MONTROSE, IA (IRN) – A Lee County deputy has been cleared of wrongdoing in shooting a hammer-wielding man who menaced the deputy. The opinion issued by Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown says Deputy Dakota Foley’s decision to shoot Joshua Welborn “was reasonable.” Foley told Welborn six times to stop advancing before Foley fired one shot. Welborn was hospitalized for a chest wound. Welborn has been charged with assault on a police officer and other crimes.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman has been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire at a Des Moines mosque. The Des Moines Register reports the fire at the Islamic Center of Des Moines was extinguished by mosque staff. Security cameras show 22-year-old Aisha Ismail pouring lighter fluid on a carpet and then starting the fire. She’s been charged with first-degree arson, and is in jail.

HAWKEYE, IA (IRN) – An Eastern Iowa woman was rescued after finding herself stranded on the Turkey river near Hawkeye Friday. KWWL-TV reports 51-year-old Teresa Dane of Sumner was enjoying a day tubing when she became stuck in a pile of trees and debris caught by a supporting pillar of the bridge. She tried to make it to land, but failed. Firefighters used two ladders tied together and stretched across the water to reach Dane. She’s OK.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale woman whose late husband suffered from the effects of Agent Orange received his medals on his behalf Friday. KCCI-TV reports Sen. Chuck Grassley presented Susan Dudley with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal, among others, for the service of David Dudley. He served on the front lines in Vietnam.
Dudley also served in the Iowa State Patrol for 25 years before his death three years ago.

BROOKLYN, NY (IRN) – The NBA draft picked up just one player from the state of Iowa. Former Iowa State University star Monte Morris was drafted in the second round by the Denver Nuggets. He was the 51st pick in the draft. Morris is the winningest player in Iowa State history, with 100 career victories. He’s also the 38th former Cyclone to be drafted into the NBA.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A Missouri man has been killed in a fall at a construction site in southeast Iowa. WQAD-TV reports the accident occurred Wednesday in Fort Madison. A witness reported the man fell 20-25 feet from a wooden box that was being hoisted by a forklift.

MANLY, IA (IRN) – The Worth County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find out who assaulted a man. KIMT-TV reports the 59-year-old victim was found outside in Manly after deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call on Wednesday night. The man had suffered severe facial trauma but was conscious and breathing when emergency personnel arrived on scene.

ALBIA, IA (IRN) – Authorities have accused a 29-year-old southern Iowa teacher with having sex with a student. The Ottumwa Courier reports that Zachary Simpson was a teacher for the Albia Community School District who also taught driver’s education. Court records say a 16-year-old girl reported that she and Simpson had sex at least twice.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A man was shot during the overnight hours near the Marion Public Library, according to KCRG-TV. Police found a man with a gunshot wound near the library around midnight. Responders took him to the hospital.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Trump’s putdown of wind energy at his rally Wednesday in Cedar Rapids was denounced across the state Thursday. KCCI-TV reports Trump was talking up his support for coal during his speech when he said: “I don’t want to just hope the wind blows to light up your homes and your factories.” One-third of Iowa’s power comes from wind.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two insurance agents turned into heroes Wednesday when they rescued a woman who was trapped inside her vehicle after a rollover accident into a cornfield. WHO-TV reports Bankers Life agents Cheyenne Robertson and Nick Greb were travelling on a gravel road northwest of Fort Dodge. They spotted the car, stopped, and heard a woman faintly scream. The woman was trapped, but they were able to free her. She was hospitalized for a neck injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Nebraska company wants a federal court to stop four Iowa cities from restricting fireworks sales. The Des Moines Register reports that Bellino Fireworks filed a complaint against Ankeny, Boone, Johnston and Pleasant Hill. Bellino wants a permanent injunction barring the cities from enforcing restrictions and seeks unspecified damages.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Police Department is looking for a man they say tried to expose himself to a group of girls. KGAN-TV reports the man approached three girls between the ages of 9-11 years old, and then drove slowly next to them as they walked along the road. He then pulled up and asked the girls if they wanted him to expose himself. The girls ran and called police.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale couple face felony charges after a disabled woman in their care was found with severe burns. KCCI-TV reports Katrina and Garry Eubanks bathed a nonverbal 19-year-old woman in a bathtub full of chemicals, causing burns. Instead of getting her medical care, the Eubanks drove her to Tampa, Florida, without telling her family. They were arrested in Florida on Iowa warrants of kidnapping and neglect and abandonment of a dependent person.

WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old charged in connection with the arson of the Cedar Bridge in Madison County will be tried as an adult. Seventeen-year-old Alex Hoff, 18-year-old Joel Davis, and 19-year-old Alivia Bergmann are each charged with second degree arson and first degree criminal mischief for allegedly setting fire to one of the famous covered bridges of Madison County in April.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Trump was in Cedar Rapids yesterday. He toured Kirkwood Community College, where he learned about innovations in agricultural technology. At a rally last night, the president told his audience he was “dealt a very difficult hand” as president, with crises brewing in North Korea and the Middle East. The president also thanked Iowans for voting for him in last November’s election.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids family was reunited with their puppy in a chance encounter, a day after he was stolen from their front yard. A witness told Destiney Stucker he watched two men steal her six-month-old puppy, Tyson. A day later, Stucker saw a woman walking him. Police were called, and they learned that the woman had bought Tyson the day before from two men for $150. Police are looking for the two men, and Tyson is home safely.

RACINE, WI (IRN) – A former pastor from the Ainsworth Community Church in Washington County was arrested in Wisconsin after trying to meet with who he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex, but was really a sheriff’s investigator. KCII-radio reports 48-year-old Scott Nesbitt made arrangements to meet the girl at a McDonald’s and drive to an undisclosed location. Instead, he was arrested.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have accused a Dubuque woman of stealing from a disabled man while she worked for a service agency. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 24-year-old Jatika Williams is charged with dependent adult abuse-exploitation and theft. Williams allegedly stole nearly $1,100 from the man while working for Area Residential Care.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has issued a statewide order prohibiting weapons in courthouses. The order does not affect peace officers. Currently, 72 counties prohibit weapons in courthouses but just nine have airport-like detectors at entrances. According to the court, the goal of the order is to uniformly protect all Iowans.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 67-year-old Des Moines woman has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for her role in a Nigerian email scam. Victoria Lovan was sentenced Tuesday for three counts of wire fraud. Lovan accepted money wires from victims all across the country, kept part of the money, and sent the rest to Nigeria.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett announced his bid for Iowa Governor yesterday. He promised to be a conservative Republican with an independent streak. He says the four areas that need changes most are state taxes, water quality, concern for citizens and K through 12 education. Corbett will challenge current Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in next year’s Republican primary.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman believes a smartphone app saved her baby’s life, according to WHO-TV. Emily Eekhoff was 33 weeks pregnant when she noticed her baby’s kick count was down. She had been using the Count the Kicks app, which helps monitor a baby’s movements. She went to the hospital, where doctors found the baby’s umbilical cord had become wrapped around her neck three times, which can be fatal. Doctors performed an emergency C-section, and baby Ruby spent 20 days in intensive care. This week, Ruby is going home.