CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting one man and wounding another teenager has been acquitted by a jury in Cedar Rapids. The jury found Kenyauta Vesey-Keith not guilty Friday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and other crimes. Prosecutors say the March 2016 shooting was proceeded by a Cedar Rapids street fight involving more than a dozen people. They said Vesey-Keith retrieved a gun from a vehicle and fired several times, hitting 21-year-old Brandon Johnson , who died, and a 16-year-old boy.

His lawyers say Vesey-Keith was acting in self-defense. He was 16 at the time.

(Radio Iowa) — The first woman to serve as state auditor faces a well-funded challenger who’s been involved in some high-profile criminal investigations. Republican Mary Mosiman was appointed state auditor in 2013. She won her first full term in office in 2014 and is seeking re-election this November. Mosiman has emphasized her credentials as a certified public accountant, or C-P-A.

Democrat Rob Sand is a lawyer who worked in the attorney general’s office for a decade and led the prosecution of Eddie Tipton, the man who rigged lottery drawings. Sand also worked on cases in the state film tax credit scandal. Sand says he’d bring a law enforcement perspective to the auditor’s office investigations of misspent tax dollars.

The two have been quarreling about whether the state auditor’s office would be able to conduct routine annual “financial statement” audits for cities, counties and school districts if the auditor is not a C-P-A. The two offered their polar opposite interpretations of state law on this subject during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Press program. The head of the state agency that issued an auditing license to the state auditor’s office has not confirmed when the license was issued and has declined to weigh in on the controversy. The state constitution says a state auditor shall be elected by qualified voters every four years and “shall perform such duties as may be provided by law.”

The Libertarian Party’s 2018 nominee for state auditor is Fred Perryman, a sales manager from Cedar Falls.

(Radio Iowa) — With trick-or-treating or “beggar’s nights” in most Iowa communities over the next few evenings, the Iowa Poison Control Center is prepared for a host of Halloween-related calls. Registered nurse Jean Hammack says they hear from worried parents every year with concerns about their kids’ loot. “We sometimes get calls based on candy or even fruit,” Hammack says. “Parents may look at it and see it looks unusual. It’s just always better if you follow the phrase, ‘If in doubt, throw it out.'”

Hammack says an adult should always accompany young children while trick-or-treating and limit visits to local neighborhoods. She reminds parents to check over all treats before letting a child dig into their goodie bag. “Sometimes chocolate will have an unusual color if it’s an older form of candy,” she says. “Often, those are still safe but always be watchful and always be mindful of the children’s candy when they come back. Dump it out and go through it with them.”

Before heading out, make sure the child’s costume fits properly to prevent trips and falls. Use make-up instead of masks, if possible, and remove it as soon as you get home to prevent skin irritation. Accompanying parents should carry a flashlight, though some kids prefer to carry spookier-looking yellow-green glow sticks. Just don’t let younger kids have glow sticks or they may chew on them, releasing chemicals into their mouths. “With those glowsticks, we do get calls on those,” Hammack say. “Often, we can manage those at home but we encourage people to call us at 1-800-222-1222.”

She says a quick call can save you an expensive trip to the emergency room. The Sioux City-based hotline is staffed around the clock.

(Radio Iowa) — A Prairie City man was killed Monday morning in a crash on Highway 163 in Jasper County. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says 50-year-old Rex Chickering was driving a van that slammed into the back of a slow-moving pickup pulling farm machinery. Chickering died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 53-year-old Curtis Kaisand of Monroe, was injured and taken by ambulance to a hospital in Pella. The crash happened around 8 a.m. in the eastbound lanes and bright conditions may’ve been a factor. “That was just briefly mentioned to me by one of the troopers who was on the scene, that the sunlight happened to be right in your eyes as you’re driving down the road,” Ludwig said. “But, as far as why (Chickering) drove right into the back of that farm machinery, we may never know…but, it’s under investigation.”

Pics courtesy ISP

Shortly after that crash, an Iowa State Patrol car was blasted by a passing motorist. The Patrol cruiser was parked on the side of the highway with its lights flashing. It was NOT occupied at the time. “It was a semi that partially side-swiped and hit the back end of the cruiser,” Ludwig said. “It sent the cruiser about 100 to 150 yards off (the road) and that semi continued on, down into the median.” The trooper who’d been driving the patrol vehicle was not injured. He was directing traffic to a detour away from the initial crash. “Stuff like this happens far too often where our patrol car is lit up like a Christmas tree – there’s no reason why people can’t see it when they’re paying attention. So, we’re still seeing distracted driving at its worst,” Ludwig said.

Charges are pending against the driver of the semi, according to Ludwig.