DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH/KCRG) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has just two weeks to either sign or veto a controversial bill that would impact carbon dioxide pipelines in Iowa. On a Friday press call, landowners urged Reynolds to uphold Iowa and GOP values around property rights by signing the bill into law. House File 639 advanced from the Senate on May 13, following four years of effort from a group of landowners and House lawmakers. The bill would do a number of things, including requiring carbon sequestration projects prove they are a common carrier, in order to use eminent domain. The legislation, and landowner support, comes largely in response to a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline project, the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, that would connect to nearly 60 ethanol plants and pipe the sequestered carbon dioxide through Iowa and surrounding states to underground storage in North Dakota. Those opposed to the project say a private company should not be given the right to condemn agricultural land. South Dakotans recently codified that opinion with a law that specifically bans CO2 pipelines from the right of eminent domain, which has caused Summit to reevaluate its path through the state.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Everyone, including their pets, was able to escape a fire unharmed early Sunday morning in Dubuque. The Dubuque Fire Department arrived on the scene only four minutes after receiving a call about a deck fire in the 1700 block of South Grandview Avenue around 1:15 a.m. Firefighters put out the fire on the deck outside of the building, including fire that had spread to a parapet wall and the flat roof system. Dubuque Fire officials say the apartments themselves only had light smoke damage. Damage to the building is estimated to cost roughly $60,000. The Red Cross is helping two families that live in the building find temporary housing. No one was injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The man accused of beating four people to death in rural Linn County is asking for his murder confession to be thrown out. On Friday, a judge heard arguments from both sides. Luke Truesdell is facing four counts of first degree murder. Three investigators took the witness stand Friday, recounting what happened on June 5 of last year. That day, investigators found Truesdell sitting on the sidewalk outside a home on a property on Otter Road. Detectives say that Truesdell admitted to hitting the four people with a metal pipe in a nearby garage. Truesdell’s attorneys argue that since he wasn’t read his Miranda Rights before admitting to hitting the victims, his confession cannot be used in the trial. The judge will rule on this motion at a later date. Truesdell’s trial is set to start November 4.
HOWARD COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – We’re learning what led up to an officer involved shooting in Howard County, where authorities charged a man with four counts of attempted murder of a peace officer. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says Mark Zweibohmer called 911 himself on Wednesday around 3:38 p.m. and asked for a welfare check on his home in rural Elma. DCI says when authorities arrived, Zweibohmer began shooting at officers, who then started to shoot back at him. No one was hurt in the crossfire, and authorities arrested Zweibohmer. Criminal complaints show Zweibohmer shot at multiple officers during an incident at his home on 160th street in Elma, a small town about 20 miles northeast of Charles City. The complaint says he may have fired multiple guns. DCI is investigating this case and did not release any other names of authorities involved.
