WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – A Waterloo man is charged after police say he admitted to killing his mother, according to court documents filed Monday. 27-year-old Nicholas Fettkether was charged with second-degree murder after 50-year-old Stephanie Turner was found dead inside her home Saturday morning. According to court documents, Turner’s friend called police around 11:30 a.m., saying Fettkether told him someone broke into their house and Turner was dead. Waterloo police responded to the welfare check in the 3900 block of Butternut Lane at 11:36 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Turner dead inside the residence. Police later interviewed Fettkether, who admitted to assaulting his mother and knowing she died. Fettkether is being held at the Black Hawk County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned an injunction that blocked an Iowa law banning certain books and LGBTQ instruction in schools. Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 496 in 2023 and the law has been tied up in the courts since then. The law’s language restricts library materials that are not deemed “age-appropriate” in grades K-12, and prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6. Additionally, the law requires schools to notify parents if a student wants to go by pronouns that do not match their records or ask for accommodations related to gender identity. The law was challenged by librarian groups, publishing companies, LGBTQ advocacy groups and the National Education Association. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird called the rulings “a huge win” for parents. “Parents should always know that school is a safe place for their children to learn, not be concerned they are being indoctrinated with inappropriate sexual materials and philosophies,” she said in a statement. “I am grateful that our law protecting children was upheld today.”
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – CSPS Hall announced Monday that Executive Director Jason Zbornik is no longer with the organization. “We are grateful for the work accomplished during Jason’s tenure and the key role he played to advance the CSPS mission,” said CSPS Board Co-Chair Scott Byers. “Now, we look ahead to expanding our mission to support the arts and foster culture in Eastern Iowa.” The release did not specify whether Zbornik was fired or resigned. CSPS Board member Paul Julius has been selected as Interim Executive Director. Julius has decades of leadership and administrative expertise, backed by long-standing dedication to the organization. The organization also announced it has reached its $300,000 goal for its State of the Art Capital Campaign. The campaign included a gift from Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. The Board of Directors has launched a search for the organization’s next Executive Director. CSPS Hall’s daily operations, events, and programming will continue without interruption. A celebration for the State of the Art Campaign will be held at CSPS Hall on May 7.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A welcome home ceremony is set to take place Wednesday afternoon at the Iowa Army Guard Armory in Cedar Rapids. About 140 troops are set to return around 1:10 p.m., with the ceremony to begin at 2:00 p.m. Gov. Kim Reynolds is set to attend. Soldiers are part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. Roughly 60 soldiers arrived at the Eastern Iowa Airport last week as part of the return from deployment from the Middle East. The troops were part of more than 1,800 that had been deployed snice May 2025 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a counter-terrorism effort in Iraq and Syria. About 200 soldiers have already returned from the mission.
