DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials are blaming a gas leak for an explosion that destroyed one Dubuque home and damaged several others. KCRG reports that Chief Rick Steines with the Dubuque Fire Department said a machine struck a gas main Monday while working in the area. He said firefighters evacuated the closest house while they waited for the gas company to arrive. He said the gas company was in the process of shutting down the gas when it ignited and caused the explosion.

One house was destroyed and others had windows blown out. A firefighter also was taken to a hospital for a cut.

DAVENPORT, Iowa—United States District Court Chief Judge, Friday, sentenced 39-year old Norris Davison, of Burlington, to 188 months (15.6-years) in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. Following his prison term, Davison will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Davison admitted to conspiring to distribute four kilograms of ice methamphetamine in the Burlington area. Davison’s criminal history included convictions for a felony drug offense, and
three felony convictions for unlawfully possessing weapons.

His case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Burlington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

A man from eastern Iowa’s Johnson County was sentenced last week to serve 268 months (22-years) in prison, after being found guilty by a jury, of three counts of child sex trafficking, two counts of distributing methamphetamine to children, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of being an unlawful user in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

During his trial, the government presented evidence 53-year old Kendall Andrew Streb, of Hills, Iowa, trafficked three teenagers in Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, primarily from November 2018 through February 2019. Streb solicited the three minors, aged 15 through 17 years old, by paying them in cash and methamphetamine in exchange for sex acts. Streb, at times, transported the teenagers to hotel rooms where he engaged in commercial sex acts with them. The evidence at trial showed that Streb knew one or more of the girls was under 18 years old, and he was otherwise was in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18.

Sex trafficking of a child is punishable by a minimum of ten years in prison, and up to life imprisonment. United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum stated, “Kendall Streb will spend the next two
decades in federal prison because he knowingly exploited teenage girls by paying them for sex. This sentence should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who believes he can escape serious criminal consequences if he is ‘just a john.’ We will continue to aggressively prosecute both buyers and sellers who sexually abuse children.”

Human trafficking is defined as a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Hills’ case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, with assistance from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Coralville
Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Monday afternoon, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 30-year old Alex Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Cunningham was later released from the Union County Jail, on a $3,300 bond.

And, 50-year old Tony Fizer, of Creston, was arrested Monday for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Vice President Mike Pence will visit sites in Carter Lake and Des Moines, Thursday. According the Trump-Pence campaign, The V-P in Carter Lake is expected to “deliver remarks highlighting the historic accomplishments of the Trump administration at Noon, during a Make America Great Again! Event” at Owen Industries, Inc. (501 Avenue H) (Register for tickets here.) Doors will be open for the event beginning at 10-a.m.

In Des Moines, Pence will deliver remarks on the importance of faith in America at Faith in Leadership: The Need for Revival.” No further information was released.