DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Sen. Bernie Sanders was back in Des Moines on Saturday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He says his campaign, and those who support it, have unfinished business.
Sanders says, “I am delighted to see the signs that say ‘Bernie’ and hear you yelling out ‘Bernie!’ But it `aint Bernie. It’s not me, it is us together!” Sanders spoke about many issues he campaigned on during the 2016 election such as income inequality, green energy and closing tax loopholes for the extremely rich.

BREMER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 76-year-old Bremer County man died after being thrown from his SUV in a single vehicle accident Saturday morning. The Iowa State Patrol says Eugene Lampe of Frederika, lost control of his SUV and went into the ditch rolling several times.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids business owner says someone stole more than $200,000 in merchandise after breaking in. KCRG-TV reports ownership at A-1 Performance Motorsports reports multiple motorcycles and mopeds were stolen this week. The owner said it marked the tenth time they have seen their business burglarized in a five-year span, and after the most recent incident, they are contemplating closing the business down entirely.

U.S.A (IRN) – Daylight Saving Time went into effect early this morning. Firefighters say it’s time to change the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State officials are reporting the season’s first child death due to the flu. The Iowa Department of Public Health says influenza activity has not been as high as last season but there are signs it is increasing.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead early Saturday in a Des Moines parking lot. KCCI-TV reports circumstances surrounding his death weren’t immediately clear.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The Davenport Community School District has announced teacher and staff cuts for the upcoming school year, following budget cuts approved by the school board. The Quad-City Times reports that the cuts include 75 teachers. The cuts follow the board’s budget-reduction plan approved Nov. 29 after a loss of more than 2,000 students over the last 10 years and the loss of more than $13 million in state funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer is taking a leadership role in the 116th Congress. She has been appointed to serve as an Assistant Whip. A whip is an official whose task is to ensure party discipline on votes during a session.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A warmer forecast means that there are flooding concerns for much of Iowa. With near-record moisture levels in the ground and a 21-inch frost depth, any rain Iowa gets over the weekend or any quick snow melt will have nowhere to go. Street flooding could be a problem.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have apprehended two suspects in a Council Bluffs homicide, according to KCCI-TV. The incident started with a stolen vehicle, and when stopped, the suspects fled into a northside neighborhood but they were quickly caught.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department is warning area residents of an ongoing scam. KWWL-TV reports the scammers claim to be law enforcement and the caller ID actually reads as the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office phone number. The caller demands numbers off of gift cards and says they will issue a warrant for the person’s arrest if they don’t give them what they want.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are looking for two men after they took a woman’s wheelchair from outside her apartment Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports Cynthia Helms, the wheelchair’s owner, was dumbfounded. She said “it’s just not fair…I don’t understand. I don’t understand why they would do something like that.” Helms started using the chair about two years ago after arthritis made it too difficult to walk outside her home.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Students at state-run universities may have fewer options for casting a ballot if a bill at the statehouse is approved. KGAN-TV reports the bill would restrict state-owned buildings from serving as satellite voting locations. That would mean the University of Iowa, ISU, and UNI would not be able to have early voting locations inside their buildings.

IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has released its second and final spring flood outlook of the season, which indicates the potential to reach major flood stage. Recent heavy snow has fallen across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and there is a chance that the Mississippi River could experience near-record or record flooding this spring, depending on how fast the snow melts and how much rain falls.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old from Mason City has been accused of sex extortion schemes in three Iowa counties. Christian Gossweiler already has been given two years of probation and a five-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty in Story County. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Gossweiler targeted an Iowa State University student he met online when he was using an assumed name. She sent him a nude photo and he later threatened to show the photo to her friends and family if she didn’t do what he wanted. He has allegedly threatened two other women in similar schemes.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill that would allow public funds to be used for students to attend private schools advanced Wednesday in the Republican-led state Iowa Senate. The original bill would have opened taxpayer grants to all students, but it was significantly pared down Wednesday. Lawmakers amended the legislation to limit grants to students with Individualized Education Programs or 504 Plans, which usually cater to students with special needs.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A Muscatine man is being recognized for his help in a deadly fire.
KWWL-TV reports Bibo Aguilar, 21, of Muscatine, was walking home when he smelled something and investigated. He found a house on fire, and called 9-1-1. Due to his efforts, one person escaped through a window. Three others died.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Today is the start of Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders’ three-day visit in Iowa. Today he’s in Council Bluffs, Friday he’ll be in Iowa City, and on Saturday he’ll hold a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Pork Producers have their own form of March Madness this year, according to WHO-TV. The organization is running a contest to find the best pulled pork in Iowa. The contest is called “Pulled Pork Madness.” They’ll use a bracket style competition for restaurants to compete for the best in Iowa. Nominations are open until midnight Monday. There will be bracket style competition over the next few weeks, with the winner being crowned on March 29.