DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A pair of 13-year-old boys are in custody after police say they robbed and assaulted someone walking near a bike path in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports the victim was hospitalized with potentially life-threatening injuries.

MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Madison County authorities have made a major drug bust in a rural part of the county. KCRG-TV reports deputies obtained a search warrant for a house just outside of Winterset. They found marijuana, $8,000 in cash, stolen guns and a stolen ATV.
Charles and Blake Merrifield are facing possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and marijuana, and possession of stolen properties charges.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dozens of flights were canceled, delayed or redirected at the Des Moines International Airport on Saturday, making it a nightmare for flyers. KCCI-TV reports heavy rains resulted in a flooded runway being closed for several hours.

DES MOINES, IA — A well known, locally-owned and operated business is celebrating a major milestone this week. G&L Clothing in Des Moines is celebrating 100 years in business. WHO-TV reports over the course of this coming week, the store will be accepting donations to the Food Bank of Iowa and the Animal Rescue League. A coat drive will also be held to benefit Central Iowa Shelter and Services.

AMES, IA (IRN) – More than a dozen members of the Ames High School marching band became the latest Iowa students to make a statement surrounding the playing of the national anthem. The Des Moines Register reports 13 band members linked arms and walked off the field during a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to their home football game. Sophomore Lara Murray says she walked off to highlight inequality in the United States. “How can we be unified if there’s racism, sexism and homophobia in our school?” Those who walked off faced some cursing from spectators.

ALBIA, IA (IRN) – A former southern Iowa teacher has pled guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl. Zachary Thomas Simpson, a 29-year-old former teacher and coach in the Albia Community School District, pled guilty Friday to sexual exploitation by a school employee and violating two no-contact orders. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and must register as a sex offender and complete a sex offender treatment program.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Friday the 13 lived up to its legacy for a Cedar Rapids man. KCRG-TV reports on his way to work that morning, before sunrise, Casey Sheets made a frustrating discovery. His car, once a white sedan, was dripping crimson red, completely covered with paint. Police say the costs of cleaning off the red paint and a new paint job would likely make the act of vandalism a felony charge.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police located four stolen vehicles after a foot chase. KWQC-TV reports police spotted one stolen vehicle, and when officers approached the vehicle, two people inside took off running. Officers were able to apprehend two male juveniles, one 16 years of age, the other 14. Officers checked the area and located three other stolen vehicles.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An egg producer is giving away its product for free to help feed hungry Iowans. WHO-TV reports the company Versova donated over 100,000 eggs to the Food Bank of Iowa. Versova already donates a pallet of eggs each month, and this is one of two larger donations each year. The food bank says the eggs will likely be gone in a week. They serve 175,000 people, handing out one million pounds of food every month.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Neighbors and police were stunned early Friday morning by a crash just outside the State Fairgrounds. KCCI-TV reports a man was traveling east on Dean Avenue, which is closed due to construction. They say he hit the bucket of an excavator, slicing his car in half. The man was injured but police say he’s expected to survive.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against authorities who unsuccessfully sought to convict an Jasper County woman in the 1983 deaths of her estranged husband and his girlfriend. Authorities charged Theresa Supino in 2014 in the deaths of the two, who were found bludgeoned inside a trailer at a horse ranch. Supino was acquitted at a 2015 trial. Afterward, she filed suit against authorities saying she was defamed by statements implying she was guilty even after the acquittal. The judge disagreed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Marion man is facing charges after he left his crying baby in a wrecked van in a Taco Bell parking lot Wednesday. KGAN-TV reports 24-year-old Trevor Brickson pulled into the lot, parked the van and – after hanging around the restaurant for about 20 minutes, took off. 15 minutes later, employees checked the van and found Brickson’s one-year-old son crying inside. Employees pried open the window to get the baby out of the van.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The Burlington Police Department is warning merchants of counterfeit $100 bills being used at local businesses. WQAD-TV reports all of the bills have the same serial number.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A chase by the Iowa State Patrol ended Wednesday with an excuse from the driver troopers have never heard before. KCCI-TV reports it happened on I-80 in Des Moines. A trooper attempted to pull the driver of a sedan over on a traffic violation. The driver refused to pull over, and the chase was on. A trooper used a PIT maneuver on the sedan, and the driver was apprehended peacefully. The driver told troopers he wanted to be chased because, “it was on his bucket list.”

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A former Boone pastor who was arrested after allegedly sexually exploiting a teenage girl and “grooming” her for several years has pled guilty to lesser charges, according to the Des Moines Register. 48-year-old Joel Waltz of Boone, was charged with sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist, a class D felony. He was a pastor at Grace Community Church in Boone. Waltz and the victim first met at the church while he was the youth pastor. The victim was 11 and in foster care at the time. The sexual encounters began when the girl was 16.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was killed in a wreck this morning in rural Linn County, according to KCRG-TV. Rescue crews found a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer had gone into a ditch, hitting the driveway of the residence and then rolling multiple times, coming to rest in a bean field. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

RED OAK, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested a man they say shot and killed another man in Red Oak Wednesday. Officers found 27-year-old Devin Davis of Villisca lying dead in the street of a gunshot wound. The investigation revealed that 39-year-old Kevin Staley of Red Oak, got into a confrontation with Davis, which resulted in Staley fatally shooting Davis. Staley is in jail.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A pursuit late Tuesday night ended with one man in custody, according to KIMT-TV. A Cerro Gordo County Deputy attempted to stop a Chevy Malibu driven by 25-year-old Alex Welch, of Ames, who refused to stop. After his vehicle was disabled, Welch fled on foot, but was apprehended. He faces numerous charges, including some related to drugs and weapons.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The Rhythm Casino barge is now gone from the Davenport riverfront but it’s left behind a mess for the city to clean up. A mess likely to cost more than $200,000. The city approved to get rid of all the concrete left behind like the sidewalks, parking lot, and driveways. Once the area is cleared it will make room for parks. City leaders say they want the public’s input and ideas for that space.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The biggest star at the Blank Park Zoo celebrated a big day yesterday. WHO-TV reports Tumani the black rhino turned one year old. The zoo helped her celebrate with a special cake made of grains and bananas and a frozen apple and carrot treat … every rhino’s favorite meal. Tumani is a big deal for the zoo. She’s a member of a critically endangered species and the only female black rhino born in the US last year.