KEOKUK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa State Patrol said one person is dead and three others are hurt after a crash in Keokuk County early Sunday morning. Authorities said a 2015 Cadillac SRX was traveling west in the 10000 block of 170th St. in Keokuk County around 1:00 am Sunday when it left the roadway. The vehicle struck a power pole and rolled multiple times before coming to rest in a ditch. One person died. Three people were injured and taken to local hospitals. None were wearing seatbelts. Names and ages are being withheld at this time.
FAYETTE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said two people are hurt after a crash just outside Randalia Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of 150th Street and R Avenue, about two miles west of Randalia. Deputies said a 2007 Honda Pilot failed to stop at a stop sign and yield the right of way and hit a beige 2005 Ford Taurus. The driver of the Ford had to be extracted and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Pilot was also taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. The Pilot had two passengers. One was airlifted to a hospital with life threatening injuries and a male juvenile passenger was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. The crash is under investigation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A man accused of stabbing a barbershop employee and then following the employee outside in an attempt to continue stabbing them has decided to plead guilty in his case. Jameel Evelyn, 24 of Cedar Rapids, was originally charged with attempted murder and first degree robbery. In a deal reached this week, he has agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges of willful injury causing serious injury and second degree robbery. Each of those charges carries a 10 year sentence. Cedar Rapids police say on February 24, 2025 at around 1:30 p.m., Evelyn went to a barbershop in the 3000 block of Edgewood Road Northwest to buy some items. A criminal complaint says after bringing the items to the counter, an employee started ringing them up and Evelyn went to the restroom. Upon coming out of the restroom, he began stabbing the employee who was turned away bagging the items. The complaint says the employee went running from the store calling for help while Evelyn ran after him continuing to try to stab him. The criminal complaint says Evelyn went back into the store and stole the victim’s two cell phones and cash from the drawer. Police found Evelyn in the area. In an interview with officers, he says he stabbed the victim with the intent of killing him. Evelyn’s plea and sentencing hearing will be May 28. The victim is planning to give a statement at this hearing.
FAYETTE, Iowa (KCRG) – Less than a third of Iowa’s counties have deemed EMS an essential service. That means emergency services in areas like Fayette County are not getting funding from the county. A vote this November could change that. The Fayette County EMS Association and area supporters are asking voters to deem EMS an essential service. A county tax is something several Eastern Iowa counties are looking to to help with increased costs of care. Buchanan County voters deemed EMS as essential this past November and now is starting a county-owned ambulance service instead of contracting services through a third party. For Fayette County, the EMS association said the tax money will be important to help keep services going for the years ahead. Fayette County has not decided on an official number for the tax yet, but the most it could be is 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The vote is scheduled for Nov. 3.
