Two accidents in central Iowa, Thursday, claimed the lives of three Iowans. The State Patrol reports the first crash happened at around 2:17-p.m. on Interstate 35 northbound, in Warren County. Authorities say a 2010 Ford Econoline van driven by 48-year-old Bryan Bard Byre, of Bondurant, was traveling on I-35 just south of St. Charles, when the vehicle left the road and entered the east ditch before striking a tree. Byre died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. The accident remains under investigation.

And, an accident in Jasper County at around 7:53-p.m. Thursday, occurred when a 2014 Lincoln MKX driven by 79-year-old Dorothy Findlow, of Monroe, traveled the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of Highway 163, and collided head-on with a 2022 Chevy Trailblazer SUV upon the left lane. Findlow died after being flown to a hospital in Des Moines. The driver of the SUV, 46-year-old Delia Vance, from Pella, died at the scene.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A former Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff has been sentenced to up to four decades in prison on theft and burglary charges. Forty-three-year-old Aaron Leusink was accused of stealing prescription pain medication and other property from the evidence room at the sheriff’s department and from two pharmacies as well as homes in the area. Leusink had over 16-hundred pills in his possession when he was arrested in the spring of 2020. Leusink spoke during his sentencing hearing.

“I’ve made some mistakes, your honor…I fully understand all of the people that I’ve hurt,” he said. “I apologize to my co-workers. I haven’t talked to any of them for two years. I had friendships that I didn’t think could be broken, bonds that couldn’t be broken. They were brothers and sisters to me and I violated all of that.” Prosecutor Monty Platz had asked for the maximum penalty on most counts, saying Leusink had betrayed the public trust.

“These crimes were committed almost exclusively either through or with the aide of his badge,” he says, “getting access to homes he otherwise would not have access to.” The former Plymouth County Sheriff, the current sheriff for the county and a deputy sheriff were among several people who gave victim impact statements during Thursday’s hearing. Leusink, who pleaded guilty to 11 different charges, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for first degree burglary, 10 years for second degree burglary and five years for felonious misconduct in office — for a total of 40 years in prison.

Eight other counts for burglary, theft and unlawful possession of prescription drugs will be served concurrently.

(Radio Iowa) – An employee of the Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs has been fired for helping a romantic partner gamble on credit. Casino managers reported the incident to state regulators. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reviewed the case and has fined the casino 10-thousand dollars. Commission administrator Brian Ohorilko says a customer used a credit card to buy food and beverages and added hefty tips for a casino employee who was their dating partner.

“There were three situations that occurred over a two day period with a tip ranging anywhere from $100 to $280,” Ohorilko says. The AmeriStar employee converted the tips to cash and gave it back.  “That customer then used that money to gamble at the casino,” Ohrilko says, “and so that is a violation of Iowa Code.”

Iowa law forbids gambling on credit at the state’s casinos and on sports betting apps. You also have to use cash to buy lottery tickets in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission had planned to announce the date it would begin accepting applications for a new Iowa casino, but given recent legislative action, that plan was tabled at today’s (Thursday’s) commission meeting.

Late last year, Linn County voters approved a gambling referendum. Earlier this week a group of developers announced plans for a 250-million casino and entertainment complex in Cedar Rapids. But last week the legislature overwhelmingly approved a two-year moratorium that blocks applications for new casino licenses through June 30th of 2024. The governor has not said whether she intends to sign or veto the casino moratorium, but state gambling regulators are proceeding as if it were in force, saying if anything changes, they could open the application window for a Cedar Rapids casino license later.

Cedar Rapids has applied for a state casino license twice before and been denied. The commission cited studies indicating
casinos in Riverside and Waterloo would lose customers to a casino in Cedar Rapids.