MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa are investigating the death of a woman, whose body was found by the side of a highway near Muscatine. The Muscatine Journal reports that the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 1 a.m. Tuesday to report a woman lying on the side of Highway 38. Arriving deputies found the woman’s body.

Officials had not released the woman’s name as of late Tuesday evening. An autopsy has been ordered. The highway near the scene was closed as officers investigated with the help of the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office.

Fire officials in Pottawattamie County say the body of a man was found by firefighters Tuesday, in an apartment where they were fighting a fire. Council Bluffs Fire Chief Justin James said the blaze at 221 N. 30th Street was reported at around 3-p.m. Initial arriving crews found smoke coming from a second floor apartment window.  Upon entering the apartment, crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire while conducting a primary search.  During the search, crews located an adult male deceased inside the apartment.

The victim has not been identified at this time.  Personnel from the Council Bluffs Fire Marshal’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office as well as the State Fire Marshal’s Office are conducting the investigation.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man faces felony charges after officials say he drunkenly fired a rifle from the front deck of a camper hoping to bag a deer, but instead shot a woman in her home.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the shooting happened Friday evening in Wapello County.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says a 73-year-old woman was cleaning her stove when she heard a loud noise and felt pain to the back of her head. When she saw that she was bleeding heavily, she drove herself to Ottumwa Regional Hospital. Doctors later removed a bullet from the back of her head.

Deputies arrested 34-year-old Lee Joseph Ryals, whom they believe fired a rifle from the camper at a deer while he was drunk. Ryals is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and reckless use of a firearm. Conservation officers have also charged him with several hunting violations.

Officials with the Cass County Health System, today (Tuesday), announced the arrival of the first baby of 2019. Ryleigh Lane arrived January 6th, 2019 and was welcomed by big brother Wyatt and parents Michelle and Dustin Gelner. The CCHS Obstetrics team presented the family with a 2019 embroidered baby blanket and a year’s supply of diapers.

Gelner Family

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has asked the head of the Iowa Economic Development Authority to also take on top administrative duties of the troubled Iowa Finance Authority as she appoints new cabinet members. Debi Durham, who has led state economic development efforts for eight years, will also lead the IFA, which saw Director Dave Jamison fired last year by Reynolds for sexual misconduct. Another agency leader was fired and a third resigned after an independent audit indicated they were present at inappropriate events and didn’t report them.

Reynolds also announced several other cabinet appointments on Tuesday including naming former Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn to lead the Iowa Lottery and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephan Bayens to lead the Iowa Department of Public Safety.