CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man already in federal prison on gun convictions has been sentenced to another 20 years for trying to hire a hitman from behind bars to kill two northeastern Iowa people. Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Jason Harriman was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Harriman was convicted in January of two counts of murder-for-hire. Prosecutors say Harriman began serving a 15-year federal sentence in 2011 on gun charges and made multiple phone and email contacts from prison with someone he thought was a hired killer. The person was actually an undercover federal agent.

Investigators say Harriman met with the agent in prison and agreed to pay the “hitman” $21,000 for the murder of two people — even signing a contract.

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — Police in Rhode Island have arrested an Iowa man they say intended to visit singer Taylor Swift’s beachfront mansion in the state and was carrying a backpack containing a baseball bat and items commonly used in burglaries. Westerly Chief Shawn Lacey tells The Sun of Westerly that 32-year-old David Page Liddle, of Des Moines, Iowa, was arrested Friday after residents reported a suspicious man at a boat yard near Swift’s home.

Lacey says Liddle told officers he was looking to “catch up” with Swift because he knew her personally and she had agreed to help his singing career. Security guards at Swift’s mansion told police they had seen Liddle earlier outside the front gate.

Liddle was being held on $10,000 bond.

FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Linn County authorities identified a teen killed when a lawn mower he was operating overturned, pinning him beneath. Authorities say 17-year-old Alexander Wade Prochaska, of Cedar Rapids, died in the accident.

First responders were sent around 8:20 p.m. Monday to a site about a 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of Fairfax. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says Prochaska was trapped under the mower, which had overturned while he was trying to mow a ditch.

The teen was pronounced dead at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After initially saying he acted in self-defense, police have charged an off-duty jail employee who brandished a handgun during a fight at a car show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The Iowa State Fair Police announced Tuesday that John McCormick is charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, carrying a weapon under the influence and impersonating a peace officer.

The charges came after some witnesses said they were outraged that McCormick created a public safety scare but wasn’t arrested for the July 6 incident at the Good Guys car show. They wondered whether McCormick received special treatment since he works for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.

McCormick has said he wasn’t the “primary aggressor” in the fight and that he pulled the weapon in self-defense to protect himself and his wife. State Fair Police Commander Doug Phillips said initially that McCormick feared for his life.

Multiple witnesses disputed that account, saying that McCormick instigated the fight with a 69-year-old driver and pulled the concealed handgun and made threats after the man fought back.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning at the courthouse in Atlantic. During their session, Engineer’s assistant Dennis Vogl provided information on three projects.  The Iowa DOT has reviewed bid(s) received by Cass County for the projects.  Only one apparent bid was received for each project.

A bid for first project was 114.8% of engineer’s estimate.  County Engineer Charles Bechtold said “Re-advertising the project without any change to the contract requirements would not likely result in a lower bid.  After a short discussion, the Board approved a motion to award a contract for an Olive Street hot melt asphalt overlay project, to Henningsen Construction, Inc. in the amount of slight more than $2-million dollars.

A bid for a second project (a concrete box culvert replacement on Newport Road) was less than engineer’s estimate. The project was awarded to Gus Construction Co., Inc. for $408,131.20. And, the bid for the third project (a HMA overlay on the Lewis Road for 2020), was 102.7% of engineer’s estimate.  The county engineer said “Re-advertising the project without any change to the contract requirements would not likely result in a lower bid.” The Board awarded the project to Henningsen Construction, Inc., for a little more nearly $1.035-million dollars.

In other business, County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall said she had received an offer to purchase a 2019 County Held Tax Sale Certificate for a parcel of real estate.  Per the agreement, the purchaser would pay back taxes, penalty, interest and an assignment fee.  After short discussion, the Supervisors voted to assign a Tax Sale Certificate Theodore Wonio, for all back taxes, penalty, interest and the assignment fee.

The Iowa State Patrol today (Tuesday) released backlogged reports on numerous accidents, two of which occurred in southwest Iowa. Authorities say 47-year old Kevin Funke, of Creston, died July 16th in Adair County, when the 2010 Ford F-150 he was driving, was struck broadside by a 2005 Kenworth truck, driven by 56-year old Robert Wooden, of Eagleville, MO. The accident happened as Funke was traveling south on Pinewood Avenue at around 10:35-a.m. For reasons unknown, his pickup pulled in front of the Kenworth, which was traveling east on Highway 92. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in a ditch. Funke, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

And, two people from St. Louis, MO., were injured during a motorcycle accident Saturday morning, in Mills County. The Patrol reports a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 56-year old Gregory Goebel, was traveling south on I-29 near mile marker 39, when the cycle went out of control. Goebel and his passenger, 58-year old Catherine McDaniel, were ejected from the machine, which landed in the west ditch, near the shoulder.

Goebel was not wearing a helmet. He was flown by LifeNet helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha. McDaniel was wearing a helmet. She was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Bergan Mercy Hospital, in Omaha. The accident happened at around 7:07-a.m., Saturday.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested on multiple warrants on Tuesday afternoon.

At 2:24pm Red Oak Police arrested 31-year-old Joshua Arthur Rhodes of Council Bluffs on an active warrant for Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony. Rhodes was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

Rhodes was also arrested for another warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Revoked charge. He was held on an additional $5,000 bond for that charge.

The Atlantic Police Department on Tuesday afternoon released details on a number of recent arrests.

On July 12th Officers arrested 41-year-old Israel Sanchez of Phoenix, AZ for Public Intoxication. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On July 14th 29-year-old Tyler Mills of Atlantic was arrested for four counts of Violation of a No Contact Order, Stalking, and Tampering with Witness. He was booked in to the Cass County Jail. Mills was arrested on July 16th as well for Eluding.

On July 17th 17-year-old Gage Mundorf of Atlantic was arrested for Arson 1st Degree, Burglary 1st Degree, Theft 4th, and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later posted bond and was released.

On July 20th 2 arrests were reported. 29-year-old Joseph White of Atlantic was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Air/Blood Flow causing Bodily Injury. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Also on the 20th 50-year-old Randall Lewis of Anita was arrested for Operating While Under the Influence 1st Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On July 21st 40-year-old Tobin Jensen of Atlantic was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

On July 22nd 53-year-old Donald Wilson of Atlantic was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. He was booked in to the Cass County Jail.