IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators say they have arrested a 32-year-old Iowa man who is believed to be linked to several sexual assaults near the University of Iowa campus. Carlos Hivento of Cedar Rapids was arrested last week and charged in the November sexual assault of a 19-year-old girl he allegedly met at an Iowa City bar. He’s being jailed pending trial.

Court records show that investigators have uncovered evidence that also links him to a 2017 sexual assault of another woman at a different Iowa City bar. And they are looking into whether he’s connected to at least three other reported assaults, including one days before his arrest.

Police say an examination of one of Hivento’s phones uncovered 1,475 videos of him having sex, using drugs or doing both since September. They’ve seized several other electronic devices.

The University of Iowa Police Department is asking anyone with information to come forward.

Clarinda Police have charged a local man in connection with an armed robbery that took  place Monday afternoon. Police Chief Keith Brothers reports 27-year old Aaron Gar Nelson, of Clarinda, is charged with robbery in the first degree, felony assault, false imprisonment and theft in the fourth degree.

The charges stem from an investigation into a complaint filed by the 25-year old victim, who alleges Nelson forced him at knife point  to withdraw cash from a drive-up ATM located at an area Clarinda Bank. The victim was not injured during the robbery.

Nelson was being held in the Page County Jail on a $32,000 bond. The Clarinda Police Department was assisted in its investigation by the Page County Sheriff’s Department.

(Oakland, IA)— The Loess Hills Missouri River Region is excited to share the accomplishments of 2018 with the public during a Year in Review Celebration at Uncle Buck’s Grill at Bass Pro Shops on Friday, March 8^th from 4 to 5 PM.  It has been nearly one year since Governor Reynolds, the Iowa Parks Foundation, and the Loess Hills Missouri River Region (LHMRR) Board and stakeholders gathered at the Field House in Council Bluffs to announce MidAmerican Energy Foundation’s $500,000 commitment to the Loess Hills Missouri River Region Parks to People Plan, and the board has been busy with regional priority projects ever since.

The Loess Hills Missouri River Region Parks to People Plan was created by a group of stakeholders from Harrison, Mills and Pottawattamie Counties and the Friends of Lake Manawa, who first assembled in 2014.  The Plan, in partnership with the Iowa Parks Foundation, supports collaborative, regional projects to enhance economic development and tourism; public health and social vitality; natural resources, parks and trails; and overall regional vibrancy. This initiative intends to attract and retain young people interested in an active lifestyle, which will stimulate Iowa’s economy and promote business growth.  A primary goal is to offer a fully connected 21^st Century parks system, in time for the Iowa Parks Centennial in 2020.

In 2018, the LHMRR Board officially designated its first round of priority projects for funding from the MidAmerican Energy Foundation’s $500,000 challenge grant to the Parks to People Plan. $338,000 has been dedicated towards the following priority projects: Harrison County Conservation Board’s Willow Lake Nature Center and Overland Hiking Trail; Lake Manawa’s Dream Playground; Mills County Trails Board’s Glenwood Trail Project; Mills County Conservation Board’s Pony Creek Expansion; Lewis & Clark Today Route signage and the Green Hill Ranch conservation area. These projects represent over $10.6 million in planned recreational improvements to the tri-county region. To date, over $5 million of this has been secured or pledged towards implementation.

The LHMRR Board will hold its Annual Meeting and Year in Review Celebration on Friday, March 8th in Council Bluffs.  The public is invited to attend the Year in Review Celebration from 4 to 5 PM, at Uncle Buck’s Grill (2901 Bass Pro Drive).  At this celebration they will give a history of the initiative, outline the process for setting priority projects, overview progress on current priority projects and unveil the concept design for the new logo, branding and website.  Project leaders will be available to answer questions and provide information about priority projects.

The LHMRR is coordinated by Golden Hills RC&D, a nonprofit organization with a mission “to develop and promote sustainable cultural and conservation projects that enhance the quality of life and preserve the assets of rural western Iowa.”  More information about the Loess Hills Missouri River Region Parks to People Plan, Annual Meeting and Year in Review Celebration, visit goldenhillsrcd.org/lhmrr or facebook.com/loesshillsmissouririverregion.

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Illinois say a Texas man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison on child pornography charges involving more than 40 girls in eight states. Prosecutors said Tuesday 36-year-old Mark P. Barnwell of Whitehouse, Texas, was sentenced on Jan. 9. Authorities say he used false Facebook profiles to contact girls and advertise modeling opportunities. Prosecutors say Barnwell directed the girls to send him sexually explicit photos and threatened to post the nude photos online if they failed to send more.

Officials say Barnwell obtained nude photos from 43 victims, including 28 in central Illinois. Others were from California, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. Barnwell was ordered to remain on supervised release for the rest of his life when he completes the prison term.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a man for the shooting death of another Davenport man outside a bar. The jury deliberated for less than an hour Wednesday morning before finding 37-year-old Deondra Thomas guilty of a weapons crime and first-degree murder. They deliberated for less than 30 minutes Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced March 1 to the state’s mandatory of life in prison.

Officers sent to check a report of gunshots early on June 9 found 46-year-old Jason Roberts outside MVP Sports Bar suffering from three bullet wounds. He was pronounced dead later at a hospital. Prosecutors say Thomas had interjected himself into a disagreement among friends. Defense attorney Jack Dusthimer questioned the credibility of several of the witnesses.

Police in Glenwood report 27-year Zachery Coddington, of Red Oak, was arrested Tuesday, on numerous charges. Coddington was taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts, Bodily Injury and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Facility. His cash or surety bond was set at $6,000 on the charges, plus $2,000 bond for a warrant out of Montgomery County.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that at around 10:30 this (Wednesday) morning, deputies arrested 67-year old Linda Francele Lauber. The woman was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Office, on a Page County Warrant for Theft 5th / Failure to appear. Lauber immediately posted a $300 bond and was released, pending future court proceedings.

(Radio Iowa) — The chief justice of Iowa’s Supreme Court is asking legislators for a significant, seven-point-two MILLION dollar boost in the budget for Iowa courts.  Cady would direct a third of that increase to a digitial initiative, using the money to develop electronic warrants and start paying for the court’s digital services with taxpayer dollars rather than court fees. Cady’s also warns lawmakers fewer people are applying to be judges because of the pay. He’s asking for nearly one-point-nine MILLION dollars extra to finance a four percent hike in judicial salaries.

The other big-ticket item in Cady’s request to lawmakers is for rural courthouses. Cady’s asking for enough funding to hire 37 more full-timers to work in the clerks of court offices. Cady outlined his requests this (Wednesday) morning during the annual “Condition of the Judiciary” speech at the statehouse.

COLFAX, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket at a central Iowa convenience store won a $1 million prize. The ticket was purchased at Kum & Go in Colfax. It matched the first five numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing for the $55 million jackpot but missed the Mega Ball number. A ticket bought in California also is worth $1 million. No ticket bought matched all six numbers, so the jackpot is expected to climb to $68 million for Friday’s drawing. Prizes of $1 million or more in Iowa must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man pulled unconscious from his burning home in northeast Iowa has died. He was identified as 30-year-old Albert Schmitt. Firetrucks were sent to the Evansdale home around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor called 911 to report smelling smoke. Evansdale Fire Chief Ryan Phillips says Schmitt was found in the living room of the one-story structure and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead there. The fire cause is being investigated. It appears to have started in the kitchen.