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Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, April 29, 2019

News

April 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a woman who was shot while driving in northeast Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the shooting happened on Highway 218 on the outskirts of Waterloo around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Waterloo police say a bullet struck a woman in the neck as she was driving. The bullet continued on to strike one of the woman’s two male passengers and injure him. Authorities haven’t released the names of the woman or the injured passenger.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Waterloo man kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally wrecking the car they were in last April. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 55-year-old Ronald Share was convicted Friday of kidnapping, attempted murder, willful injury and eluding police. He faces a mandatory life sentence on the kidnapping count alone when he’s sentenced June 25.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Is the U.S. ready to put a woman in the Oval Office? Women are among the Democratic Party’s most energized and engaged voters and were more than half the electorate in the 2018 midterms. Democrats sent a historic number of women to Congress last year and have a record number of women running for president. Given Democrats’ deep desire to oust President Donald Trump, some don’t want to take any chances with their nominee. Said one woman AP spoke with: “I feel that America’s just not there yet.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have ended the 2019 legislative session. Legislators adjourned the session Saturday that was highlighted by the passage of bills that authorize farmers to grow hemp, gamblers to bet on sports and a requirement that local governments publicize and get a supermajority vote on property tax increases. The session ended with bills on gun rights, abortion, animal abuse penalties, traffic cameras, Medicaid work requirements, judge selection and solar energy fees left unfinished.

Woman dies after being shot while driving in eastern Iowa

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATE) WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Northern Iowa softball player was killed when she was struck by a bullet in the neck while driving on U.S. Highway 218 early Sunday morning. According to Waterloo Police, 25-year old Micalla Alexis Rettinger, of Cedar Falls, was identified as the woman pronounced dead following the incident that happened at around 2:40-a.m., Sunday.  A passenger in her vehicle, 32-year old Adam Jake Kimball was injured in the shooting.

According to police, Rettinger was driving southbound on Highway 218 when a bullet shattered a side window and hit her in the neck. The projectile then struck Kimball. Rettinger pulled over near the Greenhill Road exit and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Kimball was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City and is expected to survive. A second man in the vehicle wasn’t injured.

Police say the shooting happened as Rettinger’s Jeep was crossing the bridge over Brinker Lake and the Cedar River. The area below is heavily wooded. Waterloo Police were investigating the area around Brinker Lake as they continue to investigate the shooting. Initial reports are that there were no other vehicles on the highway in that area, and there hadn’t been any trouble or other incident leading up to the shooting. Police haven’t received any other reports of vehicles damaged by gunfire, and there were no reports of gunshots in any surrounding areas during the time frame. Investigators are collecting fragments of the bullet for ballistics purposes.

Rettinger, a native of Lenexa, Kansas, was a four-year softball player at UNI from 2013-2016.

Cardinals’ Alex Reyes breaks left pinkie punching wall

Sports

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes broke the pinkie in his non-throwing hand when he punched a wall in frustration after his last start for Triple-A Memphis. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up three runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings during a 6-4 win at Omaha on Thursday night. He will be placed on the 10-day injured list.

“That’s disappointing. Life’s about growth, right?” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Sunday. “I know he’s had some frustration. He clearly is a guy that has a hunger to be great and has a high expectation of himself.”

Reyes made three relief appearances with the Cardinals, this season going 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA and allowing five runs in three innings. General manager Michael Girsch said Reyes will recuperate at the Cardinals spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida.

“Because it’s his left hand, it shouldn’t really affect his timing,” Girsch said. “Frankly, he’ll be able to work more on stuff but he’ll be doing it on the back fields.” Reyes made his big league debut in 2016 and missed 2017 while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. He made one appearance for St. Louis last year.

Red Oak woman arrested on an assault charge

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Saturday night, arrested a woman on an assault charge. 49-year-old Kristen Marie Hughes, of Red Oak, was taken into custody just before 10-p.m. on a charge of domestic abuse assault/2nd offense.

She was transported to the Montgomery county jail and held without bond pending an appearance before the magistrate.

1 dead 1 hurt in Poweshiek County crash, Sunday morning

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A single vehicle rollover accident at around 3-a.m. Sunday in Poweshiek County has claimed a life. The Iowa State Patrol reports, a 2018 Chevy Cruze driven by 46-year old Matthew T. Gibson, of Brooklyn (IA) was traveling west on Old Highway 6, when Gibson failed to negotiate a curve.

The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled several times. A passenger in the cas, 37-year old Jason W. Hayes, of Guernsey, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and died at the scene. Gibson was wearing his seat belt. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Grinnell.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Brooklyn Fire and the East Poweshiek County Ambulance.

Nominate a woman? Some Democratic women aren’t so sure

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Some Democratic women say they’re worried about nominating a woman for president after Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump.

The Associated Press talked to dozens of women in early-voting states who express that concern — even a record number of women are seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2020. These worries are creating a paradox for Democrats.

Women are among the party’s most energized and engaged voters, making up more than half the electorate in the 2018 midterms, when Democrats sent a historic number of women to Congress.

But the Oval Office has been elusive. And given Democrats’ deep desire to oust Trump, some don’t want to take any chances with their nominee.

Man convicted of kidnapping, trying to kill woman in Iowa

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Waterloo man kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally wrecking the car they were in last April.
Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 55-year-old Ronald Share was convicted Friday of kidnapping, attempted murder, willful injury and eluding police.

He faces a mandatory life sentence on the kidnapping count alone when he’s sentenced June 25.

Prosecutors say Share kidnapped a woman who had a restraining order against him and told her he was going to kill her by crashing the car he forced her into. She called 911, and when police spotted the car and tried to stop it, Share led them on a chase reaching 100 mph on I-380 in northeastern Iowa.

Police say he then intentionally drove the car into a guardrail while speeding at about 90 mph, causing serious injuries to the woman and himself.

Griswold School Board Special Meeting – Monday, 4/29/19

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Board of Education of the Griswold Community School District will meet in a special session 5-p.m. Monday, April 29th, at the Middle School/High School Library. The purpose of the meeting is to accept an offer to sell the Elliott school building, and the possible hire of an assistance high school softball coach.

The public is invited to comment on either matter prior the the Board’s consideration of the sale and hire. A decision is expected on both matters prior to the Board’s adjournment.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area: 4/28/19

Weather

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms with a low around 44. South southeast wind 6 to 14 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 60. North northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 44. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then showers likely between 11am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

Utah truck driver dies in Jasper County crash, Saturday

News

April 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A semi tractor-trailer crashed into a bridge support pillar off I-80 in Jasper County, Saturday evening, killing the driver. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Mose Airti, of Clinton, Utah, died when the 2017 Freightliner semi went out of control at around 6:20-p.m. on I-80 westbound, near mile marker 161.

The rig entered the median before crashing into the bridge support pillar. Arti died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and Newton Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.