Thursday, March 28, 2024

Join our email blast

Good Bad Ugly

6/12/2013

The good

Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine, announced last week that Des Moines has been named a 2013 Top 50 Military Friendly City. Des Moines was ranked in the top 12.5 percent of the 381 metropolitan areas nationwide, because it is home to a large pool of jobs at military-friendly employers, military-friendly school campuses and veteran-owned businesses located within the region. Taking into account the local cost of living and unemployment rate makes central Iowa ideal for veterans and their families to start a successful civilian life.

New research unveiled last week by Connect Iowa reveals encouraging news for the state’s broadband landscape. Access to higher speeds of Internet service is on the rise in both urban and rural areas across Iowa with 6.37 percent more households having access to broadband service compared to six months ago. This is the seventh comprehensive broadband availability data refresh since the Connect Iowa program started in 2010. And, Cedar Falls just announced news of becoming Iowa’s first gigabit city, making the service available to 600 businesses and 11,000 homes, including 400 rural properties. “It’s critical that we keep growing access to much higher speeds across the state to ensure Iowa remains competitive in the national and global economies as well as providing Iowans with all the other educational, safety and other lifestyle opportunities the Internet brings,” said Connect Iowa Program Manager Amy Kuhlers.

 

The bad

CNA - Stop HIV Iowa

After several weeks of investigating, Des Moines police have arrested 21-year-old Demarco Robinson for the alleged murder of Kenyatta Taylor, 20, also of Des Moines. Witnesses called police around 11:40 a.m. on April 14 to 926 Oakridge Drive after they heard gun shots. Authorities found Taylor on the ground behind an apartment building there. He died from his injuries the following day. Robinson was charged on June 3 with first-degree murder.

Des Moines Police are investigating yet another shooting that occurred last week. Officers received the call just before 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6 and met with the caller who led them to an address that has been determined to be 4100 E. 17th St. There they found 35-year-old Steven Harmon of Des Moines dead. Des Moines Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators immediately began their investigation into this homicide and have been interviewing witnesses. While detectives are continuing their investigation and are making progress in this case, as of press time, no suspects have been identified.

 

The ugly

Des Moines Police and Fire Medics responded to a call last week near East 17th Street and University Avenue around 3:30 a.m. regarding an alleged stabbing. Upon arrival, they found two victims near that intersection. Both were transported to Mercy Hospital. Frank Renfro Jr., 22, of Des Moines, was pronounced dead from his injuries. The other victim, 22-year-old William Rochon, also of Des Moines, was taken into surgery with non-life threatening injuries. The following day, Ashley Rogers, 27, of Des Moines, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Renfro, and charges may be pending for the assault of Rochon, according to police.

Things that go together: peanut butter and jelly, Sonny and Cher, Jack and Coke, bikinis and… beef jerky? Two Florida women, Andrea Mobley, 36, and Jennifer Morrow, 38, were arrested last week after they were discovered by Walmart employees shoving bathing suits into their purses while eating beef jerky that wasn’t paid for, according to news sources. They are being charged with petty theft. Apparently Mobley told courts that she was “ashamed” of her actions, but that’s not enough to get the charges dismissed. We don’t think that’s what Sam Walton had in mind with the slogan, “Save money. Live better.” CV

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*