FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – An SUV and a train collided near Fort Dodge Saturday. A mother and her three children were injured in the crash. One of the children was flown to a nearby hospital in serious condition and the others were taken by ambulance. Only signs warn drivers of the train crossing because it’s a gravel road. There are no crossing bars or lights.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating an armed robbery in Iowa City, according to KWWL-TV. A man says he was meeting up with a woman he had met online. When he arrived at the arranged meeting place, two men approached him. One had a knife and the other was carrying a board. The victim says he was drug inside a home where he was hit in the head with the board three times before being robbed of his cash and cell phone. He has minor injuries and is expected to be okay.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a trade and investment mission to Israel this summer. Iowa exports to Israel exceeded $30 million in 2016, a 14.5 percent increase over 2015. Key sectors that provide opportunities for Iowa companies in Israel include information and communication technology, agriculture technology, biotechnology and animal feeds.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City native qualified for “The Last Great Race,” according to KCRG-TV. It’s the Iditarod, a one thousand mile sled dog race across Alaska. Emily Maxwell qualified for the 2018 Iditarod after multiple races earlier this year. Emily had nothing to do with mushing until she visited Alaska and then moved there two years ago. She says she instantly fell in love with the lifestyle. The 2018 Iditarod sled dog race will start on March 3rd.

MONTROSE, IA (IRN) – A Lee County deputy has been cleared of wrongdoing in shooting a hammer-wielding man who menaced the deputy. The opinion issued by Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown says Deputy Dakota Foley’s decision to shoot Joshua Welborn “was reasonable.” Foley told Welborn six times to stop advancing before Foley fired one shot. Welborn was hospitalized for a chest wound. Welborn has been charged with assault on a police officer and other crimes.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman has been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire at a Des Moines mosque. The Des Moines Register reports the fire at the Islamic Center of Des Moines was extinguished by mosque staff. Security cameras show 22-year-old Aisha Ismail pouring lighter fluid on a carpet and then starting the fire. She’s been charged with first-degree arson, and is in jail.

HAWKEYE, IA (IRN) – An Eastern Iowa woman was rescued after finding herself stranded on the Turkey river near Hawkeye Friday. KWWL-TV reports 51-year-old Teresa Dane of Sumner was enjoying a day tubing when she became stuck in a pile of trees and debris caught by a supporting pillar of the bridge. She tried to make it to land, but failed. Firefighters used two ladders tied together and stretched across the water to reach Dane. She’s OK.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale woman whose late husband suffered from the effects of Agent Orange received his medals on his behalf Friday. KCCI-TV reports Sen. Chuck Grassley presented Susan Dudley with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal, among others, for the service of David Dudley. He served on the front lines in Vietnam.
Dudley also served in the Iowa State Patrol for 25 years before his death three years ago.

BROOKLYN, NY (IRN) – The NBA draft picked up just one player from the state of Iowa. Former Iowa State University star Monte Morris was drafted in the second round by the Denver Nuggets. He was the 51st pick in the draft. Morris is the winningest player in Iowa State history, with 100 career victories. He’s also the 38th former Cyclone to be drafted into the NBA.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A Missouri man has been killed in a fall at a construction site in southeast Iowa. WQAD-TV reports the accident occurred Wednesday in Fort Madison. A witness reported the man fell 20-25 feet from a wooden box that was being hoisted by a forklift.

MANLY, IA (IRN) – The Worth County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find out who assaulted a man. KIMT-TV reports the 59-year-old victim was found outside in Manly after deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call on Wednesday night. The man had suffered severe facial trauma but was conscious and breathing when emergency personnel arrived on scene.

ALBIA, IA (IRN) – Authorities have accused a 29-year-old southern Iowa teacher with having sex with a student. The Ottumwa Courier reports that Zachary Simpson was a teacher for the Albia Community School District who also taught driver’s education. Court records say a 16-year-old girl reported that she and Simpson had sex at least twice.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A man was shot during the overnight hours near the Marion Public Library, according to KCRG-TV. Police found a man with a gunshot wound near the library around midnight. Responders took him to the hospital.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Trump’s putdown of wind energy at his rally Wednesday in Cedar Rapids was denounced across the state Thursday. KCCI-TV reports Trump was talking up his support for coal during his speech when he said: “I don’t want to just hope the wind blows to light up your homes and your factories.” One-third of Iowa’s power comes from wind.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two insurance agents turned into heroes Wednesday when they rescued a woman who was trapped inside her vehicle after a rollover accident into a cornfield. WHO-TV reports Bankers Life agents Cheyenne Robertson and Nick Greb were travelling on a gravel road northwest of Fort Dodge. They spotted the car, stopped, and heard a woman faintly scream. The woman was trapped, but they were able to free her. She was hospitalized for a neck injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Nebraska company wants a federal court to stop four Iowa cities from restricting fireworks sales. The Des Moines Register reports that Bellino Fireworks filed a complaint against Ankeny, Boone, Johnston and Pleasant Hill. Bellino wants a permanent injunction barring the cities from enforcing restrictions and seeks unspecified damages.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Police Department is looking for a man they say tried to expose himself to a group of girls. KGAN-TV reports the man approached three girls between the ages of 9-11 years old, and then drove slowly next to them as they walked along the road. He then pulled up and asked the girls if they wanted him to expose himself. The girls ran and called police.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale couple face felony charges after a disabled woman in their care was found with severe burns. KCCI-TV reports Katrina and Garry Eubanks bathed a nonverbal 19-year-old woman in a bathtub full of chemicals, causing burns. Instead of getting her medical care, the Eubanks drove her to Tampa, Florida, without telling her family. They were arrested in Florida on Iowa warrants of kidnapping and neglect and abandonment of a dependent person.

WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old charged in connection with the arson of the Cedar Bridge in Madison County will be tried as an adult. Seventeen-year-old Alex Hoff, 18-year-old Joel Davis, and 19-year-old Alivia Bergmann are each charged with second degree arson and first degree criminal mischief for allegedly setting fire to one of the famous covered bridges of Madison County in April.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Trump was in Cedar Rapids yesterday. He toured Kirkwood Community College, where he learned about innovations in agricultural technology. At a rally last night, the president told his audience he was “dealt a very difficult hand” as president, with crises brewing in North Korea and the Middle East. The president also thanked Iowans for voting for him in last November’s election.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids family was reunited with their puppy in a chance encounter, a day after he was stolen from their front yard. A witness told Destiney Stucker he watched two men steal her six-month-old puppy, Tyson. A day later, Stucker saw a woman walking him. Police were called, and they learned that the woman had bought Tyson the day before from two men for $150. Police are looking for the two men, and Tyson is home safely.