DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal agents have arrested the suspected leaders of a Des Moines street gang after a three-year investigation into violent crime and drug dealing. Court records show a dozen men were arrested Wednesday after the FBI served several search warrants around Des Moines. The suspects are in federal custody, mostly on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine.

Those arrested include twin brothers Daeron and Marshaun Merrett, whom the FBI calls leaders of the C-Block gang that operates in central Des Moines and is affiliated with the Crips.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum have scheduled a news conference Thursday to discuss what they’re calling a “significant” law enforcement action.
Court documents say members of the gang are responsible for shootings, killings, robberies and other crimes. A 75-page FBI affidavit outlines how gang members allegedly obtained cocaine from the Chicago area on a frequent basis to distribute throughout Des Moines.

The document says investigators intercepted phone calls and text messages and used surveillance and informants to penetrate the group.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A former farmhand charged with first-degree murder in the abduction and killing of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts will have his trial moved about 250 miles away to Woodbury County.

The Des Moines Register reports that a judge on Wednesday approved a motion filed earlier this month to have Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s first-degree murder trial moved out of Poweshiek County. Rivera’s trial is now set to be held in Sioux City on Sept. 3. His attorneys had argued the trial should be moved to allow for more minority representation in the jury pool.

Rivera is accused of killing Tibbetts, who disappeared while out for a run July 18 in Brooklyn, Iowa. Investigators recovered her body a month later in a cornfield. Officials say she was stabbed to death. Rivera, a Mexican national, also is accused of being in the country illegally. He worked at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts disappeared.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — County treasurers in Iowa have cancelled a college scholarship program that benefited their children and grandchildren, amid allegations that the awards have long violated state ethics law. The executive board of the Iowa State County Treasurers Association voted Wednesday to end the program ahead of a previously announced application deadline for high school seniors. The program awarded four, $500 scholarships annually to the children and grandchildren of county treasurers and their staffs. Most of the funding came from two companies that do extensive business with treasurers, GovTech Services and SRI, Inc.

Questions about the program’s legality resurfaced this month after The Associated Press reported that two treasurers went on vacation with GovTech CEO Marc Carr, staying free of charge in his Florida condominium. Iowa’s ethics board issued an advisory opinion in 2015 that found the program violated the gift law, which bars public employees from accepting money from contractors. Instead of ending the program then, treasurers continued it with a minor change that some believed made it legal.

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen today issued a bulletin to assist individuals and entities regulated by the Iowa Insurance Commissioner as emergency response teams and other citizens work to address the flooding that is affecting Iowa consumers.

“When a disaster hits, insurers help play a large and important role in Iowans getting back on their feet.  I’m asking all insurers licensed in the state of Iowa, and especially health insurers, to stand with Iowans during this disaster,” Ommen said.  “This action will make sure that extenuating circumstances due to flooding don’t cause consumers’ policies to lapse nor cause Iowans to be charged higher out-of-network rates should they need to travel outside of their normal coverage area to see a health provider.  Should Iowans need assistance, the Iowa Insurance Division is here to help any Iowans with questions or concerns about their insurance policies.”

Visit https://floods2019.iowa.gov for more information regarding disaster assistance and travel info.  Information from the Iowa Insurance Division about flood insurance and the importance of consumers reviewing their insurance policies can be found here.

Iowans may contact the Iowa Insurance Division if they need assistance at https://iid.iowa.gov/contact or 515-281-5705.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – March 27, 2019 – The westbound Interstate 80/northbound I-29 segment of the dual, divided freeway in Council Bluffs is now open to traffic. This design physically separates through traffic on I-80 from local traffic on I-29 destined for Council Bluffs. Drivers wanting to travel within Council Bluffs will choose local lanes to access exits.

(For more information on how to use the new freeway, watch the video posted at http://www.councilbluffsinterstate.iowadot.gov/projects/dual-divided-freeway/.)

The Iowa DOT chose a dual, divided freeway design because it offers greater flexibility to travelers, reduces congestion and will improve safety and efficiency. For example, it allows traffic to keep moving in both directions, even if lanes are closed because of a crash. This design allows through traffic to utilize both express and local lanes, offering more lanes overall.

On the previous interstate configuration, through traffic merged with local traffic at on- and off-ramps creating congestion, especially during peak traffic hours. The dual, divided freeway separates through traffic from local traffic, eliminating delay and reducing conflict. The dual, divided freeway will also reduce the number of crashes caused by merging traffic between interchanges.

Drivers should note that westbound I-80 express traffic destined for northbound I-29 (exit 1) will not be able to access the exit until the permanent pavement is constructed in approximately three months. In the meantime, drivers should use northbound I-29/westbound I-80 local lanes. If drivers accidentally choose the express lanes and need to get back to a Council Bluffs exit, drivers can exit at 13th Street in Omaha and turn around.

The Iowa DOT encourages motorists to follow signs and use caution while becoming accustomed to the traffic shift.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force says it will need nearly $5 billion over the next three years to rebuild a Florida base heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael last fall, and repair a base in Nebraska struck by flooding this month. The estimate was disclosed today (Wednesday) by Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. The money would have to be approved by Congress. It would be for disaster relief at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

In a statement, Wilson said the Air Force “desperately” needs $1.2 billion in extra funds this year and $3.7 billion extra in the 2020 and 2021 budgets. The Air Force said that without that money, it will make other cuts that risk undermining Air Force readiness for combat operations.