Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Saturday, April 8, 2023

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has stopped a long time policy of the state paying for both Plan B and the abortion pill for rape victims. Those payments are now on hold as part of a larger review of victim services. The Iowa ACLU on Friday slammed the move as “beyond cruel” and “unconscionable.” WEBSTER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Humboldt woman is accused of hiring someone to kill her husband. Forty-four-year-old Erin Rohrer is charged with solicitation to commit murder. According to court documents, Rohrer met with someone in the Fort Dodge area in an attempt to persuade them to kill her husband. Court records don’t show a motive. TAMA, IA (IRN) – A former Tama County jail inmate is suing the county over his sexual relationship with a jailer. Christopher Cungtion says in court documents that the illegal relationship with jailer Kayla Bergom put his safety at risk. He was allegedly threatened with extortion by other inmates, which eventually led to a fight. Bergom pleaded guilty and was given a suspended sentence. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeye basketball star Kris Murray announced on Friday he is entering his name into the 2023 NBA Draft, while maintaining his college eligibility. He earned consensus third team All-American honors this year, along with a number of other accolades.


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Friday, April 7, 2023

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Athletics Department has paused sales of 2023-24 women’s basketball season tickets because demand is so high. Fans are excited to watch Caitlin Clark, Coach Lisa Bluder, and the Hawkeye women after winning the Big Ten Championship and being runners-up in the NCAA tournament. LUCAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A teenager was killed in a ATV accident in rural Lucas County on Wednesday. Alex Andrew Oxenreider, 14, was taken from the scene of the crash northwest of Chariton by Chariton Fire and Rescue. He died from his injuries at Lucas County Health Center. FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – On April 4th the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call of a train vs vehicle accident west of Oelwein. A grain truck had failed to yield at the railroad crossing and struck a Northern Iowa Railways train. The driver of the truck was cited for Failure to properly stop at a railroad crossing. No injuries were reported. WAPELLO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – According to the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, an Ottumwa man posed as a massage therapist and assaulted someone. Fifty-year-old Cory West of Ottumwa, a convicted sex offender, gave a massage to a woman last month at his home and inappropriately touched her. The sheriff’s office says that West’s criminal history “spans over several decades and several states.” West was arrested and charged with sexual abuse. IOWA CITY, IOWA (IRN) – The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead to commemorate the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball Team’s historic 2022-23 season. The bobblehead features Iowa’s mascot, Herky the Hawk, holding up a copy of the sports section of a newspaper titled “Iowa News.” The front page proclaims, “HAWKEYES MAKE IOWA PROUD!”


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Thursday, April 6, 2023

TRURO, IA (IRN) – Some people in the Interstate 35 Community School District call for firing their superintendent. As of Thursday morning, over 300 people had signed an online petition demanding the removal of Superintendent Sharon Dentlinger. The petition states that the community has lost confidence in Dentlinger. It claims she has failed to provide transparent and open communication with staff and the community on important safety issues for students and staff. OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – Police have located a man they say shot another man Tuesday night in Oskaloosa. Twenty-two-year-old Gavin Jones could be charged with willful injury causing serious injury. Jones was apprehended in Missouri. ELY, IA (IRN) – Fire crews in Ely battled a massive fire at a trucking repair company last night. The building was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, and the smoke and flames could be seen from Cedar Rapids. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her nearly 1,600-page state government reorganization bill into law Tuesday, setting the stage for a likely long and complex implementation process. The new law will reduce the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16 by “aligning agencies with similar business operations and missions,” according to the governor’s office. Democrats say it is a “power grab.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair has filled two more nights on the 2023 Grandstand concert calendar, announcing a comedy show and rock concert. On August 14th, The Black Keys will headline with special guests The Velveteers. The rock duo has won five Grammys. On August 15th, comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will take the stage – along with a bunch of dummies he calls friends.


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Wednesday, April 5, 2023

IOWA (IRN) – Struggling discount retailer Tuesday Morning has closed its three remaining Iowa stores, in West Des Moines, Coralville and Davenport. The Dallas-based discount home décor and home furnishing retailer previously had closed a store in Ankeny. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican House lawmakers passed a sweeping education bill Tuesday. It would restrict LGBTQ topics in elementary schools and what books are allowed in all classrooms and school libraries. Schools would no longer be required to teach kids about HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV. The HPV virus prevents cervical cancer, among other cancers, but Iowa Republicans say it encourages girls to be promiscuous. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Tuesday, Governor Reynolds signed a bill that will reorganize state government, consolidating several state agencies.The bill will effectively merge and reduce the number of state agencies from 37 to 16. The Governor says it will make government smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective. Democrats argued it will lead to less oversight and accountability, and take away services from those in need. BOONE, IA (IRN) – A former Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy is now facing a felony charge after his K-9 overheated and died after being left in a hot car for nearly a day. Dallas Wingate, 50, is charged with Interference of a Police Dog Service. Wingate allegedly left the dog in his vehicle for 22 hours before checking on him. KNOXVILLE, IA (IRN) – Hail damaging siding and vehicles has been reported in multiple locations throughout central Iowa, including Osceola. Tornados were spotted in rural Warren county between Knoxville and Pleasantville, with damage to some houses, and west of Pella. No injuries were reported.


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Tuesday, April 4, 2023

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny police want to know why a man entered someone’s apartment without permission and stayed for 30 minutes while the occupants slept. According to police, the man walked into two units at Prairie Lakes Saturday night. He hovered over a woman while she slept on the couch. The man was barefoot when he entered and later took a pair of socks from the counter and put them on before he left. The man also allegedly took a drink, used the bathroom and collected all the shoes in the house and set them next to the couch. He was inside for about a half-hour before being confronted by residents, when he left. IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has confirmed at least 10 tornadoes touched down in Iowa last Friday. Those tornadoes touched down in six eastern Iowa counties. Seven were rated EF2 tornadoes. An EF2 tornado that touched down in Wapello County had an estimated peak wind of 135 mph and had a path length of 8.1 miles. IOWA (IRN) – The southeastern half of Iowa will once again be under a significant risk for severe weather and tornadoes for the second time in less than a week. Tuesday’s setup looks similar to last Friday’s in terms of tornadic potential and placement. The start time may be a few hours later, pushing the main hours of concern out of the school day and later into the evening. SOLON, IA (IRN) – A Classic Rock station got knocked off the air after Friday’s tornadoes in eastern Iowa. 100.7 The Fox is not transmitting over the air after their radio tower got taken down by an EF-2 tornado near Solon. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – First lady Jill Biden said Monday that she wants the runner-up Iowa women’s basketball team to be invited to the White House in addition to the national title winner Louisiana State University. She watched LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa from the stands on Sunday night. Speaking at the Colorado state capital in Denver, Biden praised Iowa’s sportsmanship and congratulated both teams on their performance.