Has lead to calls for more security in the area. But Des Moines Police say their funding for an increased officer presence has run dry. Channel 13s Justin Surrency spoke with a woman whos urging the city to take action. Out of sight out of mind, if people dont see us often times they think we are not around. That concern is amplified now that the well of offDuty Officers working the court avenue district has gone dry. The funding for the offDuty Officers has been exhausted, weve always had officers assigned to those beats, friday and saturday they thats not going to change. The lack of an extra presence now worries a mother who wishes to remain anonymous. We cant ignore it, kids need to be aware. Her son along with his friend were brutally beaten near court avenue in february. His physical wounds have healed but mentally, i think its something that will be with him the rest of his life. And just days after thanksgiving one man was shot and killed, another sent to the hospital. Its just a shame and shouldnt have to happen to anyone else, its just senseless. It caused several businesses along court avenue to pitch in and hire two off Duty Officers during weekend nights. We are hoping that as we go through this and into next season we will be back up and staffed fullforce. Police say the city and county are attempting to be proactive. Weve got some discussions with public and private partnerships weve had in place for quite some time and going to continue those and see if we can identify some funding and different strategies to make its poorly lit areas such as this parking lot off of court avenue that worry some the most. It can change a persons experience from fun to being a targeted victim in the hospital. They shouldnt have to worry about how safe it is to walk to their car, there should be security cameras, welllit parking lots, police presence. In the meantime. The onDuty Officers are there and well step up that and hopefully new years eve we will have a plan in place, we always do i just dont want to see another family have to sit in the emergency room and have to go through what we went through. Court avenue security was the subject of a Polk County Board of supervisors meeting yesterday. The board has not said what was discussed. An investigation into the actions of a former lottery official is widening. Eddie tipton is the former Security Director of the urbandale based multi state lottery association. Tipton was convicted earlier this year of rigging the iowa since then. Hes been accused in colorado, wisconsin, and oklahoma. Now the Des Moines Register reports investigators are linking two more jackpots. In kansas. To tipton. Investigators say he purchased the tickets and gave them to two of 20 10. Tiptons attorney dismissed the stunt. Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire in cedar rapids. This mobile home went up in night. Officials say a womans body was discovered inside. Her identity is being withheld. And an autopsy is scheduled later this week. Investigators havent determined the cause of the fire. West des moines firefighters are trying to keep you safe by decorating for the holidays. They put this star up at the department along ashworth road. As a fire safety reminder. For every fire between thanksgiving and the new year. They change one of the bulbs from white to bulbs so far. Firefighters hope it stays that way for the rest of the season. A short cut ended badly for two deer hunters over the weekend. The pair were hunting in a mills county Game Management area on sunday. They tried to cut across some ice. But wound up waste high in the cold water. Several rescue crews from surrounding cities helped get them out. Using ropes. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. Even though the temperatures have been unseasonably warm so far this year that water is still pretty cold, and any time youre immersed in that cold of water. Hypothermia, and cramping is something that can occur relatively quickly to someone. The dnr cautions against walking on any ice during this unusually warm december. The quarantines are lifted. But iowa egg producers are still feeling the impact of this springs bird flu outbreak. Rembrandt enterprises is putting its plan for a new Processing Plant in thompson on hold. The with about half of its normal capacity. And it doesnt expect to be back at full capacity for at least another year and a half. The plant was supposed to create two hundred jobs. And process 92 million eggs per year. The winter solstice has arrived. That means today is the shortest full day of the year in the northern hemisphere. When the sun appears at its most southerly position, directly overhead at the tropic of capricorn. Its the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. The solstice began for everyone on earth on december 21st. At the community of madrid is struggling with the loss of a respected coach and teacher. I wish i could go back and thank him for everything hes done, impact on everybodys lives including mine. Hell never be forgotten. Id thank him for the years that i got to know him and call him a friend. 58 year old randy hinkel died unexpectedly over the weekend. The head football coach walked madrids sideline for 29 years. Becoming only the 11th coach to reach 300 wins. He took his team to the playoffs 25 times. Funeral arrangements are still pending. West des moines students will see some changes in the districts Foreign Language offerings. The district wants to trim its budget by nearly 600 thousand dollars for the Upcoming School year. Last approved more than a dozen ways to do so. They include phasing out the japanese program. And starting spanish education in fourth grade. Instead of first grade. The cuts are a result of declining enrollment in the district. The West Des MoinesSchool District is serving up a holiday meal for the younger generation. The Nutrition Services department will host the meal tonight. At the Crestview School of inquiry. Its from 530 to 630. And its free for kids 18 and younger. Or 19 year olds who are still in school. The menu consists of all the traditional fixings. Including turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Officials say the meal is to promote family time at the dinner table and Healthy Living habits. A young girl is trying to spread Christmas Spirit through her handiwork. Anja gjullin started making bows back in march. It started out as a hobby. But developed into a way to raise money for kids fighting cancer at blank childrens hospital. The 12 year old has now donated more than one thousand dollars hospital. Through its shining stars program. She says its all in memory of her friend, erin moomey, who died of cancer a few years ago. Its been a few years and last year when i started it was about 18 months, so i didnt really do anything, and it took me a while to understand. Students have raised 10 thousand dollars since the hospital started the program. Its a house right out of National Lampoons christmas vacation 20 Thousand Lights cover this quad cities home from top to bottom. Its owner says that for the past six years. One of the first things they do after thanksgiving dinner is go outside and plug in the lights. The home is gaining a lot of attention online. And people say they need to see it for themselves. Lights we came here because my mom saw something on her phone that there were a lot of Christmas Lights in this area. The homeowner says he plans on adding about five Thousand Lights to the display if youre planning to do some lastminute shopping in the next few days. You wont be alone. How stores are preparing. And how theyre planning to get you to buy. And why they wont be the only it is starting off foggy on this tuesday morning. Highs will zip back to the upper 40s under mainly cloudy skies this afternoon. Wednesday will be wet. Most of the rain will fall before noon. By early thursday morning there is a chance for a light rain snow mix. But the warmer temperatures will not allow for a white christmas. Temperatures Christmas Eve through christmas and the holiday one iowan has a practical gift being shipped all over the world. Well show you what it is and how the invention could help you with an what if the sweet stevia leaf was discovered. Before the sugarcane. After people were enjoying truvia in their coffee and everything else. Sugar would come along and go, hey, im sweet too. Sure, sugar, youre very sweet, but weve already got sweetness minus calorieness. Truvia. Life with less sugar is just as sweet. Our top story. Funding has run officer presence along court avenue in des moines. Officers hired extra officers after several beatings. And a deadly shooting last month. Police say theyre discussing alternative sources of funding. And different strategies to increase safety in the area. It was also the subject of a Polk County Board of supervisors meeting yesterday. But details of the meeting havent been released. West des moines students will see some changes in the districts Foreign Language offerings. The district wants to trim its budget by nearly 600 thousand dollars for the Upcoming School year. Last night. The board of education approved more than a dozen ways to do so. They include phasing out the japanese program. And starting spanish education in fourth grade. Instead of first grade. The cuts are a result of declining enrollment in the district. The mad dash by last minute christmas shoppers is already underway. And stores arent going to be the only places crowded in the next few days. The saturday before christmas is already behind us. And like last year, the busiest shopping day of the season. Ive been feeling the pressure for weeks, but even more so now that were less than a week away so, retail experts are again expecting deep discounts over the next few days at brick and mortar stores. On practically everything because its too late to get it online. Youre definitely out of luck in terms of getting it there in time without paying those heavy, expedited, shipping fees Rebekah George with retailmenot dotcom. Says most consumers prefer doing last minute shopping in store. And a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers und 92 percent of them still have last nu oing to do. But arent pacn the consumer has all the fmi they need elm of their hand. They want to he updatedles and inventory in real me. Thatsmething that the big box ores really need tbe awareof this week. Something ee to keep in mind if shopping between now and friday. Ads are going to be jammed. More americans than ever r christmas. Chr aum, c news. D it appears the rush ofoppers wont let uceristmas. Nearly two thirds of americans will hit the stores on the day after. According to american express. A quad cities man hopes youll reach for a practical gift this holiday season. Youd come in. And itd just secure it for ya. Kevin kwak invented the cord buddy. Its a magnetic cylinder that snaps around cords. And secures them in place. Kwak says he came up with the idea when his brother would unplug his phone. And lose it behind the dresser. That was seven years ago. Now the cord buddy is being shipped internationally. Its also available on sites like amazon and the grommet. Fourth quarter for us is always strong because our product is more of a novelty gift idea with the holiday seasons. For cord buddy designs. Those will be released next cord buddy designs. Those Bernie Sanders passed more amendments in a Republican Congress than any other member. Cracked the gridlock with john mccain to strengthen veterans healthcare. Bernie sanders. A consistent, principled, and effective leader. Building a future to believe in. Weekend. And in a surprising turn of coming up. Well tell you how thats affecting iowa state in the latest