Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

OAKLAND, IA (IRN) – A Monday night crash near the Pottawattamie County town of Oakland left one person dead, according to KETV. The victim was male but did not release his name or age. The crash involved a tanker truck and another vehicle. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – One worker was killed and another critically injured Saturday in an accident at the Arcosa Wind Towers manufacturing plant in Newton. The names of the employees have not been released, and an investigation is underway. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The family of a man killed in a Des Moines police chase will receive a $90,000 settlement after suing the city. KCCI-TV reports the Des Moines City Council approved the settlement Monday. Jason Hunt, 41, was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a man police were chasing hit and killed him in 2016. DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A mobile home in Dubuque County was destroyed by a fire last night, according to KCRG-TV. When crews arrived, they found flames coming from the roof. No one was injured. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld said he isn’t sure the annual Cy-Hawk football game should continue, according to The Daily Iowan. The threat comes after members of the Hawkeye Marching Band accused Cyclone fans of physically and verbally assaulting them at this year’s game in Ames.


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Monday, September 23, 2019

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque County judge has ordered jurors to resume their work today in the trial of an eastern Iowa hog farmer accused of using a corn rake to kill his wife. The Telegraph Herald reports that the jury has heard closing arguments regarding 43-year-old Todd Mullis. Mullis is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Amy Mullis at the farm. The prosecution says that Mullis had wanted to kill his wife for years and was irate over her affair. Mullis’ attorney suggested that Amy Mullis startled someone in the farm’s shed where she was found, prompting that person to impale her in the back with the corn rake. BILLINGS, MT (IRN) – An Iowa man who eluded authorities for nearly eight years plans to represent himself on federal firearms charges. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Michael Duane Strain of Lime Springs, Iowa, was arrested at a ranch on a Montana Indian reservation. The 62-year-old felon is a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, a label used by people who contend they don’t have to answer to government authorities. During a 2011 search of his house, federal agents found thousands of rounds of ammunition and numerous firearms. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames Police Department is asking residents to use caution after an individual attacked a person running last night, possibly stabbing them. Police consider it an ongoing threat to the public. IOWA (IRN) – Senator Elizabeth Warren has surged in Iowa, narrowly overtaking Joe Biden and distancing herself from fellow progressive Bernie Sanders, according to the latest Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Warren holds a 2-percentage-point lead, with 22% of likely Democratic caucus goers saying she is their first choice for president. Former Vice President Biden follows her at 20%. Senator Bernie Sanders has fallen to third place with 11%. No other candidate reached double digits. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeyes moved up in the AP Top 25, despite not playing a game this weekend. Iowa (3-0) jumped up to no. 14 in the most recent AP poll released Sunday. The Hawkeyes will return to action Saturday at home against Middle Tennessee State.


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Sunday, September 22, 2019

MITCHELLVILLE, IA (IRN) – An 85-year-old Mitchellville man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of lascivious acts with a child. KCCI-TV reports John Richard Cohoon was arrested after alleged incidents with a 10-year-old girl between December 2018 and February 2019. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa is reopening an inquiry into allegations that members of the university band were targets of abuse during a game at Iowa State University. Members of the Hawkeye Marching Band alleged they were subjected to racial slurs, verbal, physical and sexual harassment and assault when the two teams met Sept. 14 at Iowa State. EPWORTH, IA (IRN) – A fire in the Dubuque County town of Epworth destroyed an apartment and damaged multiple businesses Saturday. Two cats didn’t survive. IOWA (IRN) – A surging Sen. Elizabeth Warren is challenging Joe Biden’s dominance in the race for the Democratic nomination, standing at 22% to the former vice president’s 20% in a new CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of likely Iowa caucus goers. Although neither candidate holds a clear lead at this point, the new poll finds Warren and Biden well ahead of other contenders for the Democratic nomination. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ support has dipped to 11% in this poll, with South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 9% and Sen. Kamala Harris at 6%. Sens. Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar each land at 3%, while Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, investor Tom Steyer and businessman Andrew Yang each have the backing of 2% of likely caucus goers.


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Saturday, September 21, 2019

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of students and activists from throughout central Iowa gathered on the steps of the Capitol to demand action in response to climate change. Students in 150 countries were expected to skip school Friday to send a message to world leaders to act more aggressively in their response. Most of the protesters were high school or college students. Some wore yellow and black pins or T-shirts bearing the logo of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led political action committee that focuses on climate change. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After the Capitol protest, hundreds of students and parents marched to U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne’s office to urge her to vote for the Green New Deal. KCCI-TV reports no one was arrested. BLAIRSTOWN, IA (IRN) – Seventy-seven years after an Iowa soldier went out on patrol, he is now home and laid to rest in the rural Benton County town of Blairstown. On November 26th, 1942, 27-year-old Laurel W. Ebert was on patrol in what is now present-day Papua New Guinea. He was with a team of eight soldiers looking to silence enemy machine gun fire. Ebert and five others on that patrol did not return. The U.S. Army was able to finally identify Ebert’s remains through a DNA match from his nephew. WEST BRANCH, IA (IRN) – 72 people from more than 20 countries became the newest United States citizens Friday afternoon. KCRG-TV reports it was part of a naturalization ceremony at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch. With family members and friends supporting those in the front rows of the auditorium, the new Iowans and Americans took the Oath of Allegiance becoming officially citizens.


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Friday, September 20, 2019

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two lanes of Interstate 235 in Des Moines were blocked this morning after a driver was injured by a brick. KCCI-TV reports a brick fell off of a truck and went through the windshield of the vehicle. The driver was able to stop on the interstate and call for help. Emergency crews were on the scene to treat the driver and clear the crash scene. The driver was able to leave in his own vehicle. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Senator Joni Ernst says bad advice from the head of the EPA is to blame for President Trump signing dozens of waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard for oil refineries, sending demand for ethanol plummeting. The waivers have eliminated the need of more than a billion gallons of ethanol. Two Iowa refineries have already shut down. Ernst says Trump was mislead into making the decision by the EPA. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Democratic Party is proposing a change to the 2020 Iowa caucuses. They’re proposing to add satellite locations for caucusing, which would require more engagement team members, places to apply to host a satellite caucus, training of satellite participants and reporting.The party hopes these locations can provide the opportunity to caucus for those working evening shifts, Iowans with disabilities, students and more. The Iowa caucuses take place Feb. 3. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A California man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for intent to deliver nearly 2,000 grams of heroin in Council Bluffs. Jorge Salazar Machado, 28, told the court he’s ready to turn his life around, and is focused on his faith and is ready for additional drug treatment. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police have received multiple calls this month about a naked man riding a bike on a trail near Cedar Lake. KCRG-TV reports police have increased patrols around lake, but haven’t been able to find the man.