DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man wanted for break-ins and burglaries in Iowa and three other states has been arrested in Colorado, according to KCRG-TV. Jeffrey Krieger was wanted for burglaries in Dubuque and Gutenburg, as well as many other crimes in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Krieger has seven active warrants and is a suspect in 11 other incidents. Investigators say Krieger targets gas stations and golf pro shops.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa DOT issued thousands of speeding tickets to drivers even though it lacked the authority to do so, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. The court ruled unanimously that the law before 2017 gave DOT motor vehicle enforcement officers the power to issue citations only for registration, size, weight load and operating authority violations — not for other traffic offenses like speeding. The DOT improperly issued nearly 13,000 citations between 2014 and 2016 that fell outside its legal authority.

CLARKE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A county attorney in southern Iowa showed up to court this week while intoxicated, slurring her words and stumbling. KCCI-TV reports forty-one-year-old Michelle Rivera, Clarke County attorney, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of public intoxication. A deputy noticed Rivera’s behavior, and arrested her. She’s running for re-election.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – Simpson College students are protesting after a second round of budget cuts has them saying goodbye to over a dozen of their professors. WHO-TV reports that last week the college also announced cuts to the entire art department and the French and German majors. Friday afternoon students protested the cuts outside the board of trustees meeting.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former youth basketball coach in eastern Iowa is pleading guilty to seven charges for sexually abusing young boys and recording nude images of them. KCCI-TV reports 42-year-old Greg Stephens pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to seven felony charges. Stephen faces up to 130 years in prison. However, he could serve as few as 15 years.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An 18-month prison sentence has been handed down in an opioid-connected death of an Iowan. Jay Rickert, 28 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, ordered DMT, an illegal hallucinogenic drug, on the dark web. Rickert had the drugs shipped directly to a 22-year old woman who lived in Dubuque. However, the supplier of the drug shipped fentanyl instead of DMT. The two substances are nearly identical in appearance. The woman, believing the substance to be DMT, used the fentanyl and died. Rickert was talking to her over Skype while she used the fentanyl and called 911 after seeing her fall over.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa National Guard soldier died Tuesday while swimming at a naval station beach at Guantanamo Bay. Pfc. Matthew Cox, 19, of Leon, was swimming with four other service members when he was overpowered by a strong current.

WORTHINGTON, IA (IRN) – A car and an ATV collided in Dubuque County yesterday near Worthington, according to KCRG-TV. The ATV driver suffered life-threatening injuries.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Patients of an Ankeny dental office were turned away Thursday from their appointments after federal investigators raided the building and shut it down. KCCI-TV reports
federal agents, equipped with badges and guns, walked in and out of A-1 Iowa Dental but wouldn’t give any details about why they were there.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is seeing falling scores on the ACT test. This year the statewide average is 21.8 out of a possible high score of 36. The average has fallen slightly every year since 2016. The test is usually taken by high school juniors and is used for college admission.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A second case of a rare condition that afflicts the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord, has been confirmed in Iowa. The condition is called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, which attacks the nervous system and can lead to arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle reflexes. KCCI-TV reports a Grimes 3-year-old had what appeared to be a common cold, which then turned into the mysterious polio-like disease.

ROCK FALLS, IA (IRN) – A man from Texas died after an ATV crash in Cerro Gordo County Wednesday. KIMT-TV reports the ATV the 26-year-old man was driving near Rock Falls went off the road overnight and crashed into a tree.

FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Winnebago Industries earned more than $2 billion in fiscal year 2018, a figure that has more than doubled in just two years. Much of the growth for the Forest City-based company has come in the way of acquisitions. The company in 2016 purchased Grand Design, which was the nation’s fastest-growing RV maker. And in the summer of 2018, Winnebago acquired luxury boat builder Chris-Craft.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Army Corp of Engineers employees rescued a man after his 32-foot boat came unanchored and went through a roller dam on the Mississipi River near Muscatine. It was 78-year-old John Caola’s 30th voyage from Minnesota to Florida in his floating home, the Baluga. Dam workers were able to launch a boat and rescue Caola. His daughter says his boating days are over.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police in Des Moines needed help from firefighters to arrest a man barricaded inside his apartment Tuesday. WHO-TV reports police were called to an apartment complex on a report of a man making threats. Police say the man used a couch and table to block his front door. They say the suspect also filled his oven with papers sending smoke through the apartment. Once firefighters cleared the smoke, police arrested the man.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Six juveniles are in jail after a police chase in Davenport yesterday, according to WQAD-TV. At least two squad cars were damaged, and one had to be towed.
The chase started after a person was robbed. When police confronted the suspects, they took off.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – An Altoona detective resigned in April after he allegedly stole prescription pills from the department’s evidence locker. WHO-TV reports Joshua Copeland faces four drug related felony charges for swapping out prescription pills for fake ones being held as evidence.

MARION, IA (IRN) – The last shoe repair shop in the metro Cedar Rapids area is closing. KCRG-TV reports Smitty’s Shoe Repair on the square in downtown Marion is shutting its doors November 1st. Owner Rich Foens began learning how to repair shoes at his parent’s shoe shop at age nine and he’s kept at it for 70 years. But Foens says if shoes wear out these days people just throw them out and buy another pair. He has about 50 pairs left to fix and then that’s it.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Big 12 Conference fined Iowa State University $25,000 for fans rushing the field after Saturday’s upset win against West Virginia. ISU will appeal the decision. Iowa State beat previously undefeated and sixth-ranked West Virginia 30-14 on Saturday night. Following the victory, Iowa State fans rushed the field.