CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people were taken to a hospital after a house fire in Cedar Rapids. Firefighters say the front of the two-story house was engulfed in flames when firetrucks arrived early Saturday morning. All six people in the home got out on their own, but three were taken to a hospital. One occupant who leaped from a second-story window had to be helped away from the structure.
No names have been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans may be getting more door knocks and phone calls lately from businesses and individuals offering to help out with lawn care, tree trimming and clean-up work. While many of them may be legitimate, Bess Ellenson with the Better Business Bureau says there are plenty of scammers out there looking to take advantage of you in the spring season. “We always recommend that people get everything that is supposed to be done in writing,” Ellenson says, “so if something happens where you don’t get the work you want done, the work that they did falls through, you have a little more grounds to fight.”

Ellenson says one test of a company’s legitimacy is finding out if they’re insured — as required by the state. If they’re not, the business could be shady and you could end up paying, one way or the other. Ellenson says, “Let’s say you hire somebody to come trim some trees and they don’t have insurance and they’re on a ladder and they fall, you could be liable for that, you could be liable for their injuries.”

She recommends getting multiple quotes for any job you want done and always bring the company out to your property in person to get the most accurate estimates. Research prospective yard companies at BBB.org.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a woman who was shot while driving in northeast Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the shooting happened on Highway 218 on the outskirts of Waterloo around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Waterloo police say a bullet struck a woman in the neck as she was driving. The bullet continued on to strike one of the woman’s two male passengers and injure him. Authorities haven’t released the names of the woman or the injured passenger.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Waterloo man kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally wrecking the car they were in last April. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 55-year-old Ronald Share was convicted Friday of kidnapping, attempted murder, willful injury and eluding police. He faces a mandatory life sentence on the kidnapping count alone when he’s sentenced June 25.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Is the U.S. ready to put a woman in the Oval Office? Women are among the Democratic Party’s most energized and engaged voters and were more than half the electorate in the 2018 midterms. Democrats sent a historic number of women to Congress last year and have a record number of women running for president. Given Democrats’ deep desire to oust President Donald Trump, some don’t want to take any chances with their nominee. Said one woman AP spoke with: “I feel that America’s just not there yet.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have ended the 2019 legislative session. Legislators adjourned the session Saturday that was highlighted by the passage of bills that authorize farmers to grow hemp, gamblers to bet on sports and a requirement that local governments publicize and get a supermajority vote on property tax increases. The session ended with bills on gun rights, abortion, animal abuse penalties, traffic cameras, Medicaid work requirements, judge selection and solar energy fees left unfinished.

(UPDATE) WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Northern Iowa softball player was killed when she was struck by a bullet in the neck while driving on U.S. Highway 218 early Sunday morning. According to Waterloo Police, 25-year old Micalla Alexis Rettinger, of Cedar Falls, was identified as the woman pronounced dead following the incident that happened at around 2:40-a.m., Sunday.  A passenger in her vehicle, 32-year old Adam Jake Kimball was injured in the shooting.

Red Oak Police, Saturday night, arrested a woman on an assault charge. 49-year-old Kristen Marie Hughes, of Red Oak, was taken into custody just before 10-p.m. on a charge of domestic abuse assault/2nd offense.

She was transported to the Montgomery county jail and held without bond pending an appearance before the magistrate.

A single vehicle rollover accident at around 3-a.m. Sunday in Poweshiek County has claimed a life. The Iowa State Patrol reports, a 2018 Chevy Cruze driven by 46-year old Matthew T. Gibson, of Brooklyn (IA) was traveling west on Old Highway 6, when Gibson failed to negotiate a curve.

The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled several times. A passenger in the cas, 37-year old Jason W. Hayes, of Guernsey, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and died at the scene. Gibson was wearing his seat belt. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Grinnell.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Brooklyn Fire and the East Poweshiek County Ambulance.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Some Democratic women say they’re worried about nominating a woman for president after Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump.

The Associated Press talked to dozens of women in early-voting states who express that concern — even a record number of women are seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2020. These worries are creating a paradox for Democrats.

Women are among the party’s most energized and engaged voters, making up more than half the electorate in the 2018 midterms, when Democrats sent a historic number of women to Congress.

But the Oval Office has been elusive. And given Democrats’ deep desire to oust Trump, some don’t want to take any chances with their nominee.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Waterloo man kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally wrecking the car they were in last April.
Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 55-year-old Ronald Share was convicted Friday of kidnapping, attempted murder, willful injury and eluding police.

He faces a mandatory life sentence on the kidnapping count alone when he’s sentenced June 25.

Prosecutors say Share kidnapped a woman who had a restraining order against him and told her he was going to kill her by crashing the car he forced her into. She called 911, and when police spotted the car and tried to stop it, Share led them on a chase reaching 100 mph on I-380 in northeastern Iowa.

Police say he then intentionally drove the car into a guardrail while speeding at about 90 mph, causing serious injuries to the woman and himself.

The Board of Education of the Griswold Community School District will meet in a special session 5-p.m. Monday, April 29th, at the Middle School/High School Library. The purpose of the meeting is to accept an offer to sell the Elliott school building, and the possible hire of an assistance high school softball coach.

The public is invited to comment on either matter prior the the Board’s consideration of the sale and hire. A decision is expected on both matters prior to the Board’s adjournment.

A semi tractor-trailer crashed into a bridge support pillar off I-80 in Jasper County, Saturday evening, killing the driver. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Mose Airti, of Clinton, Utah, died when the 2017 Freightliner semi went out of control at around 6:20-p.m. on I-80 westbound, near mile marker 161.

The rig entered the median before crashing into the bridge support pillar. Arti died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and Newton Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.