* AP-IA–
STUDENT KILLED-IOWA
Hearing delayed for man charged in killing of Iowa student
MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) – A hearing to determine whether key evidence can be used against a man charged in the killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts has been delayed.
Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with murder in the July 2018 killing.
Prosecutors acknowledged last week that officers didn’t read Rivera his rights during an interrogation before Tibbetts’ body was recovered.
A court official says a hearing scheduled for Tuesday to decide if the information from that interrogation could be used to rebut testimony has been postponed because a defense lawyer’s parent has died. It will be rescheduled.
The 25-year-old man is scheduled for trial in February.
Prosecutors allege Rivera stalked Tibbetts while she was running near her hometown of Brooklyn, stabbed her to death and dumped her body in a cornfield.
MAYOR CAN’T GO BACK
City council won’t let mayor undo his resignation
(Information from: Telegraph Herald, https://www.thonline.com)
PEOSTA, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa city council has accepted the resignation of their mayor despite his request that they let him remain in office.
The Telegraph Herald reports that Larry Mescher quit in an email sent Oct. 13 to the Peosta council members. It was sent just days after a contentious council meeting and follow-up work session on Oct. 11 regarding a proposed study on moving City Hall offices from Peosta Community Centre to the city’s new police station.
On Oct. 15, however, Mescher sent another email, saying that in haste “and a bit of anger, I sent out an email that I resign. I would like to apologize and ask that you allow me to rescind my previous email.”
On Monday night, the council said no.
Council Member John Kraft said the city needed its leader to step up when the city hits tough times and then told Mescher: “Unfortunately, I feel you jumped ship.”
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BASEBALL CLUB THEFT
Man accused of stealing from baseball organization
(Information from: The Gazette, https://www.gazetteonline.com/)
TIFFIN, Iowa (AP) – A former president of a baseball organization in eastern Iowa has been accused of stealing more than $30,000 from it.
Linn County court records say 40-year-old Adam Henderson, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with theft. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
The Gazette reports that Johnson was president of the Clippers Baseball Club, an organization that serves the Clear Creek Amana School District area but is not affiliated with the district.
An investigation began after Henderson wrote a club check that bounced. Court records say investigators found that Henderson wrote himself checks, used the club’s debit card, deposited club funds into his personal account and wrote checks to pay his rent.
The records say Henderson eventually acknowledged the thefts to a detective.
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BODY IN HOMELESS CAMP
2 men charged with murder in Des Moines slaying
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they’ve identified two suspects in the slaying of a man whose body was found in a homeless camp near downtown Des Moines.
Police say they’ve charged 46-year-old Des Moines resident Yancy Freland and 26-year-old Bryan Norris, also of Des Moines, with first-degree murder. Their attorneys in unrelated cases declined to comment Tuesday.
Freland already was in custody on a probation violation. Norris has been in custody since Sept. 13, charged with assault on a police officer.
The remains of 23-year-old Marshal Johnson were found Oct. 8 in a wooded area behind an abandoned manufacturing plant.
Police say Freland and Norris shot Johnson sometime after July 26 and say Norris cut Johnson’s neck. Police also say the two tried to burn his remains and then buried them.
IOWA MAYOR ARRESTED
Former Iowa mayor gets probation in marijuana case
JAMAICA, Iowa (AP) – The former mayor of a central Iowa community has been given two years of probation after pleading guilty to marijuana charges.
Guthrie County court records say former Jamaica Mayor LaDonna Kennedy was sentenced and given a deferred judgment Friday. Under a deferred judgment, her conviction can be removed from her record if she were to successfully complete the terms of her probation.
Kennedy and her husband, 59-year-old Randy Kennedy, were arrested Jan. 16 on various drug charges after Guthrie County sheriff’s deputies searching for a suspect in a separate crime knocked on their door. The suspect wasn’t found, but deputies called for a search warrant after smelling an “overwhelming odor of raw marijuana” coming from the home. Investigators say 18 marijuana plants, several bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found.
She resigned after her arrest.
Court records say Randy Kennedy pleaded guilty as well and was given 10 years in prison, suspended, and two years of probation.
ELECTION 2020-KLOBUCHAR
Klobuchar tries to debate spotlight into lasting momentum
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – If there’s a place where Amy Klobuchar can build momentum following a strong debate performance, it’s in Iowa.
The Minnesota senator’s Midwestern roots and pragmatic approach to politics could resonate in the nation’s first caucus state.
But during a two-day tour that spanned 11 counties, Klobuchar’s hurdles were also apparent.
She was overshadowed by Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who was also in Iowa and earned headlines after feuding with Hillary Clinton.
And Klobuchar is struggling to emerge from the bottom of most polls.
