Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board is reviewing a complaint about a Democrat running for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Unity Coalition filed a complaint against Melissa Vine and her campaign after a vote was held for who the local political action committee would endorse in the primary. During the vote on April 30th and May 1st, the coalition noticed an unusual number of votes attributed with an email to the domain name “@melissavine.com.” The campaign is accused of making illegal donations through ACTBlue as part of the alleged activity.

OSCEOLA – The former Clarke County Attorney is accused of a third operating while intoxicated offense. KCCI-TV reports Michelle Rivera was arrested Tuesday after a car collision in Osceola. Responding officers claim Rivera had impaired balance, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. She was arrested previously in 2018 and 2021 for similar offenses. Several of her cases were called into question near the end of her term in 2019, which included dismissal charges against a man who admitted to child sex abuse.

DES MOINES – A new report from non-profit Feeding America shows that 11% of Iowa adults and one in six children are food insecure. KCRG-TV reports the study in 2022 matches the demand seen from the Food Bank of Iowa, which claims they are distributing 30% more food in now as opposed to 2023. Leaders across the state at non-profits are concerned provisions in the Farm Bill and other state policies are not doing enough to counter the sharp rise in prices at the grocery story over the past three years and match policies to the latest buying habits.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration. Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration are now authorized to provide assistance to Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union Counties that were impacted by severe weather on April 26th. Residents in these counties can now apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.

JOHNSTON – A Des Moines woman has died from injuries after an alleged assault by a juvenile at a youth behavioral center. Fifty-year-old Kathleen Galloway-Menke was a staff member at the Ellipsis facility and found with several injuries when the Johnston Police Department were searching for a minor who had fled the building. Police believe Galloway-Menke was assaulted by the missing juvenile. She died from her injuries on Tuesday.

MAXWELL – A couple from Maxwell faces several charges for neglect of their children. KCCI-TV reports the Story County Sheriff’s Office arrested John and Jessica McDaniel following an investigation. Each were charged with four courts of child endangerment. The couple is accused of dosing children with high doses of melatonin and using marijuana in front of the kids. John is also facing a count of assault for alleged physical abuse.

IOWA CITY – The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes Gymnastics team has resigned. KCRG-TV reports Larissa Libby is leaving after a two-decade tenure leading the athletics program following an independent investigation into the team’s culture. Several staff members and athletes had brought forward concerns, prompting the probe in March. Libby was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

DUBUQUE – A priest accused of abusing boys in Dubuque four decades ago appeared in an Iowa courtroom on Monday. KCRG-TV reports Leo Riley only acknowledged he’s been charged with five counts of sexual abuse, as prosecutors claim he molested multiple altar boys from 1984 to 1986. Riley was arrested last month in Florida, where he is also accused of sexual abuse.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s Attorney General claims she spent no taxpayer money as she traveled to New York City to support former President Donald Trump and his ongoing trial. While Bird says politics has no place in court, WHO-13 reports Bird has filed several lawsuits on behalf of the state against the Biden Administration. Bird is expected to return to Iowa today.

IOWA CITY – Following back-to-back national runner up finishes, the longtime face of Iowa Women’s Basketball is retiring, and her successor has already been announced. Lisa Bluder ended her four decades as a coach and 24 years at the University of Iowa Monday, winning 528 games with the Hawkeyes and 18 NCAA tournament appearances. Her longtime assistant and associate head coach Jan Jensen has been named the new leader of the Hawkeyes going into the 2024-25 season.

DECATUR COUNTY – Two Iowans were killed in a two vehicle crash in Decatur County. The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Chevy Equinox driven by 55-year-old Robin Reaves of Urbandale failed to stop at an intersection and drove onto Highway 2, striking the side of a Chevy Silverado operated by 36-year-old Levi Merritt of Osceola. Reaves and passenger 46-year-old Lance Reaves of Lineville were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from their vehicle and pronounced dead on-scene; Merritt and a juvenile passenger were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

DES MOINES – Prosecutors have requested a nationwide arrest warrant for a sex trafficking victim from Iowa who killed her attacker. Pieper Lewis is missing after she was kicked out of a treatment facility in Georgia, according to KCRG-TV. Lewis was sentenced to probation in 2022 after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, avoiding prison time. Lewis was taken to a residential facility in November of 2023, but was kicked out in March for several violations of rules.

ONAWA – The Monona County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man in relation to a shooting death in Onawa Friday. The Monona County Communication Center received a 911 call for a shooting that occurred, and deputies arrived and located a deceased female, later identified as 47-year-old Stacey Allen. Jamie Allen, 48, was taken into custody without incident by the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Monona County Jail. Jamie has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, a Class A Felony. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

IOWA – A rare space weather phenomenon took the entire Hawkeye State, and seemingly, the Midwest, by storm Friday night. Usually reserved for the northern most states, powerful solar activity provided quite the aurora borealis for Iowans border to border for several hours into the overnight. The National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center has deemed 2024 one of the most active years on record for solar storm activity.

LEE COUNTY – A Burlington resident has died in a two vehicle crash Friday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports two unidentified drivers collided on U.S. Highway 61 when a Chevy SUV driven by a 19-year-old hit the back of a Chevy pickup driven by a 90-year-old. The driver of the truck died from injuries after being ejected during a rollover. The crash remains under investigation.

PERU – An off-duty sheriff’s deputy died while driving a construction vehicle over a private bridge in Madison County, which collapsed. KCCI-TV reports Adam County Deputy Nicholas Koeppe was trying to move an excavator over a bridge on private property near the town of Peru when it, along with Koeppe, fell into a pond below. He was trapped in the cab of the excavator and died, despite rescue attempts.