DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Voters in a central Iowa legislative district will chose a new representative in a special election to replace a lawmaker who resigned. Republican Jon Dunwell and Democrat Steve Mullan are seeking election Tuesday to the House District 29 seat, which represents Newton and smaller communities in Jasper County. The seat became open when Democratic incumbent Wes Breckenridge resigned after accepting a job at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Dunwell ran for the seat in 2020 and lost to Breckenridge. He is a pastor and works as a financial services representative. Mullan is a retired teacher who serves on the Newton City Council. Republicans hold a 59 to 40 majority in the House.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has found a Des Moines activist guilty of first-degree theft for taking a police flyer used to identify protesters from an officer’s back pocket during a protest last year. The Des Moines Register reports that 27-year-old Alexandria Dea was found guilty Monday by Judge David Porter after she waived her right to a jury trial and consented to allow the judge to base his decision on facts already on the record. Dea is expected to seek a deferred judgment when she’s sentenced on Dec. 7. Prosecutors say Dea took the intelligence bulletin from an officer’s back pocket during a confrontation between officers and protesters on July 1, 2020.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A Davenport woman has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in May. The Quad-City Times reports that 54-year-old Michelle Fix agreed to the deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop a speeding violation. She entered the plea last week and faces up to five years in prison when she’s sentenced in January. Prosecutors say Fix was behind the wheel on May 1 when she hit 48-year-old Alfonso Reid Jr., of Davenport, as he walked across the road. Reid died from his injuries on May 8. Police say Fix did not stop to render aid to Reid and instead sped off. Her vehicle, which had front-end damage, was found abandoned May 6.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman faces criminal charges after a baby girl who had been in her care died and was found to have illicit drugs in her system. Television station KCCI reports that Des Moines police arrested 40-year-old Nicole Ghee on suspicion of child endangerment and drug possession in the April death of a 2-month-old girl. Investigators say an autopsy showed the baby had methamphetamine in her system. Ghee is scheduled to appear in court on the charges on Oct. 20.
