disappearance of cora ann okonski. her case has been considered a missing person case since she first disappeared in the year 2000. kwwl's elizabeth amanieh has the details. elizabeth. amanda-i spoke with a dci agent earlier who wouldn't give me any specifics as to why this investigation is now being treated as a homicide. but he did say new interviews and evidence reveal okonski did not dissappear on her own free will. cora ann okonski disappeared from the tama area in april of 2000, nearly 16 3- to okonskis boyfriend tait purk- who was with her the night she dissappeared. purk has denied any involvement in her dissappeprance-telling police he gave okonski a few dollars to buy cigarettes and she later left their home and never returned. he then reported her missing two days later. according to police- the two had a rocky relationship.

2003. investigators made an extensive search through a rural farm and salvage yard on highway 21-near irving after a tip lead them there. police say the owner of the salvage yard was purks cousin. police dogs were used to search the scene eventually finding bone and bone fragments-along with pieces of womens clothing. but the dna results weren't a match to onkonskis. kwwl spoke with onkonskis father during the time of the search in 2003. jerry okonski "the best thing that can happen is that sh but we don't expect that to happen, we think she's dead. and so the next best thing, you know, knowing that she's dead, is that we can find her body, find her remains and give her a and now sixteen years later-the family awaking to a new possibility of finding out just what happened to cora

purk is serving time in federal prison on unrelated drug and gun charges. he is set to be released from prison in april. police have not give any indiciation as to whether he's still a suspect in the investigation. if you have any information on okonski, please contact the department of public safety. elizabeth amanieh news 7 kwwl new details... an area family's home destroyed - the day they finalize the sale. these pictures from tuesday show the burning house in northwestern cedar falls. big flames and thick smoke also rose from above the home. here's what the house looks like today -- barely standing after the destructive fire. kwwl's taylor bailey with the homeowner today. taylor? bryan butcher and his wife lived in this home for 17 years and raised two daughters there. tuesday--everything was taken

flames and smoke greeted a couple as they drove down their driveway... "well the ironic thing was we just closed on the sale of the house and we just had gotten back from the closing" though the butcher's sold their home--all of their belongings were still inside. bryan and his wife raised their two girls in this house--looking at it today--he acknowledges everything is gone. "everything that you know associated with the kids and family was in the house and so the fire starting hee- that everything is gone "i am kind of unspeakable, it's just horrible, horrible thing" "the homeowner says it took about twenty mintues for the fire to destory his family's home, he says all he could do is stand there and watch it" "there's just been a lot of good things that happened out here and just to see the house where you know, i've spent the last seventeen years it just rips you, it rips you apart,"

"it's very humbling to actually you know being fifty three years old and say i literally have what i am wearing right now and i have nothing eles, which is i said can be relpaced" the state fire marshal is fire. the couple still plans on moving into their new home--but with no belongings. taylor bailey...news seven...kwwl bryan says he is not sure how this fire will affect the new homeowners. he says insurance companies and realtors are now looking into it. an iowa man accused of kidnapping and torturing his girlfriend -- has pleaded not guilty. 41-year-old charles albright is being held in the franklin county jail on charges of kidnapping and willful injury. he entered the not guilty pleas

violence in question happened last month in the cerro gordo community of meservey. albright is accused of holding the woman for 12 to 14 hours against her will -- allegedly punching her, slamming her against the floor, shooting her with a stun gun and forcing a dog to bite her. the woman suffered several broken bones and burns from the alleged attack. albright's next court date has not been set. the iowa supreme court upholds a ruling in support of terry branstad's decis state-run mental health care facilities. branstad was sued by 20 lawmakers following his veto of funding to the facilities in mount pleasant and clarinda -- which forced them to close last year. the lawsuit claimed state law requires four mental health care institutes to be open in iowa. however -- the court concluded today that the governor's vetoes fell within his constitutional power and dismissed the lawsuit, in agreement with a lower court ruling. a search committee begins

the committee still has not released its list of candidates. that will come once the finalists are chosen. the interviews are taking place in minnesota. we know seven candidates advanced to the semi-final stage. one withdrew -- so the committee will be interviewing six candidates today, tomorrow, and saturday. the head man of iowa's transportation department has resigned -- so he can think about taking a private sector job. paul trombino has resigned -- effective at the end of the month. he was appointed by governor working 17 years for the wisconsin department of transportation. a transportation department liasion says trombino has been considering a professional switch to the private sector. it's unclear who will run the department after trombino leaves. funerals were held this in a kwwl follow up funerals were held this afternoon-- for two sisters killed in a linn county car accident. 16-year-old selena and 13-year- old bella died at the scene last thursday. they were on their way home from school with their mother

condition. kwwl's kristin rogers joins us live from cedar rapids--as the community is rallying behind kristin? that's right--i'm here at scooter's coffee shop-- where 100-percent of the money made today is going to the family-- this is happening at all three scooter's locations in cedar rapids-- which have been flooded with people--all day. each cup of coffee at cedar rapids scooter's today-- is being made--with a special kind of love-- for a family in the "we just couldn't even with their mother and sisters-- when their car was rear-ended here at the intersection of county home and north troy road-- letters-flowers and crosses--stand here now. their school community at linn- mar--holding a vigil--on friday-- students--grieving the loss of two young lives-- scooter's store manager--melissa sanks--says her daughter had classes with bella---

rapids scooter's managers agreed--today's money--should go to the family "we just really wanted to do something to help them." customers new and old--happy to do just that. "i know it would mean a lot to this location raising 1200 dollars by 11 a-m-- more than double the amount--of a normal thursday-- nats of outside at scene of accident family--feels their communities support. i checked within the last hour--this location has made----------so far today-- all three cedar rapids locations are doing this--- they are open until ten tonight-- if you haven't already--try to get out-- and get a cup of coffee----it's

daughter mia-- have been released from the hospital-- according to a go fund me page critical condition. coming up on kwwl... a symbolic meeting in the oval office -- as america's newly elected commander-in-chief meets with president obama in the white house. and -- we'll hear from one of iowa's senators folliwng donald trump's victory. here's a live look at the storm track 7 live doppler radar.... chief "this is kwwl news at six. and sports with rick coleman. we'vet

let's check in with storm track seven chief meteorologist mark schnackenberg -- he has your full forecast. from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team. see the screen information from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team:

too cold tonight with lows in the mid-upper 30s. friday and saturday will have plenty of sunshine with near normal highs close to 50. the wind upper 50s. monday through thursday remain dry with a mix of sun and week...mainly 50s. thursday has a strong wind from the south otherwise the wind is thursday, a cold front moves south across iowa tonight. the front comes through dry with no the mid-upper 30s. friday and saturday will have plenty of sunshine with near normal highs close to 50. the wind increases sunday, from the south, pushing highs into the remain dry with a mix of sun and week...mainly 50s. thursday has a strong wind from the south across iowa tonight. the front comes through dry with no the mid-upper 30s. friday and saturday will have plenty of sunshine with near normal highs south, pushing highs into the upper 50s. monday through thursday remain dry with a mix of sun and through the week...mainly 50s. thursday has a strong wind from pretty light during the week. after a warmer than normal clouds, but it does have some colder air with it. it won't be saturday will have plenty of sunshine with near normal highs highs into the upper 50s. monday through thursday remain dry with a mix of sun and

a strong wind from the south otherwise the wind is pretty light during the week. increases sunday, from the south, pushing highs into the upper 50s. monday through thursday remain dry with a mix of sun and clouds each day. high temperatures remain above normal through the week...mainly 50s. thursday h south otherwise the wind is

temperatures remain above normal through the week...mainly 50s. thursday has a strong wind from the south otherwise the wind is pretty light during the week.

under one roof -- fittingly -- inside the white house. president-elect trump and president obama meeting for about an hour and a half in the oval officer. obama telling trum that his administration wants do everything they can to help trump succeed so the country can succeed. mr. trump also saying he's looking forward to dealing with the president in the future. first lady michele laobma met with melania trump as well. senator joni ernst reacting to the president- elect's big win -- elated by the outcome. in the studio. mac? keep in mind -- senator joni ernst is the only female senator who never withdrew support from president- elect trump at some point in his negative comments -- senator ernst said it was always about policy -- not personality. protests like this erupting around the nation in repsonse to election results. the senator saying it's unfortunate -- because despite the recent election -- congress is able to

for caring act. the senator responds to questions -- whether she would join a position with trump's staff. "not to me personally, no, and i have tried to tap any of that down. i am serving as the united states senator, and i love what i do. that's what i emphasized to mr. trump during the campaign. i hope to be a great advocate for him in the united states senate." the next secretary of agriculture is from iowa. and if not iowa -- at least someone from the midwest. now back to you. senator ernst adding -- she has no regrets passing up the opportunity to run as donald trump's running mate. coming up... the top ranked cedar falls tigers looks to take another step toward a state title----the tigers face ankney in the semifinals. and the union knights with a fierce battle against mount vernon in the three-a state

good evening, i'm rick coleman. it is the semifinal round of the state volleyball tournament in cedar falls plays ankeny for a spot in the championshiip game cedar falls looking to reach friday finals off to a fast start.. the taylor lynch comes from the back row to rip a kill...cedar falls takes the first set 25-12...and the patriotic tiger fans are pumped--- cedar falls keeps rolling---tayah mahi with the great set for cynthia wolf as the tigers take the second set 25-17... and cedar falls closes it out--- grace gerken will finish it with one of her team high 11 kills... the tigers beat ankeny in straight sets--- cedar falls will face ankeny centenial in

we talked about with the girls if we won a big point we'd get one or two easy ones after it..it seemed like if like that one back and forth one is worth three because there is going to be a let down after it. in four-a...its wahlert taking on xavier. the eagles swept the saints during the regular season... today---makenzie may soaring for one her 27 kills... xavier tries to stay competitive...charlo tte richards with one of her team high 15 kills.. but wahlert's makenzie may is on one.... ripping another kill through the xavier defense.. and she also served up three aces including this one on match point... wahlert sweeps xavier to advance to the 4a finals tomorrow against pella. in three-a its union battling

the knights lost the opening set before roaring back--megan hudson rips one of her team high 26 kills... union wins the second set 25-20. in the third set... a nice set from maggie driscoll---leads to another megan hudson kill.... union wins 29-27 to take control of the match 2 sets to 1... the two teams would combine for 62 points in the fourth set...and union's jackie barz with the match ending block. the knights win i championship match. also in three-a dike-new hartford faces a kuemper catholic team with just one loss..and these would be close sets... the wolverines' madison hedges sets bailey petersen with a winner...dike-new hartford takes the first set 25-22. another hedges set to bailey petersen... dike-new hartford wins the second set 25-23..... and the wolverines close it out...madison lavenz one of her 12 kills... dike-new hartford takes the final set 29-27. dike-new hartford and union will

in class two-a, waterloo columbus looks to continue its cinderella run facing favored unity chrisitian in the semifinals.. and the sailors with another big upset--sweeping unity christian in three sets. the first time unity christian has been swept in a three set match this season. columbus will face toan and defending state champion western christian in friday's 2a title match. unity chrisitian beat western christian in a match last month. we will have highlights and reaction from columbus tonight at ten. it is also the semifinal round in the state football playoffs at the uni-dome... in eight man, don bosco battles midland wyoming in a rematch of a regular season game won by the dons 52-14.

midland team without its starting quarterback... on its opening possession--backup quarterback connor harms fumbles the ball for the eagles... don bosco's austin svoboda eventually picks it up for the touchdown...the dons convert the two to make it 8-0. d0on bosco only had the ball for one offensive play in the first quarter--- and austin svoboda makes it count... he slices through the midland defense then touchdown of the game to make it 16-0 dons. early in the second quarter--don bosco ends the competitive phase of this game...bradon bagby fires a 40 yard touchdown pass to cael tenold---don bosco scores 36 points in the second quarter to lead 52-0 at halftime. and austin svoboda and company cruise to the 8 man state championship next week 72-0. don bosco will play harris lake park

at six. we'll see you back here at ten

from sony pictures studios, it's america's game. wheel... of... fortune! ladies and gentlemen, here are the stars of our show, pat sajak and vanna white. hello! how you doing? thank you, folks. we're saluting veterans this week. yes. you got that. see you later. hi, guys, good to see you all. they know the drill. they're ready for our first "toss up."