Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Home sales in Des Moines dropped nearly 15% last month from where they were a year ago. According to the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors, more than 1,400 homes were sold last month. In July 2021, there were 1,700 homes sold. While home sales dropped, the median price for a home is more than 9% higher than a year ago.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Altoona police are investigating a shooting that left a 41-year-old man dead in his home on August 10. Police say there were two more adults on scene who lived at the home with Killen. They are cooperating with authorities as police investigate the case.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A person of interest in the homicide of a Des Moines man earlier this month turned himself in Monday and now officials say he has been charged with first-degree murder. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said 38-year-old Courtney Smith is charged in the death of 51-year-old Scott Crane.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man was arrested early Tuesday after police say he was under the influence of methamphetamine and struck two squad cars during a chase in Davenport. Jontavius Devonte Johnson, 27, was booked into the Scott County Jail on multiple charges.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Heavy metal rockers Five Finger Death Punch, fronted by Ivan Moody, and country singer Brantley Gilbert are gifting the metro with a Christmastime tour stop in Des Moines. The rock royalty members out of Las Vegas and Gilbert previously collaborated on a 2019 heavy metal remake of the 1998 Kenny Wayne Shepherd hit “Blue on Black” with Shepherd and Queen lead guitarist Brian May. The collaborators will appear together during their co-headlining tour stop in Des Moines on Dec. 7 at Wells Fargo Arena.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque City Council approved a letter from Mayor Brad Cavanagh on Monday night that asks for President Biden to relocate refugees to the city to fill worker shortages.

MONONA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A new report shows a crop duster became entangled in power lines before a deadly crash in Monona County, near Ute, in July. Investigators say the pilot, Brady Penner, of Oklahoma, was spraying a field when the crash happened. He died at the scene.

WATERLOO, Iowa (KWWL) — Average gas prices in Iowa dipped 9.9 cents this week for a new state average of $3.58 per gallon. Prices this week are 78.3 cents lower than a month ago, but are 60.8 cents higher than a year ago.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa counties are calling upon residents to serve as poll workers for the next general election. Today is designated as Help America Vote Day. The day was established as a national awareness day by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to encourage people to assist poll worker recruitment efforts across the country. Iowa counties are always in need of citizens to step up and serve as poll workers.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The 2022 college football season will begin with some familiar names at the top of the AP Top 25 poll. The Alabama Crimson Tide will begin the season in the #1 spot, followed by fellow perennial championship favorites Ohio State, defending-champion Georgia, Clemson and Notre Dame. The Iowa Hawkeyes start the season in the ‘Others receiving votes’ category. The Iowa State Cyclones did not receive any votes in the preseason poll.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A house in Ames was severely damaged after a fire engulfed the structure Sunday. Six pets died in the fire.

WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – A man has been taken into custody after a police chase and a standoff in a Winterset church on Sunday morning. The man is a person of interest in a homicide investigation in the Omaha, Nebraska, area. He has been identified as 27-year-old Gage Walter.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police responded Saturday to reports of a man with a gun. The man refused to drop the weapon after officers asked multiple times and he walked away from the police. The man continued to walk for several blocks and then brandished the weapon and officers shot him.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – After spending a week helping flash flood victims in hard-hit areas of Kentucky, Willie Ray Fairley is back home in Cedar Rapids. Willie Ray thanked people who sent donations to allow his crew to go down and help serve people in Kentucky. They provided more than 1,000 meals during the six days they were on the ground.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of thousands of people took advantage of the sunny weather and came to the Iowa State Fairgrounds this weekend. The fair is on pace to have over a million visitors this year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A garage and cars caught fire near the State Capitol late Thursday night. The owner told authorities that there are two people living in the garage, however, the fire department didn’t find anyone inside. Those people are still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Students are no longer being asked to avoid the Schaeffer Hall area at the University of Iowa Friday evening. A Hawk Alert issued to students Friday night indicated a law enforcement presence on campus. By 10 p.m. however, the University had posted the all clear on its website. According to a Hawk alert earlier in the evening, officers were on scene investigating a report of a suspicious package.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Vice President Mike Pence will return to Iowa next week to campaign with Senator Charles Grassley and other Iowa Republicans. Pence is scheduled to visit Iowa on Friday, August 19th and Saturday, August 20th. He’ll campaign with Grassley and others at the Fair during the day then take part in a fundraiser in Cumming that evening. On Saturday he’ll appear at a fundraiser in Waverly.

WHITESTOWN, IN (IRN) – The state of Iowa will once again be representing the Midwest and possibly the United States in the Little League World Series. On Friday afternoon, the Davenport boys won the Midwest Regional Championship, knocking off the boys from Webb City, Missouri 4-3. The Davenport team will play next in Williamsport, Pennsylvania – home of the Little League World Series.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist who was injured in a crash on Aug. 6 has died, according to Des Moines Police. 26-year-old Bryton Tichy, of Cedar Falls, was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve and it went on its side and hit the curb.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man is now in a Waterloo hospital for treatment and mental evaluation after he threatened people with a knife at Walmart. Police tried to get him to put down the weapon, and he resited. He was tasered and subdued.

DECORAH, IA (IRN) – Thursday morning Decorah Police received multiple 911 calls and reports of a motor vehicle driving into Family Table Restaurant. Investigators say 86-year-old Laura Boice was pulling into a parking spot at the restaurant and failed to stop her 2013 Ford Expedition. The vehicle then crashed into the restaurant causing extensive damage and injuries to multiple patrons inside. Decorah Fire had to free Boice from her vehicle. She was uninjured.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Drew Smyly struck out nine in five scoreless innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Thursday night in Major League Baseball’s second annual “Field of Dreams” game. The night began with Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and his father emerging from the iconic outfield cornstalks for their own version of a memorable scene from the film, delighting the sellout crowd. “Hey dad, do you wanna have a catch,” Junior said. Senior replied, “I’d like that.”