DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police say he threatened to light a fire at the U.S. Post Office on 2nd Avenue. WHO-TV reports Carlos Saldana, 27, showed up at the post office’s bay doors shortly after midnight, holding a gasoline can in his hand. Employees confronted him and Saldana opened the gas can and ordered them to stay back, threatening as if he would light the gas on fire. Saldana left the building and poured gasoline around in the parking lot and ran away. Police officers found him a few blocks away and were able to arrest him.

FAIRFAX, IA (IRN) – An accident involving an overturned lawnmower in Linn County resulted in the death of a juvenile, according to KCRG-TV. He was attempting to mow a ditch when it rolled, trapping him underneath. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews were called to Palisades-Kepler State Park for a report of a possible drowning on Saturday. KWWL-TV reports the man was swimming near the dam when he went underwater and didn’t resurface. The search continues. This marks the second possible drowning this month at the park.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Democrats have called for an investigation after a statement made by Former Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven. Foxhoven made a statement that said Gov. Kim Reynolds’ staff asked him to do something illegal. Foxhoven alleged he said he wouldn’t do it, so they fired him. The governor’s spokesperson says, “We have no idea what the former director is referring to.” House Speaker and Republican Linda Upmeyer say she won’t investigate.

DYSART, IA (IRN) – A Main Street oddity is attracting tourists from all over the country to Tama County, according to KCCI-TV. The “Dysart Gorge,” painted by Mary Snyder Behrens, is an illusion that makes it appear as if the cars around it are about to fall into a bottomless pit.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been freed from prison after serving only five years of a 15-year sentence. KCCI-TV reports Scotty Parks is a convicted habitual domestic abuser. In 2009, Parks beat his victim for hours in her home. He knocked her unconscious, left bruises and tore out chunks of her hair. The victim says “He beat me for 4 1/2 hours using his hands, knees and feet…he knocked me unconscious twice — the first time, through strangulation.” His sentence was shortened due to good behavior in prison.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – At least four Iowa children have died in the past 18 months at day care centers that had been warned about caring for too many children. The Des Moines Register reports that criminal charges have been filed in two of the deaths, and prosecutors are considering charges in a third case. The state has 4,300 regulated day care centers, but home daycares are not regulated.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two Cedar Rapids police officers went to the hospital after fighting with someone they were trying to arrest downtown on Sunday. KCRG-TV reports it’s not clear what led to the fight. The officers have been treated and released from the hospital.

RATHBUN, IA (IRN) – A dock at Rathbun Lake was swept away during the storm on Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. People on the dock during the storm were thrown into the water.
Witnesses say the dock floated away and ran into another dock, allowing people to jump to safety. After the storm passed the dock was found on the other side of the lake.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Twenty-six-year-old Ian Pfeiffer died when he was struck by a train in downtown Des Moines shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday. WHO-TV reports witnesses say Pfeiffer walked around the lowered traffic signal arms and attempted to jump onto the train while it was moving. Friends say it wasn’t a suicide attempt. They describe Pfeiffer as a fun, colorful soul. From his art, love of music, or just the way he could lift up anyone’s spirits, they say Pfeiffer treated friends like family.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One man is dead after an incident involving a train in Des Moines Friday night. KCCI-TV reports the 26-year-old male had serious traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses claim he had walked around the traffic signal arms that were lowered.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man has been charged after he threatened to shoot people in his home, including children, as well as police officers. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 54-year-old Alan Dale Rieken was arrested Thursday evening at his home. Police say he told others there, “I’m going to shoot some cops and then you.”

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A house explosion in Mason City was caused by a leaking gas pipe in the basement that was ignited by the pilot light of the furnace. KIMT-TV reports he explosion caused items stored in the basement to start on fire. No injuries were reported.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After severe thunderstorms rolled through central Iowa, many trees and electrical wires were down. At least one home was destroyed in Des Moines. Damage is still being assessed.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Thousands of power outages were reported as storms ripped through north Iowa and southern Minnesota on Saturday morning. KIMT-TV reports the extent of damage is unknown.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An ISU graduate student accused of sex crimes has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. Federal prosecutors say 33-year-old Jona Shitaleni Paulus, of Ames, was charged Thursday by a grand jury with one count of receiving and one count of possessing child pornography. Officials say the federal charges stem from sexually explicit conversations and nude photos Paulus exchanged with a 16-year-old girl.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The man who was struck and killed by a semi along Highway 13 in Linn County Thursday intentionally stepped in front of the vehicle. KCRG-TV reports investigators say the man committed suicide.

EDGEWOOD, IA (IRN) – A man was killed by a logging accident in northeast Iowa, according to KGAN-TV. First responders were sent to the worksite about two miles from the Mississippi River in Clayton County. 38-year-old Jason Steger, of Greeley, was struck by a falling tree that had been knocked over by a log that was being moved. Steger was pronounced dead at the scene.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo was named the first community in Iowa to be named “dementia-friendly” on Friday. KWWL-TV reports the announcement was made by the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging CEO, Donna Harvey, at a Gerontology Conference at UNI. Harvey says, “it’s where you involve community members, particularly people with dementia and their family to design a community that makes it friendly for them to live there.”