DES MOINES, Iowa (KXEL) – Three candidates for U.S. Congress dropped out of their respective primary races on Monday. Republican Shannon Lundgren dropped her campaign in the second district to seek re-election to her current Iowa House District 65 seat. Democrat Jennifer Konfrst ended her campaign in the third district and endorsed state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott in the race. And Muscatine lawyer Taylor Wettach ended his campaign in the first district, pivoting to run for the state Auditor seat as a Democrat. He is the first Democrat to announce a run for Auditor to succeed Rob Sand, who is seeking election as governor instead.
JASPER COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Illinois man is dead after a crash Sunday evening on I-80 in central Iowa. Iowa State Patrol says a semi-trailer was traveling east on I-80 in Jasper County when a set of tires and rims came loose from the trailer, crossed over the median, and his a car driven by 22-year-old Drew Peterson of Worden, Illinois. Peterson died from his injuries. Iowa State Patrol says the crash is under investigation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department says two people have been charged following a break-in on Thursday. Alex Hilton, 22, of Cedar Rapids, is accused of conspiring to burglarize a home and trafficking a stolen handgun. Court records say Hilton was working alongside Brandon Graham, 23, of Cedar Rapids. Officers say a neighbor witnessed Hilton standing watch while Graham broke through a basement window on the 300 block of Ninth Street Northwest in Cedar Rapids. The victim says Graham entered her home and took her handgun after she told him she would be out of town. According to court records, an officer search on Saturday found Hilton with the stolen handgun. Police say Hilton is unable to carry firearms from a criminal No Contact Order and because he was carrying marijuana. Graham is charged with third-degree burglary, trafficking stolen weapons, theft and criminal mischief. Graham and Hilton are being held at the Linn County Jail.
EAGLE GROVE, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – A former central Iowa police officer has pleaded guilty to sending explicit images to a minor over Snapchat. According to a criminal complaint, Colt Richardson of Webster City sent obscene material to a minor in December 2024. The complaint says the first instance happened while he was on duty at the Eagle Grove Police Department, and the second happened while he was off duty. His employment has since been terminated. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assisted in the case. Recent court filings show Richardson pleaded guilty to two counts of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor and first-degree harassment. A sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 27.
