Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Wednesday, February 16, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa officials agreed Tuesday to pay a group of attorneys nearly $5 million in a case that showed staff wrongly kept boys at a state-run school in isolation chambers and restraints. The Iowa Appeals Board approved the payment to attorneys for former students of the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora. The former students earlier won a lawsuit against the state over their mistreatment. INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) – An Oelwein woman is facing an attempted murder charge following a road rage incident in Buchanan County. Heather Lynn Beck, 36, is charged with attempted murder and one count of second-degree criminal mischief. Independence Police responded to two calls: one a road rage report; the second about a fight in the street. Police said Beck repeatedly struck another car with her car as they drove several blocks. She’s in jail. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A 76-year old Newton Community School Bus driver has been fired after CBD oil she uses to help with arthritis triggered a positive drug test. Peg Esperanza says it was presented to her as THC-free. She drove special needs students to and from school. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa farmers and landowners are fighting to keep carbon pipelines out of their backyard. Summit Carbon Solutions and Navigator CO₂ Ventures are two companies looking to build carbon pipelines in Iowa. Many are concerned that the two companies behind the pipelines will use eminent domain to get them built. In response, Iowa lawmakers are trying to ban all private businesses from using eminent domain. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Food delivery apps like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats could face new restrictions under a bill moving through the Iowa House. The Iowa Restaurant Association says 40% of restaurants across the state have complained about problems with food delivery services. Drivers not following food safety guidelines is one of the biggest concerns. Studies show about 25% of drivers delivering your food sample it before they give it to you.


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Tuesday, February 15, 2022

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Fists, feet and teeth. Urbandale police say a woman used them all when she violently attacked a convenience store clerk. The random act of violence happened Saturday at a Kum & Go on in Urbandale. Police say Amber Revell of Jefferson entered the store and laid down on the floor. The cashier asked her if she needed help, and Revell started hitting, kicking, and biting the cashier. She also attacked an officer during her arrest. Police think she was drunk. NEWARK, N.J. (IRN) – An Iowa woman was arrested by police after TSA agents stopped her from carrying a loaded handgun onto her flight on Friday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Authorities said the 9mm gun was loaded with five bullets, including one in the chamber. They did not identify the woman. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Large numbers of geese and pelicans have been found dead along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, and wildlife biologists aren’t sure what’s killing them. The carcasses of more than 20 Canada geese were recently discovered along the river in Davenport, and more were found in the city. About two dozen dead American white pelicans were found in the river in Bettendorf. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are sending to Gov. Kim Reynolds a school funding bill that offers a 2.5% increase from the current year. Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to increase state aid by 5%. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police officers took a break from their usual calls on Monday to spread some love for Valentine’s Day. Officers made a stop at the West Ridge Care Center to drop off flowers to the residents. Chief of Police Wayne Jerman said they wanted to make sure everyone felt a little love for the holiday.


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Monday, February 14, 2022

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – New data from the Iowa Department of Public Health shows COVID-19 numbers in retreat from the last several weeks. Every key metric has improved in the last week. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Three people who were attending a monster truck rally in Waterloo were taken to a hospital Saturday night with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Truck exhaust is assumed to be the source of the carbon monoxide that sickened the spectators. The three became ill as the crowd was filing out of the National Cattle Congress complex at the end of the event. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed a camper on a property north of Runnells Sunday night. Two people were inside a camper trailer when it caught fire. They were able to escape without injuries. JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Johnson County government has extended the face covering requirement in county buildings through May 15, 2022. LOS ANGELES, CA (IRN) – Eight University of Iowa students were in Los Angeles working at the Super Bowl. All of the students are in the university’s Sports and Recreation Management program. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.


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Sunday, February 13, 2022

WAYNE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man died in a head-on crash in Wayne County on Friday. Brian Irving, 44, of Chariton, was driving a car northbound on Highway 14 when his vehicle swerved in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer. The two vehicles collided head on. Irving died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A BP gas station in Cedar Rapids was robbed at gunpoint Saturday night. The suspect is still at large and no arrests have been made. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Firefighters responded to a garage fire in Cedar Falls Saturday. When Public Safety officers arrived at the scene, they woke the house’s resident and brought the person safely outside. Once fire crews arrived, both the garage and breezeway were on fire. No one was injured. LOS ANGELES, CA (IRN) – Eight University of Iowa students are in Los Angeles working at the Super Bowl. All of the students are in the university’s Sports and Recreation Management program.


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Saturday, February 12, 2022

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque county auditor accepted Dubuque County Treasurer Randy Wedewer’s resignation on Friday after a prostitution scandal involving Wedewer occurred on Wednesday. Wedewer was arrested along with 10 others as part of a large police sting operation in which authorities say was so successful they plan on doing more in the future. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa families near the poverty level have received extra help to buy groceries during the pandemic, but that increase will end soon. The United States Department of Agriculture granted Iowa additional funding for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program every month of the COVID-19 pandemic, including $28 million for February. However, that funding is contingent on Iowa keeping its COVID-19 disaster declaration, which Governor Reynolds says will expire this month. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines middle school employee is now on administrative leave. According to The Des Moines Public School District, a Goodrell Middle School worker is under investigation for using a racial slur. MORAVIA, IA (IRN) – The State of Iowa wants to sell Honey Creek Resort on the shore of Rathbun Lake. The resort is owned by the State of Iowa, with oversight provided by the DNR. Delaware North, the hospitality company that has operated Honey Creek Resort since 2016, says it will end its operations contract with the state in April 2023. The DNR says they are now considering all options for the property but would prefer to sell it.