SLOAN, Iowa (AP) — A 12-year-old Iowa boy has died after being run over during a homecoming parade accident. Woodbury County Deputy William Brooks says the boy fell off a float Friday in Sloan, Iowa and then was run over. The Westwood Community School District identified the victim as Kage McDonald. The Sioux City Journal reports the boy was flown to a Sioux City hospital but died of his injuries. People gathered Friday at the Westwood Community School football field to grieve.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least 16 people in eastern Iowa have been charged with gun crimes after a two-day sweep by federal authorities. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports grand juries met Wednesday through Friday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Iowa and issued the indictments. Many of those indicted have already been charged in state courts for weapons offenses. Most of the indictments were for felons in possession of a firearm or for having a firearm and using drugs.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says he will seek an eighth term in 2022. The 88-year-old announced his reelection plans early Friday on Twitter and said there is “a lot more to do, for Iowa.” Grassley has been in the Senate for 40 years and is the longest-serving Republican senator. The announcement was welcomed by Republicans and gives them more confidence in holding the seat as they fight to overtake Democrats’ one-vote margin in the Senate. Grassley waited much longer than usual to announce his reelection plans so he could weigh the obvious factor of his advanced age. Should he win reelection, Grassley would be 95 at the end of his term.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Reports of sexual assaults have fueled protests on at least eight U.S. college campuses just weeks into the new school year. Victims’ advocates say more young people are vulnerable this year as they settle into campus life after learning remotely because of the pandemic. They also say students seem more engaged in speaking out against campus sexual assault and adept at drumming up support for the cause social media. Sexual assault allegations have led students to demonstrate over the past month at colleges in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Alabama, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. Advocates say COVID-19 restrictions last year kept some sophomores from fully settling into college life, making them more vulnerable to assaults.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A judge sentenced a Waterloo man to up to 60 years in prison for the beating death of a 72-year-old maintenance man. TheWaterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the judge sentenced 30-year-old Martavis Tayshon Wise, who had pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter with a dangerous weapon and other charges in the 2018 death of Johannes Rodenburgh, of Waterloo. Wise must serve at least 14 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. Rodenburgh worked as a maintenance man at a Waterloo apartment complex. Prosecutors say Wise attacked Rodenburgh, beating and kicking him before slamming a child’s bike down on top of him. Rodenburgh died nearly a week later.Rodenburgh was severely injured and died nearly a week later at a hospital.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Military academy students say that 10 years after the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” there is wide acceptance of gays, lesbians and bisexuals, but that work remains. There are occasional homophobic or ignorant comments, including online postings, which can be hurtful. Transgender students still face much resistance. In its history, the military dismissed more than 100,000 service members due to their sexual or gender identities. That included 14,000 during the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era. Active military personnel and veterans who served then are remembering a darker time when they feared having their sexual and gender identities revealed.
