AMES, IA (IRN) – A man shot and killed two female victims, then killed himself, in a parking lot outside Ames’ Cornerstone Church Thursday night. The two women killed were 22-year-old Eden Moriah Montang, of Boone, and 21-year-old Vivian Renee Flores, of West Des Moines. The shooter was 33-year-old Johnathan Lee Whitlatch. Whitlatch fired several rounds from a 9mm handgun, striking Montang and Flores, then turned the gun on himself. Whitlatch and Montang were previously in a relationship. The Iowa Army National Guard says Whitlatch and Montang were members of the military branch, although not on active duty. Both women were students at ISU. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – On June 2nd Dubuque police responded to a bar. Witnesses say that a man came in and ordered a drink at 2:30 pm while yelling incoherent phrases and talking to himself. A bar patron suggested calling 911. The man, identified as 34-year-old Eric J. Wheaton, reportedly responded by saying if the cops get called that he would “come back and kill them all.” Wheaton is in jail on multiple charges. An employee recalled Wheaton saying “I’ll kill everyone. I’ll kill everyone in this city.” BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA former Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputy has been charged with Extortion, Non-Felonious Misconduct in Office, and Accepting a Bribe. On February 4th, 2022, Deputy Klint Bentley allegedly stopped a vehicle in rural Buchanan County for speeding. Bentley asked the female driver to show him her breasts and implied he would withhold issuing a citation if she did. The female victim reportedly recorded the interaction during the traffic stop. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Democratic Party submitted its proposal to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in a bid to keep its “first-in-the-nation” status. The caucuses would shift to something closer to a primary election. Democratic voters would submit written presidential preference cards in the mail or in person 14 to 28-days prior to caucus night. The proposal calls for the state party to contract with a DNC-approved vendor, the Iowa Secretary of State, or Iowa county auditors in order to tally results. Then, on caucus night, party officials would announce the results.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A man shot and killed two female victims, then killed himself, in a parking lot outside Ames’ Cornerstone Church Thursday night. The shooting happened during Salt Company, a college ministry program at the church. Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald identified the two women killed in the shooting as 22-year-old Eden Moriah Montang, of Boone, and 21-year-old Vivian Renee Flores, of West Des Moines. Fitzgerald identified the shooter as 33-year-old Johnathan Lee Whitlatch. Fitzgerald said Whitlatch fired several rounds from a 9mm handgun, striking Montang and Flores, then turned the gun on himself. A third woman who was with Montang and Flores was able to find safety and was not injured. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person died in a fire in Cascade on Wednesday night. Multiple fire departments responded to the fire. The building is a total loss, with an estimated $80,000 in damage. No one was injured. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a van rolled several times off the Interstate 35 roadway in Madison County, according to the Iowa State Patrol. MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A construction worker from Ottumwa died Wednesday after becoming pinned by equipment while working on a bridge on Highway 92 over the North Skunk River in Mahaska County. By the time law enforcement arrived, workers had already been able to free 46-year-old Pablo Jesus Gomez-Garcia, but he died at the scene. LANSING, IA (IRN) – A Canadian Pacific train derailed in northeast Iowa on Wednesday, spilling coal into the Mississippi River. Ten coal cars derailed, but only one tipped coal into the river. An unknown amount of coal spilled about 4 miles south of Lansing, just south of the Lansing power plant.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man charged with killing his wife last year is set to appear in court today. Gregory Showalter is trying to suppress some of the evidence against him. Showalter claims a Wapello County deputy conducted an illegal search of his car. During the search, police discovered blood and said Showalter attempted to cover it up. Helen Showalter’s body was found in the Des Moines River in Wapello County in early August. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Several Democratic groups are calling on a Des Moines candidate to drop out of the race. Eddie Mauro is running against Megan Srinivas to represent Iowa House District 30, which includes the south side of Des Moines. There have been growing calls for Mauro to drop out after accusations that his campaign is intimidating and doxxing Srivinas. Doxxing means posting someone’s personal information online with malicious intent. Mauro’s campaign says it only posted a 2012 voter registration form to try to show that Srivinas registered as a Republican 10 years ago. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Waterloo Police Department plans on recruiting volunteers to become “community ambassadors,” who are equipped with police radios to alert authorities about situations with the potential to lead to gun violence or gang activity. The initiative hopes to help handle an increase in gun violence after the department responded to seven shootings in eight days. Three of those seven shootings happened on Memorial Day. In total 5 people were hurt and 2 people were killed. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The Sioux City Bandits arena football team has postponed an AR-15 giveaway competition with partner American Brothers in Arms after receiving criticism. The Bandits had previously scheduled the giveaway for Saturday night’s game. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – John Deere Waterloo announced that the production of all cabs, welding and assembly, for current and future products will be moved to Mexico. The move will occur in incremental phases with a completion date set for 2024. New product programs will move in its space. John Deere says that during the next 18 months they will evaluate how the move will affect staffing levels.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Students at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines walked out of class Tuesday, demanding lawmakers do more to curb gun violence and prevent school shootings. Many wore orange shirts, the color hunters wear for safety, and the color of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which is Friday. WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces homicide charges in a deadly crash that happened in March. Windsor Heights Police say Cameron Slothobuer was speeding when he crossed the centerline on March 26. He slammed into Rick Beasley’s car. Beasley died at the hospital a few days later. Slothouber was arrested on Monday and charged with vehicular homicide by reckless driving. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – At a meeting today, the Board of Regents will decide whether or not to approve a 6% rate increase at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The rate, if approved, would go into effect July 1st, 2022. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools’ Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will begin his role as interim superintendent a month ahead of schedule. Smith, who accepted the position of interim superintendent in April, will take over for outgoing Superintendent Tom Ahart today. Ahart came under fire for trying to keep children and staff healthy during the height of COVID. IOWA (IRN) – Several rounds of storms moved through central Iowa Monday night causing damage in some parts of the state. Most of the damage was concentrated in north-central Iowa where straight-line winds are to blame for tree and structure damage in Boxholm, Williams, and Kamrar.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old is charged with attempted murder in a Monday shooting in Ames that injured an 18-year-old man. The victim, 18-year-old Ames resident Anthony M. Davis, was taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center. His condition has not been released. On Tuesday, police said they have arrested a 15-year-old boy. He has been charged with attempted murder and has been transported to juvenile detention. IOWA (IRN) – Several people have died in Iowa in separate motorcycle crashes since Saturday. Holly Jo Hegwood, 37, of Knoxville died after losing control and crashing into a pick-up truck Monday in Knoxville. In Adair County, a man died and a woman was hurt after a chain-reaction crash. Jay Thysen and a passenger were on a motorcycle, yielding to another car when a third car rammed into the motorcycle, killing him. Michael Greene, 61, of Winterset, was killed when he struck another motorcycle that was slowing down in front of him. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Three people died Monday when a semitrailer and another vehicle collided in Waterloo. The driver of the vehicle and two passengers died at the scene. At least four more people died in crashes this weekend in Dubuque, Montgomery, Plymouth and Pottawatomie counties. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man was shot in Waterloo on Monday night. Police said the man is in critical condition. There are no arrests so far. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – 96-year-old Hazel Swanson of Cedar Falls received the Congressional Gold Medal on Monday to recognize her service in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation Congress can bestow for distinguished achievements and contributions. Swanson contributed to the nation’s wartime effort during World War II while serving as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol’s Cedar Falls squadron.