MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A hung jury has led to a mistrial in the murder trial of an Iowa woman accused in the 1992 beating death of her former boyfriend. The Muscatine Journal reports that a judge declared the mistrial Tuesday afternoon when the jury of five women and seven men declared they could not reach a verdict.

The jury began deliberating Monday in the trial of 56-year-old Annette Cahill, of Tipton. Cahill was arrested last year in connection with the 1992 killing of 22-year-old Corey Lee Wieneke, whose body was found in his West Liberty home.

Cahill, who pleaded not guilty, has no criminal history and works for a company that helps train police officers. She has said Wieneke was her best friend and denied any involvement in his death.

On Tuesday (March 12th) at 8:30-a.m., the Council Bluffs Police Department’s K-9, PAR (Police Area Representative), and VICE (Undercover) units, in conjunction with the Iowa Western Housing, executed a narcotics sweep of the Iowa Western Community College student parking lots. Vehicles were selected at random for K-9 units to conduct free air sniffs of the vehicle.

If the K-9s indicated to the odor of narcotics the student was contacted and a search of the vehicle was completed. Investigations from the contacts is ongoing at this time. Officials say the Council Bluffs Police Department and Iowa Western are committed to provide a safe and drug free learning environment for all students.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 7, 2019, Andrew Joseph Nielsen, age 30, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Nielsen was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for five years.

In April 2018, Nielsen was stopped by a Shelby County Deputy for speeding after trying to elude the deputy. In a search subsequent to the stop, methamphetamine and marijuana were found on Nielsen, along with baggies and scale in the vehicle. After further investigation, Shelby County Deputies and the fire department executed a controlled burn in the area of the stop and located a Phoenix Arms HP22 and a magazine with four rounds in it.

The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 7TH, 2019, that a Page County man, 26-year old Alexander Sterling Potter Milledge, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Counterfeiting Federal Reserve Notes. Milledge was sentenced six months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for two years.

In March 2018, Clarinda Police were called to Casey’s General Store regarding a patron that passed a counterfeit bill. Upon review of the surveillance tape, officers identified Alexander Milledge as the person who passed the counterfeit money. A search warrant was obtained for his residence and officers recovered numerous computers, printers, printer paper and approximately $35,000 in counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in different stages of manufacturing.

The case was investigated by Clarinda Police Department and the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has simplified the process by which convicted felons can seek restoration of their voting rights. Reynolds’ action comes as lawmakers consider her proposed constitutional amendment, which would automatically restore voting rights to most felons who have completed their sentences. Reynolds said Tuesday the process she’s created reduces an application from three pages to one.

It removes the requirement to submit a criminal background check and a related $15 fee, and it doesn’t require the collection of financial documentation that can be verified online. Reynolds says her goal is to grant or deny applications within a month of receipt. Reynolds has restored voting rights for 122 offenders. Her proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to felons passed the House Judiciary Committee last week. Iowa and Kentucky are the only states with broad permanent bans on felons voting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders has hired four key Iowa staffers, building out a team of old and new staff as he makes his second bid for president. Leading the team is Misty Rebik, who previously worked on LGBTQ rights and education advocacy for One Iowa, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. She’ll serve as Sanders’ state director.

Another new addition is Jess Mazour, who will serve as his political director. Mazour was most recently lead organizer on the farm and environment team at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a progressive advocacy group, and was a Sanders delegate in 2016.

Sanders has also brought back Evan Burger to serve as his Iowa caucus director, and Pete D’Alessandro to serve as a senior adviser to his team. Both worked on Sanders’ 2016 campaign.

(Updated 1-p.m.) Police in Glenwood report a Nebraska man was arrested on numerous charges early this (Tuesday) morning, following a pursuit and accident. 18-year old Nicolas Johnson, of Plattsmouth, NE., was taken into custody on two counts of Theft in the 4th degree, Felony Eluding, Child Endangerment and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash or surety bond was set at $13,300.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Johnson was traveling north on 221st Street at around 11;05-p.m. Monday, eluding law enforcement, when he tried to negotiate a curve. The vehicle he was driving, a 1992 Dodge, went out of control and entered the north ditch. It crashed through a fence and came to rest in a field. No injuries were reported.

Separately, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Chad Howard Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday late Monday morning, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The city of Waterloo won’t fine itself when city vehicles are caught by automated red light and speed cameras. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the issue came up Monday before the City Council voted on enhancing penalties for private vehicles and drivers frequently caught by the cameras. Police Chief Dan Trelka says his department won’t issue citations for violations by city-owned vehicles. Officers review footage of violations before authorizing citations to be mailed to the registered owners of the vehicles. The actual drivers are not identified. Councilwoman Sharon Juon says it doesn’t make sense for the city to fine itself.

Trelka says if there’s a problem with a city vehicle driver, it’s referred to the driver’s department head for discipline. Trelka has previously indicated a car owner can assign the citation to the person who was driving at the time, such as a friend who borrowed the vehicle. Council members did not discuss why the city couldn’t assign the citation to one of its employees using the same process.