The Trump-Pence Campaign committee announced yesterday that President Trump will hold a rally in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, June 1st. It’s Trump’s second trip to Iowa since winning the White House. He held a victory rally in Des Moines in December, one month after the election.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is now, officially, Ambassador Terry Branstad. On his 8,169th day in office, the longest-serving governor in American history formally resigned the office and was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to China. He is succeeded in Iowa by his lieutenant governor, Kim Reynolds. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque officials say a shots fired call led them to a man with “numerous guns and ammunition” Tuesday night. KWQC-TV reports during the investigation the suspect was identified as 40-year-old Nathan Wayne Schumacher of Dubuque. In a search of his home, officials located the weapons and ammunition. Schumacher was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and interference with official acts. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A man accused of killing an Iowa deputy pled not guilty to 12 counts Tuesday and asked for a speedy trial, according to KETV. 24-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty is accused of shooting and killing Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge during an attempted jailbreak. He’s scheduled to face a jury on July 25 in Pottawattamie County Court. BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Three Amish juveniles were taken to the hospital after their horse-drawn buggy was hit by a pickup truck in Buchanan County. KGAN-TV reports the buggy crossed into the path of the pickup. The injured were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by ambulance or helicopter with multiple unknown injuries. One of the girls was thrown approximately 50 feet. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Security is tighter at entertainment venues after a deadly terror attack. At least 22 people died after a suicide bomber set off a blast Monday at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. KCCI-TV reports 11,000 people packed into Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines last night for a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. Officials would not say how they beefed up security, but there was a large police presence. The Des Moines bomb squad was also on scene with bomb-sniffing dogs. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A preschool teacher in Mason City is helping save the life of one of her students’ father. WHO-TV reports Darreld Petersen was born with renal kidney failure and is in need of a life-saving kidney transplant. After getting tests done, his son’s teacher Nancy Bleurer found out she was a match and agreed to go through with the donation. The transplant surgery will take place the first week of June.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fireworks will be legal to use in Des Moines on July 4th thanks to a surprise vote Monday by the Des Moines City Council. KCCI-TV reports Des Moines residents will be allowed to shoot off fireworks within city limits for the first time in generations. The pilot program permits the use of fireworks on July 4th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The program also includes a hefty $625 fine for residents who use them any other day of the year. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police are investigating a robbery Saturday night at Falbo’s Pizza. KWWL-TV reports police were called on a report of a fight at the restaurant. Once there, they found an injured person outside. That person said he was inside the restaurant, tried to put his money away in his pocket, but someone reached inside and took it. The victim says he was punched by two suspects when he threatened to call police. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was injured in a shooting at a West Des Moines apartment complex early this morning. WHO-TV reports when officers arrived they found a man in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. The man had entered an apartment where a woman and another man were inside. Shots were fired, and the man who had entered the apartment was struck by gunfire. He was hospitalized, and his condition is unknown. WASHINGTON D.C. (IRN) – Governor Branstad has been confirmed as the next U.S. Ambassador to China. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Branstad yesterday. He will resign as governor tomorrow, at which time Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will become Iowa’s first female governor. Branstad is the longest-serving governor in United States’ history. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa transportation officials say residents should be able to start downloading their driver’s licenses onto their smartphones by late next year. The Des Moines Register reports the DOT has conducted a pilot program with about 100 state employees who used state-issued iPhones last year. Iowa is among the first states in the nation to explore digital driver’s licenses as an alternative to traditional plastic licenses. CLUTIER, IA (IRN) – It was a once in a century event in the town of Clutier (CLUE-teer) in Tama County. KCRG-TV reports the town celebrated zip code day yesterday. The community’s zip code – 52217 – matches Monday’s date. Organizers say the event was also a way for the town to celebrate its Czech heritage. People sold kolaches (koh-LAH-chees), which are fruit-filled pastries, and danced to polka music.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was charged with shooting his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in the leg Saturday in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports 34-year-old Jabre Tyrone Norwood was arrested in relation to the incident. Norwood is being charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury causing serious injury in relation to this incident. The victim is recovering. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Two people are in custody after a brief “stand-off” in Dubuque, according to KWWL-TV. Officers say they tried to arrest 28-year-old Kelshawn Marshall Sunday for several felony warrants. Officers say he wouldn’t listen and ran into a home. While police were trying to get him to come out, 48-year-old Polynesia Cowart came out and started yelling at police. Both were arrested, and police seized marijuana and crack cocaine from inside the home. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines is seeing a spike in violence. WHO-TV reports the city is averaging one homicide every ten days, and 15 people have been murdered already this year. Out of those cases, six remain unsolved. This follows the city’s latest homicide that left one person dead and three others injured after an early-morning shooting Sunday in a church parking lot in Beaverdale. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is on a list we don’t want to be on. KCCI-TV reports nine puppy breeders or brokers in the state are on the Humane Society of the United States list of the “Horrible Hundred” problematic commercial dog breeders. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A former U.S. Postal Service worker in northwestern Iowa has been sentenced to probation for stealing items from the mail he was supposed to deliver. KGAN-TV reports 42-year-old Kirk Baird, of Sergeant Bluff, was sentenced Friday. Baird admitted that from August to October, he removed cash and gift cards from items in the mail at least 22 times. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport college has unveiled plans for more than $50 million in improvements to student housing, buildings, athletic fields and other aspects of campus. The Quad-City Times reports Palmer College of Chiropractic is making the improvements in order to modernize the campus in an effort to retain and recruit more students.