FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man who was texting when he crashed his pickup truck into a car has been convicted in the deaths of two people. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports in 2015 21-year-old Colton Bills crashed his pickup into a car near Dayton. Bills was distracted by texting and ignored a stop sign and a sign warning the stop sign was ahead. There was no evidence he braked or swerved to avoid the car.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – The Maquoketa Police Department has taken three men into custody following a robbery attempt in which a man was shot. KWWL-TV reports the men broke into a home last night and shot a man with a .22 caliber gun.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man is facing multiple charges after police say he strangled a woman until she passed out, stuck a sock in her mouth, and then drove around Iowa City with her in the backseat of his car. KCRG-TV reports 25-year-old Jorden Dannen allegedly screamed at the victim and told her, “You can kiss tomorrow goodbye.” The victim told police she thought she would die, but Dannen later released her.

SUMNER, IA (IRN) – Authorities say a 46-year-old Davenport man shot and killed in rural northeastern Iowa is believed to be the intruder in a home invasion. WQAD-TV reports Steven Anthony died Friday after a man shot him at a home in Sumner, about 150 miles from Davenport. A male resident at the Sumner home was also shot and is recovering.

NORTHWOOD, IA (IRN) – A judge says deputies in northern Iowa didn’t use excessive force when they repeatedly deployed stun guns against a violent suspect who died after their 2013 confrontation. KCCI-TV reports the judge ruled that Worth County deputies were justified in using Tasers because 39-year-old Michael Zubrod actively resisted arrest after using a hammer to severely wound his girlfriend.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – Two women in Boone saw a need to help those less fortunate in their community, and now Lori Beam and Lynn Tilley have opened a store to help combat this problem. WHO-TV reports the women decided to open a free store called Two and a Dream to collect items for families in need. Thanks to generous donations, they have helped over 70 families since September.

OSAGE, IA (IRN) – A nurse is being accused of stealing drugs from her patients. KIMT-TV reports 33-year-old Keri Lea Martinez of Mason City allegedly stole narcotics from her patients and replaced the prescription drugs with Tylenol.

PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A mother and daughter who ran an in-home daycare in Pleasant Hill appeared in court today, according to KCCI-TV. 23-year-old Amanda Holt and 49-year-old Cindy Holt were charged with neglect or abandonment of dependent person, and child endangerment – bodily injury. The charges stem from an incident in August when a child in their care was taken to the hospital covered in human bite marks. The bites were from another child.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport woman has been charged with first degree murder. WQAD-TV reports 52-year-old Sheila Jasper killed her husband, 64-year-old Mark Jasper Saturday. She confessed that while her husband was asleep in his chair, she got a revolver and shot him in the head. She then covered his face with a towel and waited several hours before calling a mortuary to ask them to come and get him.

SUMNER, IA (IRN) – The DCI is looking into the death of a Davenport man who was shot and killed Friday night in Sumner. The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home on the report of shots fired, where deputies found 46-year-old Steven Anthony dead. It appears the shooting happened during a home invasion.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – One person died in an early morning house fire Sunday in Iowa City, according to KCRG-TV. One person was able to escape through a second story window. Neighbors heard four explosions.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Following an election that gave them majorities in the state Senate and House, Republicans will take charge of the next session of the Iowa Legislature today. KCCI-TV reports Republican lawmakers have ambitious plans to restrict abortion, decrease collective bargaining power for unions, and cut taxes despite looming budget constraints. Democrats don’t hold a majority in either chamber for the first time in nearly 20 years, so they can do little to stop GOP lawmakers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two children who police say were abducted by their biological mother have been found unharmed, according to KCCI-TV. The children’s mother, Mary Purcell, had had her parental rights terminated. Family said she told them she would hide the children forever, and if someone tried to get the boys from her, she would end it for all three of them.

TAMA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed in a car crash in Tama late Friday night, including a man who was running from police. WHO-TV reports Troy Marvin was trying to flee when his car broadsided a second vehicle at an intersection, causing both vehicles to roll and hit a utility pole. The driver of the second car has been identified as Ian Halverson.

CRESCENT, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs man is dead after crashing his car into a ditch along Interstate 680 near Crescent, Iowa. KETV reports 61-year-old Rodney Smith crossed all lanes of traffic and crashed into the ditch, rolling his car.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A Burlington man accused of refusing to let his 16-year-old girlfriend leave and then using a machete and skateboard to attack her has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the Hawk Eye. 21-year-old Dakota Poland was sentenced Friday. When allowed to speak Poland told prosecutors that what they’d done to him would be on their shoulders for the rest of their lives.

MARION, IA (IRN) – Marion Police are looking for a man they say robbed a convenience store. KCRG-TV reports a man wearing a backpack, camouflage mask, black pants, and a dark blue jacket with stripes robbed the Hawkeye Convenience Store Friday morning. He displayed a handgun and then fled on foot with cash. No one was hurt during the robbery.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (IRN) – An eyewitness to Friday’s mass shooting at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport in Florida says a Council Bluffs couple were among the victims. WCCO-TV reports an interview with a man at the scene who says he comforted a woman from Council Bluffs who was on vacation when she was shot in the neck. He says the woman’s husband was shot in the head and died. His account of events in the terminal have not been confirmed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Amber Alert was issued Friday night for two Des Moines children who were abducted by their biological mother. 11-year-old Morgan Griffin and 12-year-old Landon Griffin were last seen with Mary Purcell, whose parental rights have been terminated. One of the children has medical issues that need ongoing attention. Authorities believe Purcell is driving a gold or brown 2003 Chevrolet Suburban and heading to Oregon.

OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – The Clarke County Development Corporation is eyeing a new strategy to spur residential development in Osceola by offering a deal developers may find almost too good to be true. WHO-TV reports the corporation has entered into an agreement with the city to give “shovel-ready” lots away for free to developers who are interested.

OUTER SPACE (IRN) – Iowa native and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson made history Friday as she took her seventh spacewalk outside the International Space Station, which puts her in a tie for the most spacewalks ever made by a female astronaut. KCCI-TV reports that Whitson, who was born in Mount Ayr, is on her third long-duration mission to the International Space Station. She has spent more than a year of her life in zero gravity and almost 40 hours on spacewalks over the last 15 years.