DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating an explosion that destroyed a Des Moines house and damaged others early Friday, injuring some neighbors. The blast occurred at around 3:15 a.m. a few blocks northeast of Birdland Park. A few minor injuries have been reported at neighboring homes but no deaths, authorities said. Investigators have yet to report what caused the explosion and fire, but a natural gas buildup is suspected. MidAmerican Energy has cut off service to neighboring properties and conducted leak tests and inspected gas lines. The company said the system components checked are functioning normally.

Brandon Linn told station KCCI that the boom caused his window air-conditioning unit to fly across a room in his house. Teresa Trettin, 56, told The Des Moines Register that she heard a bang “loud enough to wake someone up in a deep sleep.” Debris landed in trees, the street and on nearby properties, and several windows in the neighborhood were shattered. “It’s going to be a mess to clean up, but it sure beats being in that house,” Trettin said. Neighbors reported that no one had been living in the house for at least a couple of years because the former residents had health problems.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Another defendant has been imprisoned in the slaying of a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. Des Moines County District Court records say 44-year-old Derrick Parker was sentenced last week to 15 years. He’d pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and to willful injury.

Parker was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. Andre Harris also has been sentenced to 15 years, and Antoine Spann was given 20 years. Caesar Davison and Emmanuel Spann have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests took place from August 26^th through September 12^th. Most recently, 42-year old James Almadarris, of Winettka, California, was arrested September 12^th for Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft in the 2^nd. On Sept. 7th, 18-year old Rachael Stanley, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft in the 5^th degree, and, 47-year old Amy Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear.

On Sept. 1st, 20-year old Froilan Amaya, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Amaya was arrested again on September 2^nd for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. On August 31st, 32-year old Justin Donaldson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Atlantic for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. On August 29th, 70-year old Stephen Tasto, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for 2nd Degree Theft, and 31-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in. Authorities say while he was in custody, Cooley was additionally charged with two counts of Burglary in the 3^rd, three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 5^th and Theft  in the 3rd Degrees.

And, on Aug. 26th, 28-year old Mario Lopez, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5^th Degree.

Each of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail.

IOWA FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa city has agreed to pay $250,000 to a man who suffered a broken leg in 2017 after a police officer took him to the ground during an arrest. A settlement shows the city of Iowa Falls and its insurer agreed to the payment in July to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Aaron Bailey. Bailey was arrested for disorderly conduct and handcuffed outside his home by officer Joe Metz.

As Metz was walking Bailey to his squad car, the officer said Bailey was belligerent and appeared to try to head-butt him. The officer said he took Bailey to the ground and fell on him. Bailey’s lawsuit claimed Metz picked Bailey up and slammed him down after Bailey called the officer a homosexual slur. It claimed that Bailey suffered a compound leg fracture that resulted in permanent injuries.

The lawsuit also called the underlying arrest baseless. Bailey pleaded guilty to public intoxication and charges of interference with official acts and disorderly conduct were dropped.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports four candidates for offices in Cumberland and Massena have filed nomination papers for the Nov. 5th City Elections in Cass County:

• N. Virginia Coughlin (incumbent) for Mayor in Cumberland
• Micah Lee – (Incumbent) Massena City Council
• Sandra Eversole and Scott W. Becker,( incumbents) for Cumberland City Council.