MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been set for a former farmhand charged with first-degree murder in the abduction and stabbing death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that a judge on Friday set trial for 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera on Sept. 3 in the Poweshiek County courthouse in Montezuma. Trial had been set for April 16. Defense attorneys said they needed more time to go through a massive investigation file from prosecutors.

Rivera is charged in the killing of Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who disappeared while out for a run July 18 in Brooklyn, Iowa. Investigators recovered her body a month later in a cornfield. A medical examiner has said Tibbetts was stabbed to death.

Rivera is a Mexican national who has been accused of being in the country illegally. He worked at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts disappeared.

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) today (Saturday) announced she will hold a town hall meeting February 9th in Audubon County, as part of her 99 County Tour for 2019. Senator Ernst says she looks forward to hearing from constituents in the area about the issues most important to them.

The town hall meeting is open to the public. It takes place 9-a.m. Feb. 9th in the Audubon Middle School/High School Auditorium.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Creston man on Friday afternoon. At 2:00pm Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 148 Mile-Marker 32. After investigation they arrested 21-year-old Luke Robert Stougard of Creston on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of Parphernalia, and Failure to Provide Security-No Insurance. He was taken to the Adams County Jail and held on $5,900 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa) — Nominations are now being taken for this year’s Iowa Character Awards. They honor individuals, businesses, organizations and schools for their roles in making Iowa a better place to live. Amy Smit is spokeswoman for the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University in Des Moines, which organizes of the annual awards.

“We think there are Iowans throughout the state who deserve to be recognized for their good character,” Smit says. “It might be a friend or a family member or a co-worker but I think everybody knows someone who can be nominated.” Smit says it’s easy to nominate someone for the recognition.

“Head to our website at iowacharacterawards.org and there’s an online nomination form where we just want to get to know your nominee a little better,” Smit says. “We try to keep it quick and easy for the nominator and we’ll have a volunteer selection committee review those this summer.” The award program was founded in 2005 and has since honored more than a-hundred individuals for showing good character. There are various categories in which to nominate.

Smit says, “If you know an organization that you think really embodies the six pillars of character, you can nominate an organization, a sports team, individuals.” The six pillars of character are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The entry deadline is May 1st.