Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are looking for a woman who robbed the U.S. Bank branch near Sixth Street and Walnut Avenue downtown. The robbery happened around 10 a.m. Monday. Police said a woman with red hair entered the bank and presented a note demanding money. She then left the bank, but it’s not known which direction she went. Police said no weapon was displayed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An early morning storm led to multi car crashes and delays on I-380 in Cedar Rapids this morning.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was stabbed in the chest in Des Moines Sunday. Police believe the stabbing was drug-related, and the victim is expected to survive. A suspect, 41-year-old Timothy Kelley, is in jail.

IOWA (IRN) – Every person in Iowa, vaccinated or not, should wear a mask when in public indoor spaces because of the high level of spread of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some East Village businesses in Des Moines are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry, despite state law discouraging it.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair finished its 11-day run with the usual vendors and a concert from the Doobie Brothers. The state fair was cancelled in 2020 because of COVID-19. Attendance for the State Fair was down compared to 2019. As of Sunday, 994,000 people came through the fairgrounds’ gates, including a high of 117,000 on Saturday.

FAIRFAX, IA (IRN) – A crash between a sport-utility vehicle and a motorcycle on Saturday in Fairfax in Linn County sent two people to the hospital. A 2018 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound when a 2010 Jeep Liberty heading westbound failed to properly stop and yield at the intersection and hit the motorcycle. The operator of the motorcycle, along with a passenger, were taken to local hospitals for treatment of injuries. Neither were wearing helmets.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people were hurt, one seriously, after a train hit a car in Black Hawk County. The car became stuck on the tracks as the train approached. The driver was taken to Allen Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passenger was also taken to Allen with life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some East Village businesses in Des Moines are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry, despite state law discouraging it.

IOWA (IRN) – The search for the next “American Idol” has begun, and the quest is coming to Iowa this week. The show, which in 2022 will be marking its 20th season, will hold open call Zoom auditions Aug. 25 for Iowa singers 15 and up who want a chance to pit their talents against those of hundreds of others from across the nation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Thursday for trying to kill two children by running them over with her car because she believed they were Mexican or of Middle Eastern or African descent. Nicole Poole Franklin was sentenced Thursday to 304 months by a federal judge. This sentence will run concurrent to a 17½-year sentence that Franklin received April 19 on related state charges of attempted murder.

BUTLER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An 82-year-old woman from Parkersburg is dead after a crash involving a semi. Mary Vry died at the scene. She was driving behind a semi when the semi started to slow to make a left hand turn. Vry wasn’t able to slow down, and hit the semi. Vry’s vehicle then rolled before stopping in the ditch. Vry was not wearing her seatbelt and was thrown from her Buick Lesabre.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The band Spoon is canceling a show in Des Moines due to the state’s COVID-19 policy of not allowing businesses to demand proof of vaccination prior to entry.

IOWA (IRN) – The People’s Choice Best New Food Contest at the Iowa State Fair has a winner — Chicken Egg Salad with Indian Fry Bread. The chicken and egg salad includes crisp celery, cranberries and toasted pecans. They also added cabbage slaw, bacon-tomato aioli, fresh cilantro and a hint of smoked paprika.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A pair of new lawsuits contend the office of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is illegally delaying the release of public records related to its $26 million, no-bid coronavirus testing contract. Reynolds and her office’s public records custodian are the latest officials to be accused of violating open records laws.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating an early morning shooting. Police say the female victim had a gunshot wound, but refused treatment. There have been no arrests.

FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – Winnebago Industries announced Thursday that its headquarters will no longer be based in Iowa. Winnebago will shift its corporate headquarters from Forest City to Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Its Iowa operations will continue to manufacture Winnebago motorhomes and specialty vehicles.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – IndyCar will return next season to Iowa Speedway in Newton. The track will host a doubleheader in July in a deal brokered between IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, team owner Bobby Rahal and grocery chain Hy-Vee.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A lazy river, splash pad, wave pool and more would highlight a new aquatic center to replace Marion’s city pool under a proposal presented to the city council this week. Waters Edge Aquatic Design outlined the needs and public input that shaped its proposal during the city council meeting on Tuesday. The facility is estimated to cost 22-27 million dollars, and the city council is reviewing the plans before deciding whether or not to move forward with the project.

IOWA (IRN) – Three biofuel and farm groups have asked a federal appeals court to review a decision that blocks the sale of gasoline with 15% ethanol during summer months. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association filed a petition this week asking the full court to rehear the case. The groups said the three-judge panel that originally heard the case made legal errors in reaching its decision.

SWISHER, IA (IRN) – An early morning fire on Wednesday in Johnson County killed one woman and sent a man to the hospital. The fire happened shortly before dawn near Swisher. It was contained to the second story of the home.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Public Schools temporarily closed two of its administration buildings due to the number of staff testing positive for COVID-19. District leaders are expected to work from home.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny woman ended her day at the fair in jail after police said she hit an Iowa State Patrol trooper with her child’s wagon. Natasha Morris, 32, faces several charges including child endangerment, assault on an officer and public intoxication. Morris allegedly pushed the wagon into a trooper’s leg to see the trooper’s reaction. Police said she was stumbling, smelled of alcohol, and at one point nearly dropped the child.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa spokesperson said the University made a mistake when it told professors they couldn’t talk about masks or vaccines in the classroom. Last week, the University told instructors they were not allowed to discuss masks or vaccinations unless it related to course material. After drawing sharp criticism from community members they changed the policy.