DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An explosion destroyed a house in Des Moines and damaged several others this morning. KCCI-TV reports the blast occurred around 3:15 a.m. a few blocks from Birdland Park. One person reported minor injuries several houses down from the explosion. Residents were visibly shaken. Natural gas is suspected of being the source of the explosion.
CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have charged a Clive daycare provider who acknowledged shaking a 6-month-old girl. KGAN-TV reports 55-year-old Tina Welch is charged with child endangerment causing serious injury. First responders went to Welch’s in-home daycare business to help the child, who was having breathing problems. A medical examination showed the girl had suffered brain bleeding and a spinal fracture. Welch told investigators that she’d shaken the infant.
OSSIAN, IA (IRN) – Damage has been reported after severe weather moved through northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin Thursday evening. The National Weather Service said a tornado touched down south of Ossian in Winneshiek County just before 5 p.m. Flash flooding and landslides closed roads. No injuries were reported.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Officers responded to the scene of what they thought was a homicide and active shooter situation early Thursday in Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. Instead, it was a scammer calling in. The call came in around two in the morning. A man told police he’s a sixteen year-old boy who had just shot his mom in the head, had his little brother tied up in a closet and wanted to shoot him, too. It was a legitimate number, but when police pinged it and went to the home, they found a family sleeping, and everyone was safe.
DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A corrections officer at the Scott County Jail saved a choking inmate’s life. WQAD-TV reports after hearing an unidentifiable noise, Tamara Riojas, a Scott County sheriff’s deputy, thought a fight was breaking out. She soon realized an inmate had dropped their tray and was choking on a piece of food. Riojas was awarded the department’s Lifesaver’s Award Thursday for successfully performing the Heimlich maneuver on the choking inmate.