This Hour: Latest Iowa news, sports, business and entertainment - ABC5 News Des Moines, IA

This Hour: Latest Iowa news, sports, business and entertainment

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SHOOTING-CEDAR RAPIDS

Police say 3 people shot in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - Authorities are investigating the shooting of 3 people at an apartment complex in Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department says officers responded Thursday to a report of a shooting at an apartment unit in the southeast side of the city. Officers say the victims were shot while standing outside of the unit.

The three people were transported to local hospitals. 1 of the victims is in critical condition and the other two are in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Police say they're looking for two men who ran from the scene and got into a green van. Both men were wearing black sweatshirts and blue jeans.

MISSING TEEN-IOWA-SURVIVOR

Iowa girl, 12, describes escape after kidnapping

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) - A 12-year-old Iowa girl says she and a friend were kidnapped after being lured into a stranger's truck while walking home from school.

The girl escaped Monday's abduction, but her 15-year-old friend, Kathlynn Shepard, is still missing.

The younger girl tells the Dayton Leader and Iowa Public Radio that they'd gotten off their school bus when a man asked if they wanted to make money mowing lawns. He promised he'd give them a ride to ask their parents.

She says she knew something was wrong when they went to a hog confinement facility. She escaped when their abductor took Kathlynn to another part of the property, running through the woods until she found farmers.

Investigators say the kidnapper was registered sex offender Michael Klunder, who killed himself Monday night.

MISSING TEEN-IOWA

Investigator: Missing Iowa girl's blood found

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Iowa investigators say the discovery of blood of a missing 15-year-old girl has diminished hope of finding her alive.

Bill Kietzman of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Thursday that DNA tests confirm that blood found on the ground around a hog confinement facility where Kathlynn Shepard was taken after being kidnapped belonged to the girl.

He says her blood also was found on the tailgate of the suspect's truck.

Kietzman says the blood was enough to show "that she probably sustained some injuries." He said the search continues for the teen, but that hopes of finding her alive are now less promising.

Investigators say Kathlynn and her 12-year-old friend were kidnapped Monday by Michael Klunder, who later committed suicide.

The younger girl was able to escape.

DEAD BILLS-IOWA

Most bills didn't clear Iowa Legislature

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The 2013 Iowa Legislature approved plenty of high-profile measures, but many more bills died during the session.

Officials filed 1,105, and most didn't clear the Legislature. Among the failed efforts were proposals to increase oversight of traffic cameras, require suicide prevention training for teachers and help pay for improvements at the Iowa Speedway.

House Minority Leader Representative Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines says some lawmakers have been fighting for some measure for years to no avail.

Republican Senator Mark Chelgren of Ottumwa says it can be frustrating, but it's part of governing. He notes that if not for two parties and different ideas, "we'd have legislation that kind of runs away."

DISASTER DECLARATION

Branstad requests federal help for Iowa counties

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Governor Terry Branstad has requested a presidential disaster declaration to help 19 Iowa counties affected by severe weather last month.

Branstad wants to use public assistance funds to rebuild roads, bridges and other damaged infrastructure affected by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding between April 17th and April 30th. The money also can be used to cover emergency work and debris removal.

Branstad signed a letter Thursday that will be delivered to President Barack Obama. It requests the declaration for areas along a swath of central, eastern and southern Iowa, including Appanoose, Cedar and Warren counties.

Officials say the 19 counties sustained an estimated $8.9 million in damage that could be eligible for public assistance funds.

STATE PARK-FLOODING

Flooding closes Iowa park for Memorial Day weekend

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - Flooding from the Cedar River will keep a state park in northeast Iowa closed through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The state Department of Natural Resources says the George Wyth State Park could potentially reopen for day use activities on Monday if there is no additional rainfall in the Cedar River watershed.

But officials say the campground will likely remain closed until Wednesday. That will allow floodwater to recede and give workers time to check electrical boxes.

The DNR plans to provide status updates through the park's phone system, and people with reservations for the affected days will be offered full refunds.

HIGHER EDUCATION-IOWA

Iowa Board of Regents confirms tuition freeze

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Board of Regents is following up on its promise of freezing tuition at Iowa's public universities now that an education budget is in the books.

The board says the undergraduate tuition freeze, which will be applied for the 2013 to 2014 school year, will be the first in 30 years.

The Legislature approved the $897 million higher education budget last week. It increases the board's budget by 2.6% - or $12 million - which is something officials said was needed for the freeze to happen.

The budget also gives $10 million to the University of Northern Iowa.

Interim Board President Bruce Rastetter called the budget a testament to the Legislature and "the value these institutions provide."

The Iowa Legislature adjourned its session Thursday.

OVERPASS CRASH

Police: Iowa woman drove car off I-235 overpass

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say a woman suspected of drunken driving drove her car off an interstate overpass in West Des Moines before rolling down an embankment.

The West Des Moines Police Department says 29-year-old Cassandra Beverly of Waukee was found injured inside her car around 2 a.m. Thursday under the Interstate Highway 235 bridge.

The Des Moines Register reports Beverly had to be extricated from the car, which was found with its underside resting against a concrete barrier.

Police say Beverly, who suffered a fractured neck and collapsed lung, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol level of .129.

They newspaper reports that police plan to issue citations for OWI and failing to maintain control.

TRAIN DERAILMENT

Ethanol cars removed after Iowa train derailment

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) - Iowa officials say three ethanol cars have been removed from the Little Cedar River following a train derailment east of Charles City.

The state Department of Natural Resources says the cars are being analyzed to determine how much ethanol went into the river. Officials said earlier that ethanol was leaking from at least two cars.

The train derailment late Monday caused the cars and three locomotives to partially submerge into the river. Workers continue to try to remove the locomotives. At leave one was leaking diesel fuel earlier.

The Canadian Pacific Railroad says floating booms and absorbent pads are trying to capture as much of the fuel as possible.

Monitors installed downstream show normal oxygen levels in the river.

BBC-IOWA-DAHM

Iowa's Dahm out as baseball coach

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Iowa baseball coach Jack Dahm is out after 10 seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa athletic director Gary Barta announced Thursday that Dahm's contract won't be renewed after a decade leading the state's only remaining Division One program.

Dahm, hired by Iowa in 2003 after 10 years at Creighton, was 235-302 with the Hawkeyes. Iowa reached the Big Ten tournament just three times during Dahm's tenure, and his final team finished 22-27.

Dahm was on a 1-year deal set to expire at the end of June.

Barta says the Hawkeyes will be looking for someone who "fits the culture" of the school as it searches for a new coach.

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