BENTON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The former members of the Benton County Board of Health have filed a lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors and Benton County, saying they were terminated without warning and without good reason. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that the Benton County Board of Supervisors disbanded the entire Board of Health without any discussion relating to the termination of the members during public meetings. The group also says that there were at least three meetings in which the board “improperly went into closed session,” violating Iowa Code. The former Board of Health members say that Iowa Code is violated when these decisions have been “discussed, debated, and decided without public input, knowledge, or consent.” As part of the lawsuit, the group is looking to have their termination voided and to be reimbursed for attorney fees and expenses relating to the lawsuit.
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KCRG) – A 22-year-old man was found dead hours after being reported missing after a crash in Muscatine County. The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened at about 9:15 p.m. on Monday near the intersection of Independence Avenue and 231st Street in Muscatine County. When law enforcement arrived at the scene of the crash, they said they found a red GMC Sierra on its roof in a ditch, but the driver of the vehicle was not there. Deputies searched the area using canines and drones, but were unable to find the driver. The driver’s phone was found in the vehicle. On Tuesday just after 9:30 a.m. a missing persons report was filed for 22-year-old Samuel Kessel, of Letts, Iowa. He was reportedly last seen by his parents in the hour before the crash. Deputies and volunteers continued to search the area, including using a plane operated by the Iowa State Patrol. Kessel’s body was later found by volunteers at about 5:10 p.m. just north of 231st Street, and a half mile east of Independence Avenue in a deep creek bed in a wooded area. Officials did not say how Kessel died, but noted temperatures had dropped into the single digits overnight.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Officials say that more people are using Iowa City transit compared to last year and that it’s largely in thanks to their zero fare option. In October 2023, Iowa City Transit saw an increase of 45,009 passenger trips when compared to October 2022. Since launching the free fare program in August, City staff say that ridership has increased 44% in just the past three months compared to last year. They say there have been over 135,191 additional trips over that time. Officials estimate the increase of transit ridership also has an effect on reducing an estimated 98 metric tons of tailpipe CO2 from personal vehicles.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa City police have confirmed a man was arrested Wednesday after an incident at Grant Wood Elementary School in Iowa City. While police have yet to release additional details about the incident, they did confirm the situation has been resolved and the school is not in danger. According to a note to families from the district, a parent in the main office of the school threatened multiple staff members. The man reportedly had a gun, which he handed to another person, who took the weapon outside the building. The building was placed in a temporary hold mode during the incident, which results in closed and locked classroom and exterior doors and no traffic in the hallways. After police took the man into custody, the district said classes resumed and the school is set to proceed as normal for the rest of the day. The man was identified as 31-year-old Brandon Jones. He’s been charged with Carrying Weapons on School Grounds and two counts of First-degree Harassment.
