A Lee County jury has convicted an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in connection with a violent January attack on two prison counselors.

Twenty-three-year-old Anthony Sebastian Bauer was found guilty Wednesday on two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of contraband stemming from the January 21st assault inside the Fort Madison maximum-security prison.

According to the Lee County Attorney’s Office, Bauer and fellow inmate Dennis Lane Lawson allegedly carried out a coordinated attack on Corrections Counselors Nicky Clark and Zebulon Butler while the counselors were conducting classroom instruction in the penitentiary’s Long Term Restricted Program.

Investigators say Clark was handing out homework assignments around 9:37 that morning when Bauer and Lawson simultaneously attacked, each armed with homemade shiv-style weapons. Court records state the inmates repeatedly struck both counselors in vital areas, including the neck, throat, head, back, and sides.

Authorities say Butler intervened to help Clark but was also assaulted before responding correctional officers forcefully stopped the attack and restrained both inmates. Clark and Butler were transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment of multiple injuries.

Following Wednesday’s guilty verdict, Bauer was immediately sentenced to 50 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 35 years served before parole eligibility. Attempted murder is a Class B felony in Iowa, carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years per count. The contraband charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

Bauer is already serving a sentence for second-degree murder and will remain in the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections.

The second inmate charged in the case, Dennis Lane Lawson, is scheduled to stand trial July 7th.

The Fort Madison Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Corrections assisted in the investigation and response to the incident.

Fire crews from across Southeast Iowa responded Wednesday afternoon to a large warehouse fire at Alter Metal Recycling – Burlington.

The Burlington Fire Department says crews were dispatched just before noon on May 6th for a fully involved fire at the nearly 20,000 square foot recycling warehouse on West Burlington Avenue.

Firefighters arrived within 7 minutes and found heavy flames and smoke coming from the single-story commercial structure. The building was occupied at the time, but all occupants were able to escape safely. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Due to concerns about structural instability, crews transitioned to defensive firefighting operations while working to contain the blaze. The fire was brought under control around 1:30 p.m.

Damage estimates are still being assessed. Following an investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire was determined to be accidental in nature.

A total of 29 fire personnel responded to the incident. Assisting agencies included the West Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, West Burlington Police Department, Mediapolis Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, Des Moines County Emergency Management, Henry County Emergency Management, Alliant Energy and Gas, Burlington Waterworks, the Iowa DNR, DESCOM, and UNIVAR.

Additional updates will be released by the Fire Marshal’s Office if more information becomes available.

A student from the KILJ listening area is being recognized for academic achievement and community leadership. Abigail Schmidgall of Mediapolis High School has been awarded a 2026 Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship.

Schmidgall was one of 25 high school seniors from Iowa and Wisconsin selected to receive the $1,000 scholarship, which helps support higher education expenses.

The annual scholarships recognize students for their academic success, leadership, volunteerism, and community involvement. Applicants were also required to submit an essay identifying a problem in their community and proposing a creative solution using science, technology, engineering, or mathematics—commonly known as STEM concepts.

Alliant Energy says the program is designed to encourage students pursuing skills needed in today’s workforce. Andy Kitslaar, Manager of Community Affairs for Alliant Energy, says investing in STEM learning and career readiness helps students prepare for high-demand careers while supporting the future workforce.

Schmidgall’s recognition highlights the strong academic talent and leadership coming from Southeast Iowa schools.

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 6, 2026) – The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 39 cents from last week’s price and is currently averaging $4.23 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

• The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $10.19 per barrel, and is currently priced at $95.02.
• Brent crude oil fell by $15.26 and is currently priced at $101.94.
• One year ago, WTI crude sold for $60.42 and Brent crude was $62.37.

Motor Fuels

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $4.23 across Iowa according to AAA.
  • Prices rose 39 cents from last week’s price and are up $1.30 from a year ago.
  • The national average on Wednesday was $4.54, up 31 cents from last week’s price.
• Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 46 cents this week with a statewide average of $5.40.
  • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.31 in Iowa.
  • The current Iowa diesel price is 27 cents lower than the national average of $5.67.
• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $3.22 for U87-E10, $3.67 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $4.25 for ULSD#2, $4.40 for ULSD#1, and $2.58 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

• Natural gas prices were up 7 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.72 MMbtu.
• We will continue reporting retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa in October.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

A Keokuk man is facing a felony theft charge after authorities say he stole more than $1,700 worth of trading cards from the Walmart Supercenter over the course of a month.

According to court records, 39-year-old Taylor Dickens was arrested March 12 by the Burlington Police Department and charged with second-degree theft, a class D felony.

The investigation began Feb. 4 when the West Burlington Police Department responded to a report of shoplifting at Walmart. Loss prevention staff told officers Dickens was suspected of repeatedly under-ringing merchandise at self-checkout kiosks.

Police later reviewed 19 incident reports and security videos tied to alleged thefts occurring between Jan. 1 and Feb. 3. According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage showed Dickens scanning some trading card packages while bagging additional packs that had not been paid for before leaving the store.

Authorities say the value of the stolen merchandise in each incident ranged from about $84 to more than $169, with the total loss estimated at $1,766.02.

Dickens was released from custody the day after his arrest after posting a $5,000 bond. Court records show he pleaded not guilty to the charge last month.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Des Moines County Courthouse, with a jury trial set to begin Sept. 29.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Burlington man accused of taking part in an armed robbery involving an AR-15 rifle is facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Eighteen-year-old Marcus Rayschwan Givan was arrested Feb. 15 by the Burlington Police Department and charged with first-degree robbery, a class B felony. Authorities say Givan was 17 years old at the time of the alleged robbery in June of 2025.

According to court records, police responded to the 900 block of North 7th Street around 4:15 a.m. on June 7 after receiving a report of a robbery. The victim told officers they had arranged through Facebook Messenger to purchase assault rifle ammunition from another person.

The victim said when they arrived at the meeting location, another man pulled an AR-15 rifle from his sweatpants and pointed it at them before they fled the area.

Detectives later learned the victim had continued communicating with the alleged seller and arranged another meeting later that month to purchase the rifle itself. The victim told investigators they arrived with 260 dollars in cash toward the purchase when a masked man wearing black clothing again pulled out the rifle and pointed it at them. The victim said the suspects took the cash while threatening them before they ran away.

Investigators say a witness later told police that two men arrived at a Burlington residence shortly after the incident and discussed having robbed the victim. The witness identified one of the men as “Marcus Sanders,” who detectives later determined was Givan.

Court records show Givan pleaded not guilty in March. His trial, originally scheduled for this week, was continued at his request. A pretrial conference is now scheduled for June 29 at the Des Moines County Courthouse, with jury trial set for July 14.

Givan remains in custody at the Des Moines County Jail on a 25-thousand-dollar cash-only bond. He is represented by defense attorney Heidi Van Winkle.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.