(Update) NEW BERLIN, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Lottery says a single ticket that matched all six Powerball numbers to win the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history was sold in a Milwaukee suburb. The ticket worth an estimated $768.4 million, or a cash option of $477 million, was sold in New Berlin. The city of about 40,000 people is roughly 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) southwest of Milwaukee.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT
MEAD, Neb. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says that there were no releases of hazardous contaminants at any of eight toxic waste sites in flooded parts of Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. The EPA on Wednesday identified the Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead, Nebraska, and the Conservation Chemical Corporation site in Kansas City, Missouri as heavily flooded Superfund sites that required the agency to take immediate action to prevent the spread of contaminated groundwater.
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.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As former Vice President Joe Biden prepares for a potential White House campaign, his associates increasingly see a strong showing in the Iowa caucuses as crucial to his ability to win the Democratic presidential nomination. He needs to do well in Iowa in hopes of charging into the South Carolina primary, where Biden’s national security profile and enduring popularity among African-Americans would pose a challenge for newer faces trying to break through.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — County treasurers in Iowa have canceled a college scholarship program that benefited their relatives and employees amid criticism the vendor-funded awards were illegal under state ethics law. The Iowa State County Treasurers Association’s executive board voted to end the program Wednesday ahead of a previously announced application deadline for high school seniors. A 2015 opinion by Iowa’s ethics board found the program violated a law barring public employees from accepting contractors’ money.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man found guilty last month of manslaughter — but acquitted of a more serious murder charge — in the death of a toddler is seeking a new trial. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that an attorney for 22-year-old Javon Jennings filed the motion Saturday.
A jury found Jennings guilty on Feb. 15 of manslaughter and child endangerment in the April death 16-month-old Jazlynn Harshbarger. An autopsy showed had suffered numerous injuries and died of blunt force trauma. Prosecutors say Jennings was supposed to be babysitting the girl, who was the daughter of his live-in girlfriend.
Jennings’ attorney, Christopher Roth, said in the motion that Jennings’ trial was unfair and that there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
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.
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are on to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Final Four after an Elite Eight win over Mercyhurst 55-51 on Wednesday afternoon.
Most of the game was a defensive battle with Northwest leading by just 2 at halftime 24-22. The Bearcats were able to build a small lead early in the second half and held the Lakers off at the end of the game. Mercyhurst cut the lead to 3 with under a minute to play but Atlantic native Ryan Hawkins grabbed a key rebound off a three point miss from the Lakers and the Bearcats made their free throws to hold serve.
Hawkins finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Trevor Hudgins lead the Bearcats with 20 points, 3 boards, and 3 assists. Northwest improves to 36-0 on the season and advances to the Final Four Thursday.
Mercyhurst was led by 17 points and 6 rebounds from Jason Massey. The Lakers end their season at 26-8.
The Bearcats will face St. Anselm in the Final Four on Thursday. Saint Anselm (25-5) beat Nova Southeastern on Wednesday 91-81 to advance. All games are being played at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Other scores from Elite Eight action had No 7. seed Southern Indiana knocking off No. 2 seed West Texas A&M 94-84. The nightcap saw No. 6 Point Loma defeat Queens (NC) 87-74.
The Final Four schedule on Thursday will have Northwest Missouri State facing Saint Anselm at 6:00pm CT followed by Point Loma taking on Southern Indiana at 8:30pm. Both games will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
RONALD J. KLINE, 75, of Anita died Monday, March 25th at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Per Ronald’s wishes cremation will take place and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com
DICK KUNCE, 76, of Yale died Tuesday, March 26th at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for DICK KUNCE will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 10:00am at Twigg Funeral Home in Panora.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 29th from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Twigg Funeral Home in Panora.
Burial will be in the Yale Cemetery.
DICK KUNCE is survived by:
Wife: Nancy Kunce of Yale.
Son: Jimmie (Mary) Kunce of Ankeny. Josh (Amy Jabaay) Kunce of Yale. Scott (Paula) Stetzel of Dallas Center. Brett Stetzel of Kelly, TX.
Daughter: Jeanette (Dan Gronke) Kunce of West Des Moines. Dawn Stetzel of Washington.
4 Granchildren
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa-based community activist organization and a Washington-based environmental group have filed a lawsuit against the state of Iowa and several state agencies alleging they have deprived residents of their right to clean water by failing to adequately regulate pollution from hog operations and crop farms.
Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement and Food and Water Watch filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Polk County District Court in Des Moines.
It claims the state has violated the rights of citizens who have a constitutionally protected property interest in clean water in the Raccoon River for recreational and drinking water uses. The river is a primary source of drinking water for about 500,000 central Iowa customers of Des Moines Water Works.
The lawsuit asks the court to order the state to implement nitrogen and phosphorous limits. It also seeks a moratorium on the construction of new and expanding hog farms in the Raccoon River watershed until a mandatory remedial plan and contaminant monitoring is in place.
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.
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