(Radio Iowa) – Forty-three-year-old Kyle Ricke has entered a written plea of not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram last month.

Online court records show a pretrial conference has been scheduled for November 14th in Kossuth County District Court. If there are no delays in the case, a trial has been scheduled to begin on December 12th. Ricke is accused of shooting Cram, who was trying to serve an arrest warrant on the Algona man, and then fleeing the area around 8 p-m on September 13th. Ricke was apprehended near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota later that evening after an extensive search that involved law enforcement agencies from Iowa and Minnesota.

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately on Monday, October 9, and remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, October 15, 2023, to honor the lives lost – including at least nine Americans – in the horrific attacks committed against Israel by Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas.

“Iowans mourn for the families of those killed by Hamas in Israel. Hamas’ brutality knows no bounds, with reports of Holocaust survivors, women, and children taken by Hamas militants from their homes as hostages or brutally murdered,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Today and every day, Iowa stands in solidarity with Israel and their right to defend themselves.”

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

CRESTON, Iowa – Oct. 9, 2023 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office says “If you drive on U.S. 59 north of Shenandoah you need to be aware of a bridge replacement project that begins on Monday, Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. until Aug. 1, 2024, that may slow down your trip. U.S. 59 will be closed one mile north of Iowa 48. While crews work on this project you will need to follow a marked detour route from Iowa 48 to U.S. 34.”

The DOT asks motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports area first responders were called Saturday (Oct. 7th) to the 66-mile marker of eastbound Interstate 80, for a semi tractor and trailer that slid into the ditch and tipped to it’s side.  Upon arrival, responders found that a 2010 Volvo semi tractor and trailer being operated by William Hair, of Winston Salem, NC, was traveling East on I-80, when the semi slid into the South ditch and eventually rolled onto it’s side.

Hair suffered minor injuries during the accident but had a cardiac event soon after that required emergency medical attention.  Life-light was requested and the driver was transported to a regional hospital for emergent care.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Oct. 3rd, Deputies arrested 49-year-old Dodi Avey, of Lewis, for allegedly Depositing or Throwing Litter on the Highway.  Avey was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

And, on September 27th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 42-year-old Christina Burnsworth, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Burnsworth was picked up and transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On September 28th, 42-year-old David Wall, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested for allegedly Depositing or Throwing Litter on the Highway.  Wall Jr. was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.