Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man who shot a convenience store clerk’s boyfriend has been charged with attempted murder. According to police, Brian Ralph went into a Git N Go store and robbed an employee at gunpoint. The employee’s boyfriend entered the store during the robbery with a gun in an effort to defend the victim. Police say Ralph shot the man in the arm before leaving the store. Ralph is charged with attempted murder, first-degree robbery and willful injury causing bodily injury. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A deadly shooting outside of a Des Moines bar just after midnight Sunday killed 29-year-old Alonzo Kearney. Des Moines police say a large crowd was in the parking lot, a fight broke out, and somebody shot and killed Kearney. There was a slight delay in clearing the scene for medics to safely treat Kearney. Officials say the delay in medical attention did not cost him his life. The result would have been the same. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Coralville police arrested a homeless man after a reported armed robbery Monday. Two victims told police they were approached while leaving their apartment, ordered back inside at gunpoint, before the suspect stole their cell phones and ran away. 21-year-old Javon Ellis, who has no permanent address, was arrested after a short chase on foot, after the first officer to arrive on scene saw him running from the scene. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – A jewelry store in North Liberty is facing its busiest time of the year without full shelves because of a break-in. On November 20, thieves broke into Jewelry by Harold doing $70,000 to $100,000 in damage and stealing approximately $30,000 in merchandise. MITCHELLVILLE, IA (IRN) – Mitchellville elementary school teacher Krystal Colbert says she was born to be a teacher. On Monday, she rose to the top of her chosen profession as she was named the 2023 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Colbert is in her 16th year of teaching.


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Monday, November 28, 2022

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny man is facing attempted murder charges after a dispute at the Yankee Clipper bar in Ankeny early Monday morning. Police responded to a report of shots fired in the bar’s parking lot. After talking to the victim, witnesses, and the suspect, 53-year-old Robert Barker was taken into custody. DECATUR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A body was found in rural Decatur County near a burnt vehicle on Saturday. The body and vehicle were found east of Leon city limits. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was killed following a shooting at a Des Moines bar. Des Moines police were called to Zora Bar and Rooftop on Ingersoll Avenue shortly after midnight on Sunday. Police found a 29-year-old Des Moines man with gunshot injuries in the bar’s parking lot. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. Police described the scene as chaotic. EVANSDALE, IA (IRN) – A man and his pet dog died in an Evansdale house fire Sunday morning. The man and his dog were already dead when firefighters entered the home. The fire was contained to the bedroom. The rest of the home suffered smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – Many Iowans spent their holiday weekend shopping for gifts. They also spent it shopping for that special tree to put their gifts under. However, people who haven’t bought their Christmas tree yet may need to do it quickly before local tree farms run out of inventory. Jill Miller Brady, the manager at Miller Tree Farm just outside of Pleasant Hill, said trees sold out quickly last year. By Sunday afternoon, the farm had already sold about half of this year’s inventory. She says Christmas trees are selling out quicker than before because there’s a nationwide shortage.


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Saturday November 26, 2022

EMMETSBURG, IA (IRN) – The former owner of a closed Emmetsburg funeral home will stay out of prison. Andrew Joyce pleaded guilty to misusing thousands of dollars meant to pre-pay for funeral services. Investigators say Joyce spent the money on operational expenses and for his own personal gain. Joyce was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence and ordered to two years probation. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Deere & Co. continued to rake in record profits this fall, and the company expects to make even more money next year. The agriculture and construction equipment maker disclosed that the company earned a $2.25 billion profit for the quarter that ended Oct. 30, led by continued strong demand from farmers and builders. Deere also benefited from shippers catching up on old parts orders, allowing the company to finish and sell about $400 million worth of machines that had sat partially built in parking lots, waiting for their final components. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Casey Thompson threw for three touchdowns, and Nebraska ruined Iowa’s chance to clinch the Big Ten West Division title outright with a 24-17 win on Friday. The Huskers (4-8, 3-6 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak, and broke a seven-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes (7-5, 5-4). Iowa had its four-game winning streak snapped. PORTLAND, OR (IRN) – Caleb Grill scorched the nets for a career-high 31 as Iowa State (5-0) upset #1 North Carolina 70-65 Friday afternoon in Portland at the Phil Knight Invitational. It‘s Iowa State’s first win over a top-ranked team since 2016.


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Friday, November 25, 2022

MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after an ATV crash on Wednesday in Manchester. The riders were ejected when the driver lost control and the four-wheeler went into a ditch. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City is limiting visitors due to an increase in RSV and other respiratory illnesses. No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed in some parts of the hospital, and visitors to the Birth Center will be limited to one person. Pediatric Unit visitors will be limited to two designated guardians. Exceptions will be made for extraordinary circumstances, including severe illness of a parent or sibling and end-of-life visitations. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) The Salvation Army of Des Moines is back with red kettles out in front storefronts for the holiday season. The Red Kettle Campaign kicked off officially on November 11 this year and the organization is just at 11% of their fundraising goal of $1.3 million. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Hawkeyes are one win away from the Big Ten Football Championship. Four weeks ago, Iowa was 3-4 and dead last in the Big Ten West, but after four straight wins, the Hawkeyes control their own fate. A 3-8 Nebraska stands in the way. This is a Cornhusker team that has averaged fewer than 10 points in each of their last four games. A win today locks in a championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.


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Thursday, November 24, 2022

VAN METER, IA (IRN) – A group of parents in the central Iowa town of Van Meter have started a petition asking the district to get rid of curriculum that introduces LGBTQ topics in classrooms. The petition arose after a book detailing a transgender student’s journey was on a list that was presented to the class. Officials from the organization ‘Iowa Safe Schools’ said parents can request their child be exempt from certain content, but it doesn’t have to be taken away from everyone. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Public Safety says the city’s decorative sleigh that usually sits downtown has been stolen. The sleigh, which is displayed annually in the Pedestrian Mall, was taken sometime between 11:56 p.m. Friday and 1:15 a.m. Saturday. City officials and police are asking for the sleigh to be returned and that residents keep an eye out for it. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Millions of Americans are taking flight for turkey day. The Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving are historically the busiest travel days of the year. The Des Moines Airport is encouraging travelers to arrive 90 minutes before their flight. They expect the total number of passengers over the Thanksgiving holiday season to rival 2019’s pre-pandemic numbers. 24,000 passengers will make their way through the Des Moines Airport. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – For the first time ever, men and women will wrestle side by side on an international stage at the 2022 Men’s and Women’s Freestyle World Cup, December 9-11 at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The event will take place a little over a year after the University of Iowa became the first NCAA Division I, Power Five conference institution to add women’s wrestling to its athletic program.