COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today (Thursday) to seven years (84 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

According to public court documents, Reginald Juan Harris, Jr., 32, came to the attention of law enforcement in November 2023 for distributing cocaine and marijuana from his Council Bluffs residence. During a subsequent search warrant at his residence, law enforcement located approximately 12 grams of cocaine, approximately 950 grams of marijuana, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Harris 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. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today (Thursday) to 134 months (11-years) in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to public court documents, Lawrence Allen Peterson, II, also known as “Toro,” 48, conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine within the Council Bluffs metropolitan area between March and October 2023. In 2005, Peterson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Peterson 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. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

(Greenfield, Iowa)  – The Adair County Auditor’s Office has released the FINAL list of candidates and public measures to appear on the November 5th General Election ballot. ( See below)

DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2024) – The Food Bank of Iowa has received grants totaling $115,000 from Prairie Meadows. Food Bank officials say a Community Betterment Grant of $25,000 will help fight childhood hunger through support of Food Bank of Iowa pantries in Des Moines Public Schools. Food Bank of Iowa provides nutritious food, training and delivery free of charge to 162 schools across 44 counties; 53 of these pantries are in Des Moines Public Schools. A Legacy Grant of $90,000 will support a new mobile pantry unit in 2025, expanding fresh food distribution for central Iowans facing food insecurity.

Prairie Meadows is a nonprofit organization dedicated to lessening the burden of government by promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture and tourism in the state of Iowa. Food Bank of Iowa Vice President of Philanthropy Bergetta Beardsley said, “We are grateful to Prairie Meadows for this critical funding as we work to meet record need for food assistance across the metro. Prairie Meadows has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to our neighbors facing food insecurity time and time again and we deeply appreciate their partnership.”

A school food pantry cooler is pictured on March 27, 2024.

Gary Palmer, Prairie Meadows President and CEO, said “At Prairie Meadows, we believe in the power of giving back to our community. From funding meals for children facing hunger, to infusing life into our city playscapes, Prairie Meadows strives to make a difference in central Iowa. And we are beyond grateful that we have the means and opportunities to do so.”

(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.