CLINTON, IA (IRN) – A man and woman were rescued from the Mississippi River after overturning their canoe near Clinton, Iowa. WQAD-TV reports the pair were just north of a dam when their canoe flipped Friday afternoon. Gear inside the vessel made it difficult to turn back upright. They were uninjured.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake couple running an unregistered daycare are facing charges of child endangerment according to KIMT-TV. Kyle Joseph McLaughlin, 55, is accused of two counts and Peggy Ann McLaughlin, 57, is facing one count. Kyle McLaughlin is accused of hitting a three-year-old boy in the back hard enough to leave a visible bruise. McLaughlin said he tried to spank the boy across the diaper and must have missed. In addition, a 20-month-old girl suffered a broken leg.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man has been arrested by federal agents after he threatened to kill Jews in hate-filled phone calls and emails, according to WHO-TV. Garrett Kelsey, 31, admitted to calling and emailing a Jewish organization with messages full of anti-Semitic and racist language. He was arraigned on Tuesday in a federal court in Iowa on charges of making interstate threats.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian was severely injured in Altoona after being hit by a vehicle Friday night. The pedestrian is a 19-year-old female. She was reported as having serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.

ESTHERVILLE, IA (IRN) – Estherville city workers and firefighters rescued a 7-year-old girl whose head became stuck between two rungs of a water tower ladder on Thursday. KCRG-TV reports the girl is autistic and was reported missing a little before 10 a.m. She soon was spotted on the tower near her home, clinging to the ladder near its top. She’s OK.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An 18-month-old from Waterloo is in intensive care after inhaling citronella oil — something that is used for Tiki torch fuel. KCRG-TV reports the boy is in an induced coma and in critical condition.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Police say the drowning of two men in a backyard Davenport swimming pool occurred when one man tried to save the other. The Quad-City Times reports that surveillance video shows one of the men struggling in the water, and the other trying to rescue him before they both drowned.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A 72-year-old Marion man sent to the hospital after an apartment fire on Friday has died, according to KGAN-TV. Investigators say the fire started because of a combustible cloth in a microwave.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The 2019 USA Track and Field Championship took over Drake Stadium on Thursday. More than 70 Olympians will be competing Thursday through Sunday at Drake’s blue oval. Approximately 30,000 tickets have been sold already, and the direct economic impact of the event is expected to be over $5 million.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – An Iowan convicted in one of the state’s most heinous mass murders will be put to death in January, the Justice Department said Thursday. The government is resuming executions for the first time since 2003. Dustin Lee Honken, 51, was running a methamphetamine operation when, in 1993, he committed the execution-style slayings of two associates, one of their girlfriends and her daughters, ages 10 and 6. The victims’ bodies were not found until 2000, when Johnson drew a map for a jailhouse informant that led authorities to their shallow graves near Mason City.

ROLAND (IRN) – A middle school counselor has been accused of trying to solicit an inappropriate relationship with a student on social media, according to KCCI-TV. The Roland-Story Community School District said Michael Oleson Jr. is no longer working at the middle school. He denies any attempt to have a romantic relationship.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A man is facing charges after he allegedly kidnapped a 16-year-old in Cedar Falls and tried to force her into a home and sexually assault her. KCRG-TV reports the girl escaped with minor injuries. Police say Saul Santos Vasquez-Martinez, 43, was booked on second-degree kidnapping and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Vasquez-Martinez told police he was in the country illegally. ICE officials have been contacted.

AGENCY, IA (IRN) – Two runaway teenage girls were found safe in Ottumwa Wednesday night. KTVO-TV reports family members say both teens have been returned to their group home in Agency.

RHODE ISLAND (IRN) – A Des Moines man is facing multiple charges in Rhode Island after he was stopped by private security outside Taylor Swift’s home Friday. WHO-TV reports 32-year-old David Liddle told security that he knew Swift and was coming to visit her. He was carrying a baseball bat and a backpack filled with 30 lock picks and rubber gloves. Swift’s security says they were aware of Liddle and that he was on a watch list of people who possibly posed a threat to the pop star.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair is just 15 days away and a swine flu outbreak is changing how animals are inspected before the fair. The flu in China has prompted the state veterinarian to require inspections of animals seven days before the State Fair, instead of the usual 30 days. The Iowa Department of Agriculture says the additional requirements are designed to promote biosecurity and animal health.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two eastern Iowa teachers are dead after drowning in a pool in Davenport, according to WHO-TV. Officers were called to a backyard pool in east Davenport around 9 p.m. Monday. Police say the men are not related and both died of accidental drowning. The incident is under investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two children were pepper-sprayed by Des Moines police after allegedly shoplifting at a QuickTrip convenience store. KCCI-TV reports the boys, ages 8 and 9, were holding butcher knives after shoplifting at a convenience store. Police say the pepper spray was the safest way to subdue the boys. Both were taken to the hospital and will be OK.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – Two people were hospitalized after a crash during RAGBRAI Tuesday in Indianola. The crash happened at the bottom of a steep hill. Police say a 22-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man crashed into each other as they were coming down at high speeds. Both were airlifted from the scene to Des Moines hospitals.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Waterloo Police Foundation met 36 elementary and middle school students on Tuesday to help them shop for school supplies. KCRG-TV reports the “Cops, Kids, and Cool for School” event helps families who may not be able to afford the long list of items kids need for school. The event is part of an effort to help kids get excited to start the school year. Lieutenant Corbin Payne said it’s also a good opportunity to build positive relationships in their community, and he loves seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces.