DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of setting his stepson aflame in Des Moines has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports that 42-year-old Randy Miles Jr. told his stepson’s family in court Tuesday that he was sorry. Miles had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the state to avoid prosecution. Prosecutors dropped charges of arson and first-degree murder in return for Miles’ pleas.

Authorities say Miles fled to Grand Forks, North Dakota, following his confrontation with 26-year-old Christopher Lenhart on Aug. 25, 2017. Witnesses told police that Miles had argued with Lenhart and then threw gas on him while Lenhart was inside a vehicle. The gas then ignited. Lenhart died two days later at an Iowa City hospital.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has voted to change the way a key chemical in medical marijuana sold in Iowa is measured, making it easier to manufacture the pills, creams and other products. The legislation does not significantly change the current limit on T-H-C levels, but it would let physicians assistants and nurse practitioners recommend cannabis products as treatment for a limited number of medical conditions — plus paroled felons and Iowans with a terminal illness would be able to legally buy cannabis products if the bill becomes law. Representative Jarad Klein of Keota has been the point person on this issue for House Republicans.

“This is an issue that…some of us have great differences of opinion on, but we came together and found reasonable solutions, reasonable responses to help sick people in the state of Iowa, because quite frankly, unfortunately, the federal government has not been doing their job and they’ve left it up to those of us in the states to address it.” Republican Representative Jeff Shipley of Fairfield suggested the bill should get rid of more limits and let Iowans get cannabis as treatment for ANY medical condition. “I don’t quite understand the controversy, to be honest with you,” Shipley said. “To me, it’s just about empowering patients.”

Senators are working on a medical marijuana bill of their own and it’s unclear what policy changes may win approval this year.

(Radio Iowa) — A dead body was found on the shore of the Floyd River Tuesday morning, near the southeast edge of the Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. Someone called in around 10 a-m to report what appeared to be a body. Sioux County Sheriff Dan Altena says they found very little information for them to investigate

“It appears to be a male in his 30’s or 40’s and there was no identification,” Altena says. “So, at this point we have no idea who the person is. The body was not under water when we found it and began our investigation. It did appear that the body had been under water. It is very difficult to know how long the body was under water and that type of thing.”

Altena says the body was taken to the Iowa State Crime Laboratory in Ankeny, and an autopsy may hopefully provide some answers. “There was no real apparent cause of death at our investigation — but it was hard to tell,” according to Altena. The sheriff and officials at Northwest Iowa Community College say they believe there is no immediate danger to the public.

More information will be available as the investigation continues.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Tuesday, issued another disaster proclamation in response to flooding and flash flooding beginning March 13th and continuing. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for Carroll County.

Residents in the following (Area) counties are eligible to apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program: Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Union.

For more information visit floods2019.iowa.gov.