CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) -A smiling Dimione Walker left the courtroom Thursday in Cedar Rapids to spend the rest of his life in prison. He shot and killed Michael Valentine inside Taboo Nightclub in April. Valentine was one of three people killed in the mass shooting, 9 others were injured. Walker was only charged in Valentine’s death. Timothy Rush will go to trial in March, he’s accused of killing Nicole Owens and Marvin Cox. Walker’s case was handed over to the jury around 1:45 Thursday afternoon. They deliberated for just an hour and a half before coming to their decision that he is guilty on all counts. That includes Murder in the First Degree, Going Armed with Intent and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The verdict comes after four days of testimony and watching difficult video of the shooting last April. In their closing argument, prosecutors showed that video again. They countered the defense claims that Walker was protecting himself by saying Walker had plenty of time to leave the club after spotting Valentine if he feared for his safety. Instead, they said he shot him seven times including in the face at close range.
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials say a house fire that killed four children in northern Iowa was caused by an electrical power strip. The blaze was reported early Wednesday in Mason City. When firefighters arrived they found flames engulfing the first and second stories of the home, built in the 1880s. Fire officials said Thursday the blaze began at a power strip on the main floor of the three-story home. Officials did not specify how the strip caused the fire, however. The four children killed were identified as 12-year-old John Michael Mcluer, 10-year-old Odin Thor Mcluer; 6-year-old Drako Mcluer; and 3-year-old Phenix Mcluer.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has been elected to lead the Republican Governors Association as she increases her national political profile days after she easily won a second term as governor. Reynolds’ election Wednesday as chairwoman of the group will put her in charge of raising money in 2023 for the Republican governors’ largest fundraising organization. Governor races next year include Kentucky and Louisiana, now held by Democrats, and Mississippi. Reynolds served as vice-chair of the association in 2022, and her new role will give her a larger national presence.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa and Iowa State will continue their annual football showdowns through at least 2027. The schools have announced a two-year extension of the CyHawk Series contract. Iowa and Iowa State have played annually since resuming the series in 1977. That excludes the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The teams first met in 1894 and Iowa holds a 46-23 advantage in the series. Iowa State won 10-7 in Iowa City in September.
