Author: Iowa Radio News

OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Omaha police believe a church pastor based in Council Bluffs sexually assaulted two little girls. KETV reports Emanuel Rodriguez, 44, is under arrest and in custody at a jail in Minnesota. Rodriguez is listed as a pastor at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Council Bluffs.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested Andrew Kenyon Hight, 33, of Urbandale on four counts of second-degree sex abuse and one count of third-degree sex abuse. KCCI-TV reports Hight sexually abused two girls under the age of 12 in an Urbandale home. He confessed, and remains in jail.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – Officials in one eastern Iowa county are regrouping after voters rejected a jail bond issue for a second time. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald reports that Jackson County voters didn’t approve a $6.5 million bond issue to build a 50-bed jail. Sheriff Russ Kettmann says the outcome is disappointing, because the current jail, built in 1972, has a number of problems. State authorities say the facility should be shut down. Kettmann says it could cost a million dollars a year to transport inmates to and from other jails if the county doesn’t build one.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A funnel cloud near Palo and Cedar Rapids triggered a tornado warning Sunday evening. So far there are no reports of damage or that the funnel cloud touched down.

PORT BYRON, IL (IRN) – Another year of Tug Fest has come and gone, and the Illinois women’s team continue their undefeated streak. The 2,700 foot long, 680 pound rope was stretched across the Mississippi River between Port Byron, Illinois and LeClaire, Iowa once again for the annual event. Proceeds go to local charities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One man is in critical condition after a motorcycle accident in Des Moines Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. Officials said the motorcyclist lost control, struck a curb and crashed.

IOWA (IRN) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office said 20 people are in jail after a series of drug busts in three Iowa counties over the last month. The sheriff’s office said that deputies executed 12 search warrants in Guthrie, Carroll and Audubon counties between July 10 and August 1. Those search warrants turned up methamphetamine, ecstasy, prescription pills and marijuana. It resulted in a total of 100 criminal charges against the 20 suspects, and 32 of those charges are felonies. Police also seized three firearms and over $2,000 in suspected drug money.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Sixteen Democratic presidential candidates attended a forum in Des Moines to make their positions on guns clear. The “gun safety” forum was hosted by the Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. Many of those who went to hear the candidates speak have been personally affected by gun violence.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Saturday, Hannah Koellner, of Mahaska County, was crowned as the 2019 Iowa State Fair queen. Koellner will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the State of Iowa Governor’s office and a $3,000 scholarship from the Iowa State Fair.

WAYLAND, IA (IRN) – A body was found in a farm field near Wayland Friday. According to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the body is a deceased woman. The identity of the woman is being withheld pending notification of family. An autopsy is scheduled.

LAKE VIEW, IA (IRN) – Western Iowa authorities say a 58-year-old man died after becoming trapped in a grain bin. Firefighters, medics and Sac County deputies were sent to the Lake View location. The man became stuck after he entered the partially filled bin to break up some corn clotting. Another worker tried to pull him free but failed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Seventeen presidential candidates are scheduled to talk gun safety in downtown Des Moines today. The event was organized by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. The groups are advocating for gun regulation after previous mass shootings throughout the country.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Corn dog-flavored beer can be found at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent pitched on the fairgrounds this year. KCCI-TV reports Scott Carlson, owner of the Iowa Craft Beer Tent says his team used cornbread, biscuit malt and corn flakes to craft the masterpiece.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans are at a greater risk for gambling problems, according to a recent study by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Today, they released the results of a study that shows 13.6% of the 1.7 million Iowans who have gambled over the past 12 months are classified as “at-risk” for gambling problems. That’s up over a percentage point in 2015.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton, KCCI-TV reports police are taking extra safety measures at the Iowa State Fair. Doug Phillips, commander of the Iowa State Fair Police says, “you may see cops in places you wouldn’t normally — cops on high ground keeping an eye on the crowd — there will be more uniformed and plain clothes officers, 100 new cameras, and staff monitoring the cameras.”

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has been arrested after a 12-year-old driving his car struck a 4-year-old boy on a bicycle. KGAN-TV reports 34-year-old Jesse Azbill had given the 12-year-old boy permission to drive the vehicle, and Azbill was in it when the little boy was struck Tuesday in Waterloo. The boy’s condition has not been released.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police are looking for three suspects accused of using stolen credit cards across the metro, including one suspect who is disguising herself with wigs. WHO-TV reports the woman is wearing various wigs in an attempt to conceal her identity.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville was buzzing with excitement on Thursday. KCRG-TV reports Major League Baseball announced it would be the site of a regular-season game next year. The White Sox will play the Yankees at the historic movie site on August 13, 2020. The baseball organization will construct a temporary, 8,000-seat ballpark in the cornfield.

BREMER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A pilot died in a crop duster crash this morning in Sumner in Bremer County, according to KCRG-TV. Witnesses say a wheel from the plane crashed through the front doors of First State Bank.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A man has been found dead in a Council Bluffs home, and the discovery is related to a case of an armed man who was shot dead by police hours earlier. KETV reports police began chasing a pickup truck that refused to pull over. Shots were fired at officers from inside the truck before the truck crashed and rolled onto its side. Officers surrounded the pickup and could see a man pointing one handgun at officers and another gun at a woman inside the truck. He refused to put down his weapons and was shot in the head by an officer.

HARLAN, IA (IRN) – A Shelby County man is behind bars as he awaits trial for allegedly purchasing bomb-making materials and threatening to use them to cause “collateral damage.”
In June, 50-year-old Blake Cooper of Harlan was charged with possession of incendiary or explosive device with intent. The charge came after his girlfriend reported to law enforcement that he sent her a text message about his plan to cause death and injury to police and innocent civilians in an attack.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Justice has been served for an accused serial dine-and-dasher. KCCI-TV reports Ames police arrested Tracy Haas, 47, after numerous restaurants and bars had posted his photo on-line. Commander Jason Tuttle with the Ames police said, “I think word travels pretty fast through Campustown bar district…that’s how we were able to get him.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids will host the 2021 men’s and women’s Curling National Championships. The competition spans a week and will take place February 6 – 13.
It’s expected to bring in 200 athletes, coaches and officials and will be held at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.