Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Monday, June 13, 2020

IOWA (IRN) – Iowans and other Midwestern residents could face rolling blackouts this summer if extreme heat and spiking demand coincide with insufficient power. Iowa and 14 other states are at high risk of “energy emergencies during peak summer conditions,” according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. VAN METER, IA (IRN) – A fatal crash occurred at 3 p.m. Sunday just southeast of Van Meter. The Iowa State Patrol says 16-year-old Judah Noble crossed the center line and hit a motorcycle. The man on the motorcycle, 39-year-old Jared Eklund, died. Noble was airlifted to Blank Children’s Hospital. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque Fire Department was dispatched on Sunday to where a resident found an unexploded WWII-era mortar round. All 25 residences in the neighborhood were evacuated. The State Fire Marshall removed the unexploded mortar and transported it to a separate location for detonation. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Mo Donegal, an Iowa-owned horse, finished first and filly Nest was second, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a 1-2 finish at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for his sixth victory in the Triple Crown race.


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Sunday, June 12, 2022

MONDAMIN, IA (IRN) – A West Harrison teacher is suspected of inappropriate contact with six students and has been charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. West Harrison is a rural district on the Missouri River, north of Council Bluffs. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Fire and Rescue searched the Cedar River Friday night and Saturday morning after a report that an unnamed person went into the river. According to police, the caller reported seeing the man floating in the river, and then he floated out of their line of sight. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Mo Donegal, an Iowa-owned horse, finished first and filly Nest was second, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a 1-2 finish at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for his sixth victory in the Triple Crown race.


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Saturday, June 11, 2022

BOONE, IA (IRN) – The man who killed two women in Ames last week had a history of mental illness. A police report from May 6 says Boone police made a welfare check at Johnathan Whitlatch’s home. The person who asked for the check said they were worried he would harm himself. Police found Whitlatch in his car parked halfway in his driveway. He was reportedly not responding well and told officers he had recently seen a doctor about a medical condition. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge for a March shooting where he shot and killed his second cousin. Dorray Cooper, 58, pleaded guilty this week to Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm for killing 41-year-old LaVance Cooper. The victim was shot in the abdomen and died. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police arrested four armed robbery suspects and recovered two handguns. The victim told police two people with guns robbed him near Drake University on Friday. Officers spotted a car that matched the description, but the suspects took off. The car ended up crashing nearby. Two 17-year-olds, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old got out and ran. All four were eventually arrested. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The March For Our Lives movement for gun control inspired demonstrations across America on Friday, which included a march through downtown Des Moines to the State Capitol. They chanted “no more silence end gun violence” along the way, and many in attendance wore orange for gun violence awareness. The March For Our Lives movement, which started after the deadly shooting at Parkland, a Florida high school in 2018, is primarily led by teenagers.


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Friday, June 10, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A former inmate at the Polk County Jail says he was sexually assaulted by an employee. He said that former employee Brianna Miller followed him into the walk-in cooler and sexually assaulted him while he was working in the jail’s kitchen. Brianna Miller has now been arrested and charged with sexual misconduct. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works has restarted operations at their nitrate removal facility, which hasn’t been used since 2017. The Racoon River is the main water source for Central Iowa. Now Des Moines Water Works says it will be spending an extra $10,000 a day to make the water drinkable. Nitrate levels in their water sources have been high due to upstream land-use practices where excess nutrients leave the soil and enter Iowa’s water. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Republican Party hosted a reception Thursday where Senator Joni Ernst was joined by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. State GOP chairman Jeff Kaufman moderated an hour-long discussion where the two senators discussed topics ranging from global warming to the performance of President Biden to what keeps them up at night. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo native and Dallas Cowboy great Don Perkins has died at the age of 84. After graduating from Waterloo West in 1956, Perkins was an all-American at the University of New Mexico in 1959. From there he was a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys under the legendary Tom Landry. Perkins was named NFL rookie of the year in 1961 and was a six time pro bowl selection. He ended his career in 1968 as the Dallas Cowboys all-time leading rusher, and still ranks third all-time behind Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett and Ezekiel Elliott.


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Thursday, June 9, 2022

GRUNDY CENTER, IA (IRN) – Michael Lang, the man found guilty of murdering Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith, has requested a new trial. Prosecutors said Lang shot and killed Smith in Grundy Center as he led a tactical team into the home. Before the shooting, a chase led police there and Lang barricaded himself inside. Lang was captured after a tactical team broke in with a wheeled, armored personnel carrier. Smith was the first state trooper killed in the line of duty in 10 years at the time of his death. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport Police Officer shot and killed a man who was firing at the officer early Wednesday morning. The shooting happened shortly before 1:00 a.m. at a Casey’s Convenience Store. Police were called to investigate a suspicious person tampering with an air conditioner. When the officer confronted the suspect “a physical confrontation ensued. That confrontation led to both the officer and the suspect exchanging gunfire. The suspect was shot and died at a nearby hospital. The officer suffered “non-life-threatening injuries.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Johnston man was sentenced on Friday for Making a Destructive Device and Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm. Chad Allen Williams, 47, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for manufacturing three explosive devices found in the middle of a road in Ankeny in 2021. One explosive device was found by a 9-year-old girl. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Catch Des Moines has announced that an Ironman race will be held in central Iowa until at least 2025. Des Moines’ first full-length Ironman race starts Sunday. Last year, the state hosted a half-Ironman. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – First, there was “Survivor.” Now, “The Challenge.” Cedar Rapids Police investigator Sarah Lacina is one of 28 competitors slated to compete for a $500,000 prize on “The Challenge: USA” – a new spinoff of the popular MTV show. The winner will take on other champions in a global competition.