The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Council Bluffs say two women and a man were arrested early this (Friday) morning, following an incident that took place at the Country Inn and Suites in Council Bluffs. An investigation into a robbery and kidnapping resulted in the arrest of 41-year old Kimberly Trotter, 25-year old Jennifer Trotter, and 23-year old Tyrell Jones, all of Council Bluffs. All three face Felony charges of Robbery in the 1st degree and Kidnapping in the 2nd degree. Jennifer Trotter was also arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for probation violation from a previous conviction of Theft in the 3rd degree.

Tyrell Jones

Jennifer Trotter

Kimberly Trotter

Their arrests occurred after officers were called to the motel at around 12:40-a.m. with regard to a robbery. The victim, 21-year old Aysia L. Whitmore, of Bellevue, NE., told police that as she was getting off an elevator at around 11:45-p.m. Thursday and walking to her motel room, she was confronted in the hallway by Kimberly Trotter. Trotter allegedly pushed Whitmore up against the wall and produced a handgun. She then allegedly went through Whitmore’s pockets and retrieved a key to the woman’s motel room.

As the women were walking down the hallway, Whitmore noticed Jennifer Trotter and Jones waiting by her motel room door. The three suspects led Whitmore into her room and then into the bathroom, where she was stripped of her clothing and forced to lay down in the bathtub. Kimberly Trotter is then alleged to have struck Whitmore several times in the face with the gun. Jones then came back into the bathroom and stuck a handgun in Whitmore’s face and allegedly threatened to kill her if she moved.

When Jones walked out of the bathroom, Whitmore attempted to take cover under the sink counter. Jennifer Trotter then came into the bathroom and allegedly began assaulting Whitmore by kicking her. Whitmore suffered visible facial injuries but later declined medical treatment.

All three suspects left the room after taking Whitmore’s cell phone and numerous personal belongings. Whitmore was able to provide police with a description of the suspect’s vehicle. Officers located the 2000 Chevy Tahoe with the suspects inside, at 1022 5th Avenue. They were brought to the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division, interviewed by detectives and booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail. No additional arrests are expected in connection with the case.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office has reached a plea agreement in the case of the former City Clerk for Pacific Junction who had plead not guilty to several charges associated with City finances. The Omaha World-Herald reports sentencing for 43-year old Kari Williams was set for Feb. 8th. Details of her plea agreement were not immediately released.

Williams was charged with first-degree theft, felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records and failing to publish city expenditures.The theft and misconduct charges are felonies. The charges of tampering and failure to publish expenditures are misdemeanors.

PELLA, Iowa – After a seven-month long investigation, authorities have charged a day care provider with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection with the death of a 17-month old girl, in June 2015. 32-year old Valerie Wackerly, of Pella, plead guilty to the charge Thursday, and faces up to five-years in prison and fines amounting to as much as $7,500. The child in her care died two-days after she was improperly placed in a car seat and allowed to nap in a darkened room, unsupervised. The cause of death was determined to be mechanical/positional asphyxia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad and House Republican leaders have different views this session on the impact of a tax bill that would cut available state revenue by more than $95 million. The House overwhelmingly voted 82-14 Thursday for legislation that would make retroactive tax changes to better mirror federal guidelines. The non-partisan Legislative Services Agency projects the bill would reduce available state revenue by more than $95 million. Branstad didn’t support the measure in his budget recommendations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of people calling for a higher minimum wage marched several blocks through downtown Des Moines and gathered near the venue of a Republican presidential debate. At least 500 people joined Thursday night at a downtown square and then walked to an area to rally about a block from the Iowa Events Center, the site of the GOP debate. The march and rally were the latest actions taken by a group that earlier in the day included workers at fast food restaurants who walked off their jobs to demand $15-an-hour wages.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With just days to go until the Iowa caucuses, the state’s longtime Republican governor says that the federal government has failed to assure the American people that they are safe. Governor Terry Branstad, who is likely serving out his last term in office, is declining to publicly endorse anyone in this year’s crowded Republican field, but he applauds those who have made national security a central theme in their campaign platforms — anyone, that is, except Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Iowans are gearing up for the country’s leadoff vote on February 1st.

The Atlantic Police Department is reporting three recent arrests. On Wednesday, 28-year old Aaron Macias, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original Controlled Substance violation charge. On Jan. 22nd, 21-year old Elizabeth Simmons, of Boone, was arrested on a warrant out of Boone County, for Failure to Appear. And,  28-year old Tanya Duranceau, of Atlantic, was arrested January 20th for Child Endangerment. Duranceau posted a $2,000 bond and has an arraignment hearing on Feb. 8th. Trial was set for March 29th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa fast food workers have walked off the job in Des Moines to demand $15-an-hour wages, and they are planning other protests that include a demonstration outside the venue of a Republican presidential debate. Workers held a strike at 6 a.m. Thursday at a McDonald’s in northeast Des Moines. Other events are planned Thursday, ending with a short march through downtown and then rally at the Iowa Events Center, site of a GOP debate.

Wiley King, a Wendy’s worker who walked off the job Thursday, says the strike included workers from McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Long John Silver’s. King says they hope media attention during the Iowa caucuses will help them draw attention to the needs of low-wage workers. Organizers hope to draw 1,000 people to the rally.

(DES MOINES) – On Tuesday, Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison) and Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) hosted members of the AHSTW FFA chapter to the floor of the Iowa House of Representatives. The students met with legislators and toured the Capitol for FFA’s Day on the Hill.

Pictured here are Sen. Jason Schultz, members of the AHSTW FFA chapter, their advisor Jeff Mayes (seated) and Rep. Steve Holt.

Authorities in Harrison County say a woman was critically injured during a rollover accident this (Thursday) morning. The Omaha World-Herald says Harrison County 911 emergency dispatchers reported that the accident occurred around 6:55 a.m. just south of Mondamin.The woman was taken by medical helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center. No other details are currently available.

An Atlantic woman was arrested at a motel in Omaha Wednesday morning following an incident that caused injuries to an Omaha Police Officer and resulted in the arrest of two other people. KETV in Omaha reports the incident occurred at around 1:45-a.m. Wednesday, when authorities were trying to serve a felony warrant for 19-year old Selena Hansen, of Atlantic, who was staying at a hotel near 90th and Burt Streets.

When police arrived, officials saw other individuals in a Ford Explorer in the hotel parking lot. The SUV tried to leave, it struck an Omaha Police Department cruiser, causing an Officer to be injured. Authorities took the driver, 30-year old Misael Diaz,  into custody. Police found a defaced gun in the vehicle and determined the car had been stolen.

The National Weather Service said on its social media page today (Thursday), a potential winter storm is still on track to impact the state late Monday night mainly after midnight, and continue into Wednesday. Heavy snow will be possible across much of Iowa, with strong gusty winds picking up Tuesday into Wednesday. Travel may become hazardous due to the possibility and combination of heavy snow, gusty winds and blowing snow.

Be sure and stay up-to-date on this developing winter storm.