(Radio Iowa) A southern Iowa man accused of convincing a Missouri girl to send him nude photos of herself has pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office in Missouri, 60-year-old David Jonathon Dodds of Corydon began contacting the victim through Instagram when she was 13 and she sent Dodds nude photos of herself when she was 14. The teenager told investigators she tried to cut off contact, but Dodds repeatedly called her cell phone and messaged her on Facebook. The harassment lasted until she was 18 and prosecutors say Dodds even called the victim’s boyfriend and sent online messages to the victim’s parents. She eventually told her family about the harassment and her father contacted law enforcement. As part of the plea deal, Dobbs is expected to serve 15 years in federal prison.

(Radio Iowa) Governor Kim Reynolds has signed onto a lawsuit that seeks to stop President Biden’s plan to cancel up to 20-thousand dollars in student loan debt for many borrowers.

Reynolds is joining a lawsuit filed by the Republican-led states of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and South Carolina. In a written statement, Reynolds said the president’s plan is an insult to working people and it punishes Americans who didn’t go to college or already paid their student loans. According to the Biden Administration, more than 400-thousand Iowans are eligible for student debt relief. Deidre DeJear, the Democrat running against Reynolds, says her opponent is fighting against the interests of hardworking Iowans by trying to get the courts to block Biden’s plan.

In late August, Biden announced a plan to forgive at least 10-thousand dollars in student loan debt for Americans making 125-thousand dollar or less annually. It would be doubled to 20-thousand dollars of debt relief for low income students who qualified for Pell Grants.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is planning to raise the penalty against casinos for underage gambling and violations of the self-ban. During its meeting Thursday, members discussed raising the minimum penalty from one to three thousand dollars. Iowa Gaming Association president and CEO Wes Eherecke says the industry is concerned about how the amount is determined.

He says the current wording says a fine up to one-thousand dollars — but all fines have become one thousand. Eherecke says the industry would like to see some plan for fines that differentiates them based on the seriousness. He cites a recent case.

Commission members say one of the factors is inflation and the fine has not been changed in 32 years. They also agreed to look at some parameters so that the fines are based on the severity of the violation. Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the recent violations prompted them to take a look at the fines.

The have been 162 fines of one-thousand dollars by the Gaming Board in the last five years and 79 were for violations by minors and 24 for self-exclusion violations. Ohorilko says they will move forward with the rule process after the discussion Thursday.

The Racing and Gaming Commission met in West Des Moines.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday at 9:06 p.m. of 20-year-old Cody Alan Robertson of Creston on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Robertson was arrested at 302 North Pine Street in Creston. He was booked into the Union County Jail and later posted $1,000 bond.

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 29, 2022 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires a complete closure of westbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of eastbound I-80 between Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) and Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) from 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

During these closures, traffic will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway.

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.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests and one accident.

On Tuesday, September 27th Deputies arrested 47-year-old Brent William Michael of Malvern for Driving While Barred. Michael was arrested on Main Street in Malvern at 10:48 p.m. Michael was booked into the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Early on the morning of Thursday, September 29th Richard James Linfor of Shenandoah was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The arrest occurred on Locust Street in Glenwood at 1:05 a.m. Linfor was booked into the Mills County Jail on $300 bond.

An accident was reported on Wednesday, September 28th at 11:30 a.m. A FedEx Van driven by 28-year-old Quan Dukes of Omaha, NE reported that he was approaching the stop sign at Pruden Avenue and Highway 275 and couldn’t see through gravel dust. He was unable to stop at the intersection before striking the trailer of a 2004 FRHT that was being operated by 60-year-old Curtis Cashatt of Glenwood. No injuries were reported but damage was caused to both the van and trailer.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests on Wednesday, September 28th.

At 6:33 p.m. Officers arrested 36-year-old Kyle Wesley Kreb of Creston in the 500 block of South Maple Street. Kreb was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Methamphetamine. Kreb was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

At 6:09 p.m. 38-year-old Amanda Olivia Jones of Creston at 302 North Pine Street. Jones was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 2nd Offense. Jones was taken to Union County Jail and held until posting $2,000 bond.

At 8:26 p.m. 58-year-old James Chandler Sash of Creston was arrested at 706 West Adams Street. Sash was charged with Indecent Exposure and taken to the Union County Jail. Bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the early morning arrest of a man on an assault charge Thursday morning. At 12:04 a.m. Red Oak Police arrested 20-year-old Alec Jordan Jeffries of Red Oak in the 2400 block of North Broadway Street on a charge of Aggravated Assault. Jeffries was booked in to the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance in locating a missing/runaway juvenile.

Authorities say 16-year-old Izabella Benavidez is an Hispanic female, 5-feet 2-inches tall. She weighs 126-pounds, has  brown hair and brown eyes, as well as tattoos on each thigh that say “TRUST” & “NONE” and “999” on her middle finger.

Izabella was last seen in Des Moines near the Motel 6 by I-80 and NE 14th Street on September 3, 2022, she was wearing a red tank top, gray shorts and black Nike tennis shoes.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service have been following up on leads as they are reported. There have been possible sightings of Izabella in Omaha, Nebraska area, and it has been reported that she may be staying in homeless camps. The Marshals Service in Omaha is following up on the leads in that area but have not been successful in locating Izabella.

Izabella Benavidez

Izabella may be staying with friends that have been helping her avoid detection from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. If anyone sees or learns of Izabella’s location, please call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at (515)286-3333.

(Radio Iowa) – Northwest Iowa agencies began getting 9-1-1 calls at about seven this (Wednesday) morning about a large fire at the Casey’s along Highway 18 on the west side of Hull. The Hull Fire Department responded and found the roof area of the business engulfed by fire. Employees were inside when the fire started and also reported an explosion that occurred inside shortly after flames and smoke were seen.

All of the employees were able to safely evacuate the business and no one was injured. Fire departments from Sioux Center and Rock Valley assisted in putting the fire out. No damage estimates have been made and the fire remains under investigation.