From the Associated Press (11:20 a.m.):
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Attorneys for the man accused of fatally shooting an Iowa State Patrol trooper earlier this year have asked a judge to toss out statements he gave to investigators. KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids reports that Michael Lang was charged with first-degree murder after authorities said he shot and killed Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith on April 9. Lang is accused of shooting Smith at his home in Grundy Center after a fight during a traffic stop. Lang was injured in the shootout but later spoke to authorities. His attorneys argue in court papers that Lang was under duress and too medicated to waive his Miranda rights during four days of interviews that followed the incident.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 77-year-old man has died after being struck by a car north of Des Moines. The accident happened Thursday night. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the man was walking across Northeast 14th Street when he was struck by a Chevrolet Tahoe. The man died at the scene. The Tahoe driver remained at the scene. An investigation continues into the cause of the accident.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says the lawyer for the family of a Burlington woman shot and killed by a police officer in January 2015 may seek the release of police car dashboard camera video and any unreleased 911 call audio. The decision is a partial victory for the family of Autumn Steele and open records advocates because it allows them to pursue getting additional information about the shooting that they’ve been fighting to obtain for over six years. The case involves the shooting of Steele by Jesse Hill, a Burlington police officer. The case now goes back to a state court judge for hearings on the release of the material.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a California man arrested in Iowa had an assault rifle, ammunition and a “hit list” that named President Joe Biden, former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and others. The Des Moines Register reports that police pulled over the man on Interstate 80 on Dec. 21 because he was driving aggressively. Police say the man made concerning comments about Biden during the stop, so he was taken to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office for questioning. According to the criminal complaint, he told investigators he left his home in Sacramento on Dec. 18 to drive straight to the White House to kill people in power. The man has been charged with making threats to a former president.
GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) – A 57-year-old Jefferson man is jailed after he was shot in the arms by an Adair County sheriff’s deputy. The Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a news release that Charles R. Bradshaw II fled on Wednesday evening when a Stuart police officer tried to stop him for a traffic violation. Public safety officials say when the chase eventually ended, an Adair County deputy saw that Bradshaw had a handgun and fired at him. Bradshaw was taken to a hospital for his injuries and then taken to the Adair County jail, where he faces charges of felon in possession of a firearm, felony eluding, and several traffic violations.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Officials with an eastern Iowa school district say students and staff at an elementary school may have been unwittingly exposed to asbestos for several month. KCRG-TV reports that College Community School District sent a letter to parents Wednesday about the asbestos concern at Prairie Crest Elementary School. Winter break will be extended for clean-up measures. The letter states that a contractor replacing carpet failed to properly abate asbestos within the carpet glue before removing it during construction work in June. The asbestos wasn’t detected until this month. Subsequent testing on Monday was clear of asbestos, but the district says it will continue to move ahead with clean-up efforts.
