From the Associated Press:
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Two 18-year-olds have been sentenced to prison in connection with the fatal shooting of a University of Iowa student in Cedar Rapids. A judge on Friday sentenced Christian Emedi to 20 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and willful injury in the June 2020 death of 20-year-old Malik Sheets. Marshawn Jeffries was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor obstruction charge. Emedi and Jeffries were minors at the time of the killing, but both were tried as adults. Both were originally charged with first-degree murder before reaching plea agreements.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Northern Iowa is the route of choice for this year’s popular RAGBRAI biking event in Iowa. The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on Friday announced the route for the 49th annual ride, which is July 23-30. The ride begins in Sergeant Bluff and ends in Lansing. Overnight stop locations will be Ida Grove, Pocahontas, Emmetsburg, Mason City, Charles City and West Union. A highlight of the west-to-east trip will be a 100-mile ride on the fourth day, from Emmetsburg to Mason City.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — As Cedar Rapids police investigate fatal shootings on consecutive days, they’ve released the name of the first victim. KCRG-TV reports that the man whose body was found Thursday was 19-year-old Cordal Lewis. Police called to the scene found his body in the street. Investigators believe he had been targeted. No arrests have been made. Police were called around 7:30 a.m. Friday and found 22-year-old Kavon Iberheem Johnson in Cedar Valley Park. Police also believe that Johnson was targeted. No arrests have been made.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Amazon plans to hire more than 200 people through full-time and contract positions for its new delivery station in Dubuque. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the center opened this month with 30 employees in the warehouse and management. Officials say they hope to add 100 to 150 warehouse workers. Site Lead and Operations Manager Louie Oswald says the company also wants to add 100 to 150 independently contracted drivers who will deliver packages. Once production ramps up, the facility is expected to process approximately 25,000 packages per day.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Two executives of a Cedar Rapids tourism agency admitted they defrauded a bank to acquire loans for a three-day music and cultural event in August 2018. Aaron McCreight, of Dothan, Alabama, former president and CEO of GO Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty Thursday to bank fraud. Douglas Hargrave, of Puyallup, Washington, former finance director of the now defunct organization, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to bank fraud. The men admitted that they defrauded Bankers Trust in order to obtain loans for “Newbo Evolve,” which promised concerts from Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5. Federal prosecutors said the men misrepresented ticket sales, projected revenues and expenses and the expected total loss for the event.
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Police in suburban Des Moines say a man who was shot in an Ankeny apartment earlier this week has died, and another man has been arrested in the case. Ankeny police say officers were called to the apartment Tuesday night and found 21-year-old Eli Reed inside with gunshot wounds. Wednesday morning, police arrested 24-year-old John Peak on a charge of reckless use of a firearm resulting in serious injury. Police say later Wednesday night, Reed died of his injuries, and an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter was filed against Peak.
