(Radio Iowa) – The three state universities released their fall enrollment numbers today (Thursday). The University of Northern Iowa reported a two-point-nine percent increase in enrollment, marking the second straight year for an increase. The Cedar Falls school has struggled to keep numbers up and this is the first time for consecutive year enrollment increases since 2009 and 2010.

The University of Iowa is reporting its third-largest incoming class ever. The increase boosts the total enrollment to 30-thousand-779 students, and pushes the U-I past Iowa State University for tops in total enrollment by 347 students.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she’s frustrated a temporary funding bill to prevent a government shutdown October 1st was pulled before a vote was held in the U-S House yesterday (Wednesday).  “I think this whole process is broken. Both sides are to blame for the annual shutdown politics’,” Hinson says. “We talk about this, it seems, every year in September, so I’m tired of the continued gamesmanship and brinkmanship. I was prepared to support that going forward, to get us to the table, so start that negotiating process.”

Speaker Mike Johnson had developed a “continuing resolution” to fund federal government operations for six months, but eight Republicans signaled they would not vote for the plan. President Biden and Democrats in congress opposed it, too, because it included a proposal to require people to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Hinson voted for that election-related policy in July when it was a stand-alone bill.

IA (R) Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

“I would happily support it again,” Hinson says. “And I think the real question here is why do Democrats want to allow illegal immigrants to register to vote.” Democrats say it is already against the law for non-citizens to vote in federal elections and the measure is unnecessary. On Tuesday, former President Trump called on Republicans in congress to include the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act in the budget bill.  “States like California are issuing drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants and they have very lax voter laws on voter ID,” Hinson says, “and so when it comes to showing up at the polls and registering to vote, the outcomes of these elections could be impacted by people, who are not allowed to vote, voting illegally.”

Hinson is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where a dozen separate budget bills were developed, but none have not become law — so congress is resorting to one massive bill to fund the government. 1996 was the last time congress completed work on the federal budget on time.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest of 54-year-old Paul Bolton. He was picked-up this (Thursday) morning on a Fremont County warrant, and held in the Mills County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Three people from Des Moines now face charges after police say they forced two juveniles to take pictures with a noose around their necks. Jennifer Nelson, Danise Nelson and Jerry Nelson were arrested Saturday. Police say the incident happened last month at Lake Wapello State Park in Davis County. Court documents indicate Jerry Nelson hitched a rope around the trunk of a tree and hung it over a branch. All three then told two juveniles to stand on a chair under the tree with the noose around their necks.

38-year-old Jennifer Nelson (left), 68-year-old Danise Nelson (middle) and 70-year-old Jerry Nelson (right). (Davis County Sheriff’s Office photos)

Court records show one of the victims did not want to take the photo but did so to “keep the peace.”

(Creston, Iowa) [Corrects drivers age to 15, not 14]- Officials with the Creston Police Department say no injuries were reported after three vehicles in the Creston High School parking lot were damaged in a collision Tuesday morning. Authorities say 2009 Ford F-150 pickup and 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup were legally parked in opposite parking stalls, when the 15-year-old driver of a 2001 Chevy K3500 Silverado pickup, who is from Diagonal, attempted to pull into a parking space next to the 2007 pickup. Due to the tight space in the parking stall, the 2001 pickup struck the 2007 truck, and got hung-up, causing functional damage.

The driver of Chevy K3500 pickup then attempted to back-up, but his vehicle made contact with the 2009 Ford pickup, causing minor damage to the rear bumper and exhaust. Damage from the mishap amounted a police estimated total of $6,500 damage. There were no citations issued.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau report, 39-year-old Jose De Jesus Rodriguez Esparza was arrested Sept. 5th and charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (a Class D Felony), and Identity Theft (also a Class D Felony). The charges against Rodriguez Esparza stem from an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

Rodriguez Esparza was injured while working as a line cook at an Urbandale hotel.  He submitted a fraudulent workers’ compensation claim by using a social security number that was later found to belong to another individual. Rodriguez Esparza used the fraudulent social security number to obtain employment. Rodriguez Esparza is being held without bond in the Polk County Jail.

Jose De Jesus Rodriguez Esparza (Photo courtesy of the Polk County Jail)

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years (180 months) in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. According to public court documents, 22-year-old Brian Eugene Harvey, III, also known as “Bino,” was identified by law enforcement as a large-scale fentanyl pill distributor in the Des Moines area. In the fall of 2023, law enforcement conducted several controlled buys of fentanyl pills from Harvey. During one controlled buy, Harvey sold a gun. Law enforcement located over 4,000 fentanyl pills, three firearms, ammunition, and cash in Harvey’s vehicles during search warrants in November 2023.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Harvey will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.

Authorities say fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced Wednesday to 110 months (or a little more than 9-years) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, 21-year-old Antonio Dontez Hoffman, Jr., burglarized a deceased woman’s house during her funeral and stole a large number of guns and ammunition. Hoffman’s phone contained messages with his co-conspirator about his desire to sell most of the guns he thought they would find at the house and those he desired to keep for himself. At the time, Hoffman was on state probation following his conviction for possession of a stolen firearm.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Hoffman will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.

(Creston, Iowa) –  A traffic stop just before 8-p.m. Wednesday, in Creston, resulted in the arrest on a drug charge, of a Clarke County man. The Creston Police Department reports 34-year-old Bo Christopher-Robert Garland, of Osceola, was arrested at the Casey’s Store on W. Taylor St., in Creston. He was charged with Operating While Under the Influence of Drugs/1st Offense.

Garland was taken to Union County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 bond.

(Black Hawk County, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office has identified a teenager killed in a crash late Tuesday night. 17-year-old Gavin Rohrbach, of La Porte City died, when the Nissan Pathfinder SUV he was in collided with a Buick Rendezvous SUV driven by 53-year-old Pamela Euans, of Hazelton. The sheriff’s office says the SUV Rohrbach and four other teens occupied, ran a stop sign prior to the crash. The collision sent both vehicles off the road, and they came to a rest in a field near the intersection.

Hazleton, had to be extricated from her vehicle and was airlifted to University of Iowa Health Care via helicopter. The injured teens are expected to survive. All five teens attended the Union Community School District in La Porte City. The district announced Wednesday that is canceling all extra-curricular and co-curricular activities through Sunday, September 15th. That includes Friday’s football game against West Delaware. In a statement, Union Superintendent John Howard asked that people keep all families involved and the entire Union community in their thoughts.

“Words can’t readily express the devastation this news had on our school district,” Howard said. “With that being stated, we have greatly appreciated the overwhelming support offered from Central Rivers AEA staff, local businesses and organizations, as well as other school districts as we cope with this unspeakable tragedy.”

The crash remains under investigation.