BLOOMFIELD, IA (IRN) – The man charged in the killing of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts requested his trial be moved out of Poweshiek County and into a county with more minority representation in its jury pool. The Des Moines Register reports attorneys for Cristhian Bahena Rivera on Friday filed a motion for change of venue, arguing that existing prejudice in Poweshiek County makes it likely a fair and impartial trial cannot be had.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A 65-year-old Cedar Rapids man who was hurt during a recent apartment fire died from his injuries, according to KCRG-TV. Another tenant of the building has been arrested in the arson case.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who announced he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination again, has scheduled three visits to Iowa, a state he narrowly lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 first-in-the-nation caucuses. According to Sanders’ itinerary, Sanders will be in Council Bluffs on Thursday, Iowa City on Friday and Des Moines on Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD, MO (IRN) – The Drake men’s basketball team was predicted to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference. With Saturday’s win over Missouri State, the Bulldogs clinched a share of the MVC title. On the road, Drake defeated Missouri State 73-62.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works says the Blank Park Zoo owes nearly $1,000,000 in unpaid water bills that have accrued since 2003. KCCI-TV reports the zoo says this came as a surprise to them because they were never told the nonprofit organization they operate under had to pay the bill.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Authorities in eastern Iowa have uncovered a body believed to be that of a man missing since late last year. WHO-TV reports thirty-one-year-old Chris Bagley disappeared Dec. 14 of 2018. Bagley was last seen leaving his Walker home with a person his wife did not know, telling her he would be back soon.

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A police officer was hospitalized and a Minnesota man was arrested after a chase through Charles City. KIMT-TV reports during the chase on Highway 14, a Charles City police officer was dragged by the suspect vehicle a short distance until it crashed into a snowbank. The officer will be OK.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Three people were hurt in a crash that shut down Highway 1 between Solon and Iowa City Friday morning. According to Iowa State Patrol, a 2013 Subaru Outback, driven by a 25-year-old, was heading north on Hwy 1 when it crossed the median and struck the trailer of a semi. All three people in the Subaru, ranging in age from 22 to 25 were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. It’s unclear as to why the car crossed the median.

ALTOONA, IIA (IRN) – Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel opened up in Altoona 30 years ago Friday on a foggy March 1, 1989. It has since given nearly $2 billion back to the community since.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol covered 624 crashes across the state in the month of February. They report most of those crashes were attributed to motorists driving too fast for conditions or following too close. They ask the public to slow down, put the phone down, and buckle up.

EARLVILLE, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man was charged Thursday with murder in the killing of his wife, who was found with a corn rake impaled in her back. The Des Moines Register reports Todd Mullis, 42, of Earlville, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Amy Mullis. Friends say the couple had marital problems for years. Months before she died, Amy Mullis told a friend she feared her husband would kill her, saying if she was found dead, “you’ll know Todd did something to me.”

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A convicted sex offender is allowed at school events in Boone, leaving parents livid, but the school district says they are following state guidelines. KCCI-TV reports Joel Waltz, a former youth pastor, was sentenced in 2017 to two consecutive two-year prison sentences after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old. Under state law, he can go to events involving his children.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A new ordinance in Iowa City related to massage parlors is working to help prevent human trafficking. KCRG-TV reports the ordinance requires all employees to be licensed with the state.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines Valley high school student is using an honors project to give back to the community through music. WHO-TV reports sixteen-year-old Kathryn Wittrock created the nonprofit “Recycling Instruments for Needy Kids,” when she saw not every student could afford to rent or buy a musical instrument to learn how to play. So far, she has recycled 22 instruments.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Charges have been filed against a woman in a January crash that killed a man in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports the vehicle was westbound on Grand Avenue when it left the roadway and went over a concrete wall, crashing into the parking lot below. The driver, 32-year-old Grant Stokka, was pronounced dead. Police say a vehicle driven by Tessa Mullen, 26, entered traffic and may have prompted Stokka to make an abrupt change in his direction of travel.

IOWA (IRN) – A school voucher bill that would use public education money to fund private schools and homeschooling in Iowa is moving through the state Capitol. The Republican sponsored bill would divert $6,880 per child from public schools to the private school or home school the child attends.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A 37-year-old western Iowa woman has been sentenced to three months in prison for Social Security fraud. Jamie Opalia, of Council Bluffs, must serve three years of supervised release after she leaves custody and must pay restitution of nearly $22,600. She admitted she used Social Security benefits for herself that were granted to support another person.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery was suspended for two games on Wednesday, following his post-game comments directed at an official after Tuesday night’s game at Ohio State. Iowa’s athletics department made the decision to suspend McCaffery. The Big Ten Conference supported the suspension, and fined the athletics department $10,000, which McCaffery will pay. They also issued a public reprimand.

IOWA (IRN) – A majority of Iowans oppose legalizing sports betting on professional or college sports, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Just over half of Iowans — 52 percent — say they oppose legalizing betting on professional sporting events. 68% of Iowans oppose betting on collegiate sports.