(Radio Iowa) – About 160 Iowa National Guard soldiers have begun their year-long deployment to support U.S. and NATO operations in Poland. The soldiers are from the Iowa National Guard’s 1133rd Transportation Company, based in Mason City with a detachment in Iowa City. Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Ben Corell addressed the soldiers during a send-off ceremony Sunday in Mason City.

“We are grateful that each one of you are part of the less than 1% that serve our nation,” Corell said. “We are proud of you and all that you do and we’re thankful for the families that are gathered here today that support you.” Corell had a message for the families in the audience. “I know the mixed emotions you have as we send off these important members of your family,” Corell said. “I know that it is our family members back home who also sacrifice much when our nation calls us away.” Corell described the 1133rd as part of a military tradition that draws its strength from those who volunteer.

“My hope is that the sacrifices made by our all-volunteer force and by our families is recognized for the gift that it truly is for each citizen of our United States,” Corell said. “…You standing in front of me and your families understand this sacrifice. Those who cannot or choose not to serve will never fully understand what it means to have the higher calling and to honorably answer it.”

The 1133rd left Mason City on Sunday headed for Fort Hood in Texas to complete their final training and readiness checks before deploying overseas. The unit was last activated in 2008 to support Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 1:25-p.m. Sunday (today) in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Police say 36-year-old Katie Marie Pierce, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving without the owner’s consent (an aggravated misdemeanor). At the time of her arrest, Pierce was allegedly in possession of marijuana and suspected methamphetamine (Serious misdemeanors). She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported but an SUV sustained an estimated $5,000 damage, Sunday afternoon, when the vehicle popped-out of gear and hit a utility pole, in Creston. Authorities say when a 60-year-old woman parked her 2005 Ford Explorer at the First National Bank in Creston, she got out to use the ATM. Her vehicle failed to go into, or stay in park. The SUV rolled across Highway 34 and hit a City of Creston-owned utility pole on the southeast corner of Highway 34 and Sumner Street. The pole sustained minor damage. The accident happened a little after 1-p.m.

No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A teen convicted of killing her rapist escaped custody. The story of Pieper Lewis made national headlines when she was sentenced in September. Jerry Evans, executive director of the 5th Judicial District Dept. of Corrections, confirmed to KCCI Saturday that Lewis escaped custody at 6:19 a.m. on Friday.

Evans said Lewis cut off her tracker but was not sure where she might be headed. Lewis was 15 years old when she admitted she killed 37-year-old Zachary Brooks in Des Moines in 2020. Lewis said she was a victim of human trafficking and said Brooks raped her several times before she killed him.

A Polk County judge sentenced Lewis to five years probation and a deferred judgment.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Saturday evening, released the names of six law enforcement officers (2 State Troopers and 4 Davenport Police Officers) who were involved in the fatal shooting of a man in Davenport during the early morning hours of October 30th. Authorities say all six have cooperated and have been interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. (DCI).

They are identified as:
• Trooper Kenneth Voorhees-Iowa State Patrol Six years, six months of law enforcement experience.
• Trooper Dwight Swartz-Iowa State Patrol Five years, six months of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Brandon Askew-Davenport Police Department Ten years of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Mason Pauley-Davenport Police Department One year, eleven months of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Benjamin Betsworth-Davenport Police Department One year, two months of law enforcement experience.
• Officer Zachary Thomas-Bettendorf Police Department Thirteen years, one month of law enforcement experience.

All six remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be forward to the Scott County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for review.

***Original report from the DPS follows***

On Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 2:50 am, multiple agencies were patrolling in the area of 5200 Grand Avenue. Officers initiated a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop. A pursuit was initiated and ended after the vehicle became inoperable in the area of Kimberly Road and Elmore Avenue.  The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. During the foot pursuit Officers exchanged gun fire with an occupant and as a result the occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene. The individual involved in the October 30, 2022 shooting was identified as a Davenport resident, 24-year-old Kenneth Jamel Carrol. An autopsy will take place at the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner.

Three people, including two from North Las Vegas, NV were injured during a crash Saturday morning in Cerro Gordo County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2010 Dodge Journey traveling west on 300th Street (north of Clear Lake), when it failed to stop at the posted intersection with Grouse Avenue. The SUV pulled into the path of a 2012 Jeep Wrangler and was struck on the passenger side door. The crash happened at around 8:06-a.m.

The Iowa State Patrol reports following the impact, both vehicles entered the southwest ditch. The injured victims included the driver of the Dodge 21-year-old De Saun Ronald Smith, and his passenger, 21-year-old Kmaurian Philogene, both of Las Vegas, and 42-year-old Michael John Lester, of Clear Lake, who was driving the Jeep.

They were all wearing their seat belts and were transported to Mercy One Hospital by Clear Lake and Mason City Fire crews.

(Marshalltown, Iowa/ UPDATED) Four teens consisting of two brothers and two sisters, all from Marshalltown, died Friday, when the 2008 BMW 550 they were in, went out of control and struck a utility pole before bursting into flames. Marshallton Police, Saturday, identified the victims of the crash as 13-year-old Adrian Lara, 16-year-old Isacc Lara, 15-year-old Linette Lopez, and 17-year-old Yanitza Lopez.

The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 11:12-p.m. as the car was traveling south on 6th Street near Edgeland Drive. Police Chief Michael Tupper issued a statement that said “Mental health professionals will be available to students, families, and staff members from 1-3 p.m. [Sunday, Nov. 6], at both the Marshalltown High School Library and the Miller Middle School Library.

Additional counseling support services will be available throughout the week at each school as deemed necessary

(Carroll, Iowa) – A Sac County man was arrested Friday afternoon following a pursuit, crash and extensive search. According to the Carroll Police Deparment, 47-year-old Victor Scalco, of Lytton, was arrested after a woman reported to police at around 12:32-p.m. Friday, that she had been held against her will and assaulted, at a residence in Carroll. The woman was transported to St. Anthony Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. She told police Scalco had allegedly stolen her vehicle and was armed with a hand gun.

Carroll Police located the vehicle being driven by Scalco near Clark and Valley Drive. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but Scalco instead led them on a chase through the east part of town and north on Griffith Road, where the vehicle left the road and continued through fields. The pursuit continued on-and off-roads north to 170th and Olympic Avenue, where the stolen vehicle left the road and crashed into a waterway, where Scalco bailed out and took off on foot.

Victor Scalco

Authorities say during the pursuit, the stolen vehicle rammed a Carroll Police vehicle, causing damage. After an extensive search of the waterways and nearby farms, Victor Scalco was located, hiding in Storm Creek. He was transported to the hospital and treated for suspected hypothermia. The man faces charges that include Domestic Abuse/2nd offense, Eluding, Control of a firearm by a domestic abuse offender, Theft in the 1st degree, and assault while displaying a weapons. Additional charges are pending completion of the investigation.

Agencies assisting the Carroll County Police Department during the incident, include: The Carroll, Calhoun and Sac County Sheriff’s Departments, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DNR, Iowa DMV Enforcement, Calhoun County EMS, and Carroll County Ambulance.

(Lucas County, Iowa) – A head-on crash northwest of Chariton, Friday evening resulted in the death of one person and injured to another. Both drivers are from Chariton. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Buick Rendezvous SUV driven by 56-year-old Amy J. Finnell was northbound on 200th Avenue at around 6:30-p.m., just north of the 496th Lane, when the SUV crossed the center line into the southbound lane, where the vehicle struck a northbound 2004 Chevy Colorado pickup, driven by 22-year old Riley E. Voss.

Both drivers were transported by Lucas County Ambulance to the Lucas County Health Center, where Finnell died from her injuries. Voss was treated for minor injuries before being released from the facility. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

(Radio Iowa) – Strong sales across the country have pushed the Powerball Jackpot higher again for Saturday’s drawing.

Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer details the numbers. “It’s a world record for tomorrow’s drawing it’s an estimated $1.6 billion annuity, $782.4 million cash option,” she says. Neubauer says the sales have picked up dramatically in Iowa. She says the number of tickets being bought for the drawing would be a week’s worth of sales when the jackpot is smaller.

Neubauer says more people are buying tickets — but it seems like they are not overspending. “Wednesday night’s drawing the average ticket purchase here in Iowa remained about seven dollars. That’s about four plays per ticket,” Neubauer says. “So we’re just seeing a whole lot of people you know, having fun and playing the game but people aren’t going overboard, and that’s a really important part of the message too. It only takes one ticket to win and we want people to continue to be safe and just have fun, but don’t get in over their heads.”

Neubauer says they keep an eye on one particular figure. “Lotteries can estimate how many of all the possible combinations in the Powerball game have been purchased for a particular drawing. It’s called coverage — meaning how many of the combinations have been covered. The coverage estimate for tomorrow night’s drawing now has risen to 60 percent,” according to Neubauer.” Again, that just shows sales are high. The higher the coverage percentage it can mean it’s more likely that there will be a jackpot winner — it’s not a definite.”

Neubauer says with the large volume of ticket sales, it can take some time to determine if someone has won. “Processing is going to take longer and especially in the really big states around the country — think New York, California, Florida — their processing time is probably going to take longer just because ticket sales have been so high,” she says. “So, I would say sometime, around midnight, maybe a little bit after midnight, the official word will come as to whether or not there was a jackpot winner.”

The estimated $1.6 billion jackpot jumped the previous record Powerball prize of $1.586 billion won in the drawing on January 13th, 2016.

Neubauer says there is the possibility that the jackpot could be raised again before Saturday night’s drawing.