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Iowa dog breeder accused of deplorable conditions as 32 dogs are seized after court order
Dozens of dogs were seized from an Iowa dog breeder after federal and state inspectors gained court-ordered access to the facility and reported numerous alleged animal welfare violations.
The U.S. Department of Justice said 32 dogs were seized Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from a dog breeding facility operated by Wuanita Swedlund in Farmington, Iowa. The dogs were placed in a local animal shelter.

Northern Iowa meth dealer who tried to bust out of jail gets 25 years in federal prison
A desperate Iowa methamphetamine dealer who tried to escape from custody before sentencing has been handed a long federal prison term.

Osage man faces mandatory prison after guilty plea in child images case
A Northern Iowa man is facing federal prison after pleading guilty to receiving child pornography, months after authorities first arrested him on related state charges in Mitchell County.
Damon Wesley Powers, 44, of Osage, pleaded guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids to one count of receipt of child pornography.

Northern Iowa meth dealer with seven prior felonies sent to federal prison for more than 15 years
A Northern Iowa meth dealer with seven prior felony convictions has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for his role in a Fort Dodge-area meth conspiracy.

Mason City police nab three after search warrants tied to Kwik Star shooting investigation
MASON CITY — Three Mason City men were arrested Wednesday after police and multiple law enforcement agencies executed search warrants tied to ongoing shooting investigations, including the June gunfire incident outside the South Federal Avenue Kwik Star.

Iowa suspect nabbed after police say fake gun used in convenience store robbery
An Iowa man has been arrested after police say he used a replica firearm to rob a convenience store Saturday night.

Armed Northern Iowa felon sent to federal prison after cops find loaded guns, machine-gun switch
An armed Northern Iowa felon has been sentenced to federal prison after authorities say police found two loaded handguns tied to him during a Waterloo traffic stop, including one equipped with a device that allowed it to fire as a fully automatic weapon.

Northern Iowa suspect nabbed with meth for delivery after remote traffic stop
A Northern Iowa man was jailed after a Fayette County traffic stop allegedly turned up a distribution amount of methamphetamine and marijuana late Saturday night.

Clear Lake fireworks saleswoman cited after police say fireworks were sold to minor
CLEAR LAKE — A Northern Iowa fireworks employee was cited Tuesday after Clear Lake police say fireworks were sold to a minor during compliance checks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
The Clear Lake Police Department said officers conducted compliance checks on June 30, 2026, at all retail fireworks businesses in Clear Lake.

Northern Iowa meth dealer with prior drug convictions sent to federal prison for 17 years
A Northern Iowa man with a history of serious drug convictions has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for meth trafficking in the Fort Dodge area.
Thomas Lee Clark Jr., 57, of Eagle Grove and Fort Dodge, was sentenced June 25, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City after pleading guilty earlier this year to meth distribution charges.

Northern Iowa driver flees crash scene after $13,000 wreck in Charles City, police say
CHARLES CITY — A Northern Iowa driver fled the scene after a two-vehicle crash in Charles City that caused an estimated $13,000 in damage, police said.

Northern Iowa woman arrested after Charles City cops called to out-of-control disturbance
CHARLES CITY — A Northern Iowa woman was arrested after police say officers were called to a Charles City disturbance involving a subject who was out of control.

Northern Iowa felon snared with stolen gun gets eight years in federal prison
A Northern Iowa felon caught with a stolen gun has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after a burglary investigation led officers to a firearm hidden in the basement of his Cresco home.

Illegal immigrant predator in Iowa sent to federal prison for child pornography crimes
An illegal immigrant living in Northern Iowa has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting he possessed child pornography, including material involving prepubescent minors and sexual abuse of children.
Jesus Aranda-Martinez, 25, a citizen of Mexico who had been living in Rock Valley, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City after pleading guilty on February 6, 2026, to one count of possession of child pornography.

Iowa man nabbed after police say hidden camera was found inside salon with tanning bed
An Iowa man has been arrested after police say a hidden camera was discovered inside an Albia hair salon in an area that included a tanning bed.
According to police, the camera was disguised as an electrical outlet. Authorities said the device was positioned to record a portion of the salon that included a tanning bed.

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty in Espionage Act case
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton II pleaded guilty Friday to violating the Espionage Act, admitting in federal court that he willfully retained national defense information after serving in one of the most sensitive posts in the federal government.
Bolton, 77, of Bethesda, Maryland, served as national security adviser to President Donald Trump from April 2018 to September 2019. The Justice Department said Bolton used personal accounts to send classified information to family members who were not authorized to receive it, including through a personal email account later hacked by a cyber actor allegedly linked to Iran.
The case marked a dramatic fall for Bolton, a longtime Republican foreign-policy hawk who held senior national security roles across multiple administrations and later became a sharp critic of Trump after leaving the White House.
Bolton faces a maximum penalty of 60 months in prison. As part of the plea agreement, he also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine. DOJ said federal law also bars Bolton or his survivors from collecting an annuity or federal retirement pay because of the conviction.

Convicted child-endangerment mom nabbed again as new North Iowa case claims kids put at risk
MASON CITY — A Mason City woman convicted just weeks ago of child endangerment is back in custody after authorities say she is now facing fresh allegations in another Northern Iowa county that children were put at risk.

Mason City woman fresh onto probation after bizarre episode nabbed in violent Des Moines incident
MASON CITY — A Mason City woman who was recently placed on probation after a chaotic and violent incident at a local convenience store is now facing more legal trouble after a new felony arrest in the Des Moines area.

Mason City distracted driver sent to prison after guilty plea in crash that killed local woman
MASON CITY — A Mason City distracted driver has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in connection with a 2024 auto crash that killed a local woman who was walking home, along the side of a road.

Federal health care fraud sweep charges 455 nationwide, with Iowa cases tied to veterans, Medicare and Tricare
CEDAR RAPIDS — Federal prosecutors announced a massive national health care fraud takedown this week, charging 455 defendants across the country in alleged schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims, including criminal and civil cases connected to Iowa.