Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Sunday, January 24, 2021

AMES, IA (IRN) – The woman found dead Friday morning near an Iowa State University sorority was the daughter of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chutich and Allina Health CEO Penny Wheeler. Olivia Chutich, 21, was found unconscious in the parking lot at Delta Delta Delta Sorority at Iowa State before 10 a.m. Friday. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating two shootings in the city early Saturday morning that left one man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. Dozens of shots were fired. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police are investigating an attempted ATM theft Thursday. Someone had attempted to steal an ATM by wrapping chains around the machine. Police say the suspect truck that was involved also hit a car in the parking lot. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Democratic Party announced Saturday that it has elected Rep. Ross Wilburn as the party chair. Wilburn is the first Black person to be elected as the Iowa Democratic Party’s chair.


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Saturday, January 23, 2020

AMES, IA (IRN) – A 21-year-old Iowa State University student was found dead in a sorority parking lot Friday morning. Olivia Chutich was found mid morning, and had apparently had laid there since the early morning hours. Police are investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Democrats in the Iowa House on Friday asked that a Republican legislator be removed from committee assignments because of his claims about election fraud and what some saw as threatening language about guns. Rep. Dean Fisher posted that the widespread mistrust of elections and that blame is “laid solely at the feet of the Democratic party.” He alleged “shady practices, and outright cheating” in Democratic led states and cities. Fisher also wrote, “We will survive. Remember, our side has the guns.” CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A north-central Iowa venue best known for hosting the last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson before the trio died in a 1959 plane crash is now a National Historic Landmark. The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is Iowa’s 27th National Historic Landmark, joining a list that includes the American Gothic House in Eldon and the gold-domed State Capitol. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines has announced its newest addition: a 6-foot, 125-pound giraffe. The male calf was born Monday to Skye, a 6-year-old giraffe that has lived at the zoo since 2015. The father is Jakobi, a 15-year-old giraffe that has sired several calves over the years. Beginning Jan. 28, the zoo will release several possible names and will ask the public to vote on their favorite.


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Friday, January 22, 2021

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The former CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa has been arrested and charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. Jennifer Woodley, 40, was booked at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines on Thursday evening and released. The organization announced last summer that it had discovered financial irregularities during a compliance review and that Woodley had been dismissed after serving as CEO for one year. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced plans on Thursday to begin vaccinating the second phase of people eligible starting February 1st. This includes first responders, teachers, child care workers and people 65 and older. There are not enough vaccines to go around, so people in these groups may not get a vaccination right away. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Reynolds also announced $40 million dollars in grants to help Iowa bars and restaurants through the pandemic. Businesses that lost sales in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2020, compared to 2019, are eligible to apply. Up to $25,000 dollars per business will be available. IOWA (IRN) – Complaints of fraud, price-gouging and other consumer scams increased 24% over the past year. The Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division attributes much of the increase to the pandemic and the August derecho, noting in particular reports of price gouging as demand for essential products rose. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa High School Athletic Association says the state wrestling tournament will go on. The tournament is scheduled to run from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, with slight adjustments. They will be implementing social distancing mitigation efforts and limit the capacity of spectators. The tournament typically brings in 75,000 fans, but this year there will be less than 4,000 tickets available for each session. Masks will be required.


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Thursday, January 21, 2021

SUMNER, IA (IRN) – The owner of a daycare in the Bremer County town of Sumner has been arrested and charged with Child Endangerment after an employee accused her of injuring a 1-year-old child. The employee reported that 54-year-old Crystal Bahe injured the child while disciplining their behavior. Bahe is the owner of Crystal’s Christian Child Care. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A 25-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison for having a Molotov cocktail during racial injustice protests in downtown Omaha last year. Steven Fitch, of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Omaha police after they found a Molotov cocktail in his front pants pocket. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Des Moines area sports radio host Marty Tirrell will spend up to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to running a fraudulent ticket scheme and be required to repay more than $1.4 million to victims. Tirrell carried out a Ponzi scheme for more than a decade before it eventually collapsed. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Council has approved more than $12 million in tax increment financing for a downtown development designed to revitalize and preserve the character of the Pedestrian Mall. The $54.4 million project involves designating buildings as historic landmarks in order to renovate and preserve them. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – An Iowan participated in the inauguration of President Joe Biden yesterday. Gunnery Sgt. Kara Santos, a flutist in the U.S. Marine Band and a graduate of Iowa City West High and the University of Iowa’s Graduate College, performed several songs throughout the ceremony as Biden was sworn in as the 46th president.


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Wednesday, January 20, 2021

TOLEDO, IA (IRN) – As Iowa prepares for Phase 1B of Iowa’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Tama County Public Health is asking for residents 75 and older to reach out if they’re interested in being put on a vaccine list. Residents will then be contacted once the vaccine is available. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport Police responded to reports of a body in the road Monday. Police say that person was hit and killed by a car. Then they were dragged and left by a nearby hospital. The vehicle fled the scene after striking the pedestrian. IOWA (IRN) – Republicans on the Iowa House’s rules committee rejected attempts by Democrats to add a mask requirement and other coronavirus-related precautions to the chamber rules Tuesday. In addition to a mask mandate, Democrats’ proposals would have allowed members of the public to speak at House subcommittee meetings virtually and would have allowed legislators to vote remotely during committee meetings. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Iowa National Guard recommitted their oath as they began to serve outside the U.S. Capitol. A group of about 265 soldiers and airmen traveled to Washington, D.C. over the weekend to help provide security for Inauguration Day. COLLEGE PARK, MD (IRN) – The women’s basketball game between No. 7 Maryland and Iowa, scheduled for tomorrow night, has been postponed because the Hawkeyes don’t want to travel because of security precautions and threats of violence related to the inauguration. The team was scheduled to arrive at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport tonight.