Vanessa MillerVanessa Miller is a general assignment reporter interested in a wide range of topics – from public safety trends to public health investigations to the human interest story about a heroic teenager who saved his mother’s life. Miller graduated from the University of Iowa in 2002 with a double major in journalism and religion and spent the first few years of her career covering city hall for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Miller moved to Boulder, Colo., in 2004, where she covered the cops and courts beat for the Boulder Daily Camera. Miller and her husband moved back to Iowa in 2011 for family. Miller loves getting reader comments, questions and news tips as she strives to engage and serve the community through reporting on topics at the heart of Eastern Iowa. |
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Former Wellman official gets deferred sentence
WELLMAN — Former Wellman city administrator Mark Baker, who lost his job in January after police said he stole a $10 bottle of aspirin, has been given a one-year deferred sentence. That means that if Baker, 53, successfully completes a year of probation and doesn’t get into any more trouble during that time, the fifth-degree [...]
Passengers told Iowa City police to search Isaiah Sweet’s car, warrants indicate
During a search of the Chevrolet Avalanche that double-murder suspect Isaiah Sweet was driving early May 13 when police stopped him in Iowa City, detectives found drugs and paraphernalia, including medication prescribed to his grandmother, who he’s accused of killing. Isaiah Sweet, 17, of Manchester, is accused of shooting and killing both his grandparents – [...]
Police say Iowa City man found with dozens of baggies of marijuana, $1,000 in cash
An Iowa City man was arrested Monday after police said they found dozens of individually packaged baggies of marijuana and about $1,000 in what appeared to be drug money. Javonte Marquis Nichols, 20, faces charges of controlled substance violations and possessing or distributing without a tax stamp, both felonies, and possession of a controlled substance, [...]
Jail inmates suspected of using other inmates’ IDs to make phone calls
Three Johnson County Jail inmates were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of making dozens of jailhouse phone calls using the personal identification numbers belonging to other inmates, racking up more than $50 in calling charges. Leslie Kittreal Stokes Jr., 19, of Cedar Rapids, and Dantrel Lavelle Ware, 19, of Iowa City, were arrested Saturday [...]
Repeat offenders cost millions in Linn, Johnson counties
Clad in inmate orange, using a phone to talk through soundproof glass at the Johnson County Jail, Marcus Abbott said he feels stuck in a cycle that seems impossible to break. Abbott, 26, of Iowa City, has been arrested in Johnson County every year since 2004, according to court records, and he has additional arrests [...]
UI student accused of taking roommate’s credit card
A 19-year-old University of Iowa student was arrested Thursday on suspicion of taking her roommate’s credit card and using it without permission at a handful of stores, including Victoria Secret, Rue 21 and Francesca’s Collection. The victim, who also is a UI student, contacted UI police around May 10 to report her credit card had [...]
University of Iowa hosts statewide ‘mass destruction’ drill
Tucked inside Coca-Cola-shaped trash cans that ring Carver-Hawkeye Arena, authorities on Wednesday found devices wired to disseminate toxic gas into the facility capable of holding more than 15,000 people. Fortunately, the mock devices were planted as part of a statewide emergency preparedness exercise spearheaded by the State of Iowa Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team. [...]
DCI: Counselor dropped Sweet off at Cedar Rapids apartments
When Isaiah Sweet was picked up early Sunday at a convenience store in Iowa City, the Manchester teenager told officers they wouldn’t be able to reach his grandparents – his legal guardians. Sweet, 17, who now faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his grandparents’ death over the weekend in Manchester, was [...]
Police: University of Iowa students assaulted woman on campus
UPDATE: Two University of Iowa students were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of imprisoning and assaulting a woman in a residence hall. Hayes Obinna Obinna-Uzoh, 19, is accused of asking the victim to strip in a room in Currier Hall about 9:30 p.m. April 18 while another man recorded it, according to a criminal [...]
Aplington man convicted of burglary, assault in Kalona
A 23-year-old Aplington man arrested in September after police said he entered the bedroom of a Kalona woman in September with a rifle, camera and a roll of tape has been convicted of first-degree burglary and assault with intent to commit sex abuse. Dallas J. Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on the charges June [...]
