BISMARCK, ND (AP) – Iowa regulators have gone beyond their counterparts in North Dakota by requiring owners of the Dakota Access Pipeline to provide expert analysis to back up the company’s claim that doubling the line’s capacity does not increase the potential of a spill. Energy Transfer wants to double the capacity of the pipeline to as much as 1.1 million barrels daily to meet growing demand for oil shipments from North Dakota, and is seeking permission for additional pump stations in the Dakotas, Iowa and Illinois to do it.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Officials are asking for help in finding the person who shot a bald eagle found in Ankeny that later died. Ankeny police notified state officials Jan. 3 after finding a bald eagle that was sitting on the ground at a busy intersection. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a wildlife rehabber captured the eagle and noted blood coming from its mouth. The eagle died within a few hours later. An X-ray showed the eagle died because of a lead shot BB in its lungs. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information can call 1-800-532-2020.

OMAHA, NE (AP)-  The amount of water being released into the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam will be reduced slightly to protect drinking water supplies even though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still working to eliminate water from last year. The Corps said Tuesday it is trimming the amount of water flowing out of Gavins Point to 27,000 cubic feet (764.55 cubic meters) per second. Corps spokeswoman Eileen Williamson said the new lower releases will allow the level of Lewis and Clark Lake to stabilize and ensure communities will be able to continue drawing drinking water from the lake,

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Tuesday (Today), January 21st, 46-year old Omar A. Martinez, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 300 months (25-years) in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute at least 500 Grams or More of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Martinz will serve ten years of supervised release following his release from prison.

The sentence was the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force into methamphetamine trafficking in Western Iowa and the Omaha Metro Area. The investigation revealed that methamphetamine was being brought from Mexico into the Omaha, Nebraska, area and then transported to various location in Nebraska and Western Iowa for distribution.

In addition to Martinez, 11 others were sentenced as part of the investigation. Bernave Navarrete and Chris Rouse were sentenced to 20-years each; Joseph Brown, Jackie Thielen, and Jessica Snavely were sentenced to 10-years; Brandy Kumpula and Colby Dunn, eight-years; Chase Richard, 15-years; Laura Rausch Anderson, Manda May Rowell, and, William LaBenz, were each sentenced to five-years in prison.

The case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harlan, Iowa Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the names of two people killed when the car they were in collided with a semitrailer in Sioux City. The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say the eastbound car didn’t halt for a red light at an intersection and collided with the northbound semi. The two people have been identified as the driver, 19-year-old Jordan Lines, and 18-year-old Rebecca Cedeno. They lived in Sioux City. Police have not released the name of the truck driver, who police say wasn’t injured.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds is asking legislators to provide two-MILLION dollars for creation of a new “School Safety Bureau” in the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “This is the next step that we can take in really being prepared and making sure that we’re training, reporting and investigating in a proper manner,” she says, “to do everything that we can to keep our kids safe.”

Officials are investigating apps and other tools that let students anonymously report concerns and threatening behavior.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Defense lawyers for the man charged with killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts are asking for his upcoming trial to be delayed. Lawyers for Cristhian Bahena Rivera say they need a delay in the Feb. 4 trial date so that they have time to appeal a judge’s ruling that allowed key evidence to be used against their client. The Iowa Supreme Court will consider whether to take the appeal before trial. Rivera’s lawyers also say they would now like to depose several individuals recently added to the prosecution’s witness list, including Tibbetts’ boyfriend at the time of her July 2018 disappearance.

Two Nebraska residents were arrested Sunday morning, in Thurman. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 57-year old Joseph W. Hofler, and 41-year old Laura Marie Gillespie, both from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, were taken into custody at around 11:30-a.m., Sunday, after the owner of a flooded-out business property in the 1500 block of Western Ave., in Thurman reported suspicious activity.

After an investigation at the scene deputies arrested Hofler and Gillespie for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 4th Degree. They were transported to the Fremont County Jail and held until each posted a five-thousand-dollar cash or surety bond. The incident is still under investigation.

Hofler

Gillespie (Photos courtesy the Fremont County S/O)