SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has been given three years of probation for tampering with odometers sold at his vehicle dealership in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that 38-year-old Francisco Hurtado also was sentenced Wednesday to a suspended prison sentence of five years, fined $1,500 and ordered to pay more than $19,000 to seven victims. He’d pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent practice.

Authorities say Hurtado lives in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and owns Siouxland Auto Sales in Sioux City. Iowa investigators say they found odometers in high-mileage vehicles had been rolled down to increase the vehicles’ value.

Court records say Hurtado acknowledged replacing odometer clusters on some vehicles. The records say, however, that Hurtado had not followed Iowa law in resetting the replaced odometers to zero or to the original mileage, nor placing notices on the dashboards noting that the odometer clusters had been replaced.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, will hold two public events next week in Pottawattamie and Adair, and non-public event in Guthrie Counties, as part of her 99 County Tour Stops.

On Monday, April 15th, Ernst will host a public Resource Fair at the YMCA Healthy Living Center (714 S. Main St.), in Council Bluffs. The event takes place at 3-p.m., and features several local, state and federal agency representatives who will provide information to area residents on a variety of resources, including flood relief assistance. In addition, various non-profit agencies – especially those that assist seniors and veterans – will be on location, along with Ernst’s information booth.

On Wednesday, April 17th, Senator Ernst will hold a public, Town Hall meeting in Greenfield at the Warren Cultural Center (154 Public Square), beginning at 3-p.m., and she’ll attend a private event in Guthrie Center at the Guthrie County REC (1406 State Street), beginning at 5-p.m.. The Guthrie Center event features the presentation of a “Spirit of Enterprise” Award to Ernst, and a Business Roundtable.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was fatally shot after breaking into a neighbor’s home on the north side of Sioux City. Police say 19-year-old Jose Montanez died at a hospital around 11:10 a.m. Tuesday after he was shot by 29-year-old Travis Gutierrez. Police say Montanez was involved in a disturbance at his home and was cut by broken glass as he jumped out from a second-floor window. He ran through alleys and then broke into Gutierrez’s home a few minutes later.

Police say Montanez was shot after refusing to leave and attacking and injuring Gutierrez. Police Lt. Chris Groves says the police department will consult with prosecutors to determine whether Gutierrez will be charged with any crime.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two more teenagers have been arrested in connection with a West Des Moines slaying. Police say a 16-year-old was charged with robbery and first-degree murder. Information on the 15-year-old taken into custody wasn’t made available because of his age. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

They and two others are accused of killing 18-year-old Sakira Bonner. Police found her lying in a road late Friday night in an area west of Interstate 35. She died later. Police say she’d been beaten and shot after getting into a vehicle to buy marijuana.

Authorities say Bonner was from Chicago but attended high school in Des Moines.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston woman reported on April 3rd, that sometime between Feb. 2nd and March 6th, someone got into her residence and took a 1906 Winchester .22 cal rifle. The rifle was valued at $700.

A gust of wind caused a semi to blow-over onto its side early this morning, in Pottawattamie County. Interstate 80 eastbound just south of the I-680 split was rerouted to Neola and onto Railroad Highway back to I-680 until the wreck was cleared at around 8-a.m. today. The Interstate had been closed for about 90-minutes. No injuries were reported.

(Radio Iowa) — A central Iowa city is being named among the best places in the country to live. Out of 125 metro areas, the rankings from U.S. News & World Report place Des Moines as the fifth best place to live. The list is compiled based on a series of criteria, including cost of living, job market, crime rates and quality of education. The rest of the top five are Fayetteville, Arkansas, Colorado Springs, Denver, and in first place Austin, Texas. The magazine also ranked Des Moines the number-three best affordable place to live.