Author: Iowa Radio News

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health says the number of vaping-related illnesses is increasing. The department says there are now 38 cases total in the state. Out of those 38 cases, 33 included people who used vaping products containing THC, the chemical in marijuana which causes a high. The CDC says there are now more than 1,300 cases nationwide

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Juveniles beat a man and a woman in a Des Moines skywalk over the weekend as they returned home from a date. The Des Moines Register reports a witness told police that the group pinned the man to the glass and punched and kicked him. The woman was also punched, and she fell down and sustained scratches.

BAGLEY, IA (IRN) – The basement of a Bagley family’s home is being filled with nearly five inches of animal blood, bones, and fat. WHO-TV reports the material is coming as a result of drainage from Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker next door. The homeowner says the locker isn’t taking responsibility, telling him “it’s not their fault, and good luck.” They also told him, “If I want to do anything about it, it’s on my dime and my schedule.” The DNR is investigating.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines City Council got its first look Monday at plans for a $30 million expansion to an existing soccer complex. KCCI-TV reports the addition to Des Moines’ 20-year-old James W. Cownie Soccer Park is seen as necessary because national soccer tournaments are passing on Des Moines because of its limited number of fields. The plan includes adding 12 more fields, new locker room buildings, operation buildings, spectator pavilions and nearly 1,000 parking spots.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – More than 90 veterans are taking off from the Eastern Iowa Airport this morning for an Honor Flight. It includes one Eastern Iowa World War II veteran celebrating a special day. Today is Army veteran Lemoyne Hucke’s 99th birthday, and he’s celebrating by going on the honor flight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot himself after finding an unsecured gun in her vehicle in Des Moines has been sentenced to a year of probation. Polk County court records say 28-year-old Rachel Rowe also was fined $315 and given a deferred judgment. The boy found the .45-caliber handgun May 29 inside another container in her vehicle and shot himself in an upper arm.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two children and a 22-year-old female driver in a sport utility vehicle were transported to the hospital for injuries after a single-vehicle rollover in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports she lost control while swerving to miss a deer.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo West High School teacher has resigned following outcry about a social media post he made about 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg. Thunberg was in Iowa City for a climate strike at the University of Iowa. On a Facebook post teacher Matt Baish posted a comment saying, “Don’t have my sniper rifle.” The district put Baish on leave and said their social media policy tells staff not to make comments that include threats of violence or bodily harm. He resigned last Friday.

IOWA (IRN) – In a new CBS poll, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are tied for the lead in Iowa. The CBS News Battleground Tracker reports 22% chose Biden for a first-choice Democratic presidential nominee. Elizabeth Warren is also at 22%. Sen. Bernie Sanders is at 21%, with Mayor Pete Buttigieg in fourth at 14%.

HOWARD COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Iowa saw its first snow of the season Saturday. Iowa Department of Transportation cameras showed snowfall off Highway 9 in Howard County.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for another in the murder of a man in Fort Dodge. KCCI-TV reports Mohammed Yaqoub, 28, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was shot and killed Friday night. Police have arrested a 16-year-old in aiding and abetting robbery. Police are still searching for another suspect.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man is expected to be OK after someone shot him on the north side of Des Moines Saturday afternoon. WHO-TV reports the man was shot in the lower leg and taken to a hospital in a private vehicle. He is expected to be OK. His name has not been released. Police have not announced any suspects in the case.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 35-year-old man was rescued from the Cedar River by police and emergency responders Saturday at the Palisades-Kepler State Park. Jordan Carmi Allyn, 35, was rescued from the water and taken to an area hospital to be treated for exposure.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man has won the first $100,000 top prize in a new Iowa Lottery game. Wayne Oswood won the big prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “Holiday Dazzle” scratch game. He claimed his prize Friday at the lottery’s regional office in Mason City. Holiday Dazzle is a $10 scratch game featuring seven top prizes of $100,000.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 62-year-old man spent the night in a cornfield after a northeast Iowa crash. KIMT-TV reports Mark Stutzman, 62, of Canton, Minnesota, was driving a 2013 Ford Focus Wednesday night when he lost control on a county road. The vehicle entered a ditch, hit a field driveway and landed in a cornfield. Stutzman was transported by ambulance and cited for failure to maintain control.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A homicide investigation is underway in a fatal Fort Dodge shooting. KCCI-TV reports a suspect hasn’t been identified.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City school leaders have released a video where an employee driving a school van hit and injured a 12-year-old student. KCRG-TV reports the video shows the driver was texting when the student was hit. The driver is currently on administrative leave and will eventually work within the district in a non-driving role. The student hit will be ok.

IOWA (IRN) – It’s still early, but sports gambling in Iowa is quickly paying off. Iowa casinos processed close to $40 million in sports wagers in September, the first full month of legalized sports gambling.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County leaders on Friday announced some exciting news regarding the future of the Lauridsen Skatepark. WHO-TV reports they announced they have hit their fundraising goal to build the new skate park in Des Moines. The project needed $6.3 million to get all the proposed features and it ended up with $6.5 million. The Lauridsen Skatepark will be the largest in the country.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – At least one person was hurt during a stabbing early Friday morning in Waterloo. KCRG-TV reports the man was stabbed during a fight.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A school in Dubuque was put on lockdown Thursday morning. KCRG-TV reports Washington Middle School put their safety procedures in effect after Candace Boots, 37, was found outside of the school in possession of drug paraphernalia. She threatened to punch a school administrator.

CARROLL, IA (IRN) – A small town newspaper is in serious financial hardship after defending their investigative report that put a police officer under scrutiny. In July of 2017, the Carroll Times Herald published an article about police officer Jacob Smith and his relationships with multiple teenage girls. Smith, who is no longer on the police department, filed a libel lawsuit. The paper won, but still was stuck with legal fees, leaving its future in limbo. They have started a go fund me page.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City high school student has been arrested after allegedly showing another student a toy gun in the high school parking lot. KGAN-TV reports the juvenile student was charged with Carrying a Toy Gun in City Limits and released to a parent.

PRAIRIE CITY, IA (IRN) – Under a Trump administration initiative, more federal lands are opening for hunting and fishing in Iowa. The Neil Smith Wildlife Refuge is opening 300 acres for hunting purposes near Prairie City.