WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Waterloo detectives have opened a homicide investigation after finding a man dead inside a home. The man’s body was found by Waterloo Police and Fire Rescue while responding to a medical call. The body was found around 4:18 p.m. Sunday in the 400 block of Dawson Street. The state medical examiner’s office has received the body and will determine the cause of death. Authorities are asking anyone with more information to contact the Waterloo Police Detective Division or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – A woman from Cedar Falls is dead after officials say she was hit by a mail delivery truck. First responders responded to the crash around 11:25 a.m. Saturday on the 500 block of Main Street. A United States Postal Service delivery vehicle and the woman were located at the scene. The pedestrian, 73-year-old Charlotte Wells, was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Cedar Falls Public Safety is investigating the crash.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa and several other states reached a nearly $150 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz and its parent company over emissions fraud allegations, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced. The lawsuit accused Mercedes of selling more than 211,000 diesel vehicles with illegal emissions devices from 2008 to 2016. The devices allowed vehicles to circumvent pollution standards and exceed legal limits of nitrogen oxide emissions. As part of the settlement, Mercedes will pay to install approved emission software on more than 39,000 vehicles. The company must also provide consumer relief, including $2,000 payments and extended warranties for affected owners. Iowa will receive $3,130,271 from the settlement.
DES MOINES, Iowa (WOI/KCRG) – Des Moines Public Schools is sharing details on the hiring process of former Superintendent Ian Roberts. He remains in federal custody after being arrested by immigration officers in late September. Emails and internal documents reveal the district noticed inconsistencies in Roberts’ resume before his hiring was announced. His application listed doctoral degrees from Morgan State University and Trident American University. A report from the district says Roberts never completed his dissertation from Morgan State, even though it was listed on his resume. Emails show staff noticed that inconsistency and alerted the PR firm helping with Roberts’ hiring announcement. Internal emails show staff noticed discrepancies while preparing the press release announcing Roberts’ hiring. One district communications leader wrote, “It doesn’t exactly align. I’m assuming what he wrote in his bio is correct; we can confirm when we talk with him.” A representative from the PR firm hired to manage the rollout responded to the mail, writing, “I agree – we should go with what he has provided in his bio. Happy to make that change.” Roberts himself made edits to the press release, adding an accolade and changing the wording of his doctorate. In an email, he wrote, “I made two changes in paragraph 3 where I added ‘George Washington University’s DC Principal of the Year,’ and paragraph 5 where I changed the Ph.D. to Ed.D.” Roberts’ federal trial is set for March.
