DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Native American tribe’s water source is one of a few critical sources that could be affected if there was a breach in the Dakota Access oil pipeline. The four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline crosses more than 200 water bodies, including the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which are water sources for a half-million customers in the Des Moines area.

The CEO of the area’s utility says he has emergency plans to deal with leaks, and he will review pipeline inspection reports regularly. It also crosses the Mississippi River, which is a water source for 4,000 people in southeast Iowa. Pipeline builder Energy Transfer Partners says the project will be constantly monitored and can shut off emergency valves remotely at any time.

A suspected case of child abuse brought police to the emergency room at Central Iowa Healthcare in Marshalltown. When officers arrived, they were briefed by the medical staff and informed that the child, a two-month-old male, was being flown by air ambulance to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines with serious injuries. Detectives were called in to continue the investigation. Based upon their investigation, they arrested the father of the child, 18-year-old Ryan Scott Nichols of Marshalltown.

Ryan Scott Nichols

Nichols is charged with the following offenses: willful injury, neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and child endangerment causing bodily injury. Nichols was transported to the Marshall County Jail where he remains pending his initial appearance in court.

The case remains under investigation by the Marshalltown Police Department and the Department of Human Services.

(Radio Iowa)

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa senator is optimistic the state Legislature will ban automated traffic cameras that he argues are primarily revenue sources for cities, but officials in Davenport say the devises have succeeded in reducing car speeds and preventing crashes. The Quad-City Times reports Republican Brad Zaun plans to push legislation to ban the cameras during the next legislative session. Zaun says many cameras often show inaccurate data because they’ve been improperly calibrated or checked.

Davenport traffic engineer Gary Statz says there’s been a large reduction in red light crashes at intersections with cameras though. He also cites a 34 percent decrease in vehicle trauma injuries as reported by Genesis Health System. Zaun says the bill will likely make it to the governor’s desk while Gov. Terry Brandstad is still in office.

The Harlan Police Department says an arrest has been made in association with several reports of packages that had been delivered to, and then stolen from, the front porch or steps of area residences. As a result of the investigation 50-year old Jeffrey Rowland, of Harlan, was found to have several of the stolen items in his possession.  Rowland was taken into custody last Friday (Dec. 9th) and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where he was charged with theft in the 3^rd degree.

That same day, 60-year old Cindy Jo Cassidy, of Harlan, was taken into custody after officers were called to Casey’s General Stores upon receiving a report of a possible shoplifter, Cassidy was transported to Shelby County Jail where she was charged with theft in the 5^th degree.

On Dec. 7th, Employees at the Harlan Do It Best Hardware store reported to police that 45-year old Cory Hess, of Dunlap, had allegedly removed an item and left the store without paying for it.  A complaint charging Hess with theft in the 5^th degree was filed with the Shelby County Clerk.

On Dec. 8th, Harlan Police arrested 32-year old Anthony Koester, of Harlan, on an active Shelby County warrant for theft 5^th degree.  Koester was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

Authorities in Harlan report also, on Dec. 10th, 55-year old Lee Jung Hoon Hansen, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Hansen was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

And, on Dec. 5th, 19-year old Seth Strong, of Elk Horn, was taken into custody when he drove past the scene of a traffic stop on Highway 44 just east of Shelby County Road M-47.  Authorities say Strong allegedly did not slow down, and the vehicle he was driving made excessive noise as it passed.  Strong was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with failure to move over or slow for stationary emergency vehicles.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in ambush-style attacks that killed two police officers last month. Scott Michael Greene submitted his written plea in a court filing Wednesday in which he also asked for a speedy trial.

The 46-year-old has been jailed since he was charged last month in the Nov. 1 shootings of Urbandale officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio. He faces life in prison if convicted of either count of first-degree murder.

The shootings took place about two miles apart within minutes of each other as both officers were sitting in their patrol cars. Authorities have said that Greene turned himself in hours later, and that a police dog later recovered a high-powered rifle used in the attacks.