DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Police are investigating after a dead body was found along the banks of the Des Moines River Monday afternoon. Des Moines officers responded to reports of a body in the water near the Second Avenue bridge just after 2:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found a dead body along the riverbank. Police said there are no obvious signs of trauma or criminal activity. This marks the second body found in the Des Moines River in the past two weeks. A body was found in the river east of the Harriet Street boat ramp on February 27. That case also showed no obvious signs of foul play. The Medical Examiner is still working to determine a cause of death in that case. Both cases remain under investigation.
CENTER POINT, Iowa (KCRG) – Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat and other car brands, filed an updated petition Monday seeking to immediately seize much of the inventory from an Eastern Iowa car dealership over fears the dealer may move the vehicles. Stellantis claims Sky Auto Mall, with locations in Center Point and Newhall, had schemed to defraud Steallantis and other lenders. According to the lawsuit, Sky Auto Mall took out multiple loans on the same vehicles it offered for sale at its dealerships but then hid the second loans from the other lenders. Stellantis says Sky Auto Mall kept separate financial records to hide the multiple loans and claims Sky still owes more than $12 million. In its latest filing, Stellantis warns it believes Sky Auto Mall may be planning to move or remove vehicles from the dealership lots. Stellantis says it “received information” that one of Sky’s owners had visited the dealership last week and “indicated that a transport truck may soon be arriving at the location, presumably with the intention of removing vehicle Collateral.” Stellantis is offering to put up a $24 million bond, double the amount it is seeking to seize. That bond is required by Iowa law in order to seize assets that are the subject of a lawsuit in case Stellantis loses that lawsuit. A judge has not ruled on the emergency request. Sky Auto Mall has previously declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by KCRG.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Beckman Catholic High School’s football coach is facing an ethics violation for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student. In January, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners issued a finding of probable cause against Cole Mather and ordered the case to proceed to formal disciplinary hearings. Details of complaints and investigations by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners are kept secret until there is a settlement or disciplinary action taken on the case. The board’s ruling cites a possible violation of rules barring “inappropriate relationship with a student”. Mather became head coach of the Beckman football team in 2023. He led the Blazers to win the Class 1A District title last year and was named District Coach of the Year in 2025. TV9 asked Beckman Principal Marcel Kielkucki if Mather was still employed at the high school. He said because it’s a personnel matter, he was not allowed to discuss Mather’s employment. At last check, Mather was still listed on the school website as a physical education teacher and head football coach. On March 9, Dyersville Beckman announced long-time assistant coach Ryan Meissner as its new head football coach for the 2026 season. In that announcement, the school wrote that Mather was “moving on”.
CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Heartlanders will suspend operations for the 2026–27 season after the ECHL Board of Governors approved the team’s request for a voluntary suspension, the organization announced Monday. The announcement follows a period of labor uncertainty in the ECHL. Members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, which includes Heartlanders players, initiated a strike in December 2025 after the union and league could not reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. During the suspension, the organization said it will evaluate strategic partnerships and investment opportunities to establish a sustainable, long-term future for hockey in the Corridor. The Heartlanders will complete the remainder of the 2025–26 season. Eight home games remain at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
