From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Cedar Rapids police say they’ve arrested 14 people since January as part of a series of child exploitation stings. Police say investigators posed as minors on the internet and the suspects solicited the accounts. The suspects then agreed to meet the decoys in person and pay for sexual acts or materials. That’s when officers confronted them. All of the suspects face several charges including sexual exploitation, prostitution and enticing a minor.
Johnson County has picked a location for a new county jail–if one does get built. The County wants to build the $96 million facility off Melrose Avenue near the Joint Emergency Communication Center. Now, the County needs to ask voters to foot the bill for the new jail in an upcoming referendum. Yesterday, supervisors agreed to delay a decision on what that ballot language would say. They have an August 26 deadline to get the referendum on the ballot in time for the November elections.
This Independence Day will mark 25 years since the last time anyone saw 20-year-old Crystal Arensdorf. She was last seen in the early morning hours of July 4, 2001 outside a Dubuque bar where she had gone with friends. Dubuque Police say they followed hundreds of leads, conducted interviews and polygraph tests, but have yet to make any arrests.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says Iowans who rely on SNAP can now use their benefits to buy all food items. Last month, a federal judge blocked restrictions on what people could buy using SNAP. Iowa’s SNAP changes went into effect on January 1 and kept people from purchasing sugary drinks and candy with their benefits. Now, Iowa HHS any people can now buy all foods eligible before the changes took effect.
Cedar Falls has rescheduled its Fireworks Over the Dome to Sunday, July 5 due to bad weather last night. The show will start at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Sunday.
Iowa City is warning people to be ready for traffic congestion tonight for the Savannah Bananas game at Kinnick Stadium. The CamBus will not be operating today or tomorrow due to the holiday weekend. Police say you should expect heavy traffic and parking congestion comparable to a Hawkeye home football game.
