WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A former nursing home worker has been given two to five years’ probation for abusing a nursing home resident. The Courier reports that 61-year-old Michael Ritchie Kane, of Westgate, pleaded guilty earlier this month to dependent adult abuse with injury. In exchange for his plea, Kane was granted a deferred judgment, meaning the offense will come off his record if he successfully completes probation. Kane had worked at Ravenood Specialty Care in Waterloo, and investigators say that in June 2018, he pinched and punched a resident there, attempted to suffocate the patient and threatened to shoot him.

Democrat presidential candidate/Former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill are returning to Iowa, for a campaign swing. Jill Biden will meet with Iowans in Mt. Ayr and Winterset, Sunday, Jan. 12th. On Monday, she’ll have “Meet and Greet” (M&G) stops (locally) in Guthrie Center, Audubon and Harlan. (See the schedule below)  Joe Biden will be in the State later next week, with events in Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Indianola. Members of the public who wish to attend any of the events should make reservations via the campaign website.

Jill Biden (local) Schedule:

Sunday, Jan. 12

• Ringgold County Meet & Greet, Jamie’s Coffee Mill & Deli (118 W. Adams St.) in Mt. Ayr.; Doors open at 5:15-p.m. for the 5:30 event.
• Madison County Meet & Greet at the home of Mike & Vicky Brenner (1632 Mueller Ct.), in Winterset; Doors open at 7:15-p.m. for the 7:30 event.

Monday, Jan. 13

• Guthrie County M&G, Children’s Reading Room at the Mary Barnett Memorial Library (400 Grand St.), in Guthrie Center. Admittance 10:45-a.m., event at 11-a.m.
• Audubon County M&G, El Adobe Mexican Restaurant (320 Broadway), in Audubon. Doors open at 12:30-p.m., event at 12:45-p.m.
• Shelby County M&G, Milk and Honey (1101 7th St.), in Harlan. Doors open at 2:45-p.m., event at 3-p.m.

Joe Biden’s Schedule (Local):

Friday, Jan. 17

• Western IA Tech Community College in Sioux City, IA – Rocklin Conference Center (4647 Stone Ave.). 12:15-doors/12:45 event
• Abraham Lincoln High School (1205 Bonham St.), Council Bluffs. 5:30-p.m. doors/6-p.m. event.

A pursuit in Audubon County late Friday afternoon ended in a crash and the arrest of two people. Dispatch reports at the time indicated authorities were chasing a vehicle that was traveling from 80-to 100-miles per hour. The suspect vehicle blew through the intersection at Highway’s 44 and 71 just outside of Hamlin, and crashed about two-miles west of Hamlin into a field south of the intersection of Highway 44 and Jay Avenue.

The pursuit ended with the arrest of two subjects at around 4:28-p.m. Additional details are currently not available.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – After months of running on unconventional campaign strategies, Andrew Yang has arrived at a point in the 2020 campaign that is governed by the conventional rules of election. The candidate powered by online buzz is now living firmly on the real, and often uncool, campaign trail through Iowa and New Hampshire. While several other second-tier candidates are planning to use money and advertising to make an end-run around those early voting states, Yang is largely sticking to the traditional path. His campaign staff has grown tenfold since last summer, and he’s hired some well-known political hands. He’s paid for it all with strong online fundraising.

A passenger in a semi tractor-trailer died early this (Saturday) morning, in eastern Iowa’s Cedar County. The Iowa State Patrol says they were notified at around 12:09-a.m. about the crash, located off Interstate 80 westbound east of Iowa City at mile marker 256. Authorities say the roads were completely covered with ice. The 2020 Freightliner semi lost traction and left the road to the right before ending up in the north ditch, with the cab on its side. The name of the victim has not been released.