From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the death of a pedestrian along Interstate 80 west of Williamsburg. The person was hit around 5:30 yesterday morning near the Brooklyn exit. There were foggy conditions in the area at the time. The incident shut down I-80 for hours and forced a detour of traffic Tuesday morning.
Marshalltown police arrested a man in connection to a deadly hit and run. Court documents say Edgar Yepez Diaz was driving when he hit a pedestrian on November 1. The pedestrian, Melanie Nelson, died. He faces charges of child endangerment, homicide by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.
The city of Independence recognized two of its firefighters and a police officer for their bravery during a deadly fire at a senior apartment. Firefighters Andrew Roman and Ty Fangman and officer Mark Gudenkauf received Medals of Valor during a city council meeting. Two weeks ago, Fangman and Roman pushed through smoke and heat and found someone trapped inside. Officer Gudenkauf was the first on the scene and broke a window and pulled a woman to safety. Three people went to the hospital; one person died.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled a Cedar Rapids City Council closed session four years ago complied with Iowa open meetings law. The lawsuit is over a closed session involving the city council and Alissa Van Sloten, who was interviewing for city clerk. Van Sloten worked for the city for 10 years and was serving as interim city clerk. She asked for the city council to hold a closed session because of the possibility of questions asked that could hurt her reputation. A district court said the closed meeting was legal. An appeals court overturned that ruling, bringing the case to the state supreme court.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds continued an annual tradition by pardoning a pair of turkeys. The governor pardoned Wingding and Tailfeathers Tuesday morning; then late Tuesday afternoon, she lit the state capitol’s Christmas tree.
