FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – An inmate in the Jefferson County Jail escaped custody Tuesday, according to KCII-radio. James Surber Jr. was being held on a charge of 2nd Degree Theft of a Motor Vehicle. After escaping, he traveled to Ottumwa, where he abandoned the vehicle he was driving. Surber had contacted Fairfield police with information about an open case and offered his assistance. The police conducted an operation with Surber, and he used the opportunity to escape. DES MOINES, IA – Federal authorities have issued search warrants at 20 locations in the Des Moines metro today. The raids are being conducted by the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in association with the ATF, the IRS, ICE, Homeland Security, U.S. Marshal’s, and other agencies. No other details are available. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A February trial has been scheduled for an Iowa woman who authorities say tried to flush her newborn down a toilet and then left it for dead in a trash can. KGAN-TV reports Ashley Hautzenrader has pled not guilty to attempted murder and child endangerment. Her trial is set to begin Feb. 14. Hautzenrader, who lives in Davenport, told authorities she left the baby in the trash because she thought the child had died. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A judge has suspended the prison sentence of a Sioux City teenager serving 10 years for selling synthetic marijuana that caused the death of another teen. The Sioux City Journal reports 19-year-old Rose Mouw’s remaining prison term was suspended and she was placed on four years’ probation. Mouw admitted to buying synthetic marijuana in Nebraska, then selling it to 18-year-old Austin McCloud, who died after smoking the drug. BOONE COUNTY, IA – Protesters rallied in Boone County near the Farm Progress Show against the Bakken pipeline Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports about 20 protesters were arrested on a trespassing charge and taken to the Boone County Jail. They oppose the use of eminent domain for private companies, and say the pipeline will likely harm soil, air, and water quality. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport mother is facing criminal charges for not making sure her child gets to school. WQAD-TV reports the woman’s 14-year-old had 35 unexcused absences during the past school year. Iowa law says it’s mandatory for children who are in kindergarten through age of 16 to attend school. MARSHALLTOWN, IA – A Marshalltown school board member who resigned his post as a prosecutor for Marshall County has pled not guilty to trespassing and theft charges, according to KWWL-TV. Authorities say a co-worker accused Ben Stansberry of stealing her underwear from her home.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A federal judge has refused to issue a restraining order against Iowa protesters planning to risk arrest to stand against a Texas company building an oil pipeline across the land of unwilling farmers. KCRG-TV reports that the judge says the pipeline company Dakota Access hasn’t proven there’s an immediate risk of injury or damage by protesters exercising their First Amendment rights. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A jury returned a verdict Tuesday in the murder case of a Des Moines woman stabbed 70 times, according to KCCI-TV. Norman Charles was found guilty of second-degree murder. He had been charged in the 2014 stabbing death of 58-year-old Darlene Crook at an apartment building The lesser murder charge was reached due to Wadsworth’s mental health. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A Burlington man has been arrested for sexual abuse for allegedly inappropriately touching a four-year-old boy. 28-year-old Nicholas. Cagle is in jail. The Burlington Police and the Iowa Department of Human Services conducted the investigation. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The parents of a Dubuque toddler who shot himself in the face have each been sentenced to five years of probation. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 26-year-old Raven Harris and 30-year-old Willie Horsley Sr. were sentenced Monday. Police say the little boy, Jeremiah Horsley, was playing with the .45-caliber handgun when it went off. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A loaded firearm was found at the Des Moines International Airport Monday, according to KCCI-TV. TSA officers discovered the firearm in a passenger’s carry-on bag. The passenger was cited by Des Moines police. It‘s the second firearm to be recovered at the Des Moines airport checkpoint this year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is over-capacity, and needs help. WHO-TV reports the agency is caring for upwards of 1,400 animals across several locations; far exceeding the 800 they feel they can best care for. They are asking for the public’s help to adopt the animals, or even to become temporary foster families for cats and dogs. They also ask the public to be sure to neuter their pets. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa has fallen out of the top five on the Princeton Review’s annual ranking of U.S. party schools announced this week. The Hawkeyes came in No. 6. For the past two years, Iowa held the No. 2 spot after coming in No. 1 three years ago. The top party school this year? The University of Wisconsin.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Gene Wilder, star of ‘Willy Wonka’ and Mel Brooks comedies, is dead at age 83. Wilder attended the University of Iowa from 1951-55, graduating with a degree in communication and theater arts. In 2001, Wilder donated a collection of scripts, photos and more to the University of Iowa Libraries. Wilder scored his first leading role in the Mel Brooks production of “The Producers” but is best known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” MARSHALLTOWN, IA – A Marshalltown school board member who has resigned his post as a prosecutor has been charged with trespassing and theft. KCCI-TV reports Ben Stansberry was arrested Monday and has been released. Police say the incident occurred at a private Marshalltown residence and involves someone who knows Stansberry. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Monday night’s storms may have been a contributing factor in a building collapse in Ottumwa. KBIZ-radio reports washers and dryers were still running inside the Ottumwa Launderette when firefighters arrived to find the roof caved in. Two people were inside the laundromat when the roof gave way and other bystanders on were on the sidewalk. There were no injuries reported. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines firefighter is accused of vandalizing a downtown Des Moines building. WHO-TV reports Lucas Lossen was arrested early Sunday morning. He’s charged with 4th degree criminal mischief. Witnesses say he was drunk. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman says she will never use an HTC phone again. KCRG-TV reports Patricia Dampier, who is seven months pregnant, spent Friday afternoon in the hospital with breathing difficulties after her cell phone ruptured, sending off sparks and smoke. Police say it appears the battery exploded. She’s now using a flip phone. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For more than 50 years, swans have added to the beauty at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines. Now the birds are dying and a group has been formed to save the swans. KCCI-TV reports the birds are known as Jack and Jill. The group, “Friends of Jack and Jill,” says new out-of-state owners have been neglecting the birds. They say nine cygnets died this year from malnutrition and parasites, and claim the water is dirty and the birds haven’t been given proper food. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge woman was surprised to learn she was pregnant three hours before she gave birth to her fourth child on Friday. The Des Moines Register reports Stephanie Hughes went to her doctor because she was having cramps. Then she learned she was pregnant, and soon gave birth to a 5 pound, 13 ounce baby girl named Ames. Mother and daughter are fine. Dad’s condition is unknown.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A chase at the end of the concert at Kinnick Stadium Saturday night reached speeds of 100 miles per hour and ended with the suspect crashing into a house and being tasered. KCRG-TV reports 20-year-old Dylan Sockness of Wisconsin hit speeds of 100 miles per hour in the 25 mph zone, crashing through traffic signs and nearly hitting several people before crashing into a home. Police arrested him and a passenger, a 16 year-old runaway from Wisconsin, with several felony warrants for her arrest. ROCK VALLEY, IA (IRN) – A man has been killed in a fall from a roof in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that the accident occurred Saturday afternoon at a rural residence southeast of Rock Valley. 57-year-old Henry Wynia was on the roof working when he fell about 20 feet to the ground. Wynia died later at a hospital in Rock Valley. IDA GROVE, IA (IRN) – A substitute teacher has been accused of having sexual relationships with students at two northwest Iowa high schools. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports 32-year-old John Tietsort, of Battle Creek, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee and three counts of lascivious conduct with a minor. Tietsort had repeated sexual contact with two high school students. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a shooting Sunday evening on the city’s southeast side, according to KCCI-TV. Police received reports of a man with a gun, and when the officers found him in his vehicle, he disobeyed their orders, and fled. Officers fired multiple gunshots at the suspect’s vehicle, and when the chase ended he tried to flee on foot but was apprehended. Investigators found a handgun in the suspect’s vehicle. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A school administrator was sprayed in the face with pepper spray by a student at Wood Intermediate School in Davenport on Friday, according to WQAD-TV. The administrator was escorting two students off school property following a disturbance, when one of them sprayed the administrator. Charges are pending. TROY MILLS, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down near Troy Mills, Sunday afternoon. KCRG-TV reports Linn County officials say they haven’t received any reports of damage or injuries. The tornado passed near North Linn High School, moving northeast at about 10 miles per hour. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Hollywood star from Des Moines returned to her roots this weekend. WHO-TV reports Gov. Terry Branstad introduced Cloris Leachman at the State Historical Museum Saturday. The Oscar-winning actress is best remembered for her roles on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and the movie “The Last Picture Show.” Leachman, who is now 90-years-old, is a graduate of Roosevelt High School.

OSAGE, IA (IRN) – A Hampton man has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports a jury in Osage found 61-year-old Ronald Rand guilty Friday. Rand had pled not guilty to the charge related to the shotgun death of 51-year-old Michelle Key in Rand’s home. Rand told police he and Key were arguing before she was shot. But at his trial, Rand said he and Key had been in good spirits when he was showing her the gun. He said it went off after Key grabbed the gun. BARNES CITY, IA (IRN) – There will be no charges in the death of Courtney Moore in Barnes City in April. KCCI-TV reports Trenton Garber told police he accidentally ran over Courtney, and authorities say there is insufficient evidence to file criminal charges. Moore’s family isn’t happy with the decision, and say Garber has never even apologized for the death. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was in Des Moines Saturday, according to WHO-TV. He didn’t ride a motorcycle at Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride fundraiser, but he did draw cheers from those gathered after the ride at the State Fairgrounds. Trump told them he will secure the borders, something Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will not. ROCK ISLAND, IL (IRN) – A Vietnam veteran from Davenport was able to fend off an attacker, according to WQAD-TV. 71-year-old Joe Henson says his instincts from his Army days kicked in. While at a convenience store in Rock Island, someone grabbed him, and tried to take money that had been given back to him in change. They struggled, and fell to the floor, but Henson was able to fend off the attacker. Henson said it “felt good” to hit his assailant, and hopes he still has a sore jaw.