A convicted felon who possessed a gun and ammunition and discharged the gun inside a Cedar Rapids apartment building was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison. 39-year old Brian Lee Brown, of Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after a March 2nd, 2017, guilty plea to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. While imposing the sentence, the Court noted that Brown had an extensive criminal history going back to age 18 and that he had a history of violence. The Court also noted that Brown possessed a rifle and live ammunition and that he discharged the rifle in his apartment. The round went through his apartment wall and into an adjacent apartment. A woman and two children were in that apartment, but no one was injured.

Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Brown was sentenced to eighty-seven months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A traffic stop at around 7-p.m. Friday in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 44-year old Timothy Peter Gearhart, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense. Gearhart was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

A call about a disturbance at around 7:30-p.m. Friday in Red Oak, resulted in three arrests. Authorities say 39-year old Edgar Ralph Wilkins, Jr., 38-year old Wendi Ann Wilkins, and 25-year old Cody Dean Johnson, all of Red Oak, were arrested in the 100 block of W. Hammond Street, for Disorderly Conduct. The trio was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond, each.

Police in Red Oak, early this (Saturday) morning, responded to a report of a drinking party involving six persons underage, in the 1200 block of E. Summit Street. One person, 25-year old Chelsea Brianne Gugenhan, of Red Oak, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Her bond, at the Montgomery County Jail, was set at $300.The incident was reported at around 12:15-a.m.

Among those who were cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol and then released at the scene, was:

• 18-year old Colby John Nicholas Rasmussen, of Elliott
• 20-year old Michael Lee Hughes, 18-year old Ciara Lianne Hebb, 20-year old Yessica Lemus-Silva, and 20-year old Cameo Taylor Stephens all of Red Oak.
• 20-year old Roberto James Valquier, of Shenandoah.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman charged with voting twice for Donald Trump last fall has pleaded guilty to election misconduct. Court records show that in exchange Terri Lynn Rote’s guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a perjury charge. A judge accepted the plea on June 27 and set sentencing for Aug. 15. Rote told police that she believed Trump’s claims that the election was rigged and thought that her first ballot would be changed to a vote for Hillary Clinton.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats against Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Federal court records show 64-year-old Robert William Simet was arrested Friday by FBI agents in Omaha and charged with threatening a U.S. official. An arrest affidavit says employees of a Pacific Junction, Iowa, motorcycle shop told an FBI agent that Simet had been there Wednesday and made threats against Ernst, including that he could kill her.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Willie Stevenson Glanton, Iowa’s first black female legislator and the first woman to lead the state’s Federal Bar Association chapter, has died at age 95. The Des Moines Register reports the former prosecutor served on numerous boards, commissions and councils during a life dedicated to law, human services and civil rights. She served in the Iowa House from 1965 to 1967 as a Democrat. She died Thursday while in hospice care in Des Moines.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal judge is striking down a Utah law banning secret filming at farm and livestock facilities as an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights. U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby wrote in the ruling handed down Friday that the law appears tailored toward preventing animal-rights activists from exposing abuses at agricultural facilities. It was passed amid a wave of similar measures around the country, including one in Idaho that was struck down in a decision that’s being appealed.

First-term Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse spoke to a crowd of about 200 Republicans in Nevada (IA) this (Friday) evening. Sasse says as a “newbie” politician, he is “frustrated” by the G-O-P’s current stalemate over health care. “For seven years, this party has been for the repeal and replace of ObamaCare,” Sasse says. “The president just ran and won on it. There are 52 Republicans in the Senate. Fifty-one of us have pledged to repeal ObamaCare.”

And Sasse questions why the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate would even suggest striking a deal with Democrats rather than come up with a Republican plan. “I acknowledge it is really hard to do that, to get to agreement on what a replace plan looks like,” Sasse said. “What wouuld a rational person who’s made a bunch of pledges do? You’d say: ‘Well, maybe we ought to separate these steps. Maybe we ought to keep our word on repeal.'”

And Sasse says after passing a bill that repeals ObamaCare this month, congress should skip its August recess and stay and work on a replacement “full time.”  “And we ought to not leave DC until we finish the work,” Sasse said, to applause. There was heightened attention to Sasse’s appearance at the Story County Republican Party’s fundraiser after Iowa G-O-P’s chairman said Sasse should “stay on his side of the Missouri River” if he planned to criticize President Trump.

Jeff Ortiz, the co-chair of Story County Republicans, says ticket sales actually soared after the remark. “Jeff Kaufmann called me the next day to make sure I wasn’t mad at him,” Ortiz said, with a smile. “And I told him: ‘Heck no…It’s all good.'” Sasse did not mention the name “Donald Trump” during his 55 minute appearance and the audience didn’t press Sasse on his past Trump critiques. Jim Frevert has lived in Nevada for 53 years and he says Trump is popular in the community. “He’s doing his own thing,” Frevert says. “And he’s getting things done.”

Sasse, who is sometimes listed in national media as a possible 2020 primary challenger of President Trump, was asked by a woman in the crowd why he was in Iowa, not Nebraska Friday night. Sasse said his kids are participating in a triathlon in Des Moines Saturday and that’s the main reason, plus he’s honoring a lost bet over the Nebraska-Iowa football game. Sasse was a Uber driver in Des Moines Friday night — and he wore Hawkeye gear while doing it.

(Radio Iowa)

Rescue crews, law enforcement and other emergency agencies were called to the scene of a semi-vs. van accident Friday evening in Interstate 80, about a mile east of the Wiota exit (65.15 mile marker). The accident happened at around 8:30-p.m., when a semi struck the van in the westbound lanes. The van ended up on the eastbound side of I-80, while the truck was on the bridge, partially blocking the westbound lanes of travel. The eastbound side was also congested with traffic.

One injury was reported. A female in the van suffered from head, neck and back pain. Wiota Fire and Rescue, Anita 1st responders, the Iowa State Patrol and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were all heading toward the scene.

Officials with the Danish Mill Corporation in Elk Horn, Friday, announced that they have received a $150,000 gift toward their $200,00 goal, from the Mike & Lou Howard Charitable Fund. The funds will support the major restoration project that is underway on the historic 1848 Danish Windmill.

Lisa Steen Riggs, Manager of the Mill said in a press release, that this is a much needed and appreciated donation. “The Mill is replacing its 67’ long sails, which were installed 41 years ago when the Mill arrived in Elk Horn, as well as the wind shaft, repairing the brake wheel and fan tail. Windmills are very complicated pieces of machinery and our Mill is close to being 200 years old. This major overhaul will help to insure its future well-being for many years to come.”

Mike and Lou Howard of Elk Horn presented the check saying, “After our frequent business trips, when we arrive in Elk Horn and see the Windmill with its sails welcoming us with open arms, we know we’re home. This is an opportunity to show our support for the community where we live and where our businesses have prospered. We look forward to seeing the Windmill turning again soon.”

The installation of the Mill’s new components is expected to occur the around the end of August. To find out more about the historic Danish Windmill and the restoration project, visit danishwindmill.com.

Photos from the Danish Windmill Corp. Facebook page

In update to our earlier reports, Cass County Sheriff’s Officials say the accident whereby a person was trapped,  involved a soil packing/compacting machine. Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Ayers told KJAN News that 49-year-old Jeffrey Albert, of Kimballton, was running the machine, prepping the area for a new grain bin pad, when the machine tipped over on a slope. Crews from Heuton Construction were on the scene and immediately used a backhoe to lift the compactor off of Albert’s legs.

Albert suffered from multiple fractures of both legs and was flown by LifeNet to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. Griswold Fire and Rescue, Lewis 1st Responders and Medivac assisted the Sheriff’s Office at the scene.