A man accused of killing four people in a small town in Nebraska has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges. Jason Jones on Monday waived his right to appear in person at a May 22 arraignment and instead entered written not guilty pleas to four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. Jones is accused of killing four people in Laurel, Nebraska, in August 2022. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Jones' wife, Carrie Jones, faces one count of first-degree murder and other charges. She is scheduled for an arraignment on May 22.
The reward is rising for information that can help police catch a suspected killer. Siouxland News CBS/FOX 44 reports authorities are now offering $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of 39-year-old Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales of Sioux City.
A new effort has been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature to restrict abortion access in the state, less than two weeks after a bill that would have banned abortion at around six weeks of pregnancy failed to overcome a filibuster. The plan to ban abortions at 12 weeks of pregnancy introduced late Monday drew fervent protests from opponents who had been assured by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch that the abortion proposal was dead for the session. Drawing even more outrage was the way the measure was introduced: as an amendment to a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors — the most controversial bill of the session that has led at least two lawmakers to filibuster every bill before the body this year.
Iowa is facing a statewide critical shortage of nurses.
Under the legislature’s proposed budget that’s awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature, the University of Iowa nursing program would get nearly 3 million dollars to hire more staff.
UI plans to launch a program where people who hold a master’s degree in another field will be able to graduate with a Master’s in Nursing in just 20 months.
The state budget is still awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature.
Zerwic made her comments on IPR’s River to River.
The board that governs the three state universities will hold the first reading of a proposed 3.5% tuition increase at its meeting Thursday.
Radio Iowa reports the Board of Regents’ staff is proposing that increase of in-state tuition for Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa for the 2023-2024 academic year after the Iowa Legislature provided no increase in overall funding to the schools.
The Administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says the agency didn’t start the investigation into gambling by athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State.
Administrator Brian Ohorilko tells Radio Iowa the agency was made aware of the investigation — but is not the entity that’s conducting it. Ohorilko also says the sports books they oversee do monitor for irregular sports betting patterns — but the agency has not been informed of any integrity issues involving the two state schools.
Farmers had dry planting weather most of last week and they made the most of it.
The corn harvest shot to 70% planted compared to 29% in the previous week. Corn planting had been one day behind the five-year average, and is now one week ahead. The U.S.D.A. also reports that six percent of the planted corn has emerged — one day ahead of average.
Soybean planting moved to 49% complete — up from 16% the week before — and one week ahead of the five-year average.
Submitted news releases:
Western Iowa Tech Community College Holds Regional Law Enforcement Academy Graduation
Ten students will graduate from Western Iowa Tech Community College Regional Law Enforcement Academy on Thursday, May 11th 2023 at 12:00pm (Cargill Auditorium, Parking lot 4). The academy graduates are deputies and officers from law enforcement agencies in Iowa: Spirit Lake Police Department, Crawford County Conservation, Sanborn Police Department, Sioux City Police Department, Hinton Police Department, and Le Mars Police Department.
This is the 33rd academy class to graduate from the Western Iowa Tech Community College Regional Academy. The Regional Academy is an intermediate course for candidates that have a Police Science two-year degree or a Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis in police technology. It is a nine-week program where students demonstrate competencies in 54 different subject matters from unbiased policing, cultural competency, ethics, mental health training, firearms, and legal issues.
Submitted news release:
Consumers are Warned of a Vehicle Sales Scam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Contact: Alyssa Brouillet | Press Secretary | 515-823-9112 | alyssa.brouillet@ag.iowa.gov
ANKENY, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Investigation & Identity Protection and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird are warning the public to be aware of a fraudulent vehicle sales scam.
A criminal entity, using the website https://pettymotors.com/, has been attempting to impersonate Petty Motors, Inc., a licensed and legitimate car dealership in Knoxville, Iowa.
If you have had dealings with a company you believe to be either Petty Motors or Petty Motors, Inc. please contact the dealership at (641)891-8980 to verify the authenticity of your interactions.
Contact the Iowa DOT’s Bureau of Investigation & Identity Protection at invbureau@iowadot.us or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division at (515)281-5926 to confirm legitimacy or to report any interactions believed to be fraudulent.
Western Iowa Tech Community College Holds Regional Law Enforcement Academy Graduation
Ten students will graduate from Western Iowa Tech Community College Regional Law Enforcement Academy on Thursday, May 11th 2023 at 12:00pm (Cargill Auditorium, Parking lot 4). The academy graduates are deputies and officers from law enforcement agencies in Iowa: Spirit Lake Police Department, Crawford County Conservation, Sanborn Police Department, Sioux City Police Department, Hinton Police Department, and Le Mars Police Department.
This is the 33rd academy class to graduate from the Western Iowa Tech Community College Regional Academy. The Regional Academy is an intermediate course for candidates that have a Police Science two-year degree or a Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis in police technology. It is a nine-week program where students demonstrate competencies in 54 different subject matters from unbiased policing, cultural competency, ethics, mental health training, firearms, and legal issues.
Morningside student designs Sioux City Garden Club centennial logo
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Sophomore graphic design and history major Miriam Moore won a design contest with the Sioux City Garden Club for their centennial logo to be used in 2026.
Moore was one of 26 Morningside graphic design students to submit an entry to the board of the Sioux City Garden Club. The board narrowed the entries to a top six, and the members of the club voted for their top two. Moore’s design took the top spot, followed by marketing major Mandi De Jongh, who earned second place.
“I wanted to create a logo that was timeless, something that the Garden Club could use for another 100 years,” Moore said. “I also wanted the design to be really special and specific to the club, so I incorporated their official flower, the petunia, into the central floral arrangement, which I drew out by hand.”
The logo is in advance for the club’s centennial in 2026 and worked in partnership with Morningside’s graphic design program to run the logo competition. La Vone Sopher ’79 is the President of the Sioux City Garden Club, and reached out to Shelby Prindaville, Head of the Visual Arts Department, with the idea.
“Miriam’s logo balances her beautiful imagery with a legible and well-selected typeface and text placement. This logo skillfully satisfies all of the Garden Club’s requested features and is a professional, inviting, and functional design,” Prindaville said.
Moore’s first place design will be the club’s new logo and came with a $50 prize. De Jongh’s second place received a $25 prize.
Sanford Research receives $6.2 million grant for cancer biology research Phase 3 COBRE grant awarded by National Institutes of Health
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sanford Research was recently awarded a $6.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for its continued cancer research in the upper Midwest.
“This award will allow us to continue building our research expertise in cancer biology and throughout the region,” said Keith Miskimins, scientist at Sanford Research. “It will also provide support for shared facilities that are essential for investigators to perform cancer-related studies and studies in other areas of biomedical research.”
For the past decade, Sanford Research has worked to create a Center of Biomedical Research for basic science and translational cancer researchers. The core of Sanford’s cancer research is uncovering the basic mechanisms underlying the development of cancer, understanding the importance of the immune system and in turn developing novel approaches to treat cancer.
“Through the trust that’s been instilled in us by the NIH, we’ve been able to create clinical oncology programs to help better understand how different therapies can help our immune systems destroy cancer tumors in humans,” said David A. Pearce, president of Sanford Research. “We also continue to mentor young researchers and equip them with the skills and experience that will set them up for success as they launch their research careers and become successful independent investigators.”
Sanford Research’s focus on cancer research, includes expertise in:
- Pediatric brain tumors
- Osteosarcom
- Leukemia
- Head and neck cancers
- Breast cancer
For more information about Sanford Research, visit Research.SanfordHealth.org.
About Sanford Health Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves more than one million patients and 220,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 47 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations and world clinics in 8 countries around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health's commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.orgor Sanford Health News.
Community Action Agency of Siouxland is hosting Big Truck Night on May 17th.
Each year, Community Action Agency of Siouxland hosts a Big Truck Night for all of the kids in our community and in our Early Childhood Education Programs, to experience and see larger vehicles up close! They will have the opportunity to climb in a fire truck, learn about tow trucks, and interact with a so many more! We partner with many businesses and organizations around town to make this event as special as possible for all of the children in attendance.
This year we have received a donation from Tyson that will be used to provide free food and frozen meat for families in attendance to take home with them as supplies last, Chesterman Coca-Cola Co. has generously donated water for the event, and Wells Blue Bunny will be sponsoring frozen treats for the attendees!
Big Truck Night will be held on May 17th from 5:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. at the Tyson Event Center West Parking Lot.