Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Thursday, March 23, 2023

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person was killed early Thursday morning in a house fire on the south side of Des Moines. A man died and a woman escaped the fire. The identity of the man has not been released. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The home didn’t have working smoke detectors. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed several bills into law, including two major bills impacting transgender Iowans. One law will restrict which bathrooms transgender Iowans can use. The law will now require students only use bathrooms or locker rooms that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate. The other will ban gender transition procedures for anyone under the age of 18. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested two people in connection to a burglary at a Cedar Rapids business earlier this month. They stole more than $200,000 worth of property from the business. Several vehicles and about 20 DJI-brand drones were stolen. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeye women’s basketball team left Wednesday afternoon for Seattle for the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes, a 2 seed in Seattle 4 Region, play Colorado, a 6 seed, on Friday night at 6:30. If Iowa wins, they will play the winner of Friday’s game between (8) Ole Miss and (5) Louisville on Sunday. LOS ANGLES, CA (IRN) – An Oskaloosa man and lifelong superfan of “Wheel of Fortune” spun and won. As a child, Cory Houser dressed up as the “wheel” with Christmas lights, and after Halloween, he put the “Wheel” on a lazy Susan and hosted “Wheel of Fortune” games around the kitchen table with his family. Houser’s parents created business cards that said, “Your Game Show Host, Cory Houser,” for his birthday. Houser won $86,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ford GT supercar and a trip to Barbados.


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Wednesday, March 22, 2023

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A man wanted on an attempted murder warrant for allegedly stabbing a woman in Newton has been taken into custody in Florida. 38-year-old Tyrece Lewis was arrested Tuesday. Multiple tips from citizens in Iowa and Florida helped lead to his arrest, police said. Lewis allegedly stabbed a 34-year-old woman he had previously been in a relationship on March 6th. IOWA (IRN) – Schools across Iowa locked down Tuesday after receiving fake calls of active shooters, mobilizing law enforcement, and leaving parents and children in a state of fear. Over 20 schools received the threats. SHELDAHL, IA (IRN) – The driver of a postal truck has died after a crash in Sheldahl on Tuesday evening. The Story County Sheriff’s Office says the driver, a 43-year-old man from Des Moines, was the only person in a box truck that went through the corner of a garage, hit a tree and storage shed before coming to rest in a ditch. The sheriff’s office says a medical issue likely contributed to the crash and the man’s death. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police say a crisis intervention team was able to help officers peacefully end a standoff with an armed man outside of the Polk County Courthouse on Tuesday. The incident started when Polk County Deputies spotted a man they knew to have outstanding warrants near the courthouse. When the deputies approached him, the man pulled out a knife. That’s when a mobile crisis team was called in to talk to the man. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – the University of Iowa junior guard Caitlin Clark was named a Naismith Trophy Finalist on Tuesday. The Naismith Trophy is symbolic of the most outstanding players in men’s and women’s college basketball. This season, Clark is the only player in the nation with more than 900 points, 245 rebounds, 290 assists, and 45 steals. She has registered +25 points, +5 rebounds, and +5 assists in 17 games this year and 39 times in her career which is the most in NCAA women’s basketball history.


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Tuesday, March 21, 2023

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – Six people inside of Anamosa State Penitentiary — three inmates and three staff members — were sickened in two separate incidents during the weekend. Officials at the penitentiary say the two incidents were caused by two different substances but have not revealed which substances they believe are responsible. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A poll by the Des Moines Register found that 62% of Iowans do not want state funding to support private schools. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers passed a bill that created Education Savings Accounts, which use taxpayer dollars to help parents pay for private school expenses. Governor Reynolds signed it into law, and it takes effect this fall. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of West Des Moines on Monday recognized two teenagers for their life-saving efforts. Fifteen-year-old Jasmine Morris and 17-year-old Jacora Morris saw two young boys fall through the ice into a pond behind their apartment building. The sisters immediately ran downstairs and jumped into the icy water to help the kids. The sisters said they just acted on instinct and never thought they would receive an award. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Country music star Willie Nelson and family are coming to the McGrath Amphitheatre on May 17. VenuWorks announced the concert on Monday, saying tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.


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Monday, March 20, 2023

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man died Sunday night when he was hit by a truck on I-80 in Altoona. A crash report from the Iowa State Patrol said a pickup truck was westbound in the center lane of I-80 when it struck 36-year-old Perry Dodds. Dodds was wearing all dark clothing and standing in the center lane. He was killed on impact. ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – An incident involving an unknown substance led to multiple people becoming ill at the Anamosa State Penitentiary on Saturday. Iowa Department of Corrections staff responded to a cell where an inmate was experiencing a medical emergency and was unresponsive. Medical staff administered Narcan to the inmate and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Three staff members who responded to the incident also showed signs of exposure. As a precaution, te medical staff administered Narcan to two of the three staff members, who were all taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. All of the people involved have since been released from the hospital. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman was shot Saturday night while walking in Des Moines. She was driven to the hospital by a friend. There are no suspects, and the victim is expected to survive. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The second-seeded Iowa women’s basketball team is headed to Seattle, advancing past the NCAA Tournament’s first weekend with a hard-fought win over 10-seed Georgia in the second round, 74-66. The Hawkeyes will face the winner of today’s Duke vs. Colorado game in the Sweet 16 round on Friday.


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Saturday, March 18, 2023

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An Urbandale man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly threatening to kill his neighbors. Police responded to a report of a noise complaint at the home of William Ryerson. When officers arrived they could hear an air/fog horn blaring throughout the neighborhood. Officers found Ryerson in the street yelling racial slurs and making threats at another man. While officers were speaking with the neighbors who called in the noise complaint, Ryerson made several threats to kill them. He allegedly threatened to “put a barrel down their throats,” that he had a “tech nine” and would “take care of them,” and that “they’d be on the 10 o’clock news.” IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Spencer Lee’s quest to become the first Iowa wrestler to win 4 NCAA titles is over. Lee was pinned last night by 4th-seeded Matt Ramos of Purdue with 2 seconds left in the semi-finals of his 125-pound match. Lee was leading the match late in the third period 7-4 when Ramos turned Lee and put him on his back. IOWA (IRN) – The University of Iowa’s men’s basketball team lost to Auburn 83-75 in the NCAA tournament Friday. The Iowa State men’s basketball team lost to Pitt 59-41, while the Drake men lost to Miami, 63-56. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Caitlin Clark had 26 points and 12 assists and Monika Czinano added 22 points as Iowa defeated Southeastern Louisiana 95-43 in a women’s NCAA Tournament first-round game on Friday. Iowa (27-6) will play Georgia in the second round on Sunday. The Iowa State women’s team plays its opening round this afternoon against Toledo.