Jurors will resume deliberations at 8:30 this morning in the first-degree murder trial of an illegal immigrant and farm laborer accused in the 2018 abduction and stabbing death of a University of Iowa student who disappeared while out for a run in Poweshiek County. During closing arguments yesterday, prosecutor Scott Brown said testimony revealed “overwhelming evidence” that Cristhian Bahena Rivera is guilty of murder in connection with the death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts. He called Bahena Rivera’s testimony that two men kidnapped him at gunpoint and forced him to take part in the crime “a figment of his imagination,” saying Bahena Rivera concocted the story to try to explain away the evidence. A defense lawyer said prosecutors had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors began their deliberations yesterday afternoon.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declined a request by the pork industry to increase the speed at which pigs can be processed into meat. The ruling is a victory for slaughterhouse workers, who had raised safety concerns about the plan. The USDA announced this week it would enforce a Minnesota judge’s order issued in March. The judge struck down plans finalized by the USDA under the Trump’s administration that would have lifted maximum line speeds at pork slaughterhouses, allowing dozens of plants to speed up production. The judge said the USDA acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it refused to consider the impact of faster line speeds on worker safety.
The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the death of a woman who was hit and killed early yesterday as she walked on Interstate 80 in central Iowa. The patrol said the crash happened around 4:15 a.m. Thursday on the interstate near Altoona, when a car merging on to I-80 hit the woman as she walked in the roadway. Investigators say the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
She lost her bid for re-election to Congress last fall after only one term, but reports say former Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer is considering a run for the U.S. Senate from Iowa. The seat is currently held by long-time Sen. Charles Grassley, who told reporters again yesterday he will make his decision about whether to run again in 2022 this fall. Republican State Sen. Jim Carlin and Democrat Dave Muhlbauer have each announced their candidacies. Politico says two sources confirmed the Finkenauer report.
Witness say they heard a loud boom…then saw a jackknifed semi blocking southbound I-380 in Cedar Rapids. It happened shortly after 11 o’clock yesterday morning during heavy rain in the area. No injuries were reported but traffic was affected for about 90 minutes.
A woman accused of helping the parents of an infant invent a story to cover up the baby’s fatal injuries has entered a plea of not guilty to being an accessory. 49-year-old Stacie Hurlburt of Sheldon is charged with two counts of being an accessory after the fact. Police say Hurlburt collaborated with 20-year-old Lawrence Ruotolo Jr. and 21-year-old Brittanee Baker to tell authorities that the 5-month-old girl had been hurt last July by a lamp knocked over by cats in their home. Prosecutors say what really happened was that Ruotolo injured the baby when she wouldn’t stop crying. The baby died several days later. Ruotolo and Baker have each entered pleas of not guilty to two counts of child endangerment.
If your holiday weekend plans begin with Friday Loo in downtown Waterloo today, you’ll again be able to walk up and get a COVID-19 vaccination. Both the one-dose and two-dose shots will be available. “The Ice Breakers” take the stage at 5:30; as always, food trucks will be on hand for the event in Lincoln Park.
