Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The state’s first care center for sexual assault survivors is expected to open this fall. KCCI-TV reports the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Center, or SAFE Center, is expected to open in October. It will be inside Des Moines University’s clinic tower after lawmakers approved $1.5 million to support the effort. The project is still roughly $700,000 short of its final goal.

DES MOINES – A welcome home ceremony will be held next week for 140 soldiers returning back to the United States. The Iowa National Guard reports members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team and 34th Infantry Division are scheduled to return to Des Moines soon. They have been serving as part of operations in Iraq and Syria. An additional 200 soldiers remain overseas from the Iowa units.

MADISON COUNTY – An Iowa inmate serving life in prison for the death of a Des Moines man died in prison. KCRG-TV reports 47-year-old Gerald Parker of Creston was found guilty of first-degree murder for the incident in 2020 and sentenced in 2021. Parker shot Jonathan Hoffman to death. A cause of death has not been released.

PELLA – Big crowds are expected again in Pella for the 91st annual Tulip Time celebration. The annual tradition features parades, Dutch dancing, traditional Dutch foods, and more. Due to the warm spring, very few flowers remain, but several activities will bring in visitors from across the Midwest.

DES MOINES – Vice President J.D. Vance made a stop in Iowa to campaign for fellow Republicans ahead of the June primary and November mid-term election. Vance was stopping on behalf of Congressman Zach Nunn in Iowa’s 3rd district. The event was held at Ex-Guard Industries in Des Moines.

DES MOINES – Voter registration data from Iowans is now available to the U.S. Department of Justice. KCCI-TV reports Secretary of State Paul Pate was legally obligated to provide the information. The Justice Department requested voting records in 2025 and is suing 30 states for not providing the complete, unredacted details.

WAPELLO COUNTY – One person has died in a house fire in Wapello County. WHO-13 reports the county sheriff’s office responded Monday night, along with crews from Eldon, Agency, Batavia, and Ottumwa. Those firefighters spent several hours trying to fight the flames. One person has died in the incident.

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Iowa Supreme Court ruled settled a case between a county attorney and sheriff for how law enforcement is held accountable following accusations of misconduct. KCRG-TV reports the court favored Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond, after Jefferson County Attorney Chauncy Moulding placed him on the Brady/Giglio list for not complying with a use-of-force investigation. The court ruled that the prosecutor did not provide ample evidence that the sheriff acted in an unfair or illegal manner.

DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers ended the 2026 Legislative Session on Sunday after more than 30 hours of debating final bills to gavel out for the spring that started on Saturday. KCCI-TV reports a Property Tax reform bill reached Governor Kim Reynolds desk. The final version was a compromise bill that included components of both separate Senate and House measures that passed during the session. Several Senate Democrats supported the measure.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate passed a bill on the final day of the session that restricts access to abortion medications. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House File 2563 will not allow medications such as mifepristone to be ordered via telehealth and mail-order prescription services. Democrats argued that restricting access is difficult for those who do not have in-person access to doctors, especially as medical facilities are closing across the state, and that the drugs are also used for miscarriages and other complications.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – A Little Sioux man was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. According to public court documents, law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of the Harrison County residence of 34-year-old Trevor John Collison. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Collison used the devices to produce numerous hidden camera images and videos containing child sexual abuse material of five minor victims. After completing his term of imprisonment, Collison will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release.

CARTER LAKE – A man has been charged following a death investigation at a Carter Lake hotel. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports that Joseph Edward Bertolino was charged with Murder in the First Degree. On Tuesday, Carter Lake Police conducted a welfare check and located a deceased male inside a hotel room. Carter Lake Police subsequently contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for assistance. The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the deceased male as 63-year-old Kenneth Bruce Gauff of Omaha, Nebraska. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man pled guilty to three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. According to public court documents, 33-year-old Tyler Boyd Pavlick, placed a mini video camera in the tank of a porta-potty at three Central Iowa events, including co-ed middle school and high school cross-county meets. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Pavlick’s Des Moines residence on October 15. One of the electronic devices seized from Pavlick’s residence contained video footage of minor under the age of 12. Each of the three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child carry a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, May 3. Firefighters who have died in the line of duty during the previous year are honored at the national memorial service in Emmitsburg, Maryland. All firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice over the years are also honored. 

DES MOINES – Surging fuel prices are having a negative impact on non-profit organizations trying to help others with rising costs. KCCI-TV reports the Food Bank of Iowa has 12 trucks operating daily traveling over 270,000 miles to deliver food to counties across the state. The non-profit estimates its paying just over $1.50 more per gallon than in February, roughly an additional $5000 cost. This comes after the organization was pushed by last year’s government shutdown and temporary lapse in SNAP benefits.

SHELBY COUNTY – A motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a farm sprayer. WHO-13 reports 19-year-old Jacob Buman of Harlan was killed Wednesday evening when the motorcycle struck the sprayer as it tried to turn left from behind. The Iowa State Patrol reports the collision occurred near Shelby.

DES MOINES – During overtime of the Iowa Legislative session, lawmakers are debating legislation that would restrict how women obtain abortion medication. KCRG-TV reports Iowa House representatives are considering the bill that would only allow doctors to prescribe the drugs in-person and that third-party organizations mailing pills to Iowa to face penalties.