DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says a man accused of killing his wife was a man irate over her affair and fearful that he’d lose their farm if she divorced him. Testimony resumed Wednesday after opening statements for the trial of 43-year-old Todd Mullis. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 39-year-old Amy Mullis on Nov. 10 at the farm about 4 miles northwest of Earlville.

He reported that she’d accidentally fallen on a corn rake, but prosecutors say medical evidence showed she’d been stabbed in the back with it. The Telegraph Herald reports that Mullis’ attorneys don’t dispute that Amy Mullis was killed but say there is reasonable doubt about who killed her. Prosecutor Maureen Hughes said Tuesday that being a farmer meant everything to Todd Mullis, and he “had to find a way to keep that farm.” Defense attorney Gerald Feuerhelm agreed the farm was important to Todd Mullis, “but not so important that he would murder the mother of his children.”

ONAWA, Iowa – Sept. 18, 2019 – Emergency repairs at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing near the west city limits of Dunlap require closing Iowa 37 at U.S. 30 beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, until Monday, Oct. 7, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Onawa garage. During this project, traffic will be directed onto a detour route using Harrison County Road F-14, Remsen Street, and U.S. 30.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) — The mother of a toddler who was found unattended in Ottumwa Monday morning has been arrested, along with her boyfriend. Police were called to North Court Street just before ten o’clock Monday morning because a three-year-old girl was wandering around unsupervised. The toddler was unable to tell the officers what her name was, who her parents were or where she lived, so she was taken to the police department. Later in the morning, authorities released her picture on social media, leading family members to contact police and give them the girl’s identity. 19-year-old Faith Knedler and 22-year-old Colby Rysdam were taken into custody Monday afternoon, each of them charged with one count of child endangerment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who set himself aflame at Des Moines’ main library downtown has died. Des Moines police say the 36-year-old man died around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics burn center in Iowa City. His name hasn’t been released.

Witnesses reported the man doused himself with a flammable liquid just before 2 p.m. and ignited it. Library staffers used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. Police say no one else was injured. The fire occurred in what police say is an enclosed hallway outside the library interior.

(Radio Iowa) — Sioux City will be represented by a six member honor guard that will travel to Seattle, Washington on October 5th to participate in the funeral for United Flight 232 Pilot Captain Al Haynes. Brad Echter of the Sioux City Police Department helped organize the honor guard. He says Captain Haynes made such a huge impression on the city following the crash in 1989. “I thought it was only fitting that we go out and do something for him for all the good words he has said about the police department and the fire department and the emergency services…,” Echter says.

Haynes was the pilot of Flight 232 flying on its way from Denver to Chicago in 1989 when the DC-10 sustained hydraulic failure and made a crash landing in Sioux City. While more than 100 passengers perished in the flight, more than 180 survived the crash. Echter says Haynes children told him they would love to have the Sioux City honor Guard at their father’s service: “It was great coordination on all of our parts and the family was happy to have us on board. We’re obviously happy to go out there and do this for them, for the city of Sioux City, and the police department, and the fire department and the county,” Echter says.

United Airlines offered to fly the Honor guard to the service at the airline’s expense. Echter says two police officers, two firefighters and two Woodbury County deputies will make up the Honor Guard.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congressman Cindy Axne is sponsoring legislation to address some of the unwelcome surprises on medical bills. “The Update Act will require insurance companies to regularly update their directories to prevent patients from unknowingly receiving out-of-network care,” Axne says. The bill makes it clear insurance companies are responsible for updating the lists that show which doctors, clinics and other health care providers are “in network” — and therefore covered by an insurance policy. “I’m hearing story after story about folks who believe that a provider is ‘in-network’ because it is displayed on the insurance company’s website as well as folks who have called in and asked specifically if a provider is in-network,” Axne says. “Later, they get a bill because that provider isn’t ‘in-network’ and they’re held responsible for it.”

The two political parties have been quarreling about health care policy for years and Axne expects large reform packages to emerge in the coming months. But Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says this specific proposal is one that has bipartisan support and could be enacted quickly. “If we can take pieces out that we know have agreement and we can move that forward and actually make a difference, then we should take every opportunity to do that.”

A recent Stanford University study found four out of 10 patients wound up being surprised with an out-of-network charge on a medical bill. Axne says another study found 10 percent of providers listed in insurance company directories were either no longer in the company’s network — or had never been included at all. Senator Chuck Grassley is co-sponsoring a bill in the U.S. senate to crack down on surprising billing and Grassley is predicting “something’s going to pass” to address the issue.

The Neola Fire Department has announced the department will be implementing a Junior Firefighter Program for 16-to 18-year olds. If you are a student residing in the Neola Fire District, who is interested in a career as a firefighter or Emergency Services Provider (EMS), submit your application by October 25th. Contact any Neola Fireman for details, or JFF Coordinator Nate Andersen at 510-213-9238, for more information.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County, Tuesday, arrested 32-year old Robert Dale Hackwell, of Walnut. Hackwell was arrested at a residence in Walnut, for Violation of a Protection Order/Contempt of Court. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail. 26-year old Cody Duane Wills was arrested Tuesday, after he turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Violation of Probation.

29-year old Dalton Lee Dukes, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail, was served Tuesday with a Pott. County warrant for Failure to properly license an animal, and allowing animals to run at large. And, 33-year old Nicole Danielle Stephens was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail from the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail. Stephens was wanted on a State of Iowa Felony warrant for Eluding, Reckless Driving and other moving violations.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Jury deliberations are expected to resume Wednesday in the eastern Iowa trial of a woman accused of killing of her former boyfriend in 1992. The case against 56-year-old Annette Cahill was turned over to the jury Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments. Prosecutors say she used a baseball bat to kill 22-year-old Corey Lee Wieneke, whose body was found in October 1992 on his bedroom floor in rural West Liberty. Cahill’s first trial ended in a mistrial in March 2019 when the jury couldn’t reach a verdict.

The Muscatine Journal reports that a prosecutor said Tuesday that Cahill killed Wieneke a day after seeing him leave a bar with another woman. His attorney, Clemens Erdahl, said prosecutors lacked proof against his client, saying, “What evidence is there that Annette struck Corey?” A witness came forward in 2017, saying Cahill had implicated herself in the death in 1992, prompting authorities to re-examine the case. Cahill is now a mother of three adult children and a grandmother.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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