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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Jan. 17th 2018

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January 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County jury has convicted a man of murder in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in the Des Moines suburb of Johnston. The Des Moines Register reports jurors on Tuesday deliberated less than three hours before convicting 39-year-old Abraham Roberts of first-degree murder in the death of Agnes Yarlee, who was found April 15 in her apartment. Prosecutors say the 34-year-old Yarlee had been shot five times as she sat on a couch following an argument with Roberts.

LYLE, Minn. (AP) — A semi careened off a highway and crashed through the wall of a southern Minnesota elementary school, injuring four people including two children in a classroom. School officials in Lyle, next to the Iowa border, say semi rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 218 about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, then careered off the highway and crashed into the school with its cab landing inside the walls. The highway is about 100 yards (90 meters) from the school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has left the door open to Iowa requiring certain Medicaid recipients to work as a condition of health care coverage. Reynolds told reporters Tuesday “we’ll take a look at that down the road” when asked about work rules for able-bodied Medicaid recipients. She declined a timeline, adding she’s focused on separate workforce development initiatives.

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A judge has set a new trial starting date of Sept. 17 for a man charged with murder and arson in Guthrie County. Patrick Thompson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of arson. The May 15 fire killed 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham and 12-year-old Melanie “Paige” Exline and injured their uncle, William Long III, and grandmother, Shirley Exline.