Author: Iowa Radio News

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Doctors in Waterloo are looking for people to take part in a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer’s drug. The MercyOne Northeast Family Medicine and Residency Program is taking part in the study. It’s one of more than 300 clinical sites around the world participating. The clinical trial will test whether a drug is safe and effective for those with early-stage Alzheimer’s.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Scanner audio and 9-1-1 calls of the fatal accident at Adventureland reveal confusion and a long wait for ambulances to reach the victims. 11 year-old Michael Jaramillo died after the raft his family was on flipped on the Raging River ride at Adventureland in Altoona on Saturday. His brother, David, is still in critical condition. 9-1-1 and scanner audio shows the first ambulance arrived about 11 minutes after the first call came in but it took at least another five more minutes for that crew to reach the ride.

CHICAGO, IL (IRN) – An Iowa man was taken into custody after a .308 caliber rifle, high-powered scope, a semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition were found in his hotel room overlooking Chicago’s lakefront over the holiday weekend. Keegan Casteel, 32, of Ankeny, is facing two felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Johnson County is the first county in Iowa to reach the 70% benchmark for adults vaccinated for COVID-19. The Biden Administration fell just short of its goal of putting COVID shots in the arms of 70% of U.S. adults by July 4. Only 67% of American adults 18 and older got at least one shot. About 80% of adults in Johnson County haved received at least one shot.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The National Iowa Varsity Club and the Iowa athletics department announced the university’s 2021 Hall of Fame class Tuesday, most notably featuring former basketball star Roy Marble and current broadcaster Ed Podolak.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Five people are recovering after a boat accident on Saylorville Lake. Their boat crashed into the Mile Long Bridge just after 6 p.m. Monday. All five people were taken to local hospitals and are expected to survive. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A child died in an accident on Adventureland’s Raging River Ride Saturday. 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died from injuries sustained after a raft overturned with six passengers on board. Another juvenile remains in critical condition, while the remainder of the passengers suffered minor injuries. Four off-duty Altoona police and two Altoona fire medics were working alongside Adventureland security when the accident occurred and quickly responded. First responders and witnesses helped free the riders and initiate life-saving measures.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people were seriously hurt in a rollover crash that shut down the ramp from I-380 South onto Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids on Monday. An Air Ambulance took at least one of those victims to a nearby hospital.

ALGONA, IA (IRN) – Three people were found dead overnight in Algona. An investigation is underway.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Last week, 30 girls were part of a free construction camp created by the Iowa Department of Education for girls ages 14 through 18. They spent the week in Des Moines exploring multiple career opportunities in the construction industry. Organizers say there are a great many jobs open, and are looking for girls and women to help fill them.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – An accident happened on a ride at Adventureland Park Saturday evening. Fire officials said it happened on the Raging River when one of the rafts overturned. Six people were on the raft. Three people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition and one person was hospitalized in non-critical condition. One person has died.

SLATER, IA (IRN) – A celebration turned into a tragedy moments after a parade concluded Saturday in Slater, as a driver accidentally backed into a crowd and killed one person. The accident injured multiple people–including a 6-year-old boy who was airlifted to a hospital–and onlookers raced to lift up the car to get to those trapped below it. A 59-year-old woman from Minnesota was killed.

PALO, IA (IRN) – State officials are investigating the death of two people after their bodies were found in a parked car in a state recreation area. On Friday, staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were performing a routine check after park hours of Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, north of Palo. A park ranger located a parked car and went to check on it, finding the bodies of one male and one female.

VENTURA, IA (IRN) – The road running between a marsh wildlife area and Clear Lake in Ventura is dangerous for turtles, even with a turtle crossing sign. So five boys aged 8 to 10 have spent some time this summer helping the turtles cross. On one recent day, they spent several hours assisting turtles, saving 20 to 30 from being flattened by motorists, and they believed they’ve saved close to 200 overall.

SLATER, IA (IRN) – A celebration turned into a tragedy moments after a parade concluded Saturday in Slater, as a driver accidentally backed into a crowd and killed one person. The accident injured multiple people–including a 6-year-old boy who was airlifted to a hospital–and onlookers raced to lift up the car to get to those trapped below it.

PALO, IA (IRN) – State officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of two people after their bodies were found in a parked car in a state recreation area. On Friday, July 2, staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were performing a routine check after park hours of Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, north of Palo. A park ranger located a parked car in the parking lot on the north side of the dam and went to check on it, finding the bodies of one male and one female.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Altoona Fire Department officials confirm an accident happened on a ride at Adventureland Park Saturday evening. Fire officials said it happened on the Raging River when one of the rafts overturned. Adventureland officials said six people were on the raft. Three people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition and one person was hospitalized in non-critical condition.

IOWA (IRN) – A federal appeals court concluded a 2019 Environmental Protection Agency rule that allowed for the sale of a 15% ethanol gasoline blend throughout the year and not just during the summer is contrary to federal law. Friday’s ruling deals a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers.

SAYLORVILLE LAKE, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reporting a harmful algae bloom at Saylorville Lake and advises people not to drink or swim in the water.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa junior Joe Wieskamp is going to the NBA. Wieskamp announced his decision Friday. He wrote, “Hawkeye Nation…it’s been an incredible 3 years. I can’t thank you all enough for your support throughout my career…at this time, I’d like to officially announce that I will be keeping my name in the 2021 NBA Draft. I’ll be a Hawkeye for life!”

IOWA (IRN) – Vibrant colors at sunrise and sunset and hazy skies across the state of Iowa and beyond are due to smoke from spreading wildfires across British Columbia. An unprecedented heat wave has led to record temperatures and dry conditions in Canada and the western U.S. The smoke is now trapped in the upper levels of the atmosphere and winds have transported that smoke to the midwest.