Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Wednesday, June 7, 2023

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham has determined that a deadly shooting in Des Moines was justified. Ezekiel Williams, 23, was shot on May 20 by a woman he was in a long-term relationship with. Williams was on life support until his death on May 27. Together they had three young children. Graham says the woman previously reported abuse and that she and two of the children were assaulted before the shooting. Williams broke the woman’s nose and left her with bruising and swelling. She shot and killed him. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead and another was injured after a crash in Linn County involving a semi-truck Tuesday. The driver of a 2008 Nissan Rogue tried to cross an intersection and was hit by a truck. The truck pushed the car into the yard of a vacant house. The driver of the Rogue was taken to a hospital for serious injuries. A passenger in the vehicle died at the scene. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Former University of Iowa basketball star Jordan Bohannon is suing the Iowa State football player who assaulted him in 2021. Nicholas Kron attacked Bohannon outside a bar in Iowa City. Bohannon was punched in the head three times, leaving him with a serious head injury. Kron pled guilty to the assault in March of last year. On Tuesday, a judge sentenced Kron to a year of probation, a $430 civil penalty, and 100 hours of community service. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City will soon be switching to a free transit system. Iowa City’s City Council approved the two-year pilot program to make sure anyone who wants to ride can. They’re also looking into the possibility of adding Sunday service and overnight rides. The plan would approximately cost the city $1 million.


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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Officials in Polk County have identified the man who died in a motorcycle crash on June 2. Lynn Cooke, 63, of Runnells, was riding the motorcycle westbound before crossing the eastbound lane and entering the ditch. A passerby noticed a light coming from the ditch and called 911 just before 9 p.m. The passerby found Cooke unresponsive. First responders attempted to save Cooke’s life on scene but were unsuccessful. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The Sheriff’s Office says alcohol may have been a factor. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids teenager who admitted to killing his parents at their home in October 2021 has been sentenced to life in prison. Ethan Alexander Orton killed Misty Scott-Slade and Casey Orton at their home. When police arrived, they found Orton sitting outside the home covered in blood. Orton admitted to stabbing and killing them in order to “take charge of his life.” They also say he used an axe to kill his mother when she appeared to have survived the initial stabbing. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Search crews have recovered the bodies of three more victims over the weekend who died in the partial collapse of a Davenport apartment building. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The attorneys for a University of Iowa fraternity are seeking a change in venue. Phi Gamma Delta is facing a lawsuit after a woman claims two of its members raped her. The fraternity’s lawyers said it wouldn’t be possible to get a fair trial in Johnson County. They said jurors would fear being “canceled” for giving a verdict. They also argued that the woman who filed the lawsuit has turned herself into a public figure, and has too much of a following in Johnson County. STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – A teenage girl in Storm Lake is accused of trying to hire a hitman online. Police say the target was a 7-year-old child. Storm Lake police say the 17-year-old tried to hire the assassin through a parody website around midnight Friday. Someone who helps run the site called police. An undercover officer contacted the teen posing as a hitman. Investigators say the teen had the child’s name, address and what time the child would be at the house. They arrested the girl later that day. She is charged with solicitation to commit murder.


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Monday, June 5, 2023

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa National Guard Soldier Corey Hite passed away Sunday after being hit by a car while out for a run on May 22nd in Iowa City. Hite was three weeks from retirement when the crash happened. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The body of Branden Colvin was recovered on Saturday from the partially collapsed building in Davenport. His son, Branden Colvin Jr., spent days outside the building, hoping to hear updates about his dad. On Saturday, Colvin Jr. graduated from high school. Two other residents, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, remain missing as of Sunday. NEAR KELLOGG, IA (IRN) – A man is dead after he fell off a fishing dock early Sunday near Kellogg. Dispatchers received a call shortly after 12 a.m. about a man yelling for help near a boat ramp in Rock Creek State Park. A second man called for help before getting the person out of the water. Medical intervention was unsuccessful and officials pronounced him dead at the scene. The two men were fishing when one of them fell off the dock and into the water. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Legislative Slow-Pitch Softball Game returned to Principal Park for its second year. It featured Republicans and Democrats competing against each other after an Iowa Cubs game. The Democratic Party won the contest 10 to 6. Rep. JD Scholten, a former professional baseball player who now represents Sioux City in the statehouse, led off the game with a home run for the Democrats. The event ended with twin donations of $25,000 to the Food Bank of Iowa and the Puppy Jake Foundation.


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Saturday, June 3, 2023

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa task force has completed its search for survivors at the site of a partially collapsed Davenport apartment building and is moving ahead to shore up the structure so recovery efforts can begin. Three people remain missing and are feared dead after the six-story apartment building crumbled on Sunday. Authorities said Friday that the building has remained dangerous, and was shifting in the first 24 to 36 hours — posing a danger to rescuers who were trying to find people. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have identified a man who was fatally shot Wednesday in Fort Dodge. A homeowner told police he shot and killed a man, identified Friday by Fort Dodge police as 44-year-old Bryan Gambill, trying to break into his garage. No charges have been filed, but the incident is still under investigation. CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – Cedar Falls Police responded to a burglary that occurred at a retail store in Cedar Falls. Police learned that in the early morning hours, a subject cut a lock on the perimeter fence and accessed locked buildings, and loaded boxed items and lawnmowers into his truck. It was determined the individual stole merchandise estimated to be worth over $30,000. Following an investigation, officials arrested 35-year-old Aaron Michael Thurm. IOWA CITY, IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark is set to participate in the pro-am of the John Deere Classic. Clark will play in a group that features U.S. Ryder Cup team captain and Iowa native Zach Johnson. The United States-Europe golf competition is scheduled for later this year in Rome. Clark, Johnson and the rest of their group will compete at the TPC Deere Run course in Illinois. After her round, Clark will participate in a youth clinic at the driving range.


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Friday, June 2, 2023

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo woman has been charged with 1st degree murder after the homicide death of Roberta Nagy, 54, by mulitple stab wounds. Detectives with the Waterloo Police Department have charged Sarah Nagy Brown, 33, of Waterloo with 1st Degree Murder. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A jury determined Robert Miller III is guilty of killing 4-year-old Marcos Faguada and seriously injuring Faguada’s aunt in a crash on Fleur Drive this past December. Miller was convicted of vehicular homicide by street racing, reckless driving, and operating while intoxicated. He faces up to 25 years in prison for the operating while intoxicated charge alone and will be sentenced on July 14. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Three residents of an Iowa apartment building that partially collapsed on Sunday are still unaccounted for. Earlier this week, authorities said five people were missing, but two of them have since been contacted and are safe. One moved out a month ago and was found in Texas, and the other was found locally. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority is trying to help Iowans fight food insecurity. IEDA is investing $5 million in food banks and food pantry networks across the state of Iowa. The money can be used to build, expand, or remodel facilities in order to help grow the amount of food that is distributed to Iowa food pantries. An emphasis is being placed on fresh foods.