(Radio Iowa) – A man who arranged heroin and fentanyl distribution in eastern Iowa that led to a near-fatal overdose was will spend more than 33 years in federal prison. Forty-year-old Derrick Trawick from Chicago was found guilty by a jury in January of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl near a playground. The trial evidence showed that Trawick was a heroin dealer in Dubuque who was nicknamed “Worm” and “K-G.”

He sold a bag that contained heroin and fentanyl in May of 2019 that caused one of the users to suffer an overdose and she stopped breathing for several minutes. She regained consciousness after being given Narcan. Evidence presented at sentencing also showed that Trawick sold large quantities of ice methamphetamine in Dubuque and had previously been convicted of six other felony crimes, including aggravated criminal sex abuse and domestic abuse assault causing injury.

(Updated) ARCADIA, Iowa (via KTIV) – A crop dusting helicopter pilot walked away from a crash in Carroll County, Monday morning. According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were paged to a helicopter crash south of Arcadia, at about 9:30 a.m., Monday. The pilot told authorities he was spraying a corn field in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter when the engine suddenly quit. The helicopter ended up crashing near the intersection of 210th Street Avenue and Delta Avenue. The sheriff’s office says the pilot, 78-year-old Michael Milliron, was able to get himself out of the helicopter and walk to the highway. He was checked out by Carroll Rescue and transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash to determine the cause. The helicopter was totaled in the crash.

It was the second western Iowa crash of a crop dusting aircraft in less than three-days. At around 1:10-p.m. Saturday, a fixed-wing single-engine Air Tractor, Incorporated crop dusting airplane crashed onto a road and caught fire near Ute, in Monona County. The accident happened when the aircraft struck electrical lines. and crashed onto a road near 230^th and Teak. The pilot died at the scene. The road the plane crashed onto, was re-opened to traffic Monday afternoon.

As of the latest information, no name had been released.

(Avoca, Iowa) – Officials with Regional Water said Monday, that one of their pipes was hit South of Kirkman/northeast of Harlan (Nishna Ave, Oak Road, & M36). Crews were working to repair the pipe. Official say “When water is restored, these customers will be in a BOIL ADVISORY for the next couple days. Customers affected should have received a phone call and/or email.”

The 2022 Cass County Fair Beef Show was held on Monday and the Grand Champion selection capped off the final full day of the fair. The Supreme Overall Market Animal went to Morgan Will of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club. Morgan showed the 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer and Market Animal before winning the Supreme Overall title.

Reserve Overall Market Animal went to Claire Pellett of the Atlantic FFA. Claire showed the FFA Grand Champion Market Steer and Animal before taking the Supreme Reserve spot.

Other winner in the Beef Show were:

Champion FFA Market Heifer: Logan Eilts.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Heifer: Callee Pellett.
Champion FFA Market Steer: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Steer: CeCe Hensley.
Supreme Champion FFA Market: Claire Pellett.
Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Callee Pellett
Reserve Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Malena Woodward.
Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Quincey Sorensen.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Graham Hagen.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Holden DeVore.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Morgan Will.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Raylea Amos.
Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Raylea Amos.
Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Claire Pellett.

Watch the full replay of the show here:

(Radio Iowa) – Students at Iowa State University will have the opportunity to study climate science in the upcoming school year. The university’s new major aims to prepare its students to bring about solutions to climate change. Owen Halverson, an I-S-U junior who plans to study climate science, says he sees the degree as a means to address increased severe weather patterns.

“This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem facing the world right now,” Halverson says. “This is the way I see that I can be helpful to everyone else in the future.” Kristie Franz, the I-S-U chair of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, says it can prepare them for careers in everything from sustainable design planning to advising private industries, like insurance. But, she adds, all pathways will give students the knowledge to strategize against climate change.

“The current generation is recognizing that legitimacy of the science and observing it as well, along with the rest of us and really want to do something about it, because it’s their future,” Franz says, “so they want to be a part of the solution.” The degree will allow students to choose from six areas of focus — ranging from climate policy to agriculture. Program directors hope the area of study can help launch students into growing climate jobs in both private and public sectors.

Franz says the coursework will consist of many classes within the university’s earth science department and it will also integrate economic and communications courses.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In an update to our report over the weekend, the Iowa DCI has released the name of a man who was the subject of an Officer-involved shooting on July 30th. Officials say 23-year-old Brandon Lee Nelson, of Cedar Rapids, was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital, where is was being treated for his wounds. His discharge from the hospital is pending. The Cedar Rapids Police Officers names involved in the incident will be released, pending interviews with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

As we mentioned previously, the Department of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Saturday, following an Officer-involved shooting incident. Officials say at approximately 3:52 a.m., Saturday, Cedar Rapids Police officers conducted a vehicle stop for erratic driving in the 2200 block of Glass Road NE.

The driver of the vehicle – identified today (Monday), as Brandon Lee Nelson, brandished a firearm and gunfire was exchanged between Nelson and two Cedar Rapids police officers.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Creighton University survey of businesses in nine Midwest states shows continued growth — but economist Ernie Goss says that growth isn’t very fast. “The overall index is in solid growth range. Although it’s when you compare it to earlier months it’s still down, we’re seeing softer growth than what we saw earlier in the year, and what we saw at this time last year,” according to Goss.

The survey asks questions about employment and other economic trends and creates an index ranging from zero to 150. The overall index moved up by a little more than a point to 59-point-eight in July. “We asked about confidence looking at the economy six months ahead, it was still very weak but up from last month, so things are moving along, not like what we’d like to see but much better than what we’re seeing in some of the national numbers have come out,” Goss says.

There’s a debate about whether the country has moved into a recession — Goss says the signs point that way. “We’re probably in a recession or skating along and moving into the recession in the next quarter or so,” he says. Goss says the recession is not having a full-blown impact on all sectors of the economy. “I’ll call it recession diversity. In other words, the manufacturing sector continues to move along at the national level not quite as strong as the regional level. But even there, we’re not seeing a recession in the manufacturing sector,” Goss says. “It’s more of other sectors, leisure and hospitality other sectors where you’re seeing numbers well below growth neutral, in fact in negative territory in terms of G-D-P,” Goss says.

Goss says to listen carefully to what the Federal Reserve Governors say, because when they see a recession ahead they’re going to be raising interest rates.

The National Weather Service-Des Moines has announced that hot and humid conditions will present safety hazards this week. Heat indices will likely be over 100 degrees over the next 7-14 days. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, says with excessive heat expected to persist, facilities in Cass County have opened their doors to people who need a break from the extreme heat. In Atlantic, the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street is open from 4:30am to 8:30pm Monday thru Thursday and 4:30am to 6:30pm on Friday. Libraries throughout Cass County will also be available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours.

The NWS-DM recommends that you drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

(Radio Iowa) – One of the stars of the original TV series “Star Trek” died over the weekend. Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on the Starship Enterprise, was 89. Radio Iowa interviewed Nichols during her last stop in Iowa in 2018 and she reflected on a long, prosperous life which she said has been one bold adventure after another. Nichols is considered by many as not just an iconic actress, but as a heroine in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Nichols planned to leave the show after the first season, but had a chance meeting with a fan, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, who convinced her to stay on, saying she was an incredible role model in the multiracial cast. Nichols, who was black, and white actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk, shared what’s celebrated as the first interracial kiss on American television in 1968.

Nichelle Nichols -Image from the NASA Facebook page

In later years, Nichols helped NASA recruit women and minorities to join the astronaut corps. She’s credited with bringing aboard Sally Ride, who became the first American woman in space, as well as Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space. Nichols said her first love was musical theater and she toured the country in the 1990s singing in a one-woman tribute to female jazz and blues singers.

Interviewed at the Wizard World Comic Con in Des Moines in June of 2018, Nichols said she was energized to see so many fans lining up to see her, to get an autograph or a selfie with her, even more than 50 years after Star Trek debuted. It’s an incredibly loyal fan base, “just wonderful,” she said.

The original TV show continues to spawn spin-offs and movies, but also lives on in reruns and is still finding new, adoring viewers. In the autograph line that day was a young girl of around eight, clad in boots and a red skirt with a triangular gold emblem on the black lapel, a miniature version of the uniform Nichols wore as Uhura more than five decades ago.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past week:

On July 26th, 38-year-old Kimberly Ileen Bloom, of Corning, was arrested at the Dollar General Store in Adair, following an incident whereby she allegedly tried to steal a little more than $846 in food. Following an investigation, and during her subsequent arrest, Bloom allegedly resisted arrest by pulling away and kicking the arresting officer. She was taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts; Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense; Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released on a $3,000 bond.

On July 27th, 41-year-old Raymond Scott Davis, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80 in Adair County. Davis was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear. He was initially held without bond, but then the charge was dismissed at his initial appearance, and he was released the same day.

On July 28th, 24-year-old Darnell De Marcus Martin, of Ft. Dodge, was arrested by Police in Adair, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana- 2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Martin was released the following day, on a $1,000 bond. Also arrested on the 28th, was 51-year-old John LeRoy Pace, Jr., of Creston. He was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear on charges that include two counts of Driving While Barred; Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense;and Eluding. His bond was set at $4,000.

On July 29th, 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson, of Greenfield, was arrested on a warrant for FTA on a Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense charge. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. On Saturday (July 30), 36-year-old Tad Robert Haskins, of Atlantic, was arrested by Adair Police on Interstate 80. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. A Creston man was arrested that same day, in Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. 21-year-old Joe Thomas Jackson was released with a citation.