From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The Iowa National Guard says the bodies of two soldiers killed in the line of duty are to arrive in Des Moines this afternoon. Staff Sergeants Edgar Torres-Tovar and Nate Howard, and a civilian interpreter, died in an ISIS-linked attack in Syria on December 13. The Iowa National Guard says both soldiers were posthumously promoted from the rank of Sergeant to Staff Sergeant in honor of their service and sacrifice. The bodies will be taken to a funeral home from the airport in preparation for private funerals and burials.
The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a man’s conviction for sex abuse of a 7-year-old girl because the court let her testify through a closed-circuit camera. A jury convicted Lynn Lindaman of Polk County of sexually abusing a relative last year. Lindaman was a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Ankeny. During his trial, the victim testified through a closed-circuit camera so she didn’t have to see Lindaman in court. But in a split ruling, the justices found this violated Lindaman’s right to confront his accuser. Four justices concurred with the ruling. Three dissented.
Waterloo police released the name a man who died of a gunshot wound over the weekend. Police found Drew Janssen dead in a home Sunday afternoon in the 400 block of Dawson Street. Video shows what appear to be bullet holes in the door of the home. So far, police have not announced any possible suspects or arrests.
Iowa State Representative Bob Kressig says he’s retiring after 11 terms. Kressig is a Democrat from House District 75 which includes the northern part of Cedar Falls. He’s been in the state legislature since 2005. Kressig says he’s retiring at the end of his term in January of 2027.
The Iowa Heartlanders’ hockey season in Coralville may be in jeopardy due to a strike set to start tomorrow. The team is part of a union in the ECHL. The union and the league have been in talks since last January on a new collective bargaining agreement, but no agreement has yet been reached. The union has cited concerns with player compensation, travel and equipment. The union says its ECHL membership has served a strike notice which would take effect Friday. This is when games are set to resume after the holiday break.
