NEW LONDON, Iowa (AP) — A conference room at a southeast Iowa school has been turned into a food pantry for students and their families. The Hawk Eye reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Bank of Iowa and local community groups helped launch the food pantry at New London School District in December. Families in the district with a student in kindergarten through 12th grade can use the food pantry, which is open on Thursdays. About 30 families have used the resource so far.

Students can also access the pantry during the school day if they’re hungry. The elementary school’s principal, Todd Palmatier, says the district hopes to expand the program by hosting cooking nights where families can learn to cook meals with food from the pantry.

Medivac ambulance was dispatched this (Monday) morning to a reported multiple-injury accident on Interstate 80 near the Cass-Pottawattamie County line. The call about the crash on I-80 eastbound at mile marker 49, went out at around 7:53-a.m. Walnut Rescue also responded to the scene. According to the DOT, the right lane is blocked in that area. No other details are currently available.

There’s also word of a crash on Highway 44, one-mile east of Kimballton. The DOT says to expect delays in travel on that stretch of road.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A second man has been charged in a fatal shooting in a car outside the home of the victim’s mother in Burlington. Authorities say 44-year-old Derrick Parker is charged in Des Moines County with first-degree murder and with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. He’d been in Illinois custody on a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Parker and Antoine Spann, of Dalton, Illinois, are accused in the slaying of 26-year-old Demarcus “Peanut” Chew, who was shot to death Sept. 10, 2017. Spann has pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy. His trial is scheduled to begin March 12.

Firefighters with the Elk Horn Fire Department were dispatched to a house fire southwest of Elk Horn, at around 4:12-a.m. today (Monday). Officials tell KJAN News the fire started on the front porch at 2511 600th Street. The resident used a fire extinguisher to put out most of the flames prior to fire crews’ arrival. There were no injuries reported.

A central Iowa man died early this (Monday) morning, during a crash in northwest Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol reports 31-year old Joshua Todd Peterson, of Johnston, was traveling westbound at a high rate of speed on Interstate 80 about a mile west of the Johnston exit, when his 1998 Pontiac Grand Am hit a light pole. Peterson, who was wearing a seat belt, was ejected during the crash and died at the scene. The crash happened at around 12:45-a.m.

The Creston Police Department reports 22-year old Brandon Lane Barrett, of Creston, was arrested Friday afternoon in the 500 block of W Montgomery St. Barrett was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Burglary 2nd Degree, plus a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held at Union County Jail on a $10,000 bond, and without bond on a State of Iowa Warrant for Escape. Also arrested Friday afternoon in Creston, was 43-year old John Anthony Neely, of Creston. Neely was arrested for driving while barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, at around 2:45-a.m. Sunday, 26-year old Taylor Ryan Parker, of Creston, was arrested on an OWI charge. Parker was later released from the Union County Jail on Promise to Appear in court.