DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Emergency crews in Dubuque, Friday morning, responded to the 3100 block of Lake Ridge Dr. for a report of a construction site trench collapse. The incident was reported at around 8:20-a.m.

Responders arrived at the construction site to find excavation co-workers attempting to dig out an individual who was buried under approximately 7-8 feet of soil. Rescue crews immediately initiated recovery efforts and began efforts to shore up the trench to prevent additional collapsing.

The deceased victim was recovered at 9:46 am. Officials have not yet identified the individual. The incident remains under investigation.

(Urbana, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Benton County resulted in one person killed, another injured. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2022 GMC Sierra pickup was traveling south in the 5100 block of Iowa Highway 150 in Urbana at around 3:47-p.m., at the same time a 2013 Jeep Patriot SUV was traveling northbound. For reasons unknown, the Jeep entered the southbound lanes and collided head-on with the pickup.

The driver of the SUV died at the scene. The driver of the pickup was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. No names were released, pending notification of family.

(Atlantic, Iowa) The Coca-Cola Bottling Company plant manager Bill Garrett hosted a dinner for the plant employees to honor them for their achievement on Friday afternoon at the Venue in Atlantic.

Back in 2019, the plant had a ranking of 37th out of 116 other Coca-Cola bottling facilities in North America. Atlantic Coca-Cola plant manager Garrett then challenged his employees to improve the ranking to at least make the top ten. This ranking was based on safety, quality, and environmental requirements which is set by the North American operating unit which manages all of the plants. In 2022, the Atlantic Coca-Cola Company scored a ranking of one, one of the top rankings you can obtain, which they tied with a plant in Puerto Rico.

Plant Manager Garrett had this to say about another achievement that the plant employees were going to celebrate at the lunch gathering on Friday

This achievement is a something a very few companies have achieved, according to Garrett. Coca-Cola Bottling company production manager Andy Fewson had some praise for his good and quality employees at the plant .

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett was also on hand to praise the plant employees for their hard work and dedication on accomplishing their goals.

The plant employees also received a sweatshirt as they were leaving the lunch, which stated the ranking and the ten years without any time incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens (steven bains), today (Friday), issued a statement with regard to a decision by the Story County Attorney’s Office, to discontinue prosecution of four sports wagering cases. Bayen said the decision is “disappointing,” and that “Despite their decision, they repeatedly shared with us their belief that the Division of Criminal Investigation’s actions were legal.”

In 2019, sports betting became legal in Iowa.  Bayens said “The sports gambling industry is closely regulated and with that comes significant oversight.  Once sports betting became legal on digital devices, Iowa law required sportsbooks to geo-locate players when placing wagers and to notify accountholders about information being gathered and shared.

To comply with Iowa law, sportsbooks contracted with GeoComply to facilitate geo-location and provide analytical software that allows aggregate data to be filtered. As a state gambling licensee, the company provided the state access to these tools to regulate the industry and enforce Iowa law. GeoComply specifically trained DCI agents on how to use the software and participated in ongoing meetings regarding its use. Agents were trained to review anonymized data points across Iowa for anomalies that called into question regulatory compliance or suggested criminal activity.

During a review of anonymous data points, anomalies were observed at athletic facilities that only individuals associated with NCAA-sanctioned sports teams had access. This was concerning because sportsbooks must seek to prohibit sports wagering by coaches, athletic trainers and players as required by Iowa law. Also, individuals with access to these facilities would possess insider information, could impact outcomes, and tended to be underage.

Given these red flags, agents obtained subpoenas seeking the names on the accounts affiliated with those data points.  When the information was received, it became evident that many account holders lacked any real connection to the places flagged by the data, strongly suggesting fraudulent activity or identity theft. The Department investigated only these accounts.

Throughout the investigation, agents conferred with legal experts. Agents ultimately applied for search warrants to seize the digital devices controlling those accounts which were approved by impartial judges.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the Department’s findings were presented to prosecutors who then made charging decisions.

The investigation uncovered concerns of a seismic magnitude within Iowa’s sports gambling industry.  In 2023 alone, $2.4 billion dollars in sports bets were placed in the state with 91% of those being placed online. Existing guardrails were insufficient to deter the creation of fraudulent accounts, gambling by prohibited persons, or identity theft.

In the eleven months preceding this investigation, sportsbooks in Iowa closed 28,554 sports betting accounts.  In the eleven months since the investigation, they closed 82,559 accounts.”

Commissioner Bayens said also, “I understand why this investigation and the resulting charges have generated so much attention and such strong opinions.  We love our college sports here in Iowa, myself included.  Had this situation not involved college athletes, the public perception may have been entirely different.

As law enforcement officers, we take an oath to uphold the law and we do so without exception, even when it’s difficult.  Throughout the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we continually reviewed our actions and I fully stand behind the investigation and the agents who did the work. I want to thank them and their families for their service to Iowa. “

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  Drake University Provost, Dr. Sue Mattison, Friday (Today), unveiled proposed plans to make changes to the University’s academic programs. Last month, Drake President Marty Martin sent a message to the student body and staff detailing the University’s financial sustainability and outlining Drake’s path forward to ensure its future success. ,

In her message on the University’s website, Dr. Mattison said, “To ensure Drake’s future as a mission-driven institution that provides outstanding educational opportunities, an academic program review was launched in November 2023 in partnership between faculty governance, administration, and the Drake Board of Trustees. The review process is one of several measures the University is taking to reach a balanced operating budget by July 2025. ”

Mattison said she has shared with the faculty and staff preliminary recommendations for changes to academic program. “Of the 4% of current students enrolled in these programs, each one will be provided with a plan to complete their degree on time. Prospective students interested in these programs will have alternative program options with similar learning outcomes and career opportunities and will receive individual communications, advising, and support for their decisions.”

She specified the following academic programs recommended for discontinuance:

Undergraduate Majors

• Anthropology/Sociology (ANSO)
• Astronomy
• Physics
• Religion
• Rhetoric
• Health Care Administration

Undergraduate Minors

• Anthropology
• Religion
• Rhetoric
• East Asian Studies

Graduate Majors

• Master of Accountancy
• Master of Public Administration

Graduate certificate

• Evidence-based Health Care

Next Steps:

Dr. Mattison said “I want to emphasize these are only recommendations at this point. In adhering to AAUP guidelines, faculty in programs recommended for discontinuance may submit evidence between March 1 and April 1, in support of a claim that retaining the program is in the best interest of the institution. Faculty governance committees, the deans, and I will review feedback before providing final recommendations to Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees. On April 17, Faculty Senate will vote on the recommendations. Following Faculty Senate’s vote, President Martin will review the recommendations before presenting such to the Board of Trustees at their April meeting. President Martin will communicate the Board’s final decisions to campus on April 29.”

She added, “As President Martin stated in his message in early February, higher education is at a crossroads. With a declining high school population, inflation, and growing public scrutiny related to disinformation around the value of a college degree, institutions across the country must adapt and change. Academic program reviews serve as an essential process necessary to ensure we are meeting students’ interests, societal needs, and providing the highest quality educational programs.

While this work demands that we make difficult decisions, it also presents an opportunity to invest in academic innovation that aligns with institutional strengths and meets evolving needs of Drake students and the communities where they will engage. Earlier this week Drake launched an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to address the national nursing shortage and growing demand for high-quality nursing education. We recently invested in other new programs, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. These programs exemplify the University’s commitment to create academic offerings built upon institutional strengths, address student interests and societal needs, and ensure Drake students are prepared to graduate ready to make a difference in the world.”

Dr. Mattison concluded by saying, “Drake University has navigated through many challenging periods in our 143-year history. Each time, struggles notwithstanding, the University has grown stronger. As we work together to face this most recent challenge, I’m confident we will leave a mission-focused legacy for another 143 years and beyond.”

(Onawa, Iowa) – An SUV that failed to yield was struck by a train this (Friday) afternoon, in Monona County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2001 Ford Expedition driven by 40-year-old James M. Ball, of Onawa, was traveling east on Emerald Street in Onawa at around 1:15-p.m.  Ball stopped, but then proceeded without yielding to the oncoming train before his vehicle was struck on the passenger side near the intersection with 9th Street. The impact sent the SUV into the northeast ditch.

Ball was transported by Burgess Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. No one on the Union Pacific train was injured. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the crash scene.

(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents heard the first presentation this week of proposed room and board rate increases at the three state schools. University of Iowa vice president for student life, Von Stange (Stang-EE), says increasing staff is part of the reason they are requesting a four-point-nine-percent increase.

Stange says labor costs, material costs and supply chain issues have increased their construction costs for keeping housing and dining facilities up to date.

He says seven of the 11 residence halls are between 55 and 70 years old, and two more are more than 85 years old, and the dining operations were renovated 20 to 25 years ago. Stange says increased demand for housing has led to the decision to operate they Mayflower dorm for another year. Michael Harwood from the Iowa State University Department of Residence says they are seeking a room and board increase of five-point-eight percent as they face increased costs for labor and supplies.

Harwood says student leaders approved a resolution saying they would support the increase.

Harwood says they began this year at 98 percent of capacity for the year with more than 94 percent of the first year class living on campus, and an increasing number of students wanting to return to live in the halls. The University of Northern Iowa’s Nick Raffaello says they are seeking a three-point-five percent increase as they face an increase is students wanting to live in the dorms.

He says it doesn’t look like the demand will let up.

The Board of Regents will not take any action on the proposed rates until their April meeting.

(Urbandale, Iowa) – A crash between two stolen vehicles this (Friday) morning in Polk County, resulted in the death of one of the drivers. The accident happened as the vehicles were being pursued by an Urbandale Police Officer.

According to Urbandale Police, officers spotted a white 2017 Hyundai Elantra that had been reported stolen traveling south in the 4300 block of 86th Street around 3:30-a.m., Friday. The Elantra was traveling alongside a black 2015 Kia Soul. According to police, an officer was preparing to activate his lights and sirens when both vehicles sped away.

The Iowa State Patrol reports the Hyundai was driven by 18-year-old Sheldon Christopher Ballentine, of Des Moines, and the KIA was driven by 22-year-old Jeffrey Lionel Smith, Jr., of Des Moines. Both vehicles were traveling southbound on 86th Street at a high rate of speed, when the Hyundai went out of control and bounced into the KIA.

The Hyundai then went back over the center divider, across the northbound lanes, and up an embankment, before coming to rest in a private parking lot. The KIA left the road and struck a tree. The Patrol says Smith died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. Ballentine was not injured. He was arrested at the scene on charges that include:

• Homicide by Vehicle – Attempt to Elude
• Eluding – Speed 25+ Over Limit
• Theft – 2nd Degree
• Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana
• Failure to Use Headlamps When Required

(Massena, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), said one-person was transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following a collision that occurred at around 7:50-a.m., Friday.

Authorities say local first responders were called to the area of 750th and Richland Road for a vehicle accident with minor injuries.  Investigating Deputies found that a black 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, being operated by Gerald Wessels, of Anita, was sitting at a stop sign on 750th St. facing South at the intersection with Richland Road.

Wessel failed to yield the right of way and proceeded South through the intersection.  At the same time, a 2010 KW Construct T8 semi tractor / trailer being operated by Bradley Ruth, of Orient, was traveling West on Richland Road approaching this intersection.  As Wessel entered the intersection southbound in his Chevrolet Colorado, Ruth’s vehicle struck Wessel’s vehicle in the rear driver-side quarter panel.  The impact cause Wessel’s vehicle to spin within the intersection before it came to rest in the South West ditch.

Wessel was transported to the hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries.  His vehicle sustained approximately $15,000 worth of damage, while the semi tractor-trailer sustained approximately $5,500 worth of damage.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that’s cleared the Iowa House would require state inspectors to conduct twice-a-year training sessions for Iowa nursing home staff to review the most common citations issued against nursing homes. The bill also changes the timelines for when inspectors from DIAL — the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing — conduct site visits to review operations or investigate complaints. Representative Tom Moore, a Republican from Griswold, says the bill addresses some of the concerns that have been raised about Iowa nursing homes.

Rep. Thomas Jay Moore (R-Griswold) (official photo)

Representative Megan Srinivas (SREE-nih-vahss), a Democrat from Des Moines, says the state needs to hire more nursing home inspectors — and quit paying private companies to investigate complaints. “I think we’re all in agreement here that our nursing homes are in trouble, that we need to do something to fix the disasters that we’ve been seeing happen throughout our state. Unfortunately this bill does not solve the problem sufficiently,” Srinivas said.

The bill passed on an 87-to-eight vote earlier this week. It’s been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for consideration.