From the Associated Press (11:20 a.m.):
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers will return for a special session to vote on maps that redraw congressional and legislative districts. The once-a-decade exercise rebalances the districts to coincide with population shifts, which in Iowa were generally away from rural areas to larger cities. The Legislature must consider maps released Sept. 16 by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency. The LSA is responsible for following detailed guidelines to ensure population balance among the congressional and legislative districts and to prevent political influence in the initial drafting of changes. The Legislature may only accept or reject the first two sets of maps without amendment. A third set of maps may be amended. Given the Republican majority in the Legislature, the GOP would control that process. UPDATE: The Senate rejected the map 32-18.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – After 40 drawings without a big Powerball winner, a single ticket sold in California matched all six numbers and was the lucky winner of the nearly $700 million jackpot prize. The winning numbers drawn Monday night were 12, 22, 54, 66 and 69. The Powerball was 15. The Powerball jackpot climbed to $699.8 million, making it the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history. The California Lottery says the winning ticket was sold at a grocery store in Morro Bay, located along the state’s central coast. The winner will be able to choose between the annuity option paid over 29 years or the cash option of $496 million. Both prize options are subject to taxes.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Officials in Marshalltown say a 71-year-old man died in a house fire over the weekend. The Times-Republican reports that firefighters were called for the house fire around 5 a.m. Sunday. Arriving firefighters and police officers found smoke and flames coming from the house and say neighbors reported hearing knocking and screams coming from inside the home. Flames kept anyone from being able to immediately enter. Firefighters knocked down the flames after taking out a window, but by the times crews were able to enter the home, the man was found dead. His name has not been released.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police in Cedar Rapids are investigating what they say was an attempt to snatch a 2-year-old child from a sidewalk. Police say in a news release that the incident happened Sunday afternoon, when officers responded to a possible child abduction attempt near Huntington Park in north-central Cedar Rapids. Arriving officers learned that a man wearing a hooded shirt and mask tried to grab the 2-year-old from the sidewalk, but was thwarted by a nearby family member of the child. Police say the person saw the man get into a white car and drive off.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – One person was killed and another person seriously injured when a vehicle crashed into a tree shortly after a Des Moines police officer attempted to stop the vehicle. The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. The woman in the driver’s seat died in the crash, and a female passenger was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said shortly before the crash, an officer observed the vehicle speeding and tried to stop it. The officer broke off the pursuit before the vehicle crashed.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are still searching for a gunman or gunmen who opened fire at a hotel party, injuring six people. The shooting happened just before 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Ramada by Wyndham Cedar Rapids Hotel. Police said on Facebook that several dozen people were at a birthday party in a conference room when a disturbance broke out among some attendees, and several shots were fired. One victim is hospitalized with serious injuries. Police say the other victims have injuries that are not life-threatening. Police Chief Wayne Jerman called the shooting “senseless and inexcusable.”
