CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — A new Cedar Rapids School District bond referendum could go to voters in 2025 after the district’s $220 million referendum failed during last month’s election. Their master facility plan oversight committee is expected to discuss possible upgrades and how they can work with residents and city officials to develop and promote a new plan. But voters will have to approve extending the physical plant and equipment levy for another 10 years in a vote next September. After that, the district would be able to place another bond measure before voters.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — Two Missourians are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Shawn Kiger. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said Friday Kyle Sebree, 32, and Heather McClendon, 41, were both charged with murder. Sebree was also charged with kidnapping and McClendon was charged with tampering with evidence. Both suspects are from Winona, Missouri. Kiger was reported missing in Missouri and in Iowa on November 23. His body was found Thursday in a wooded area in rural Shannon County, Missouri. His abandoned truck was found in a wooded area in the 1400 block of Highway 6 Northwest in Johnson County back on November 27. Online court records say Kiger and another man – Tyrelle Harris – traveled to southern Missouri on November 21 to buy a gun “for his wife for protection.” Harris had told Kiger about a friend there – Sebree – who had posted guns for sale on social media. According to Harris, Kiger was tied up in the back of his own truck bed. At one point in a wooded area, Sebree is accused of shooting him in the head. Court documents say Harris drove to Iowa the next day and dumped the truck. McClendon is accused of lying to investigators initially about knowing about the shooting. Court documents also say the handgun used in the crime belong to her. She later sold it to an Arkansas man once she learned about the shooting. No motive for the shooting is laid out in those court documents.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — A Cedar Rapids man is accused of leaving an explosive device and stalking a woman who had a no contact order against him. Jared Hanson is accused of stalking, burglary and having explosives. Police believe he broke into a woman’s apartment, took several items, and left others, including an explosive device. Authorities found an aluminum can with a green fuse coming from one end that contained firework material and ignition powder. The Cedar Rapids Metro Hazardous Devices Unit had to be called out to check on the device on the city’s northeast side earlier this week. Hanson was arrested Thursday following a traffic stop. Investigators say the items left in the apartment had his fingerprints on them.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — U.S. Marshals and Cedar Rapids Police made two arrests in the middle of a busy southwest Cedar Rapids intersection Friday morning. Keasia Morrow, 23, is on a federal hold in the Linn County Jail after escaping custody in Des Moines, per the Marshal’ office. Ashley Pledge, 36, is being held for Johnson County after not appearing on an OWI warrant there. The women were arrested at Edgewood Road and 16th Avenue SW just after 10:30 a.m. Friday. An unmarked law enforcement vehicle and CRPD units were at the scene blocking another vehicle.
