INTERSTATE CHASE
Semitrailer driver charged in wild interstate chase
PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) — A semitrailer driver from Iowa faces charges in Wisconsin after he allegedly led state troopers on a wild interstate chase. The Portage Daily Registers reports that Kyle Futrel was charged Dec. 21 in Columbia County with fleeing an officer, reckless endangerment, possession of methamphetamine and possession of narcotics. According to a criminal complaint, state troopers received calls from motorists on Dec. 17 reporting a semitrailer was all over the road on Interstate 39-90-94. A trooper caught up to the truck and followed with emergency lights activated. The truck deviated from the right lane onto the shoulder multiple times, turned off its lights and nearly crashed into multiple vehicles. The truck eventually stopped and blocked the northbound lanes.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-IOWA
Iowa child COVID hospitalizations up amid increased spread
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The rate of coronavirus spread in Iowa has increased in the past week as state health officials posted 10,162 positive tests in the past seven days. While hospitalizations dropped slightly the state reports increased hospitalizations among children. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in it’s weekly update posted Wednesday that 16 children under the age of 17 were hospitalized with COVID-19. All are unvaccinated. The Iowa vaccination rate among young children remains low with just 14% of those between ages 5 and 11 fully vaccinated. Iowa is averaging 1,566 cases per day and the state posted an additional 59 deaths on Wednesday for a total of 7,858 COVID-19 deaths.
IOWA-STATEHOOD ANNIVERSARY
Iowa marks 175th anniversary of statehood
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has reached a milestone — 175 years as a state. WHO-TV reports that Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring Iowa Statehood Day. President James Polk signed the bill that made Iowa the 29th state on Dec. 28, 1846. Fewer than 100,000 people lived in Iowa at the time. Now, the state has nearly 3.2 million residents. Iowa became part of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and became its own territory in 1838, separating from the Wisconsin Territory.
DES MOINES SHOOTINGS
Shootings up, but homicides decline in Des Moines in 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The number of people injured by gunfire in Des Moines this year nearly doubled from 2020, but fewer people died from their wounds. KCCI-TV reports that as of Tuesday, 86 people were treated for wounds inflicted by guns, compared to 49 in 2020, a number police described as about average. But just 11 people were killed by guns, compared to 17 last year. Police attribute the lower death toll to the care provided at the region’s hospitals.
AP-US-TEACHER-DEATH-TEENS-CHARGED
Prosecutor: 2 Iowa teens ambushed teacher, then killed her
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The county attorney prosecuting the case of two southeast Iowa teens charged with murder in the death of their high school Spanish teacher says they surveilled her pattern of life, ambushed her along her daily walk and dragged her into the woods, returning later to better hide her lifeless body. Those additional details of the death of Nohema Graber in early November were revealed in a Dec. 23 filing in the case of Jeremy Goodale, 16, of Fairfield. He is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder with classmate Willard Miller, also 16. Attorneys for both teens have asked a judge to move their case to juvenile court. Hearings on the requests will be held on Jan. 27.
PATERNAL LEAVE-SETTLEMENT
Former deputy gets settlement in paternal leave dispute
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A former Linn County sheriff’s deputy and his lawyers will receive more than $500,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed alleging that other deputies belittled him for taking paternal leave. Scott Becker sued the county and the sheriff’s office in federal court last year. He alleged he was harassed and discriminated against when he applied for paternal leave because other deputies didn’t want to cover his shifts while he was gone. In the settlement, the county said it disputes Becker’s allegations. Sheriff Brian Gardner attributed the harassment to staffing issues because Becker’s colleagues were already working several 16-hour shifts every week.
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