MEDIAPOLIS, IA (IRN) – A contractor died after falling from a moving truck, according to KBUR-radio. The worker fell from the truck while he was picking up road signs outside of Mediapolis yesterday. The worker, who was identified as a private contractor from Stockport, was not named, pending notification of family. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa recently announced it’s cutting $3.4 million in scholarships to keep up with state budget cuts. Now, the first class action lawsuit has been filed against the university for taking away those scholarships. A Des Moines law firm filed the lawsuit in Polk County representing one of the 2,500 Iowa students who had their scholarship taken away without warning. Other students are invited to join the lawsuit. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who allowed his teenager to invite friends to his house for a party, provided them alcohol and then had sex with a 13-year-old girl after she was drunk, has been ordered to pay $127 million to the victim and her family. KCRG-TV reports 47-year-old James Lee Hohenshell of Bondurant will also serve just over two years in prison. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A “personhood” bill that would effectively ban abortion in Iowa has passed out of a legislative subcommittee. The measure would recognize that life is protected from the moment of conception, effectively making abortions illegal. The bill would also prohibit the use of certain contraceptives. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Early voting in Iowa would be reduced under a bill approved by a House subcommittee that also requires voters to show identification at the polls. KCCI-TV reports the bill shortens early voting from 40 days to 29 days. The bill would also eliminate the option of voting straight party with a single mark on a ballot. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill to consolidate counties is under consideration in the legislature, according to WHO-TV. The lawmaker who introduced it says having so many physical county courthouses is simply unnecessary in the age of the internet. The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to reorganize counties and relocate county seats. It would need to pass two general assemblies and get voted on by the people of Iowa before becoming a reality.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State lawmakers are considering a possible change to Iowa’s recycling laws, according to WHO-TV. A bill introduced in the Iowa House would repeal Iowa’s bottle bill. Since it passed almost 40 years ago, Iowa has maintained an 86-percent redemption rate. That’s one of the best in the nation and more than three times the recycling rate of states without bottle and can deposits. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – LifeServe Blood Center in Des Moines says a heavy flu season and a holiday slowdown are two of the reasons it is seeing a critically low supply of blood. KCCI-TV reports for the second time in some 50 years, Lifeserve opened its door on a Sunday. The center is in need of all blood types, especially type o-positive and o-negative. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A statue that honors Waterloo’s Sullivan brothers has been moved to an outdoor chapel at Columbus High School. The memorial honors five siblings who were killed while serving in the Navy. They were on the USS Juneau when it was sunk by the Japanese during World War II. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports the 60-year-old memorial with a base that weighs 2.5 tons was moved from the Waterloo Knights of Columbus Building, which is for sale. The statue has the brothers’ names engraved and is topped by an Italian marble statue of the Virgin Mary. DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian was hit and killed in Dubuque County Saturday night, according to the Iowa State Patrol. A 24-year-old woman from Wisconsin was driving on Highway 20 near the exit for Peosta when she struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – One person was hospitalized after being wounded in a shootout with Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies in northwest Iowa. KCRG-TV reports deputies were pursuing two suspects south of Sioux City around 3:30 a.m. Sunday before the shooting happened. The suspects started firing at deputies after the chase ended, and the deputies returned fire. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police arrested a man who stole three shotguns and ammunition from a Walmart Saturday night. KCCI-TV reports 27-year-old Cody Gebauer broke into the gun case with a bat he took from the sports section of the store and ran off with three shotguns. Police blocked off several apartment complexes nearby for several hours before Gebauer was arrested. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A new bill from Gov. Terry Branstad in the Statehouse aims to cut the number of professions requiring a license in the state. Professions include respiratory therapists, massage therapists, barbers, funeral directors, mental health counselors and social workers. There is much opposition from these professions to the bill saying the health and safety of Iowans will be compromised.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A man was injured during a fire at a Coralville apartment complex, early this morning. KCRG-TV reports the man caught fire and leapt from a second-floor balcony in an attempt to escape flames. Authorities were uncertain of his condition. Two others on an adjoining balcony were able to avoid injury by dangling over the railing and climbing down. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two suspects were arrested Friday after an attempted break-in at a Des Moines home. According to the Des Moines Register, Yvez Quinn of Des Moines and Justin Hill of Cedar Rapids were arrested. Both are 19 years old. Police say they were scared away by the homeowner, and several neighbors then called the police to report the suspects running through their yards. These tips eventually led to the suspects’ arrests. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Wyoming couple were arrested after an shoplifting attempt in Mason City Thursday escalated into a confrontation. KIMT-TV reports officers were sent to a store on a report of staff trying to stop the two for shoplifting. While Mason City police were on the way, there was another report that the male had pulled out a gun. Officers arrived to find the man waving a can of pepper spray. He had a machete and a BB pistol in the waistband of his pants and a hypodermic needle in his pocket. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa COPS Black and Blue Ball honored Iowa’s fallen officers Saturday night at the Marriott in downtown Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports Iowa lost five officers in 2016: Susan Farrell, Carlos Puente-Morales, Shawn Miller, Tony Beminio and Justin Martin. A special table up front left empty seats for the five officers.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man is facing a federal drug charge according to KIMT-TV. 56-year-old Mark Monroe Hoffman was arrested on November 21 after the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office says it found him with both methamphetamine and marijuana. He’s been indicted for possession with intent to distribute meth. MOUNT VERNON, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a crash involving a straight truck and a motorcycle along Highway 30 in Mount Vernon. KCRG-TV reports the head-on crash took place Friday morning. The truck was in the correct lane when it was hit head-on by the motorcycle. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Polk County judge has granted a protective order to prevent law enforcement agencies involved in Scott Greene’s case from leaking information, according to KCCI-TV. Attorneys for Greene say they believe there has been a leak of confidential information in the murder case. Greene is charged with the murders of Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale Officer Justin Martin. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – The American Civil Liberties Union said it will defend a transgender student at Newton High School who was asked to wipe off a political statement he wrote on his arm. KCRG-TV reports the student wrote “love trumps hate” on his arm in November, and a gym teacher told him to wipe it off while also calling him a girl. The student was told to wash it off or go home. The ACLU says it is a violation of his fundamental right to free speech. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In front of the largest crowd to ever see a women’s game at the Knapp Center, the Drake women beat in-state rival UNI on Friday 70-57 to win the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title. WHO-TV reports it’s the first outright title for Drake in 17 years. The Bulldogs are now 16-0 in the MVC with just 2 games left in the regular season.

LONE TREE, IA (IRN) – A 12-year-old boy from Lone Tree had to be airlifted from an ATV wreck Thursday afternoon. KCII-radio reports the unnamed 12-year-old was attempting to cross a road from a field on the ATV when it was struck by a truck driven by 55-year-old Kurt Stewart of Ainsworth. The condition of the boy has not been released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The DNR reports it has found the man who took the talons from a dead bald eagle at a Polk County Park but they’re still looking for the person who shot and killed the bird. The decapitated and mutilated eagle was found at Yellow Banks County Park. 27-year old Mitchell Hoyt of Runnells was cited for illegal possession of a protected nongame animal, but don’t believe that Hoyt killed the eagle. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man who claims to be the city’s biggest drug dealer will spend 18 years in prison, according to KCRG-TV. A federal judge on Thursday sentenced 26-year-old Mark Lembo for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Police found 62 grams of meth, bullets, and more than $5,000 in Lembo’s car. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Anyone in Iowa could use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety under a bill under consideration at the statehouse. Opponents say it’s a license to kill. The bill would also allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit, prohibit colleges from banning weapons, allow firearm permits to last a lifetime, prohibit local governments from passing gun restrictions, allow children under age 14 to use guns with supervision, and allow guns on the Capitol grounds. WALCOTT, IA (IRN) – Firefighters worked to clean up a diesel spill on Mud Creek in eastern Iowa yesterday. The DNR says a sheen on Mud Creek near Walcott led to a leaking pipe from an above-ground diesel tank. Approximately 500 gallons spilled from the tank on a farm. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A man was rescued from his mobile home after it caught on fire this morning in Davenport. Two men were in the area to repossess a car, and saw the home on fire and a man inside. They entered the flaming building and pulled the man out. His condition is unknown.