MEMPHIS, TN (IRN) – Authorities in Memphis, Tennessee, say they have arrested and obtained murder indictments for two men suspected in the January shooting death of an Iowa man traveling through the city. KCRG-TV reports 48-year-old Lonnie Ludvigson of Edgewood was driving a truck for a shipping company when he stopped in Memphis on Jan. 9. Four masked men approached his truck, robbed him and shot him. An 18-year-old and 19-year-old are in custody. CASEY, IA (IRN) – A woman and two dogs died in a house fire in Casey Friday, according to Raccoon Valley Radio. A male occupant of the house attempted to rescue the female, but was unsuccessful and suffered significant burns. A concrete crew pouring a patio at the back of the house also attempted a rescue, but failed. Names haven’t been released. The cause of the fire had not been determined. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A former Ankeny High School teacher is facing sexual exploitation charges for an alleged relationship with a former student, according to WHO-TV. 27-year-old Amanda Dreier turned herself in Friday. Responding to an unrelated call, police found Dreier and an 18-year-old male in a vehicle in a parking lot. Officers questioned them and discovered Dreier and the male, a recent student of hers, were involved in an ongoing sexual relationship. She resigned June 13. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man is on a terrorists “kill list.” KGAN-TV reports Kevin Watts of North Liberty was notified by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the North Liberty Police Department at the request of the FBI. Some lists apparently target random civilians. CLAYTON, IA (IRN) – A semi crashed into the Mississippi river Friday in the town of Clayton after the driver took a wrong turn and lost control. KWWL-TV reports 46-year-old Dean Hinton, of Wellsburg lost control of the semi, jumped the railroad tracks, and crashed the semi into the river, where it quickly submerged. Hinton freed himself, and yelled for help, saying he couldn’t swim. He was pulled out of the river by two residents of Clayton. He’s OK. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Rick Friday, a newspaper cartoonist fired after a company pulled their ads over a cartoon slamming big business in farming, is back drawing cartoons for the very newspaper that fired him. KCCI-TV reports Friday was fired two months ago when his editor at Farm News said he was cutting off their 21-year relationship after a seed company, offended by Friday’s cartoon, pulled their ads. Farm News has now apologized for the firing.

KANSAS CITY, MO (IRN) – A civil lawsuit is proceeding against a suspended Missouri State Highway Patrol officer who was transporting a handcuffed Iowa suspect when he fell out of a boat and drowned, according to KCCI-TV. Trooper Anthony Piercy’s patrol boat hit speeds of around 40 mph in 2014 while he transported Brandon Ellingson for a breath test. Ellingson tumbled into the Lake of the Ozarks wearing an improperly secured life vest. The vest slipped off, and Piercy was unable to save Ellingson. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs couple faces child neglect charges after their three children tested positive for methamphetamine. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Craig and Crystal McConnell face multiple charges. The children’s hair follicles tested positive for meth. The children have been removed from the home and are safe. The parents are in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new state law has tougher penalties for littering or illegally dumping waste or garbage. WHO-TV reports starting today, people dumping items weighing more than 10 pounds or larger than 15 cubic feet could face a fine beginning at $1,000 for the first offense, $2,000 for a second violation and $3,000 for a third or subsequent offense. IOWA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Three people, including two children, died in a crash in Iowa County yesterday. KWWL-TV reports the crash happened near Marengo. Authorities say an SUV Renee Jones was driving went off the shoulder and over corrected, crossing the centerline. An SUV driven by Kimberly Stevenson collided with Jones’ SUV. Both drivers were injured, as was a 9-year-old passenger, Lana Coon. 42-year old Marilyn Coon died. So did 14-year-old Hailey Cruise and 11-year-old Cherokee Niemann. All three are from Williamsburg. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The actions of Des Moines police officers likely saved the life of a man who was stabbed overnight, according to WHO-TV. Police were called to the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus around midnight on a report of a stabbing. Two residents were arguing when one man stabbed another with a pair of scissors. The man suffered a stab wound to his arm so serious, it severed an artery. 27-year-old Cory Hogan was charged in the stabbing. AMES, IA (IRN) – Some Ames residents are outraged after they claimed a racist display was imprudently placed at a well-attended public event. KCCI-TV reports a vendor displayed the Confederate flag during Ames Main Street Bike Night last week, sparking controversy. The Main Street Cultural District apologized for the display and said they’re reviewing their policies. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A range of bills signed into law this year by Gov. Terry Branstad are taking effect today. KCRG-TV reports measures set to take effect include laws aimed at criminal justice reform. One law will make most juvenile delinquency records in Iowa confidential unless otherwise ordered by a judge. Another law will allow certain non-violent drug offenders in Iowa to be eligible for parole after they serve at least half of their mandatory minimum sentence.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge man was sentenced to 65 years in prison in a sexual abuse case Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports 39-year-old Lucas Lankford pled guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, incest, and sexual exploitation of a minor. The judge called the case the most sickening case he’s ever seen. Lankford received the maximum periods of incarceration allowed by law on each of the charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – La’ James International Cosmetology College will forgive $2.1 million in student loan debt, and the company and two principals will also pay the state $550,000 through an Iowa Department of Justice settlement announced today. KWWL-TV reports the school was accused of deceptive and unfair practices in marketing, instruction and enrollment. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a ban on felons voting in Iowa. WHO-TV reports the court issued its ruling this morning in the case of Kelli Jo Griffin, a felon convicted of drug charges. She landed in court after trying to vote in 2013. Felons in Iowa can have their voting rights restored but the process is a lengthy and complicated one. Iowa is one of three states that blocks felons from voting. ROCKWELL, IA (IRN) – An Arizona man was arrested Wednesday night in Cerro Gordo County when narcotics were found in his vehicle after a two-vehicle crash. A teenager slowing to make a turn in her vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Skyler Jorgenson, of Apache Junction, Arizona. The teen is OK, but both cars were totaled. Jorgenson suffered minor injuries. He was in possession of narcotics at the time of the crash, and faces multiple charges. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – State and federal law enforcement are investigating a bank robbery in southeast Iowa that led to the shooting death of a suspect. KWWL-TV reports a robbery was reported around 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Fort Madison Bank and Trust Co. Arriving officers spotted a man running from the bank and confronted him. The man fired several shots in the direction of officers, hitting a patrol car. Police returned fire, hitting the man once in the torso, killing him. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Nearly a third of Iowans can’t afford the basic necessities, according to a statewide study from the United Way. KCRG-TV reports 31% of all households in the state are an ALICE household. ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, and Employed–essentially the working poor. The report says low wage jobs and a rising cost of living are the reasons why so many Iowa families are struggling. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Lolo Jones has ended her Olympic bid, according to WHO-TV. She says she has had too many complications coming back from hip surgery to continue. Jones, a Des Moines Roosevelt High School grad, finished seventh in the 100-meter hurdles at Beijing in 2008 and fourth in London in 2012. HONEY CREEK, IA (IRN) – An Iowa doctor has been charged with indecent exposure for exposing himself on a boat hear Honey Creek. KCCI-TV reports witnesses say Dr. Matthew Bogard was in the water, then climbed onto the boat naked, and stood there. Others on the boat were fully clothed. Bogard is a physician who works at Methodist and the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton. He told witness he was just “expressing himself.”

BOONE, IA (IRN) – More information has been released in this week’s officer-involved shooting in Boone. The man shot has been identified as 28-year-old Michael Disbrowe of Boone. Witnesses say Disbrowe was threatening people with a gun. When officers arrived, they tried to diffuse the situation, telling him to drop the gun numerous times. After several minutes he raised his arm and aimed the gun at the officers, who fired their weapons, killing him. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A popular restaurant chain has announced that a data breach included eight Iowa stores. WHO-TV reports Noodles & Company say the data breach may have compromised the security of payment information for customers who used debit or credit cards from January 31 through June 2 of this year. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa judge is accused of throwing a water bottle at her husband and hitting him. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Judge Stephanie Rattenborg of Manchester is charged with domestic assault. A sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 call from Rattenborg’s husband Friday evening. Randall Rattenborg told the deputy that his wife threw the water bottle at him and began hitting him because she’d learned he was having an extramarital affair. He suffered a minor lip injury. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Plans are in place for a large-scale redevelopment project in downtown Sioux City. KCAU-TV reports the $16 million Ag Expo and equestrian center would be the first of its kind in the region. Woodbury County pledged its support by voting Tuesday night to contribute $1.5 million to the project with proceeds coming from gaming revenue. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police credit the quick actions of two neighbors with helping a woman whose house exploded Monday night. KCRG-TV reports neighbors of 64-year-old Diane Barnes shut off the gas meter and used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames and pull her to safety. Police say if it weren’t for their actions, Barnes would likely be dead. Her condition is unknown. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews responded to the Iowa State Capitol Tuesday afternoon following a report of a fire. WHO-TV reports the electrical fire was confined to an office used by the House Republican Caucus. The extent of the damage has not been assessed. Smoke did spread through the building, and it was ventilated. No one was injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, who was recently announced as the YMCA of Greater Des Moines’ newest president, says he will work to make the facility the best in the country. KCCI-TV reports Culver’s main task is to raise money. Construction for a world-class swimming pool was stopped after the downtown Des Moines YMCA experienced financial problems. The area remains an empty shell with a dirt floor. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Thousands of Iowans will be compensated over $18 million dollars in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions fraud scandal, according to KGAN-TV. The payments will come from a $15 billion settlement after it was found that over 570,000 VW and Audi vehicles had software that falsified emissions results. 3,600 of those cars are registered in Iowa. Each car owner will receive a restitution payment of at least $5,100 and a choice between a vehicle buyback or repair work.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa parolee accused of embezzlement has taken a plea deal. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 45-year-old Julie Fingalsen pled guilty to theft as a habitual offender. Prosecutors dropped a forgery charge in exchange for Fingalsen’s plea. She forged and deposited or cashed more than a dozen checks while working for a law office, $41,000 while working for a chiropractor, and $50,000 while working for an optometrist. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman was taken to the hospital with severe burns this morning after an explosion. Fire crews believe it may have been caused by a gas leak. The woman was the only person home at the time, and the fire was contained to the home. BOONE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Boone. Witnesses say a man was threatening people with a gun about 11 PM Monday. When the man was confronted by police, he drew a gun. Officers ordered him to drop the gun numerous times, but he refused. He raised his arm and took aim at the officers. Officers fired their weapons, hitting the man. He died later from his injuries. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Mason City police say someone stole a rifle and shotgun from an unmarked police vehicle over the weekend. KCRG-TV reports an officer had placed the weapons on the back seat while dealing with a maintenance issue related to the trunk, and one of the doors may have been unlocked. The weapons stolen were a Colt M-16 A1 rifle and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun. Rounds of ammunition also were stolen. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – An inmate who escaped from the Newton Correctional Release Center Monday is back in custody. WHO-TV reports 31-year-old Timothy Formaro Jr. was discovered missing during a routine count Monday night. Following a search of the facility, it was determined Formaro had escaped. He is serving a 25 year sentence for prohibited acts and domestic abuse assault. Formaro was located around 2:30 a.m. and taken into custody. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man is accused of trying to hire an undercover state agent to murder a business associate and his family. KWWL-TV reports police have arrested 36-year-old Justin DeWitt, of North Liberty. DeWitt offered payment to the agent to complete the murders. He faces four counts of attempted murder and solicitation to commit murder. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 140 years in prison. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he has no intention of becoming Donald Trump’s running mate. KCRG-TV reports when asked at his weekly news conference whether he’d consider joining a Trump ticket he declined to answer with an emphatic no, but said he didn’t want to get into that type of speculation. He says he’s honored to serve the people of Iowa. Branstad’s 40-year-old son, Eric, is Trump’s state director in Iowa.