IOWA (IRN) – The flu killed twice as many Iowans this winter as last year. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Friday that the state recorded 270 confirmed flu deaths in the season starting last fall. That compares to 133 at this point a year earlier. Just 44 flu deaths were confirmed in Iowa two winters ago.

CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – The children of a Centerville woman accused of killing her husband and lighting him on fire are now without both parents. Firefighters found Timothy Pasa dead May 5 in Centerville. His body was badly burned. Two weeks later his wife, Barbara Pasa, was arrested for his murder and arson. Their father’s death and subsequent charges against their mother left 14-year-old Kate Pasa and 17-year-old Owen Pasa without parents.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating an armed carjacking at a Cedar Rapids Walmart yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. No one was injured, and no arrest has been made.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa woman says she learned a hard lesson this week.
KWWL-TV reports the Waterloo woman’s SUV was stolen from her apartment, and found less than 30 minutes later on fire. She says she will never leave her car running again. The fire is being investigated as an arson.

CLARKSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Iowa has its first ever “American Idol,” and her hometown is making changes to celebrate, according to WHO-TV. On Monday night, Maddie Poppe was named the winner of the singing competition. In her hometown of Clarksville, she’s receiving another honor: a park. The Maddie Poppe Trailhead Park will soon fill an area near Highway 188. Plans include a picnic shelter and a bike trail.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two adults from Davenport are in jail after police say they were neglecting an adult woman with intellectual disabilities. KWQC-TV reports 56-year-old Eugene Harris told police his wife, 47-year-old Kimberly Williams was keeping her intellectually disabled adult daughter locked in her room at all times. Harris said he has lived in the home for approximately a year and other than two days out of the year, the daughter has not been allowed to leave the locked room.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The owner of a Des Moines landscaping company was found guilty Thursday of “intentionally and purposefully” operating his business after being ordered to shut down. KCCI-TV reports William Bishop, who owns Bob Lenc Landscaping, Inc. took payments and deposits from customers without doing the work.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gas prices in Des Moines rose to $2.90 a gallon this week, about 60 cents more than motorists paid a year ago, thanks to shrinking supply and rising demand.
Prices could shoot over $3 a gallon this summer in Iowa. Experts blame rising costs on the OPEC oil cartel slowing production, and President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and reimpose U.S. sanctions.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Uber driver is facing 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse charges after allegedly assaulting a woman who was getting a ride home from downtown Iowa City in 2017. The Uber driver, 37-year-old Ali Alsheik, allegedly took an indirect route to the woman’s home, stopped along the way, and sexually assaulted her.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A bicyclist was hit by a car yesterday in Marion, according to KCRG-TV. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, and will be OK.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Marines and members of the Navy marched into Johnston on Thursday to break ground on a $19 million training center near the mile-long bridge at Saylorville Lake.
KCCI-TV reports the operation will be home to 22 full-time staff and more than 400 reserve men and women. The new Marine and Navy training center will be located down the road from Camp Dodge, which is one of the largest training centers in the country.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three women have accused Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Nate Boulton of inappropriate sexual conduct. The Des Moines Register reports the three women describe repeated acts of inappropriate and unwanted touching. Boulton did not deny the allegations, and has apologized. He suspended his campaign earlier today.

ST. CHARLES, IA (IRN) – A family of nine from the Madison County town of St. Charles is safe thanks to working smoke detectors, according to KCCI-TV. Crews arrived to flames shooting from a second-floor window. They were able to contain the fire to the master bedroom. Everyone got out safely after smoke detectors alerted them.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – Two people suffered non-life threatening injuries after a crash in Clear Lake Wednesday night. KIMT-TV reports a truck failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a suburban in the intersection. Deputies say two golden retrievers ran from the Suburban, and have not been found.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A body was found floating in the Mississippi River in Davenport by a fisherman yesterday. WQAD-TV reports the body of an adult man was recovered by the Davenport Fire Department and the Iowa DNR. An autopsy is scheduled.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A teenager who pleaded guilty to burning down the iconic Cedar Covered Bridge in Madison County has been arrested on another arson charge, according to KCCI-TV. 18-year-old Alexander Hoff was booked Wednesday. He was charged with second-degree arson, stemming from a 2017 case involving a car fire in West Des Moines.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Elementary school kids in Cedar Rapids got something yesterday to help keep them active and thinking all summer long. KCRG-TV reports UnitedHealthcare donated summer survival kits to students. The kits included items like bug spray, water bottles, books, and basketballs. A spokesperson for UnitedHealthCare said, “this is an opportunity to keep kids engaged and do something fun outside in the summer months.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is behind bars after police say he chased his neighbor with a sledgehammer Tuesday. WHO-TV reports the man said he heard his neighbor, 26-year-old Ryan Pastorik, screaming at their property line and went outside to check what was wrong. An argument began, and Pastorik began chasing the man while wielding a large sledgehammer. The incident was captured on video.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A firefighter was injured while battling a house fire Tuesday night, according to KGAN-TV. The Muscatine Fire Department was called to a garage fire that had spread to the second story of the house. During the initial attack, a firefighter was injured when a ceiling collapsed on him.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man is in custody after a two-hour standoff near a Dubuque elementary school yesterday. KCRG-TV reports police pulled the man over just before the end of the school day. As the man fled his car, he pointed a handgun at himself, and the school went under lockdown. Negotiators talked with the man for two hours before he surrendered.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – In an era of school shootings, Johnston officials believe one simple step could save lives. KCCI-TV reports the school district will allow city police to review the school’s security footage in real-time. Previously, police have not been allowed to watch footage in real-time due to privacy concerns. The agreement now allows real-time viewing in emergency situations.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s economic development board has approved a new round of tax breaks for companies to expand in the state. Eight companies will receive tax breaks under the state’s “high quality jobs program.” This includes money for Atlantic Bottling to add 106 jobs in Walcott, and a tax break for Tyson meats in Perry to install a new cooling system. That project will not create any jobs. Tyson Foods had a net income over $1 billion last year.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – The Muscatine School District is investing one-million dollars into it’s music programs, according to WQAD-TV. While a million dollars is a lot of money, the district believes it’s an important investment. Student participation is growing rapidly, and student grades and graduation rates are better for music students than those of the general student body.