DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Chicago woman accused of killing her sister in Des Moines has been found incompetent to stand trial. The Des Moines Register reports that a judge issued the ruling last week for 31-year-old Ieisha McDuffy. Judge Health Lauber says McDuffy suffers from a disorder that prevents her from appreciating the charges against her or aiding her lawyer. Lauber ordered McDuffy to be treated while in state custody so her mental competency for trial can be restored.

Police say Ieisha McDuffy and her sister, Lakeisha McDuffy, were visiting another relative’s home Sept. 10 when Ieisha stabbed Lakeisha.

Police say foul play is NOT suspected in the death of an infant at a northern Iowa in-home day care. A news release from the Manly Police Department stated Worth County dispatchers received a 911 call on December 28 at 3 p.m. about a baby not breathing. The 7-month-old girl was later pronounced dead at a Mason City hospital.

Manly Police Chief Aaron Pals calls it “a tragic event and a delicate time for all involved.” He noted an autopsy has been conducted, but for now, the results are not being released. Pals provided an update late Tuesday afternoon – confirming foul play is NOT suspected in the case. No charges have been filed.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says there are no new developments in the impasse between corn-state and oil-state senators over possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Grassley says there have been no discussions, since before Christmas, regarding Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s concerns with the RFS. “We have asked the two segments to sit down and talk and get some understanding of each other’s position, as a next step,” Grassley told reporters on a conference call Tuesday.

Cruz has proposed helping oil refiners by placing a 10-cent cap on Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). But Grassley says biofuels industry groups have made their position very clear to him. “The industry tells us that such a cap on RINs would be just catastrophic to ethanol, that it would be a no-go,” Grassley said, “and Senator (Joni) Ernst and I expressed that to Cruz.” As for Cruz’s continued hold on Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey’s U.S.D.A. nomination, Grassley said it’s time to take a different approach. “We’re going to have to proceed separate from anything dealing with the RFS on Northey,” Grassley said. “Northey is entitled to an answer of when is he going to be dealt with in the United States Senate.”

Cruz has blocked a Senate vote on Northey’s nomination to be U.S.D.A. Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation. According to Grassley, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has committed to clearing the way for a Senate vote on Northey’s nomination. But there’s still no indication of when that might happen.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Ken Anderson, Brownfield Ag News)

The 2018 inductees for the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are being announced. Cindy Stanbro (STAN-broh), executive director of the Iowa Rock and Roll Museum in Arnolds Park, says it’s a long list of bands, musicians, singers, deejays and others, which includes: “David Ellefson, The Nadas, Marilyn Maye, The Bushmen, Rob Lumbard, Buckeye, Crusin’, Rick Hillyard, A Stitch ‘n Tyme, The Torkays, Lavendar Hill Band, The El Riadas and Dean Davis, who’s getting a Lifetime Achievement Award.”

More than 320 artists have been inducted into the Iowa Hall since its inception more than 20 years ago. Stanbro explains how inductees are picked, once they’re nominated. “They have to have at least 25 years experience in the industry and have made a significant impact,” Stanbro says. “The board of directors gets together and we review all the submissions and we look at the influence they’ve had on other artists, their length of career, regional and national tours, success of recordings, and how they’ve impacted rock-n-roll music in Iowa.”

Tickets for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction celebration will go on sale in March. The event is scheduled for September 1st and 2nd in Arnolds Park. Learn more at www.iowarocknroll.com.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a suspect has surrendered in Des Moines’ first homicide of 2018. Police say officers and medics sent around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a reported shooting found the body of a 39-year-old man who’d been shot in the chest. A few minutes later the suspect contacted police and then surrendered. No charges have been filed.

Police haven’t released the name of the victim or the suspect.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a Nebraska man was arrested Saturday following an investigation into a report of a stolen vehicle, in Tabor. As a result of the investigation conducted by Tabor Police and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department, 24-year old Dakota McDonald, of Omaha, was arrested in Tabor, for Theft in the 2nd Degree, and 3rd Degree Burglary.

McDonald was being held at the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center on $10,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing. Sheriff Aistrope reminds citizens to be vigilant, lock your vehicles, houses and garages.

Anyone with information about a crime can contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424. Your tip could lead to a cash reward, and you can remain anonymous.

McDonald

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Republican lawmaker tasked with addressing workplace culture in the Iowa Senate following sexual misconduct allegations in the chamber has formally submitted recommendations for improvements. Mary Kramer tells The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday she submitted a draft with recommendations to Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix and Senate President Jack Whitver. Kramer says the top Republicans in the chamber received the document in early January.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University’s illegal crackdown on a pro-marijuana student group’s T-shirts will cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. A state board agreed Tuesday to pay $150,000 in damages to two leaders of the university chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. It also agreed to pay their lawyers $193,000 for their work defending against university appeals, and additional fees for trial work to be decided later.

DELHI, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa are looking into whether a man found dead inside a vehicle that plunged through the ice covering Lake Delhi had been spinning doughnuts on the ice before the fatal incident. Delaware County Sheriff John LeClere tells the Telegraph Herald that a witness spotted a vehicle doing doughnuts on the ice Sunday night before 23-year-old Alex Salow’s body was found Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday said she wants to reduce taxes on individuals but won’t immediately push corporate tax cuts, an effort she’ll try to enact despite ongoing lower-than-expected state revenue that keeps creating budget shortfalls. The Republican governor provided details of a tax plan Tuesday during her Condition of the State address at the state Capitol. Reynolds added she wants to eliminate an existing provision that’s expected to give the state a windfall under federal tax changes.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A new report predicts 18 states will introduce bills to regulate sports betting this year, with 11 having a good chance of passing one. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide, says that’s just the minimum; the firm predicts more than 30 states could introduce sports betting bills.

The U.S. Supreme Court this year will decide a case brought by New Jersey that seeks to overturn a ban on sports betting in all but four states: Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon.

States listed as likely to introduce a sports betting bill are: Massachusetts; Rhode Island; New York; New Jersey; West Virginia; South Carolina; Georgia; Florida; Illinois; Michigan; Iowa; Minnesota; Louisiana; Mississippi; Oklahoma and California. Indiana and Kentucky already have introduced bills.

Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 35-year old Shaun Allan Davidshofer, of Coin. He was taken into custody today (Tuesday) at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on a Page County warrant for Violation of Iowa Sex Offender Registry.  Davidshofer was unable to post a $5,000 cash only bond, and is currently being held in the Page County Jail pending future court proceedings.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports the Mulberry Loop bridge is now closed, and the bridge has been removed. It will be replaced with a low water crossing. Work will continue as the weather permits. The bridge is in the 800 Block of Mulberry Loop. Fairview Township Section 23.

This area has many dirt or level B Roads! Considerable alternate route planning will be necessary for some emergency responses to this area!

PLEASE PLAN ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO NEARBY RESIDENTS. If you have any questions, please call the county engineer at 712-755-5954