CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Cedar Rapids police reported significant crime reductions across several categories through November 2025, along with highlighting the need for scam prevention. From January through November 2025, police recorded 39 shots fired incidents, according to new crime statistics. This is a 15 percent decrease from the same time period in 2024, when there were 46 incidents. The 2025 shots fired incident numbers show an even more dramatic decline when compared to the five-year average of 101 incidents, representing a 61 percent drop. Police say there was a continued decrease in the number of vehicles stolen and property crime. There has also been a drop in shoplifting due to improved retail security, according to authorities. According to the release, the number of vehicles stolen fell 21 percent from last year and 45 percent over the five-year average. Cedar Rapids police are reporting that senior citizens fall victim to phone and computer scams more frequently than younger generations. Police are investigating cases now involving five and six-figure losses due to a scam involving crypto-currency. Police say that no law enforcement agency will ask you to convert your bank funds into crypto-currency or gift cards. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately, do not answer repeated calls, and call the non-emergency hotline if a family member falls victim to the scam. If you witness crime in your neighborhood, call 911 or the non-emergency number at 319-286-5491.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau/KCRG) – The Iowa Board of Regents elected new leadership Wednesday after the sudden departure of its top officials. Republican Robert Cramer was unanimously voted as the board’s new president. Kurt Tjaden will serve as president pro tem. The elections come after Board President Sherry Bates announced her retirement and President Pro Tem Greta Rouse stepped down from her leadership position, though Rouse remains on the board. Cramer has served on the Board of Regents since last year after being appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. He comes from the construction industry, running his family’s company, Cramer and Associates. Tjaden joined the board in March. He is a longtime business executive. Cramer outlined three priorities he wants Iowa’s three public universities to focus on immediately. “Providing an affordable education with a good rate of return on that investment… Secondly, to provide academic excellence from the top and the bottom at our universities that everyone is striving for… The third is to provide a fair and balanced place for vigorous debate,” Cramer said at Wednesday’s meeting.
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (KCRG) – An 18-year-old high school student is now accused of forcing a woman to have sex. Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa was arrested Monday on a charge of 3rd-degree sexual abuse, a class C felony. According to court documents, a woman reported that Parker had physically forced her into sexual intercourse during an incident in March. Oskaloosa Police say the woman had two spots on her scalp where her hair had been pulled out. Parker was released from jail on a $10,000 bond. He’s scheduled for a hearing next week on the case. The Oskaloosa School District released a statement to KCRG saying it is “aware of an allegation against one of our District students.” “To our understanding, the alleged incident did not take place on school property,” the district statement continued. “The student has not attended in-person classes for approximately one year. The District is investigating the incident, and the matter will be handled consistent with District policy. The District is fully cooperating with law enforcement.” There is no known threat to school operations. Parker qualified for the state wrestling meet this past February, finishing fourth in Class 2A for 132 lbs…