(Radio Iowa) – Remains that were found in Missouri 46 years ago have been identified as southeast Iowa girl. Wapello County Sheriff’s Detective Aaron McConnell is asking for the public’s help in the death of 15-year-old Helen Renee Grooms of Ottumwa who went missing in 1977.

“Anybody that knew Helen back in 1977, 1978, or the family is encouraged to call us. Even if you think it’s nothing. It’d still be nice to put little pieces of the puzzle together,” McConnell says. Grooms was dubbed “Lincoln County Jane Doe” since her body was found in the Mississippi River near Elsberry, Missouri in March 1978. Her body was exhumed last October and a Southeast Missouri University Anthropology professor and undergraduate students were able to collect a DNA sample.

“The Lincoln County Coroner’s Office made contact with us, gave us a brief synopsis of what they had done already,” McConnell says. “They advised that they had a possible DNA match to a possible brother.” McConnell says a family DNA sample he collected matched the girl’s DNA and allowed investigators to identify Grooms. Her remains were returned to her family.

Helen Grooms. (Photo provided by Wappello County Sheriff’s Office)

McConnell described meeting Grooms’ brother. “You can just imagine, right? A brother not knowing where your sister was for 46-47 years,” McConnell says. “Every family deserves to know what happened to their loved ones that went missing no matter how long ago it was.” The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says there are approximately 585 cold cases in the state of Iowa.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say a woman from Malvern was arrested Tuesday evening on an Assault charge. 36-year-old Cally Ann Evans was arrested at around 7:25-p.m. in Malvern, and charged with Assault. Bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) – The Powerball jackpot has grown to more than one BILLION dollars for Wednesday’s drawing. It follows the Mega Millions jackpot won last week that was also more than one BILLION dollars. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, watches a specific aspect of the game when the jackpots get higher. “It’s something that’s called coverage. And what that number means is how many of all of the possible combinations of numbers in the game have been purchased or quote unquote, covered for a particular drawing,” she says. Neubauer says the addition of another drawing has had an impact on coverage numbers for Powerball.

“Because the Monday drawing in Powerball has only been around for about three years now, the coverage for a Monday drawing has always been lower. I think people are still figuring out that Powerball has a Monday drawing,” Neubauer says. “So in our recent drawings, what we’re seeing is that there is a higher quote , unquote coverage number for Wednesday and Saturday.”
Neubauer says the coverage number isn’t always a predictor that a jackpot will be claimed. “Interestingly when the Mega Millions jackpot that huge Mega Millions jackpot was just won last week. The coverage in that game wasn’t wasn’t terribly high. It was also only in the twenty percent range and there still was jackpot winner in the game,” she says.

Neubauer says the Powerball game has come a long way, the starting jackpot at the beginning was two million dollars.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), released a report on arrests that occurred from March 20th through the 31st.

On March 31st, 18-year-old Blake Welch, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense.  Welch was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; 42-year-old Lesli Wiston Altamirano, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense.  Wiston Altamirano was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On March 30th, 43-year-old Nichole Anaya, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving while Revoked and Possession of a Controlled Substance – 1st Offense.  Anaya was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance; 19-year-old Alex Rush, of Griswold, was arrested March 30th, on a warrant for Probation Violation.  Rush was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On March 29th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year-old Devin Register, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Failure to Appear.  Register was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his release after time served; 28-year-old Kris Sorcey, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving while Revoked.  Sorcey was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On March 24th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 65-year-old Randall Krogh, of Atlantic, for OWI/2nd Offense, and Interference with Official Acts.  Krogh was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

And, on March 20th, 45-year-old Brian Meredith, of Wheaton, IL, was arrested in Cass County, for OWI/1st Offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance – 1st Offense.  Wheaton was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Another proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution has emerged at the statehouse. Republicans in the Senate are proposing a constitutional amendment that would require a flat rate for personal income taxes in Iowa. Under current law, Iowa’s multi-rate system is being phased out, to reach a single rate of three-point-nine percent by 2026. Republican Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig says multiple rates that impose a higher tax the more income a person earns penalizes success.

“Every time you feel like you’re moving ahead, you’re rewarded by a salary, there’s another hurdle,” Schultz says. “We’re just going to take another chunk of that money.” Eleven states have a flat tax and four of those states have constitutions requiring a flat income tax. Democrats oppose the concept. Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, says the amendment would limit the legislature’s authority to make decisions about taxing and spending. “Taxes are not necessarily things that people want to pay, but services are what they expect to receive,” Winckler said, “and that balance is important.”

Last week, House Republicans proposed a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote by lawmakers to raise income taxes. Proposed constitutional amendment have to clear the House AND the Senate twice — in years that are separated by a statewide election — before Iowans see the proposed amendment on a ballot for yes or no vote.