DES MOINES (IRN) Des Moines Police are investigating a shooting Friday afternoon in the 2100 block of Forest Avenue. WHO-TV reports two female family members were arguing when a man grabbed a gun from a woman who was holding it, and fired three shots at the other woman. No one was injured. The woman who was shot at drove her kids home, then returned and called police.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa legislative leaders say they have reached a tentative budget agreement that could enable them to adjourn within days. KCCI-TV reports that Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said Friday they had reached an understanding. They declined to provide details on the overall spending level or on individual items, saying that information would be released next week.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to two new cases of avian flu in Wright and Sac counties.  The Wright County case is a pullet farm with 400,000 birds, and the Sac County facility is a Turkey farm with 42,000 birds.

AMES (IRN) – The National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded a five-year, $20 million grant to establish a Forensic Science Center of Excellence to be based at Iowa State University. Its primary goal will be to focus on two branches of forensics, pattern evidence, which includes fingerprints and bullet marks, and digital evidence, including data from cell phones and computers.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Corn and soybean prices continue to fall from last year. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that the average price received by farmers for corn during April in Iowa was $3.74 per bushel, $1.02 lower than April 2014. The April 2015 average price for soybeans, at $9.58 per bushel, was $4.72 lower than the April 2014 price.

 

ALBIA, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian who walked in front of oncoming traffic in Albia last night was airlifted to Mercy in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol reports that Laura Moore, 49, of Albia stepped into the travelled portion of the street where she was hit by a vehicle driven by Peter Greiner, 52, also of Albia.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A class ring lost nearly 50 years ago on a little league outfield has been returned to its owner. KIMT-TV reports that in 1967, Terry Long and his future wife Lois, were sitting in the outfield on a blanket when the ring was lost. Mason City postal worker Tom Teeter found the ring recently with a metal detector.  The ring, identified as belonging to a graduate of the 1965 class of Meservey Thornton High School, had Long’s initials engraved on it. With a little internet research, Teeter was able to locate Long and return his ring.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Governor Terry Branstad’s authority to close the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo. Two state senators, two state representatives, and the president of the labor organization representing employees at the home filed suit against the Governor and the director of the Department of Human Services saying the Governor’s actions were unconstitutional.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The 68th case of avian flu has been identified in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture reports that a turkey farm in Hamilton County with approximately 17,000 birds is the latest facility where the disease has been identified.

CLAY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Amber Alert issued in Clay County Thursday may result in charges filed. The alert was for two missing and believed endangered juveniles from Everly. The juveniles were located unharmed in Cherokee County. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reports that the investigation is continuing and criminal charges are pending.  Both juveniles are being held for their safety.

ALBIA, IA, (IRN) – One person is dead as a result of an accident in Albia Thursday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Peterbuilt semi-truck and trailer driven by Larry Kirscher, 42,  of Osceola was slowing in preparation for a stop at the intersection of Highways 5 and 34 when a 1995 Chevy Sportvan failed to slow and ran into the back of the trailer. The name of the deceased is being withheld until family is notified.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Human remains were found inside a car left burning on property owned by the Dubuque Regional Airport. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the remains were sent to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification.  Investigators do not suspect foul play.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a traffic stop that was conducted by a man allegedly impersonating a police officer.  On Tuesday a 17-year-old Alleman girl reported that she was stopped by an unmarked sedan with emergency lights.  The suspect told the driver that he had pulled her over for speeding.  She became suspicious, and when she told the man she was dialing 911 to ask for an additional officer, he fled.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) –  Council Bluffs police have arrested the mother and grandmother of a 4-year-old boy injured in a shooting. KMTV reports that 24-year-old Tyleshia Jones, was arrested on charges of child endangerment resulting in serious injury, child neglect and obstructing prosecution. Deborah Jones, 59, the child’s grandmother, was also charged. The women told police they didn’t know how the child was injured, but the boy’s 8-year-old brother eventually admitted to accidentally shooting him after finding a gun in a kitchen drawer. The victim remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is responding to a probable case of the avian flu in Wright County. The facility is a commercial laying operation with an estimated 1 million birds. Iowa now has 67 cases of the disease in the state.

RED OAK, IA (IRN) – A Red Oak woman came home to find her husband dead after she was released from jail for attacking him. The Red Oak Express reports that Kristen Hughes, 45, was arrested May 17 for domestic abuse after assaulting her husband, Matthew Hughes, by biting and scratching him. Hughes posted bond on May 18 and returned home to find her husband dead. His death has been ruled a suicide. All charges have been dropped.

AMES, IA – (IRN) – An Ames man has been charged in an incident in his home involving a 14-year-old girl.  KCCI-TV reports that Michael Lynn Searcy, 54, is charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse — sexual assault, dissemination of obscene materials to a minor and providing alcohol to minors. Police said that Searcy was watching the victim and her siblings when he allegedly gave her three alcoholic drinks. He also touched her inappropriately and showed her a pornographic movie.

BEDFORD, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in relation to the suspicious death of a three-year-old girl in the southwestern Iowa town of Bedford. The child’s father; Charles Hall, 25, and his girlfriend, April Clair, also 25, have been arrested and charged with Child Endangerment.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people were shot Wednesday night at a home just south of the Drake neighborhood in Des Moines. WHO-TV reports that when officers arrived they found Devan Jones lying in the grass by the house, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Jones says she, her mother, and three friends were at her mother’s apartment when her ex-boyfriend showed up and asked her to step outside to talk, when he shot her. One of Smith’s friends, Cortez Armstrong, was also shot.

BUTLER COUNTY, PA (IRN) – Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum announced Wednesday that he will seek the Republican nomination for President in 2016. Santorum won the 2012 Iowa Caucuses, and was the national runner-up to eventual nominee Mitt Romney. Santorum has already made numerous campaign stops in Iowa, and will be in Davenport today and Council Bluffs on Friday.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for Clarke County in response to recent severe weather. The proclamation also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 for households that suffered damage.

 

LAKE MILLS, IA (IRN) – A Lake Mills man has been ordered to pay restitution and stop deceptive sales of unregistered securities. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart has ordered Randall A. Finer to stop all sales of securities and to pay restitution in an amount over $614,000 plus interest. Finer allegedly solicited funds from 24 investors, “guaranteeing” a return of 20% or more on day trading.  Finer is not licensed to sell securities or act as an investment adviser.

WATERLOO (IRN) – Six Waterloo men and one Cedar Falls woman were charged in federal court with various gun charges. KWWL-TV reports that most charges relate to felons in possession, as well as drug charges.  If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in April from 4 percent in March.  Iowa Workforce Development reports that the state’s jobless rate was 4.4 percent one year ago.  The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent in April, well above Iowa’s rate.   A total of 23,000 more Iowans are working now than a year ago.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old faces six felony charges, including two counts of reckless homicide, for allegedly driving while intoxicated and causing a head-on crash that killed his passenger.  The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports that Cody J. Berry was driving east on Julien Dubuque Bridge at about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 17 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a westbound semi-tractor trailer head-on. Berry’s passenger, Gavin J. Gremmel, 18, of Dubuque, was killed in the crash.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is responding to two probable cases of the avian flu in Adair and Webster counties.  The Adair County case is a commercial laying operation with an estimated 975,000 birds, while the Webster County facility is a commercial laying operation with an estimated 160,000 birds.  With the new announcements, Iowa now has 66 cases of the disease in the state.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – The USDA reports that 96% of the Iowa corn crop has been planted, three days ahead of the five year average. Soybean planting has reached 70%. Wet conditions delayed planting last week, with only 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Cattle producers have concerns about muddy feedlots while crop farmers are experiencing spraying delays. Farmers are also evaluating the need to replant corn in low-lying areas.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Regents is considering increasing efforts to prevent sexual assault on campus. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the proposed Campus Safety and Security Subcommittee, which would meet at least twice a year, would review campus safety and security reports and issues at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

OMAHA, Neb. (IRN) – Students at schools in Nebraska and Iowa are joining others around the nation in planting milkweed plants to help attract monarch butterflies. The Omaha World-Herald reports that students at St. Margaret Mary School in Omaha and St. Albert School in Council Bluffs are involved in the effort. The two schools were among 10 Catholic schools in the Midwest that received grants to start butterfly-friendly gardens.