Author: Iowa Radio News

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A 20-year-old Muscatine man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2018 stabbing death of his grandmother on her birthday. The Muscatine Journal reports that the jury on Friday found Darian Lensgraf guilty of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf on Dec. 12, 2018. Lensgraf was arrested after a convenience store clerk called 911 to report that Lensgraf was in the store holding a bloody knife. His grandmother’s body had been found only minutes earlier.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police are investigating a report of shots fired Saturday night. KGAN-TV reports the shooting occurred at an apartment building.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Multiple services have been canceled for Sunday as temperatures will reach a high of 4 degrees during the wind chill advisory. Troopers assisted 221 motorists and responded to 150 crashes Friday during the snowstorm. The Iowa State Patrol released video Friday night of a truck nearly hitting a trooper and pedestrian after it left the roadway.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa wrestling team has been unstoppable this season, and it continued against Nebraska in a heavily anticipated top-10 meet in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes won all but two weight class, overwhelming Nebraska with a 26 to 6 victory.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Police are looking for two robbers who assaulted a man just as the snow storm moved into Mason City. KIMT-TV reports the victim said two men forced open the back door of his home and attacked him, then stole things and left. Police say the victim suffered minor injuries.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City woman is facing multiple charges after she broke into a gas station on Christmas Eve and stole several hundred dollars in lottery tickets and cash. KGAN-TV reports Nicole Haman, 47, was seen on video and later admitted to using a key to enter the Fast Break gas station on Christmas Eve.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of weather-related closures were announced Friday as a winter storm pushed snow, ice and blizzard-like conditions into Iowa. The Des Moines Police Department reported 35 crashes between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The crash reports include 27 property damage only crashes, two crashes involving injuries and six hit-and-runs. The Iowa State Patrol responded to 92 crashes and assisted 152 motorists between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – One state senator is proposing Iowa should dump Daylight Saving Time. Iowa City Democratic Senator Joe Bolkcom asked lawmakers to consider establishing Central Standard Time as the standard time throughout the year.

A Fairfield man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck in Jefferson County early Friday morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened south of Fairfield. A Pontiac driven by 50-year-old Richard Dwayne Boyd Jr. of Fairfield was northbound and crossed the centerline striking another vehicle head on. The second vehicle was a Kia driven by 28-year-old Tylor James Lewman of Birmingham. Boyd died at the scene. Lewman was injured and transported to a local hospital. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The fourth day of the 2020 Iowa legislative session featured the first hearing on what’s sure to be one of the most contentious bills of the year. A State Senate subcommittee began discussion on a proposed amendment to the Iowa constitution that would ban abortion.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man faces charges after he punched and kicked another man over his phone use during a showing of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” KCCI-TV reports Nicholas Glasgow asked movie theater staff to speak with the victim about their phone being on, and if they didn’t take care of it, he would. After the movie was over Glasgow punched the victim repeatedly, and once the victim was on the ground, he continued kicking the victim.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A home has heavy smoke damage after a man tried to thaw out pipes with a torch. KCRG-TV reports the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in rural Springville Thursday night. The man left the torch on after thawing the pipes, causing the fire. No one was injured.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A brother and sister died in an icy car wreck on their way to Hinton High School Tuesday morning. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says the Sioux City siblings were 18-year-old Ella Holtzen and 14-year-old Harrison Holtzen. KTIV reports Ella Holtzen was driving when her car entered a curve, began to slide, and went into the path of a pickup truck. The car was struck on the passenger side. The truck’s driver was not hurt. Authorities said the road conditions at the time were 100% ice.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting Wednesday where two people died and two were injured. KCCI-TV reports three victims were found with gunshot wounds at a residence. A 28-year-old male and a 21-year-old male were found dead. The third victim was taken to a hospital with a leg injury. A trail of blood led police to a fourth person with a gunshot injury to the leg.

BENTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – There was a fatal accident in Benton County yesterday according to the Iowa State Patrol. A 2005 Chevy Trailblazer was traveling west and a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling east when for an unknown reason the Chevy hit the Pontiac head on. One driver is dead and the other was injured.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa suffered $1.9 billion in damages due to extreme weather last year. The bomb cyclone in March caused most of the damage. Rain and snowmelt runoff led to record flooding. Iowa’s costliest year was 1993, when the state sustained more than $11 billion in losses, mostly from flooding.

IOWA (IRN) – The second winter storm of the season is set to impact Iowa today through tomorrow. The system will have a high amount of moisture for a January snow which could lead to some high snow totals in parts of the state. It is also very dynamic with a changing temperature profile, leading to periods of snow to periods of freezing rain or rain.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is bracing for a winter storm that’s forecast to move across the state Friday. The National Weather Service says moderate to heavy snowfall is expected with six to eight inches of snow in north-central Iowa and four to six inches of snow for the rest of the state. Mixed precipitation is possible Friday night in southern Iowa. Slick and snow packed roads may create hazardous conditions, along with blowing snow reducing visibility.

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The West Burlington police department has released the name of the deceased man they say shot at them and forced an hours-long standoff. WQAD-TV reports police recovered the body of Michael Kartel, 62, after the standoff. Kartel was firing shots at officers through the windows of his house, and setting multiple fires inside.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds asked lawmakers on Tuesday to consider increasing the state sales taxes by 1 cent to raise money to boost funding for water quality, the environment and mental health care programs. To offset the tax increase she proposed an income tax cut by an average additional 10 percent beyond the rates set in the 2018 tax cut for next year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new hotel and casino could be coming to the Des Moines International Airport. KCCI-TV reports HighView, a property development group, presented the idea to the Des Moines airport in a meeting Tuesday morning. Airport officials say it’s important for them to review opportunities that could fund millions worth of the airport’s financial gaps.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Athletes celebrated at the Grand River Center in Dubuque after wrapping up two days of competition in the Winter Games of the Iowa Special Olympics. KCRG-TV reports about 280 athletes competed in Dubuque during the two-day event. They came from all across the state to do their best in events that included Alpine and cross country skiing, figure and speed skating, and snowshoeing.