Last year was a record breaker for Iowa’s housing market. Iowa Association of Realtors President Mark Kamps says home sales increased by three-point-two-percent (3.2%) from 2016. “Going from 42,671 homes sold in 2016 to 44,023 sold in 2017,” Kamps said.  It’s believed to be the first time home sales in Iowa have climbed above 44-thousand for an entire year. The average price of a home sold in Iowa last year also hit a high mark. “The median sale price was up 4.2-percent from 2016 to 2017,” Kamps said.

The median sale price was $153,000 in 2017, compared to $146,900 in 2016. Kamps, who is a Realtor in Iowa City, also notes homes placed for sale in the state are spending fewer days on the market. “When sellers list their home, they’re always eager to get a buyer as quickly as possible and in 2017, days on the market dropped from 80 days (in 2016) to 76,” Kamps said. “While four days isn’t a significant amount, it’s still a good amount as far as the seller would be concerned.”

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two drivers have died in a three-vehicle collision involving a car driving south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. Police say several people called 911 about the car around 9:10 p.m. Monday. Officers soon found the collision wreckage. The driver headed the wrong way was identified as 69-year-old Robert Norton Jr., who lived in Iowa City. The driver killed in one of the two northbound vehicles was identified as 28-year-old Jennifer Koenighain, who lived in Cedar Rapids.

Two people in the second northbound vehicle were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police didn’t release their names. The collision is being investigated.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said today (Tuesday), that a man and woman from Illinois were arrested on drug charges, Saturday. As the result of a traffic stop, deputies arrested 27-year old Cedric M. Milton, and 27-year old Marissa A. Banks, both of Chicago, on a charge each of Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense. They were brought to the Cass County Jail and were released later that day on $6,000 bond each.
And, at around 10:40-a.m., Saturday, Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at Oxford Road and Highway 71. Officials say a 2012 Ford F-150 owned and operated by 79-year old Vernon Carl Lafrenz, of Atlantic, was southbound on Highway 71, when Lafrenz attempted to make a left turn onto Oxford Road. As he did so, his pickup struck the driver side of a northbound 2016 Dodge Caravan owned and operated by 64-year old Antoinette Marie Powell, of Massena. No injuries were reported. Damage to Lafrenz’s vehicle is estimated at $2,000; damage to Powell’s vehicle is estimated at $4,000. Lafrenz was cited with Failure to Yield Upon Making a Left Turn.

On Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 53-year old Mitchell Lee Thompson, of Atlantic, following a traffic stop. Thompson was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. And on Monday, Cass County Deputies arrested 54-year old Elvin Allen Shrimpton, of Omaha, on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation and Failure to Appear. Shrimpton was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,300 bond.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa county is seeking help from its major cities to pay for trailers to temporarily house inmates after its jail closes later this week. The Des Moines Register reports that the Warren County Board of Supervisors will ask city managers in Indianola, Norwalk and Carlisle to help cover the costs of the proposed trailers. The Warren County Jail was ordered to close Feb. 2 after years of problems, including inmate escapes, mold and inadequate water supplies and food storage.

Iowa Code says counties must “pay the costs of the board and care of the prisoners in the county jail.” But County Supervisor Dean Yordi says he doesn’t believe the trailers are entirely the county’s cost. Sheriff Brian Vos says the trailers will cost about $18,400 per month.

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man arrested at a northern Iowa casino told a deputy that he’d punched a gambling machine out of frustration. Court records say Dion King is charged with criminal mischief. The Worth County deputy says in a criminal complaint that he was sent Saturday to the Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood and reviewed security video. It showed King punching the machine’s touch screen several times, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage.

The complaint says King later admitted getting frustrated and striking the machine. It’s unclear how much — if any — money King had lost.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the body of a 54-year-old man was found after a fire at a southeast Iowa residence. The Hawk Eye reports that firefighters were sent to the Keokuk home a little after 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The person reporting the fire told dispatchers that he thought another person could be trapped in the house basement.

Authorities say the body of Devin Lorenz was discovered in the basement after the blaze was extinguished. An autopsy was ordered. The fire cause is being investigated.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released a report on arrests dating back to last Thursday. On Jan. 26th, 33-year old George W. Poorker, of Emerson, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300. Early Saturday morning, 24-year old Arturo Guerrero-Montelongo, of  Hastings, was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense. His bond was $1,000.

There were five arrests Sunday, in Mills County:

• 46-year old Brian John Beebe, of Carson, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance – Bond: $1,000.
• 22-year old Morgan Rae Green, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant out of Fremont County for Parole Violation – Bond: $10,000.
• 37-year old Phillip Joseph Maxwell, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday, for Driving Under Suspension. Bond: $300.
• 27-year old Travis Wesley Christina, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two counts of Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession Contraband and Preventing Apprehension. Bond: $12,300.
• 30-year old Joseph Johhny Lee Hrbek, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for OWI 2^nd – Bond: $2,000.

And, on Monday, 29-year old William Jeffrey Guinn, Jr., of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Probation Violation – Bond: $6,000.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Council Bluffs was transferred Monday morning from Mills County authorities to a Pott. County Deputy, Monday. 27-year old Travis Wesley Christina was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Failure to Appear on a 5th Degree Theft charge. Christina was picked-up at Exit 43 off I-29 in Mills County, and brought to the Pott. County Jail, where he was booked-in.

A man already being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for allegedly causing $400 damage to a sprinkler head at the jail facility. The incident involving 26-year old Landon Michael Finger, of Council Bluffs, happened Monday afternoon. And, 32-year old Matthew Steven Lutz, of Carter Lake, was brought into the jail by Council Bluffs Police. Upon a search of his person, authorities discovered a meth pipe wrapped up in a white handkerchief. Lutz was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

A man wanted on two Pottawattamie County warrants was transferred from the custody of a Fremont County Deputy to a Pott. County Deputy,  at around 3-a.m. today (Tuesday). 34-year old Reese Edward Chatterton, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on warrants for OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana/1st offense. Chatterton was transported to the Pott. County Jail and booked-in. And, a Pott. County Deputy arrested a man from Minden this (Tuesday) morning as the subject was getting into his personal vehicle. 47-year old Armando Ramon Rocha, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Parole. He was booked-into the Pott. County Jail.