From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The jury will resume deliberations this morning in the case of Alexander Jackson, the Cedar Rapids man accused of killing his parents and sister in 2021. Closing arguments ended yesterday morning and the jury spent yesterday afternoon deliberating. Jan and Melissa Jackson, and 19-year-old Sabrina, were shot to death. Alexander suffered a gunshot wound to the foot. He says an intruder killed his family and shot him.
Prosecutors have charged the mayor of Washington, Iowa with third degree sexual abuse. Authorities say a 27-year-old man accused Mayor Jaron Rosien of unwanted contact at a bar on January 8th. Police say video footage backs that up. Rosien told an officer he acted flirtatiously but could not recall specific incidents due to his level of intoxication.
18-year-old Preston Walls of West Des Moines now faces charges of first degree murder and attempted murder in Monday’s Des Moines double shooting. Investigators say he shot to death two teenage students from a rival gang, and injured popular rapper and activist Will Keeps, who founded the outreach center where the shooting occurred. Police say Walls entered the common area as Keeps approached him, attempting to escort him out. But Walls pulled away and fired a handgun multiple times at the victims. The 18- and 16-year-old students died from their wounds. Keeps remains hospitalized.
Governor Reynolds signed the ’Students First Act’ yesterday morning, less than 24 hours after the House and Senate brought the bill up for debate. It creates Education Savings Accounts, giving parents about 75 hundred dollars to pay for things like tuition or tutoring if they want to move their child out of public school. The Governor says this gives parents more power over their children’s education.
Dubuque is re-naming a city park due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s asking for citizen suggestions to rename Pyatigorsk Park, which is named after Dubuque’s sister city. But Dubuque severed ties with that city after the Russian invasion into Ukraine last year. A form is available online for people to submit a name for the small park that sits along the Mississippi River at the corner of 16th Street and Kerper Boulevard, right by Chaplain Schmitt Island, and explain why they believe their suggestion should win.
