Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Friday, March 11, 2022

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man is in jail after being charged with two counts of child endangerment. Antoine Scott allegedly locked a child in a bedroom and left him in filthy conditions. Police found used diapers, alcohol bottles, and soiled child’s clothing in the room. Police say the child also suffered injuries to his head, face and mouth. Scott is being held in the Polk County Jail without bond. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A fire started at Lost Island Theme Park in Waterloo last night. The fire is in the new amusement park section that is scheduled to open in May or June of this year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A state panel responsible for tracking Iowa revenue trends says growth continues at a good pace but that tax changes signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last week will reverse that trend beginning next year. The Revenue Estimating Conference said Thursday that state revenue will grow 4.3% this year, but will fall 0.2% next year. The revenue decline is due to the estimated loss of $236 million in tax revenue. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Community School District is considering a four-day school week all year round.The school board discussed it at a meeting on Tuesday, with the superintendent presenting two draft calendars. They showed a plan where school days would generally run Monday through Thursday. The calendar would include extended breaks throughout the year, including several weeks off in the summer. The superintendent said the new model could address the “summer slide,” and help retain teachers. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After Monday’s tragic shooting, classes at East High School have been canceled for the week. But many students from schools across the metro are showing their support. Thursday was Scarlet Day. As a sign of solidarity, students and staff from across Des Moines and beyond wore red and black in support of East High School.


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Thursday, March 10, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced her re-election bid last night in Des Moines. Recent polling shows Reynolds leading her Democratic challenger Deidre Dejear by eight percentage points. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A teenager is facing felony charges for allegedly setting three fires in the town of Maxwell oover the last two months. The suspect is a 17-year-old. The teen was arrested after a school bus was set on fire at Collins-Maxwell High School, and there were two fires set at a Casey’s location in Maxwell last month. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says a technical problem caused severe weather warnings in Iowa on Saturday to be delayed by minutes. They say the backlog was traced to a “damaged fiber optic cable” at a network hub in Texas. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Ron Stander, whose fight against unbeaten world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in 1972 was the highlight of his 13-year career, has died of complications of diabetes at his home near Omaha. He was 77. Stander was known as the “Bluffs Butcher,” a nod to both his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and his aggressive, brawling style. He was 38-21-3 in a professional career that spanned the years 1969-82.


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Wednesday, March 9, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds is holding a special event tonight. She’s expected to officially announce her reelection campaign for governor. Her office has been saying for months that the decision would come in the spring. The event is at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in the Elwell Family Food Center. Doors open at 5 p.m., and you need to RSVP. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man who attempted to carjack a vehicle and have a witness killed pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. 39-year-old Christopher Daniel Taylor admitted that in 2020 he tried to steal a car from another person and displayed a firearm while doing it. He also admitted to attempting to have a witness killed. He faces a minimum of seven years in prison. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The White House has issued a response after a shooting took place outside of East High School in Des Moines. The victim in the shooting was 15-year-old Jose David Lopez. Six juveniles have been charged with murder. President Biden offered condolences to the family and community, praised the first responders involved, and condemned gun violence. WAYLAND, IA (IRN) – The Cardinal Community School District in Eldon recently approved a 4 day school week for the upcoming year. WACO community school district switched to a 4 day week in 2013. The schools have found that the model is helping them recruit teachers during the teacher shortage. WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – After days of devastation and heartbreak in Winterset, the first responders who worked through the aftermath of the tornado were able to celebrate as they escorted the boys’ basketball team to the state tournament. Before the community celebrated, they held a moment of silence for those who lost their homes and their loved ones. Winterset advanced in the tournament by beating Marion in overtime.


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Tuesday, March 8, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Six teenagers have been charged, each with one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, after a fatal, drive-by shooting on Monday outside outside of East High School in Des Moines. Three teenage victims had been hit by the gunfire. A 15-year-old boy died at the hospital from his injuries. The other two victims, a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl, remain hospitalized. The boy that died was not a student at East High School, but both of the teen girls are. On Tuesday afternoon, Des Moines police said the victim in the shooting was 15-year-old Jose David Lopez, of Des Moines. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A man who was stabbed Monday night at a Sonic restaurant in Johnston has died from his injuries and a suspect has been charged. 55-year-old Spencer Antowyn Pierce, of Des Moines, was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree burglary with bodily injury. Pierce was convicted of first-degree murder in the past, but his conviction in a 2013 homicide was thrown out by the Iowa Court of Appeals, citing lack of evidence. WAUCOMA, IA (IRN) – First responders were called to a home in Waucoma in Fayette County last Thursday for a report of carbon monoxide exposure. Three people were transported to a local hospital, and one man died at the scene. They had been running a generator in the basement without proper ventilation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has completed a survey of tornado damage in three Iowa counties. A single EF4 tornado touched down in Madison County and brought six deaths and extreme damage to areas near Winterset. The tornado continued into Warren County where several homes were damaged or destroyed near Carlisle. Homes were also damaged in southeastern Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and Runnells, as the tornado continued past Newton until it weakened. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa family is calling their father a hero. Rodney Clark of Madison County saved his wife’s life during Saturday’s tornado outbreak. The EF-4 twister slammed their house, sending the couple airborne for 100 feet before they landed in a pile of rubble. Rodney lay on top of his wife Judy in the bathtub to shield her from the impact. Rodney and Judy had a life full of joy. They loved dancing and riding horses…and were never apart.


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Monday, March 7, 2022

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls Police arrested a man on Sunday after a domestic disturbance involving a gun. The victim told police her fiance and father of her child, Randal Lee Maifield assaulted her physically, strangled her, and threatened her and a witness with a gun. The victim said Maifeld fired his gun during the incident. IOWA (IRN) – Six people were killed by a tornado that touched down in Madison county–four adults and two children under 5. One person was killed by a tornado in Chariton. The National Weather Service estimates an EF3 tornado with wind speeds between 136 miles per hour and 165 miles per hour tore through Madison county, damaging a minimum of 52 homes over a 13.7 mile stretch. In Lucas County a strong EF-3 tornado with winds up to 138mph traveled approximately 16 miles. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Nearly 90 passengers and crew members were safe after a 737 slid off the runway during severe weather. It happened Saturday night at the Waterloo Regional Airport when the plane landed and slid nearly 1,000 feet off the runway. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have released an update on a vehicle and a body found Friday in a creek bed in West Des Moines. The vehicle officers found was a gray 2016 Jeep Cherokee belonging to missing Des Moines man Matthew O’Dell. Identification found with the deceased person belonged to O’Dell. An autopsy is being performed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The first poll between Democratic Governor candidate Deidre DeJear and incumbent Governor Reynolds was released on Saturday by the Des Moines Register. It showed the governor with an eight-point lead over DeJear. According to the poll, 51% of midterm election voters say they would vote for Governor Reynolds, while 43% said they would side with DeJear.