(Radio Iowa) — Tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling for Thanksgiving and they could face a challenge getting home a few days after the holiday. The immediate forecast calls for warmer temperatures for much of Iowa with highs in the 40s and even low 50s in some areas. The National Weather Service say that should last into midday Saturday.

A still-developing storm system may move in late Saturday, with the potential to drop temperatures into the 20s and drop several inches of snow into Sunday or Monday. Iowans are warned to pay close attention to the forecast, especially if they’ll be on the road later this weekend.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal jury has found two Des Moines police officers used excessive force and committed battery when they pepper sprayed and beat a man in February 2013. Jurors awarded Dustin Burnikel $200,000 on Tuesday for medical expenses, pain and suffering. Burnikel sued the city and officers Michael Fong and Greg Wessels.

Burnikel says they attacked him after he shouted at them thinking they were assaulting a woman on a city street. The officers in plain black coats were attempting to arrest the woman. They claim Burnikel appeared aggressive, so they subdued him. Burnikel sustained back injuries, bruises and broken teeth. City Attorney John Haraldson says the city settled its portion of the case alleging improper supervision and training for an amount to be disclosed at the next city council meeting.

The Audubon School District’s Board of Education met Monday evening, and approved the offering of early retirement to three employees of the district. Superintendent Brett Gibbs said those will be due the Friday before the Board’s December meeting, so they can take action on the matter during their meeting. The Board also set the date for the Superintendent Interviews as Monday, Dec. 3^rd, and Wednesday, December 5^th. Gibbs says they ended up with 13 applicants and are currently in the process of narrowing down who the finalists will be. Their goal is to narrow their selection down to four finalists.

During the Board’s meeting last month, Gibbs announced, and the Board accepted, his request to take early retirement at the end of the current contract year, June 30 2019. Gibbs has served the Audubon School District for 12 years. He and his wife will move back to northeastern South Dakota, where he grew up and has family living.

In other news, Gibbs said the Board Monday approved a coaches contract. The contract was approved for the last Junior High Girl’s Basketball position.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A parolee accused of two Iowa City killings has been has been convicted in the first of them. Johnson County court records say a jury found 42-year-old Curtis Jones guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder in the June 2017 slaying of a cab driver, 46-year-old Ricky Lillie. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 4 to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

He’s also accused of killing a 34-year-old bail bondsman, Jonathan Wieseler, in April 2017. His trial in that case is scheduled to begin Jan. 11. Both homicides occurred just months after Jones left prison in November 2016, years early on a robbery sentence. The parole board paroled Jones despite assessments that warned he was a high risk for committing additional violence.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County report the arrest on numerous charges today (Wednesday), of 23-year old Edward Davis, of Lenox. Davis was taken into custody in the 400 block of West Temple St, in Lenox, for felony possession with intent to deliver/marijuana, felony possession of a controlled substance (3rd offense), carrying weapons while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and assault causing bodily injury. Davis’ possession charges were enhanced due to the offenses being within 1000 feet of a public park and using a weapon during the commission of the crime. His bond was set at $12,000. 

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A January trial has been scheduled for a 28-year-old man accused of killing two brothers who lived in Fort Dodge. Webster County court records say Tanner King, of Fort Dodge, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. He’s accused of fatally shooting 37-year-old Marion and 34-year-old Eldominic Rhodes. A criminal complaint says the younger man’s body was found in an alley Oct. 22 and his older brother’s body was found in a nearby apartment parking lot.

Police say King fired a shot at another man but missed. King’s trial is set to begin Jan. 15.

Two people died and another was injured during two separate crashes Tuesday night in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 17-year old male died in a rollover accident in southeast Iowa’s Marion County. The Patrol says the teen was driving a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup too fast on a 90% ice and snow packed road south of Pleasantville at around 7:50-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control and rolled into a ditch before landing on its top. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and died at the scene. His name was not immediately released.

The second accident happened in Marshall County, when a 1998 Chevy K-1500 pickup driven by 21-year old Kyle Borota, of Garwin, went out of control on a gravel road and entered a farm field before rolling over. Borota was ejected from the truck as it rolled. He was not wearing a seat belt. His passenger, 18-year old Cole Purdy, of Marshalltown, was injured and transported to Unity Point by ambulance. Purdy was also not wearing a seat belt.

An electric space heater is “highly suspected” as the cause of a house fire Tuesday night, in Atlantic. Firefighters were called to 1308 Birch at around 7:44-p.m. Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN when they arrived, flames were shooting out of a window. Crews got a quick knock-down from the outside before entry was made into the rental home. For a time, it was unclear whether the persons who lived there – Dean Barber and his adult son – were home or not, but McNees said they learned the two were on the way to eastern Iowa where they planned to have Thanksgiving with Barber’s daughter. The pair were planning on returning to Atlantic sometime today.

Ric Hanson/photos

McNees said one of two electric space heaters is the likely cause of the blaze, which caused substantial damage to the inside of the home. The State Fire Marshal’s Office will be contacted to get a second opinion on which of the devices are to blame. One of the heaters, McNees said, was near a couch. The contents of the home were a substantial loss, but McNees said Barber has rental insurance. The Red Cross will be contacted today to offer assistance as needed.

Crews were on the scene until about 10-p.m. Atlantic Fire and Rescue was assisted at the scene by Atlantic Police, Medivac Ambulance, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, Atlantic Municipal Utilities, ce and the Cass County Emergency Management Agency.