WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been charged with robbing and kidnapping a teen in a drug deal gone bad. KCCI-TV reports a 15-year-old victim had arranged a drug deal at Raccoon River Park. He met with the driver of a Honda Pilot at the park and got into the vehicle. Once inside, the victim was beaten by occupants of the vehicle and robbed of his money, wallet, keys, cellphone and shoes. During the robbery, a gun was passed around among the occupants, who pointed it at the victim, forcing him to reveal his phone password. The driver of the vehicle drove the victim to an apartment complex and told the victim to get out.
The victim then ran away. John Alexander Templeton, 18, is charged with two counts of first-degree kidnaping and two counts of first-degree robbery.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man has been given 25 years in prison for being intoxicated when his pickup truck struck a minivan in Waterloo, killing a baby inside. KGAN-TV reports 37-year-old Derrick Johnson was sentenced Monday. Johnson was involved in an Aug. 2, 2017, collision that killed 7-month-old Liam Mwanje, who was inside the minivan when it overturned. Other children in the minivan were injured.

U.S.A (IRN) – Iowa has the second most “problem puppy mills” in U.S., according to a new report from the Humane Society of the United States. Thirteen Iowa dog breeders were named to the group’s “Horrible Hundred” list, a compilation of what the humane society says are the worst puppy mills and puppy brokers in the country. Missouri topped the list with 22 breeders.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa is one of eleven states to legalize sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year, that a federal law dating back to 1992 barring state participation, was unconstitutional. Rules governing sports betting still must be worked out by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Officials with the commission say they expect wagering to begin this summer.

WASHINGTON STATE (IRN) – Iowa has taken a big slide in a national ranking. Washington state earned top honors on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the Best States. The outlet calculates where all 50 states fall in their rankings based on several criteria, including health care, education, economy and opportunity. Iowa fell all the way from first last year, to 14th this year. Washington was followed by New Hampshire and Minnesota.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa State Sen. Rita Hart is running for Iowa’s Second Congressional District. Hart served in the Iowa Senate from 2012 to 2016. Most recently, she was the running mate for Fred Hubbell in last fall’s governor’s race. Hart says she hopes to tackle health care and the cost of education if elected to congress. She wants to replace Congressman Dave Loebsack who announced last month that he’s retiring and will not seek re-election.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have released the identity of a body found in the Raccoon River near downtown Des Moines Saturday. WHO-TV reports when officers arrived they found a deceased male in the river. The body has been confirmed to be that of 24-year-old Collin Fleming. Fleming had last been seen on April 16th and was reported missing on April 23rd. There were no obvious signs of trauma to the body.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A structure fire in Iowa City caused extensive damage to a manufactured home overnight, according to KCRG-TV. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within 12 minutes, but there was already heavy damage from fire, smoke, and water, estimated at around $20,000. Everyone inside the home was able to evacuate safely.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A fight involving about 100 people broke out in a Davenport parking garage, leading to several people getting arrested yesterday. WQAD-TV reports the people who were arrested range in age from their late-20s to mid-40s. There’s no word on the cause of the fight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans will soon be able to bet on their favorite sports team. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill legalizing sports betting late Monday afternoon. The law allows betting on professional, collegiate and international sporting events, including fantasy sports, at casinos and online.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person has died following a crash near the Des Moines Airport this morning, according to the Des Moines Register. A car hit a dump truck head-on.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A western Iowa man has died after the bicycle he was riding was hit by a vehicle. KIMT-TV reports the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was called around 2:25 a.m. Saturday for a report of a bicycle that had been hit. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene.

ORANGE CITY, IA (IRN) – A northwestern Iowa man allegedly defecated in a police car “out of spite” while he was being arrested on for assaulting an officer. KCCI-TV reports the incident happened in the early morning hours of May 4 at 23-year-old Keaton Van Der Weide’s Orange City home. Van Der Weide also allegedly slammed the door on an officer’s arm and spit on him.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was shot at a Des Moines hotel early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of shots fired at the Quality Inn on Merle Hay Road around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Deputies found a 43-year-old man with two gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, and his condition is unknown.

OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – A love for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and some thoughtful caregivers gave an Oelwein man the ride of life. KWWL-TV reports 82-year-old Jim Fitzgerald has been going to Sturgis for years. Jim is now in hospice care and the staff at St. Croix Hospice, his family and bikers from across eastern Iowa brought a bit of Sturgis to Oelwein. The city of Sturgis sent shirts, pictures and hats. Jim was also given a bike ride, and he was driven through town, followed by a parade of motorcycles, with a smile on his face.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities responded overnight to three unconfirmed sightings of a mountain lion roaming through the Des Moines metro and making appearances on residents’ home security footage this week. KCCI-TV reports officers responded to locations farther south than where the wild cat had previously been spotted. Wildlife experts say mountain lions are not typically aggressive toward humans, but residents should keep an eye on small children and pets.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person was injured when they fell off a bluff in Dubuque Friday night. KWWL-TV reports the person fell from the bluff at the Julien Dubuque Monument.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A minor train derailment blocked traffic in Iowa City Friday, according to KCRG-TV. No one was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has extended by 30 days existing emergency disaster proclamations for counties affected by flooding in March. The extension means activation of Iowa disaster response and recovery efforts will continue through June 11, and allows state resources to be used to respond to and recover from the effects of severe weather across the entire state. The extended proclamation covers 57 counties.