Midwest

Navy Reserve veteran pleads guilty to beheading Satanic statue in Iowa State Capitol

Published

2 years ago

May 28, 2024

Navy Reserve veteran pleads guilty to beheading Satanic statue in Iowa State Capitol

A Mississippi man, and former Republican congressional candidate, pleaded guilty Friday in connection to the vandalism of a statue of a pagan idol at the Iowa state capitol in exchange for the dropping of a hate crime charge.

Michael Cassidy pleaded guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal mischief, the Des Moines Register reported. He was slated to go to trial on June 3.

“As you’re likely aware, we have continually contested the hate crime and questioned whether Mr. Cassidy was being targeted due to his religious beliefs,” Cassidy’s attorney, Sara Pasquale, told Fox News Digital. “We are therefore very pleased that the state ultimately decided to drop the hate crime and are hopeful that this case will bring awareness to similar situations throughout the country.”

AMERICAN MISSIONARY COUPLE KILLED IN HAITI, AGENCY SAYS

A damaged Satanic display is shown at the Iowa State Capitol on Dec. 15, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. A Mississippi man accused of destroying a statue of the pagan idol Baphomet pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced charge in return for prosecutors dropping a felony hate crime count. (AP Photo/Scott McFetridge)

Cassidy admitted that he “partially dismantled a display in the Iowa State Capitol Building, “without a right/license to do so” of the statue of the horned deity Baphomet. The statue was brought to the state capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa.

It was destroyed beyond repair, the group said.

It was displayed under state rules that allow religious displays in the building during holidays. The move angered state and national leaders, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. and then-presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, both Republicans.

“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,” Cassidy told the conservative website The Sentinel in December. “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Cassidy will receive a deferred judgment with two years probation, an $855 civil penalty and will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.

The statue of Baphomet was erected in the capitol building by the Satanic Temple of Iowa last December. (Getty Images)

He would also be required to participate in a victim-offender dialogue with representatives of the Satanic Temple if requested. The sentencing recommendation is not binding on the court, however.

Pasquale said she was not sure what motivated prosecutors to drop the hate crime charge.

“We are simply thankful that Mr. Cassidy no longer faces a hate crime and hopeful that similar, offensive displays will be rejected from places such as state capitol buildings in the future,” she said.

Lynn Hicks, spokesperson for the Polk County Attorney’s Office, said several factors were taken into consideration when the plea agreement was offered.

“Factors can include but are not limited to: taking full accountability for the criminal conduct, cooperation with law enforcement, the availability of evidence, and the defendant’s lack of criminal history,” Hicks said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The agreement included restitution, which can make the victims financially whole, and a victim-offender dialogue, during which the victims will have the opportunity to speak directly with the defendant about what he did and how it affected them.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the temple.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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North Dakota

Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

Published

7 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.

The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.

UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.

Members of the Omaha women’s basketball team cheer for their teammates during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.

With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.

North Dakota’s Mataeya Mathern goes up for a shot during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.

Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.

Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.

Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.

With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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Ohio

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

Published

13 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ohio State continues to show late-season growth

The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.

Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.

Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.

Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day

Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.

He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.

Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.

He needs 12 points to set the new record.

John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury

Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.

His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.

Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 4, 2026

Published

49 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

02-18-22-30-32

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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