CHEROKEE – A man reported missing earlier this winter in northwest Iowa was found dead on Sunday. KCCI-TV reports the remains of Joseph Kosiba were found in a field east of Cherokee. An autopsy is underway to try and determine the cause of death of Kosiba, who was reported missing in January.DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bill to make changes to a law related to chronic absenteeism in schools. WHO-13 reports the measure requires the Iowa Department of Education to consult with county attorneys to set a standard policy for truancy charges. It also adds exemptions for excused absences to include weddings, funerals, and military programs. It also removes requirements to use certified mail and adds options for meetings with parents. HENRY COUNTY – A family is suing the Henry County Sheriff, claiming they are the victims of wild west justice. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Curtis and Lori Wagler are suing Sheriff Rich McNamee and Deputy Carlos Lopez for false arrest and malicious prosecution. They point to Lopez and his appearance on the county’s Brady-Giglio list, which refers to police known to be untruthful by prosecutors. In April 2023, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office conduced a warrant for financial records and arrested the couple and their son, Owen, and allegedly subjected them to body cavity searches. Their felony charges were dismissed that November.

SIOUX CITY – A man accused of murdering a young woman in Iowa more than four decades ago has been brought back to the state. KTIV reports 62-year-old Thomas Popp was booked into the Woodbury County Jail late last week. He’s accused of killing 18-year-old Terri McCauley in 1983. A grand jury indicted Popp in January.IOWA – Critical fire weather conditions are forecast today across much of the state. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures will soar into the upper 60s to mid-70s, with relative humidity falling to 20-25% in the afternoon. Southwest winds will increase to 20-25 mph during the day, with gusts to near 35 mph at times. Most surface fuels are now dry, especially in parts of southern into central Iowa where all snow has melted and a Red Flag Warning is in effect. DES MOINES – A mother and son were arrested in Des Moines for alleged hoarding of more than 50 cats. KCCI-TV reports Melisa Leverich and Damon Chaplin were taken into custody after a two-month investigation at a Motel Six. The Des Moines Police Department responded to a call of nine dead cats in early January, and removed 32 other felines. The two were allowed to keep five cats and a dog on the condition they sough proper care for the animals. A follow-up visit found the two started collecting more cats. Both are charged with three counts of animal neglect.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Three people have been identified in a double homicide and suicide in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports 54-year-old Lynn Martin was found with self-inflicted wounds and the two others were 87-year-old Rita Martin and 57-year-old Alan Martin. All three were relatives and lived in Cedar Rapids. DES MOINES – Lawmakers passed their first self-imposed deadline of the 2025 legislative session on Friday, with several bills advancing into the next round of legislation. Among those moving forward into the next few weeks of work is a bill to lower the age limit to carry a gun to 18, establishing an elective social studies class about the Bible, and banning the intentional emission of chemicals into the air to change the weather. DES MOINES – A group that works to resettle refugees has cut dozens of staff members. WHO-13 reports Lutheran Services of Iowa has cut their resettlement program, resulting in job loss for 28 employees due to frozen federal funding. The group welcomed more than 1000 refugees in late December. It claims they have not received months of reimbursements from the federal government, dating back to October.

HARLAN – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has requested state assistance with the investigation of a standoff situation in Harlan. A press release issued Thursday details an incident with an armed male subject, identified as 36-year-old David Plagmann, who is accused of taking “aggressive movements towards law enforcement” during negotiations with police. Plagmann was shot at and hit, which was followed by life saving efforts — but he later died at a nearby hospital. Police also identified 31-year-old Alexis Martin as a female found dead at the scene of the incident. SHENANDOAH – A priest is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his own church in western Iowa. KCCI-TV reports Rev. Thomas Thakadipuram faces six counts of first degree theft after he allegedly removed certificates of deposits belonging to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shenandoah and deposited into a bank account for a fake missionary group. Law enforcement accuses Thakadipuram of stealing nearly $165,000. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff and remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset today in honor and remembrance of former Iowa State Senate President Jack Kibbie. Kibbie served in both the Iowa House and Senate, and served as a tank commander in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

IOWA – A powerful blizzard closed major highways in the state and caused major pileup crashes across Iowa on Wednesday. The Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State Patrol both reported dozens of incidents, especially in the western half of the state that caused significant damage to vehicles and injured at least nine people. Wind gusts up to 70 MPH were recorded in many Iowa communities, coupled with 2-5 inches of snowfall in many of those same locations. An additional round of moderate snow is possible late tonight into Thursday, especially along and north of Interstate 80. DUBUQUE – The Dubuque County Sheriff defended the hire of a deputy who was accused as a teenager of sexual abuse. KCRG-TV reports Sheriff Joseph Kennedy says a felony charge against Matthew Pothoff came up during a background check, but claims it was dismissed without prejudice. Pothoff was accused of drugging a fellow teenager and abusing her in 2017, according to a Dyersville Commercial Report. His father is also a member of the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors and former Sheriff’s Deputy. Lawyers defending Pothoff during a lawsuit and the criminal case say the girl involved was the aggressor and changed her version of the narrative.