Author: Iowa Radio News

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted of first-degree murder Friday, nearly three years after Mollie Tibbetts disappeared while jogging near her Brooklyn, Iowa, home. Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, went out for a run on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, and disappeared. The search for her drew national attention and kicked off a month long manhunt, which ended when Bahena Rivera, a Mexican national who is now 26, allegedly led investigators to the rural cornfield where they found her remains.

CLARKE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a train hit a vehicle on Thursday in Rural Clarke County. Four juveniles were in the vehicle at the time, and two are dead. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger were transported by helicopter to a local hospital suffering from life-threatening injuries. The train crossing had gate arms, flashing lights and bells.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – State Auditor Rob Sand says he is not planning to run for U.S. Senate or Congress in 2022, but is considering running for governor of Iowa. Sand says he will likely make an announcement by Labor Day about whether he plans to run for governor or seek re-election for his current office.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer reportedly has her sights set on Sen. Chuck Grassley’s seat. Finkenauer, a Democrat, served one term as representative for Iowa’s 1st District. She was voted out by current Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in November. 87-year-old Chuck Grassley has not yet announced if he will run for an eighth term.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Thursday morning, showers and thunderstorms rolled through eastern Iowa, bringing yet another day with measurable rainfall in Cedar Rapids. This brings the streak of consecutive days with at least 0.01 inches of rain to 14. The old record was 11 days, accomplished both in March of 1990 and August of 2007.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – Vinton has a new glow-in-the-dark trail. It stretches two miles through the city, and is the longest glow-in-the dark trail in the country. By day, the two mile stretch looks like a regular path, except for the 3,000 pounds of glow stones scattered along it. The glow stones run on solar power, and after only 15 minutes of charge, can light the path for 15 hours.

IOWA (IRN) – The recent numbers from the Iowa Association of Realtors shows a fast paced housing market in the month of April. More than 3,700 homes were sold in April in an average of 50 days. Houses this April were selling 25% faster than last April. The market is expected to stay strong through the summer.

CLINTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man from Sioux City led law enforcement on a vehicle chase through multiple counties while two children were in the back seat of his vehicle. The chase started on I-80 in Johnson County after an Iowa State Patrol trooper tried to pull over the suspect vehicle after clocking it traveling at 92 mph in a 65 mph zone. The chase went through Johnson, Linn, and Clinton Counties. The man had two outstanding warrants.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A correctional officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary was assaulted by an inmate Wednesday. The officer suffered a broken nose.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A 77-year-old pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Merle Hay Road in Johnston died from their injuries. The driver of the vehicle involved remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. No charges are filed against the driver.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced Wednesday it will be declining additional COVID-19 vaccines. Most Iowa counties are not ordering any new doses. Only one county, Calhoun, wanted its full allocation.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police in Waterloo are investigating four separate shootings in the span of 14 hours yesterday. None of them are related.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Le Mars man was arrested for sexual assaulting a 14-year-old who then became pregnant. The 14-year-old victim was babysitting Taylor Smith’s two children, ages 1-year and 4-months, in Woodbury County. She fell asleep and woke up to Smith having intercourse with her. A DNA test proved he is the father.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – One person was arrested after arriving at the University of Iowa’s Emergency room armed with a weapon. More information hasn’t been released.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A construction worker and a driver were both injured when two vehicles collided in Ankeny Tuesday. An SUV pulled out in front of a pickup truck, the two vehicles collided, and the impact caused the pickup truck to slam into a nearby construction trailer. A construction worker in the trailer and the driver of the pickup truck both suffered injuries

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Corn and soybeans are nearing record prices in Iowa. They have risen up an additional 50-60% of the cost they were a year ago. Many factors are at play when determining the cost of these crops, but economists say the continuing drought is pushing prices up. The current cost of corn is around $6/bushel. Soybeans are $13/bushel.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Kernels will hold a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine event at Veterans Memorial Stadium on June 14. Anyone 18 and older will be able to receive the Moderna vaccine at the event.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Star Hawkeye basketball player Jordan Bohannon suffered a head injury after an altercation in Iowa City early Sunday morning. He’s recovering after receiving medical attention to treat a serious head injury.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a Ford Taurus in Tiffin Monday. The pedestrian was a 60-year-old woman. The driver, a 17-year-old, remained on scene and wasn’t hurt.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police cited 17 riders of scooters, bikes and skateboards for riding on sidewalks in downtown Cedar Rapids in just an hour over the weekend. Riding bikes, scooters or skateboards on the sidewalk is an offense that carries up to a $600 fine. The increase in violations coincides with the restart of the city’s bike and scooter rental program that puts dozens of electric scooters and bikes on the roads around Cedar Rapids.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Democrat Dave Muhlbauer announced Monday he is throwing his hat in the ring for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Chuck Grassley. Muhlbauer is a farmer and a former Crawford County Supervisor. Grassley hasn’t announced a decision whether he will seek reelection next year. He’s served Iowa in the senate since 1981.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people died in a fiery crash Sunday afternoon in Des Moines. Authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger for speeding. The driver fled the scene and the deputy pursued the vehicle. The deputy lost the Dodge Charger, but continued to search the area. A pedestrian then told the deputy that the vehicle crashed. When the deputy arrived on the scene, the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – Officials at the Iowa Department of Corrections announced that substances to create a bomb were found in an inmate’s cell at Anamosa State Penitentiary. An investigation is underway.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is calling on the U.S. House to drop its mask mandate, saying the House has reached herd-immunity. Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi disagrees, saying more Republican representatives need to be vaccinated. 100% of Democratic representatives are vaccinated, while fewer than 50% of Republicans are.

COLUMBIA, MO (IRN) – Eighth ranked Missouri downed Iowa State 5-0 to eliminate the Cyclones from the NCAA Softball Tournament. It was ISU’s first appearance in the showcase since 1988. Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Weber completed a no-hitter against the Cyclones, allowing only two walks and one base runner into scoring position.