DES MOINES, Iowa – On October 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in Des Moines charged a Des Moines man with computer fraud.

The Indictment alleges that Ezekiel Dean Potter, 34, after being terminated by his employer in April 2023, accessed or attempted to access to the employer’s computer systems without the employer’s authorization. When he gained access, Potter reset usernames and passwords for the employer’s accounts and deleted or revoked access to employer’s accounts. The Indictment alleges Potter engaged in this conduct for over a year and a half—from May 14, 2023, until at least January 16, 2025. Potter’s actions caused widespread disruption to the employer’s operations and resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses to the employer.

Trial is scheduled for June 1, 2026. If convicted, Potter could be sentenced up to 10 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to 21 and a half years in federal prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jeremiah Kenneth McGregor, 23, robbed four Des Moines area Git-N-Go convenience store locations while armed with a firearm on October 5, 2024, October 7, 2024, October 10, 2024, and October 12, 2024, and attempted to rob a fifth Git-N-Go on October 6, 2024. In each robbery, McGregor entered the Git-N-Go, brandished and threatened a Git-N-Go employee with a firearm, and demanded cash. On October 13, 2024, McGregor, who was in possession of a loaded firearm, ran from the officers during a traffic stop and was subsequently arrested.

After completing his term of imprisonment, McGregor will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. McGregor was also ordered to pay $1,346 in restitution. The district court also ordered this federal sentence to run consecutive to a December 2024 state sentence imposed after a parole revocation.

McGregor’s co-defendant, Donault Seandrea Logan, 23, of Des Moines, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2026.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest state data shows Iowa consumers are spending more this year. Total sales and use tax payments to the state were up three percent through October compared to the first 10 months of 2024. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says there’s a pretty clear division, however, between which households are driving a surge in retail sales.

“Those on the higher end are doing quite well, those that hold assets like stock, for example, bonds and so on, they’re doing much better and their buying is up,” Goss said. “Of course what’s happened is the stock market, equity markets and other asset markets — gold, silver and so on — those have held up remarkably well and moved higher and those individuals and families that hold those assets, their buying has held up really well.”

Goss says while middle and lower income Americans continue to spend on food, utilities and other essentials, they are pulling back on discretionary spending for things like concerts, vacations and high-end electronics. About half of total spending in the United States comes from households making at least 250-thousand dollars annually. Goss says new data suggests many upper income Americans have changed WHERE they shop, however.

“What we’ve seen is higher income buyers, instead of shopping at some of the fancier places, they’re moving to Walmart, Target and others,” Goss says. Last week, Walmart reported a 28 percent jump in online sales and a four-and-a-half percent increase in overall sales within the United States. Walmart operates 69 retail locations in Iowa.

(Red Oak, IA) – Two men were arrested on separate charges Saturday, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 47-year-old Adrian Charles Bauer, of Emerson, was arrested at around 12:30-p.m., Saturday, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct- Loud or raucous noise. Both offenses are Simple Misdemeanors. Bauer was transported to the Montgomery County Jail. And, at around 6:40-p.m. Saturday, Police in Red Oak arrested 35-year-old Kristopher Carl Friesenhahn (No address given), on a Class-B Felony charge of Burglary in the 1st Degree.

Friesenhahn was taken into custody in the 800 block of N. 2nd street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board has approved assistance for a manufacturing company in Muscatine and two innovation companies located in Coralville and Iowa City. Projects in Decorah, Fonda and Sioux City received awards, Friday through the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) program. In addition, reinvestment districts in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines received approval for amended plans.

• Kraft Heinz to upgrade Muscatine facility:
  Kraft Heinz, a leading U.S. multinational food and beverage company, operates its oldest manufacturing facility in Muscatine, producing a wide range of condiments and sauces. Due to the facility’s age and current condition, the company plans significant infrastructure improvements and modernization upgrades to sustain operations in Iowa. This project will help retain 404 jobs and represents a qualifying capital investment of $48 million. The board awarded a $2 million forgivable loan along with tax incentives through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Awards made to two startups:

• Coralville’s Pani Clean, Inc. is focused on removing nitrates at the source, converting them to useful products and making clean water more affordable and accessible. Their product is a modular, containerized unit designed for plug-and-play installation connected to a customer’s waste stream, where it uses an electrochemical process to convert nitrate into nitrogen gas or green ammonia to be reused on site. The company was awarded a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work and key personnel.
• Halide Biologics, Inc., based in Iowa City, leverages the potential of chemical biology to enhance the pharmacological properties of protein therapeutics. The company designs novel halogenated protein drugs of increased stability to treat a growing number of medical diseases and conditions. This work seeks to overcome the weaknesses of existing protein drugs currently in clinical use. The company was awarded a $50,000 POCR loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work, product refinement and key personnel.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the Technology Commercialization Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

CAT grant awarded to three projects:

• The City of Decorah was awarded $1 million to develop the Decorah Athletic Complex, which will include four baseball/softball diamonds, two batting cages, eight pickleball courts, concession building and playground. The addition of accessible restrooms will support the Freeport and Trout Run trails located there as well. The city expects to increase travel and overnight stays for families due to weekend tournaments and educational workshops. The total project cost is $4.2 million.
• The City of Fonda was awarded $39,000 to construct two new outdoor, professional grade pickleball courts. A sidewalk is also included in the project to connect it to an established park with a swimming pool, playground, shelter house, basketball courts and baseball field. The combination of amenities will enhance the community’s recreational opportunities. The total project cost is $130,451.
• Camp High Hopes in Sioux City was awarded $818,000 to build a new multi-purpose adaptive recreation center, supporting programs for children, teens and adults with disabilities, special needs and chronic illnesses as well as their friends and families. The nearly 15,000-square-foot facilities will include a large gym and two classrooms. The camp expects the rec center to serve 40% more visitors. The total project cost is $4.1 million.

The CAT program provides financial assistance to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the CAT Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

Cedar Rapids and Des Moines reinvestment district plans receive final approval:

On July 22, 2022, the City of Cedar Rapids was approved for a maximum benefit amount of $9 million for the Cedar Rapids Central Reinvestment District with a commencement date established as January 1, 2025. Since then, a couple projects were identified as not ready for development and were removed from the plan. The district will still include mixed-use buildings, public plaza and an entertainment center. At today’s board meeting, the amended Cedar Rapids Central Reinvestment District plan was approved for the maximum benefit of $6 million. The projects within the reinvestment district area represent a $162 million investment.

On April 22, 2022, the Merle Hay 28E Board was approved for a maximum benefit amount of $26.5 million for the Merle Hay Reinvestment District with a commencement date of October 1, 2023. In August 2025, the Merle Hay 28E Board proposed an amended district plan, which was reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee. The new project plan includes the development of Merle Hay Arena with volleyball and pickleball courts, a hotel, retailers, a credit union and mixed-used housing opportunities. Today, the amended Merle Hay Reinvestment District plan was approved for the maximum benefit of $26.5 million with modified conditions. The projects within the reinvestment district area represent a $164 million investment.

The Iowa Reinvestment District Program is designed to assist communities in developing transformative projects that improve the quality of life, create and enhance unique opportunities, and substantially benefit the community, region and state. The program provides for up to $100 million in new state hotel/motel and sales tax revenues to be “reinvested” within approved districts that cannot exceed 75 acres in size and must be in an Urban Renewal Area.

(Fayette County, IA) – A man operating a 4-wheel ATV died Friday afternoon in northeast Iowa, when the ATV entered a ditch and crashed. The accident happened at around  4:10-p.m. east of Sumner, in Fayette County. The Iowa State Patrol says the 2005 Arctic Cat ATV was being operated by 84-year-old Veryl Alfred Burghardt, of Fayette. He died from his injuries at a local hospital after being transported to the facility by Sumner EMS.