(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest late Sunday afternoon of a man on numerous sexual exploitation charges. Authorities say 42-year-old Kiel Lee Franzen, of Stanton, was arrested following an ongoing investigation in Red Oak.

He was taken into custody at around 4:42-p.m. in the 1100 block of Boundary Street, for seven-counts of child exploitation of a minor, all of which are Class-B felonies. Franzen was being held at the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

Red Oak Police say due to the sensitive nature of the case and involvement of minors, no further information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor and Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand will be making 14 campaign stops in northwest Iowa this week. Sand launched a 100 town hall tour of the state last week. He asked the first two crowds in central Iowa to sing “America the Beautiful” together. Sand says it’s a unifying exercise at a time when politics seems unhealthy.

“I think people mostly have that impression of politics in general,” Sand says. “It’s a lot of yelling on both sides.” One audience member asked Sand if he’s a strong or a moderate Democrat — and Sand replied that he doesn’t like labels. Sand told Radio Iowa he chose long ago to be in the Democratic Party. “I grew up watching Bill Clinton at the State of the Union brag about balancing the budget and paying down the debt and I thought: ‘I like that. That’s good,'” Sand said. “…My faith is a big motivator for why I signed up as a Democrat. I think that the Democratic Party, at least the way I see it, is the party of the little guy.”

Sand says there are some Republicans he has an easier time working with than Democrats and a lot can get done in a politically divided government, but Sand says with a Republican-led legislature, he’d likely veto some bills.

(Radio Iowa) – Two of Iowa’s U-S House members are among the Republicans posting messages on social media this weekend urging Senators to pass President Trump’s tax, spending and policy package. First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the bill keeps the tax cuts that Trump approved in 2017 intact and it provides more funding for border security.

“This is about putting America’s interests first on taxes, health care and on national security,” Miller-Meeks said in a recorded video she posted on her Facebook page. “I’m proud to stand with President Trump and deliver this ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to the people of Iowa.” Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra posted six messages on social media this weekend, touting the proposed tax cuts on tips, overtime and interest on American-made cars that are in the bill.

“To me, it’s a once in a lifetime bill that’s really going to change our economy,” Feenstra said. Feenstra says the bill will virtually eliminate the estate tax by permanently raising the amount someone can inherit — without paying federal taxes — to 15 million dollars.  “We, for the most part, get rid of the death tax,” Feenstra says. “For me, that’s a double tax, a pilfer tax.”

On Sunday night, Senator Chuck Grassley posted a message online saying he’s been hard at work over the weekend to deliver on Trump’s agenda and prevent the largest tax increase in U-S history. Senators were debating the bill Sunday night. Trump has said he wants to sign the bill into law by July 4th, if possible.

(Rural Clarke County, Iowa) – A man operating a UTV died, and a juvenile passenger was injured, when the UTV went out of control and rolled over late Sunday evening, southeast of Lorimor. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened at around 8:30-p.m., as the 2020 Polaris UTV being driven by 45-year-old Andrew James Neisemier, of Thayer, was traveling north on 110th Avenue from Oakwood Street.

The vehicle entered the east ditch and overturned, partially ejecting Neisemier, who died at the scene. The juvenile passenger was transported by helicopter to a hospital, for treatment of suspected injuries. The name of the juvenile was not released.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office.

(Fayette County, Iowa) – One person is dead after a van struck a person on a bicycle this (Sunday) morning, north of West Union, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports the van, driven by a 72-year-old man from Ossian (IA), was traveling south on Juniper Road, just south of Kitty Road, when the vehicle struck the 76-year-old bicyclist. The collision happened at around 10:15-a.m.

The accident victim died at the scene. Their name was being withheld by the Patrol, pending notification of family.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, West Union Police and Fire Departments, and Gunderson EMS.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say there were no injuries reported following two, separate accidents late last week. One of the accidents happened at around 9-p.m. Thursday, at the intersection of Eastern Ave. and Summit Street. According to the report, a 2010 Hyundai Accent driven by 40-year-old Maribel Hernandez, of Red Oak, was traveling north on Eastern Avenue. A 2020 Hyundai Elantra driven by 69-year-old Lori Meyerholtz, of Red Oak, was traveling west on Summit Street.

Police say Hernandez’ car failed to stop at the posted intersection. The Elantra had the right-of-way, and was going through the intersection, when it was hit on the side by Hernandez’ vehicle. Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000. Both vehicles were driven away from the scene. Red Oak Police cited Hernandez for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

The other accident happened at around 4:15-p.m. Friday, at 8th and Maple, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2015 Jeep Cherokee driven by 71-year-old Diana Oleen, of Red Oak, was traveling north on 8th Street and crossing the intersection with Maple. The driver of a 2005 Chevy Tahoe, 39-year-old Kyle Doty, of Red Oak, didn’t see the Jeep, and drove through the posted Yield sign at the intersection, in an attempt to turn north onto N. 8th Street from Maple.

The Tahoe struck the Jeep, causing a police-estimated total of $4,500 damage. Both vehicles were driven from the scene. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa — [KCCI] – The Des Moines Fire Department and Police Department, Saturday night, suspended their search for the evening for a person reported to be missing in the Des Moines River near the SE 6th St. Bridge.

Officials say this began when dispatch received a call from someone reporting a child in the river just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday. First responders rushed out and were able to rescue the child from the water on the bank.

Shortly after, the DMFD Water Emergency Team deployed to help look for an adult male whom first responders received reports about being in the water with the child.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports two recent arrests: At around 3:15-a.m. today (Sunday), 25-year-old Bryant Reafleng was arrested in the 1900 block of G Avenue, for OWI/1st offense. Reafleng was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond. And, 43-year-old Shawn Parker was arrested at around 3-a.m. Saturday, in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Parker was charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond was also set at $1,000.