From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
On what was supposed to be the first day of jury selection in his trial, the man accused of helping a Tama County woman kill her husband pleaded guilty. Huston Danker pleaded guilty yesterday to first degree murder in the death of Ryan Cooper in 2021. Danker’s lawyer says Danker wanted to accept responsibility for his role and spare his family, the Cooper family and the community of going through a trial. Last month, a jury convicted Ryan’s wife, Karina Cooper, of first degree murder. Prosecutors say she had an affair with Danker and they planned the murder together.
The Federal Aviation Administration reports a person died in that plane crash that occurred Monday in Monticello. The FAA websites shows the aircraft crashed in a field and they don’t yet know why. We don’t yet know the identity of the pilot who died.
Testimony in a Linn County courtroom yesterday provided new details in a potential plot to kill Chris Bagley in 2018. Andrew Shaw, a convicted drug dealer, is accused of paying friends to murder Bagley. Drew Wagner, one of two men already convicted in the case, took the stand yesterday. But the defense poked holes in his testimony saying he gave different reasons for why he and Drew Blahnik visited Bagley the night he was killed.
Iowa’s Governor has revealed more about the plans to use the state’s National Guard to support immigration and customs enforcement. Governor Kim Reynolds says 20 National Guard soldiers will offer support to Iowa ICE officials starting September 8. The Governor says the troops will provide administrative and logistical support to Iowa-based ICE officials. That authorization is approved through November 15 of this year.
Several members of the Iowa Board of Regents are asking to change certain aspects of their new DEI policy. It comes after three different videos surfaced in the past few weeks showing employees at state universities discussing circumventing a new state law. Board Regent David Barker said the point of the policy is to teach students in a balanced manner. He says should have an understanding of both sides of a controversial topic. Another change requires a board audit of classwork every two years to make sure all coursework meets expectations.
