WAUKON, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man has been accused of shooting to death his stepfather. Court records show 32-year-old John Quanrude is charged with second-degree murder. Quanrude’s next court hearing is scheduled for April 25. Police say Quanrude had called for help at his mobile home in Waukon around 3:20 p.m. Monday, saying there’d been an accidental shooting. Officers found 60-year-old Dean Russell lying face down on the home’s floor. Police say Russell was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A court document says Quanrude later told officers he’d fired a warning shot with a shotgun and then shot Russell in the chest. The document also says the two men were roommates.

The battle over traffic enforcement cameras remains unresolved in the state legislature. Earlier this year, the Iowa Senate voted to ban the cameras which catch vehicles speeding and running red lights. Then, the House voted to establish new regulations for the cameras. Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale is still pushing for an outright ban. He suggests this issue could wind up being a bargaining chip to decide other issues that have to be resolved before the legislature may adjourn.

“It may be one of the negotiating tools to get out of here,” Zaun says. Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines wants the cameras to stay. He says cities need the revenue from the tickets. “Twelve million dollars, it’s going to cost local government, if this bill will go to the governor,” Bisignano says.

Zaun responded. “All we’ve had conversations about with these traffic enforcement cameras is about money,” Zaun said. Zaun is among those who say the cameras are more about revenue than safety. Those who argue the cameras should stay say it’s too dangerous for police to pull drivers amid speeding traffic on highways that pass through cities.

(Radio Iowa)

A vote is expected today (Wednesday) in the U-S House on a bill, drafted by Iowa Congressman David Young, that seeks to crack down on identity thieves and help victims of such fraud. “Many in the Third District of Iowa have spoken to me about their fear of having their identity, bank or credit card numbers, and other personal information stolen,” Young said on the House floor Tuesday.

The Justice for Victims of IRS Scams and Identity Theft Act would require the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to submit reports to Congress detailing how they have prosecuted identity theft crimes. According to Young, Americans lose billions of dollars to con artists and many Iowans worry about getting a call from their bank or credit card company explaining their information has been stolen. “This reality can turn an individual’s and a family’s world upside down. Millions of Americans have gotten that call and many have lost everything because of identity theft,” Young said.

A 2016 report indicated Americans submit up to 14,000 complaints about IRS impersonation scams every week. “This is serious,” Young said. “These scams are indiscriminate and can impact any person at any time.”

Young added that the Department of Justice should suggest “what can be done to deter criminals and prevent identity theft from happening.”

(Radio Iowa)