DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) – Iowa authorities say a man has been seriously injured after accidentally shooting himself while hunting for coyotes.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the elderly man was stepping out of his truck in a harvested cornfield west of Dunlap when he tripped and fell on Wednesday evening. Officials say the high-powered rifle he was carrying shot a bullet into his abdomen.

The man was flown to an Omaha hospital. His identity hasn’t been released. DNR officials are investigating.

One person person died and two others were injured during a crash Wednesday evening north of Dunlap. The Iowa State Patrol says 80-year old Jim Macumber, of Manilla, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene of the crash on Highway 37, at around 6:30-p.m. Officials say he was driving a 2009 Buick Lesabre east on Highway 37 when the vehicle collided in the eastbound lane with a 2012 Ford F-350 pickup driven by 41-year old Bryan Brummer, of Solider.

Following the collision, the car came to rest in the south ditch, while the truck came to rest on its top in the middle of the road. Brummer, who was not wearing a seat belt, and a passenger in the Buick, 76-year old Rosalie Macumber, of Manilla, who was wearing her seat belt, were flown by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say seven people have been arrested in Sioux City, suspected of aiding a man who shot a police officer. A spokesman for federal prosecutors, Tim Duax, on Wednesday declined to identify the seven or address the specific charges against them.

Jamal Dean, the man who shot officer Kevin McCormick, fled Sioux City after the April 29, 2013, shooting. He was arrested five days later during a traffic stop in Riviera, Texas, 105 miles from the Mexican border.

Although McCormick’s police vehicle was riddled with bullets and he was shot in the head, he wasn’t seriously injured. He’s returned to work. Dean later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old from western Iowa has testified that while in his fantasy world, he killed a goblin. But Cody Metzker-Madsen said he didn’t realize until later he’d actually killed his 5-year-old foster brother.  Metzker-Madsen testified Wednesday he visits a different world whenever he plays a game with someone and that only he can visit those worlds. His lawyer is using an insanity defense to combat the murder charge in Harrison County District Court in Logan.

Authorities say Dominic Elkins, of Atlantic, was killed last year while the boys were playing outdoors at their home near Logan. An autopsy said Elkins, whose body was found at the bottom of a ravine, died as a result of blunt-force head injuries and drowning. Metzker-Madsen was 17 at the time.

The Superintendent of the Shenandoah Community School District was fired Wednesday night, following a Special Closed Session of the Board. The district’s contract with Superintendent Jeff Hiser was terminated unanimously by the Board.

Among the reasons given:

• Submitting fraudulent requests and acceptance for reimbursement of expenses for pay and receiving said reimbursements.
• Knowing providing untruthful, inaccurate and incomplete information during a Board investigation into Superintendent’s conduct.
• Impeding, obstructing and/or otherwise failing to cooperate with a Board investigation into Superintendent’s conduct.
• Violating district policy and Superintendent’s contract by engaging in outside employment with Board approval.
• Using school district time, property, and resources for personal and financial gain.
• Violating district policies and procedures regarding submittal of leave requests and other documents.
• Violating district policies, and regulations on staff use of technology, including but not limited to, downloading personal software on a district laptop and deleting files from a district laptop.
• Inability to maintain confidence and trust of the Board.

Further details about the allegations were not disclosed, however board members confirm Hiser has the right to appeal the decision, at which point the details of the matter would be discussed in open session. According to reports, Hiser had recently been placed on indefinite medical leave.

Acting Superintendent Monte Munsinger will oversee the district until a decision is made on a permanent replacement for Hiser.

Police in Creston say no injuries were reported and no citations were issued following a collision Wednesday morning between a car and an SUV. Officials say a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by 39-year old Eric Patterson, of Creston, was traveling west on Howard Street in Creston at around 8:10-a.m., as a1997 Ford Expedition driven by 49-year old Laurie Tebbenkamp, of Creston was traveling south on Elm Street.

Patterson told police he saw the SUV with its turn signal on, and decided to proceed through the intersection. As he did so, the SUV continued to travel straight instead of turning. Tebbenkamp told police she almost came to a stop at the intersection and was trying to determine if she needed to go straight, or turn. By the time she made up her mind, Patterson’s car was right in front of her Expedition.

The vehicles collided in a t-bone fashion, causing an estimated total amount of damage at $2,600.

After all the hoopla of the 2014 election, there won’t be much change in the key decision-makers at the statehouse. Republican Governor Terry Branstad easily won reelection, Republicans added four seats in to their majority in the Iowa House and Democrats were able to retain control of the Iowa Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs suggests legislators need to forget about all the election drama and move on.

“Everybody understands a sore loser. Nobody understands a sore winner. Erase the chalk board. Start over,” Gronstal says. “The voters have put a set of people into this golden dome building and it’s our job to work together and try and face the problems Iowa has and solve them.” For the past two years Democrats had held a narrow, 26 to 24 seat edge in the Iowa Senate and, while some of the seats changed hands Tuesday night, Democrats will be in control by the same 26-to-24 margin for the next few years.

“We go out and recruit really good candidates, people who are already leaders in their community, and help them run smart, savvy campaigns and I think that’s why we succeed,” Gronstal says. Senate Democrats plan to meet on Sunday to hold leadership elections and Gronstal is likely to remain the majority leader. Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock has scheduled a meeting for Senate Republicans on Monday.

“We’ll all get together,” Dix says. “We’ll work on where we want to align ourselves and make sure we continue to stand for those conservative values that grow Iowa’s economy and jobs and try to find a way to work in any way we can to get those issues done and sent on to the governor.” House Republicans are likely to retain Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha and Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake as their top leaders. House Republicans plan to meet Monday to plot strategy for the 2015 legislative session. House Democrats plan to meet Saturday, November 15th to discuss election losses and their priorities for 2015.

(Radio Iowa)

An Atlantic teen working to receive his Eagle Scout badge has completed a project at Sunnyside Park to earn the award. Grant Podhajsky recently completed his Eagle Scout Service project with the help of Troop 54 and others in the community. He designed and helped to build a fire pit surrounded by log benches near the Camblin Shelter at Sunnyside Park.

On May 19th, Grant approached the Atlantic Park and Recreation Board with his proposal to replace the existing deteriorated fire pit.Soon after Grant was given approval to proceed, it was discovered that the original fire pit was constructed by the Atlantic Lions Club. For many years it was used for the Lions’ annual steak cookout.When the Lions Club learned of the project the offered their full support.

Grant Podhajsky recently completed his Eagle Scout project. He is shown accepting a donation to cover expenses from Merle
Elsberry,representing the Atlantic Lions Club.

Oversight of the project was provided by Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Roger Herring.The Parks and Recreation Department was also a main supporter of the project.Most notably they provided the pea gravel and the timber boarder.

Grant says he’d like to thank Rob Stamp for helping with the demolition after the scouts uncovered four very large footings.Also, thanks to Ashton Ellingson of Brayton for cutting the log benches with his portable saw mill.Over 150 hours of work when into planning and constructing the project.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — While Iowa Republicans scored big wins on election night and the GOP is poised to dominate the state’s congressional delegation, leaders from both parties say the traditionally purple state is unlikely to turn permanently red. Republican Joni Ernst easily won the competitive Senate race against Democrat Bruce Braley on Tuesday, and Republicans won three of the state’s four congressional seats.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — A trade group expected to take over dog racing in Dubuque has presented its arguments for a gaming license. The Iowa Greyhound Association spoke yesterday morning in Altoona to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The commission is expected to vote on the license application on November 13th.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of a man he called his best friend. The Quad-City Times reports a Scott County judge found 36-year-old Stephen Boeding guilty yesterday. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4th.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed for a northeast Iowa man accused of assaulting a police officer before the officer shot him. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says a trial date of January 6th has been set for 28-year-old Zachary Church. He’s charged with assault on a peace officer and possession of marijuana for sale.