CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa charity is seeking donations to provide new, fully-stocked backpacks to children in the foster care system. Families Helping Families of Iowa says donations are being collected through July 23 at places around Cedar Rapids. Those places include two Bankers Trust locations, Capri College, the Junior League, Nadia’s Salon, and United Fire Group, as well as the Families Helping Families office.

An array of school supplies are being sought, from backpacks to pencils and pen and notebooks. A full list of needs can be found at http://www.familieshelpingfamiliesofiowa.org/programs/school-supplies/ .
The backpacks will be handed out to around 400 children on Aug. 4 at the Families Helping Families office in Cedar Rapids. The group’s Back to School Rally will also hand out free ice cream and vouchers for shoes and haircuts.

A spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol is reminding motorists that the state’s year-old law against texting and driving doesn’t just apply to vehicles that are in motion. Sergeant Nate Ludwig says it’s also illegal for a driver to text when they’re waiting at a stop sign. Ludwig says it can be frustrating for other drivers who are playing by the rules.

“It creates a little bit of a road rage between motorists,” Ludwig says. “You’re at a stop sign and maybe tap that horn…you know, usually, people will put their phone down because they realize, ‘oh yeah, somebody’s watching me while I’m on my phone – that’s probably not real safe.'”

The Iowa State Patrol recently reported, over the first year of the stricter texting-while-driving law, Troopers issued 1,131 citations to motorists. The violation can cost a person over $100. Ludwig says the State Patrol, at times, has placed Troopers in unmarked cars to catch unsuspected motorists who are texting behind the wheel.

“I know other states, like the Tennessee State Patrol, have utilized commercial motor vehicles – big semis traveling down the road, because those guys sit up high and 9 times out of 10 they’re getting passed on the interstate by other vehicles going by ’em and it’s alarming to see the number of people who are using their phone on the road,” Ludwig says.

The law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, police could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for ANOTHER offense.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say no charges will be filed against a business owner who shot and killed a suspected burglar outside his business in southern Des Moines. Des Moines police said Friday that 67-year-old Thomas Kraft encountered 37-year-old Amund Benjamin Haarstad, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, stealing items from the shop on Wednesday and fired a gun into the ground after Haarstad threatened him. Police say the bullet ricocheted and hit Haarstad in the head.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A termination letter shows that a member of the Iowa State Patrol was fired this month because of “intimidating, threatening and unwelcome” interactions with colleagues. The patrol fired Des Moines-based trooper Wade Karp on July 3 after a 10-month paid administrative leave. The agency had refused to explain the reason for the termination, saying only he violated department rules. The patrol reversed course and released a redacted copy of Karp’s two-page termination letter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A unique memorial service set for 5-year-old Garrett Matthias of central Iowa is matched only by the one-of-a-kind obituary the preschooler had a hand in authoring and that is now garnering national attention. The Des Moines Register reports that Garrett died July 6 of a rare cancer that attacked his temporal bone and cranial nerve. But his funny take on life and death in his obituary _ signed “See ya’ later, suckas! – The Great Garrett Underpants” _ that’s getting smiles.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray was remembered at his funeral as a public servant and humanitarian. Family, friends and Iowa leaders gathered Friday for Ray’s funeral at the First Christian Church in Des Moines.