The attorney for a man convicted in a 2014 murder and arson in Crawford County is seeking a new trial for his client. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Attorney Michael Williams filed a motion in Crawford County District Court on Wednesday, requesting a new trial for 26-year old Michael David Schenk, of Denison, who was convicted on Jan. 28th of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree arson, in connection with the March 2014 murders of 80-year old Marvin Huelsing, of Maple River and 81-year old Alice Huisenga, of Arcadia. Their badly burned bodies were found on Huelsing’s farm between Deloit and Denison.

Williams’ motion contends that the verdict was contrary to the evidence in the case. It also says the court erred in several ways, including overruling the defense’s objection to the introduction of a Walmart receipt that was used to connect Schenk to a pickup found at the scene. Schenk’s sentencing is March 13th.

Schenk and a codefendant, 19-year old Jayden Ray Chapman, of Denison each were initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. The arson charge against Schenk was reduced during the trial. Chapman’s trial is set for April 28.

A third defendant, 37-year old Erika Dains, of Denison pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second-degree burglary and misdemeanor accessory after the fact. As part of a plea agreement, she testified for the prosecution in Schenk’s trial.

Two men were arrested Thursday night in north Omaha, while a third escaped, after the vehicle they were in stopped as it was being pursued by Iowa State Patrol troopers into Nebraska. 38-year old Michael McNary was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Authorities say a passenger was 24-year old Anthony Miller. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Douglas County, NE, emergency 911 dispatchers told Omaha police that Iowa troopers were chasing a westbound vehicle on Interstate 480 into Omaha and that it left I-480 onto Dodge Street. The troopers ended their pursuit shortly after crossing the Missouri River into Omaha.

ABLE 1, the Omaha police department’s helicopter, was in the area and spotted the vehicle at 15th and Dodge Streets, police said. ABLE 1 provided updates for officers as the vehicle traveled in the northeast precinct area. Police said no Omaha officers pursued the vehicle.The vehicle stopped in the area of 38th and Cass Streets and three occupants fled from the vehicle on foot.

After a perimeter was established by police, McNary and Miller were taken into custody around 10 p.m. They were taken to police headquarters at 15th and Howard Streets and were booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of various charges.

A collision between two semis Friday afternoon in Harrison County resulted in a Missouri man being sent to the hospital. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 36-year old Jason Durham, of Bates City, MO., was transported by Mondamin Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, after the 2007 Freightliner semi he was driving went out of control and hit another semi at around 3:40-p.m. on southbound Interstate 29, about seven-miles north of the Mondamin exit.

Officials say the semi entered the west ditch and hit a large sign before re-entering the interstate and hitting a second southbound 2007 Freightliner, driven by 52-year old Jose Ramirez, of Atascosa, TX. Ramirez’ semi was in the right lane when it was hit. After the collision, Durham’s semi entered the west ditch again, went through fence and hit a culvert before coming to rest in a wooded area.

Ramirez was not injured in the crash. He pulled his semi onto the shoulder of the road, and stopped. His vehicle sustained damage to its trailer. Durham’s semi was considered a total loss. The accident remained under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’re investigating a letter left at an Ames mosque that contained anti-Muslim messages and threats. Ames Police spokesman Jason Tuttle says officers responded around 4 p.m. Thursday to a report that the note had been left on the door of Darul Arqum Islamic Center.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport officials are seeking state funds for a proposed youth sports complex that would include a hotel and other amenities. The Quad-City Times reports that Davenport plans to apply for Iowa Economic Development Authority grants for the project comprised of a 200-room hotel, a water park, a shopping and restaurant area and a youth sports complex.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court is dismissing a lawsuit brought by chiropractors who claimed the state’s dominant health insurer was engaging in illegal price-fixing. The lawsuit challenged Wellmark’s practice of making its negotiated reimbursement rates for medical providers available to self-insured employers and out-of-state insurers in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. It contended those deals violated Iowa antitrust law by restricting competition.

GRIMES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they have discovered a body in the area where a car had earlier been found in an icy Iowa creek. Authorities say the car was found Friday morning just north of Grimes with no one inside. The body was later discovered nearby. KCCI-TV reports that the car belongs to a woman who was reported missing on Monday.