Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is facing a charge of attempted murder after a shooting Wednesday. WHO-TV reports 42-year-old Kriston Long had an ongoing dispute with a woman because she refused to loan him money for drugs. He sent the victim a threatening text on Tuesday, then got into an argument with her Wednesday night. During the argument, Long fired a shot that hit a door.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – Investigators in Johnson County are sifting through details after a shooting in Tiffin Wednesday. KGAN-TV reports police responded to a fight between two people, and both were found shot. They were transported to a local hospital.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – Mobile home owners in North Liberty are scrambling to figure out what their next move is after someone bought the park they call home. Now, their new owners are raising their rent by more than 50 percent. A spokesperson for the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition said, technically, Haven Park Capital can do this, but shouldn’t, as these are some of the most vulnerable people in the community, and many are on social security.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa House overwhelmingly passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences.
The measure passed the Republican-controlled House on a 95-2 vote Thursday and is now eligible for consideration in the Iowa Senate.

DAWSON, IA (IRN) – The Oskaloosa man accused of killing a William Penn student will go to trial after an Iowa judge denied his “stand your ground” defense. Luke Van Hemert is charged in the March 2018 stabbing death of 22-year-old Marquis Todd. KCCI-TV reports lawyers for the 24-year-old argued Van Hemert was defending himself during a fight that began with a crash. The district court says the law does not apply in the case. Van Hemert’s trial is scheduled to begin April 9th.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Federal law enforcement officials believe they’ve taken down the leaders of a gang operating in the Des Moines area. WHO-TV reports an FBI Task Force is seeking charges against 14 individuals. They are reportedly leaders and members of the ‘C-Block’ gang. The gang is accused of numerous murders, shootings and robberies in recent years.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa-based community activist organization and a Washington-based environmental group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the state of Iowa alleging the state has deprived residents of their right to clean water by failing to adequately regulate pollution from hog operations and farms. KCRG-TV reports Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement and Food & Water Watch filed the lawsuit in Polk County District Court.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Trump administration has proposed to end federal funding for the Special Olympics. KCCI-TV reports Special Olympics Iowa says the cuts are “not fair and equitable.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A food truck crashed into a home in West Des Moines yesterday, according to the Des Moines Register. Two men in the “Curbin Cuisine” food truck had to be rescued. Everyone will be OK.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Statehouse Republicans passed a bill Tuesday that could send a person to prison for life if they cause the death of a fetus, even if they did not know the mother was pregnant. Republicans say it has nothing to do with abortion. Democrats say the bill lays the groundwork for criminalizing abortion.

SHELDON, IA (IRN) – A body was found in the Floyd River Tuesday near the campus of Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. KCAU-TV reports police believe the body to be that of a male in his 30’s or 40’s.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has confirmed a highly contagious virus in a horse barn in Altoona. Equine Herpes Virus can be fatal to horses and can easily spread from one horse to another through humans and even inanimate objects. It’s not a threat to humans or other animals, but it can be deadly to horses. The horse is boarded at the Pine Hollow Stables.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Community School District needs to cut its budget by more than $5 million, and the superintendent is recommending leaving a large number of positions vacant. KCRG-TV reports 61 teachers have either announced they are resigning or accepting an early retirement package. The school board will leave 21 elementary teaching positions, and nine secondary school teacher positions vacant. It would also reduce three librarians, an art teacher, a music teacher, and a physical education teacher.

MANLY, IA (IRN) – The owner of a northern Iowa dog breeding operation has been charged with animal neglect. KCCI-TV reports 66-year-old Barbara Kavars, of Manly, is charged with 17 counts. Kavars was holding Samoyed dogs in inhumane conditions when officials raided her operation.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man has been given 50 years in prison for killing a 59-year-old man at the victim’s home in Bellevue. KCRG-TV reports 24-year-old Drew Mangler stabbed James Remakel to death during a break-in. Remakel had been stabbed at least 32 times in his upper body, neck and head. He was believed to be dead for several days before police found him. Investigators found a shoe with Remakel’s blood on it during a search of Mangler’s house.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A woman was stabbed Sunday during a fight near the entrance of Davenport Walmart, according to WQAD-TV. There were about 10 to 12 people involved in the fight, but the crowd broke up before officers arrived. She’ll be OK.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A crackdown on cannabidiol oil is underway as CBD oil is being illegally sold in stores across Iowa, according to KCCI-TV. Products containing CBD oil are illegal in Iowa unless they come from a dispensary, but that hasn’t stopped retailers. A Family Video in Ames advertises CBD products in the window, claiming gummies and water sold there can help with migraines, asthma, stress, or Crohn’s disease.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls firefighters put out a fire at a popular bar early yesterday morning. KWWL-TV reports improperly stored cleaning rags spontaneously combusted at Horny Toads American Bar and Grill. No one was injured.

MONTROSE, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old Fort Madison girl has died following an accidental shooting at an Iowa gun club, according to KCRG-TV. Deputies and medics were called Sunday to the Tri-State Gun Club northwest of Montrose in Lee County. They found Haley McManus suffering from a single gunshot wound. The incident is being treated as an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

SOUTHEAST IOWA (IRN) – Amtrak has announced that it will be temporarily suspending service to Burlington and Mount Pleasant due to a temporary track closure. The passenger train service has detoured its California Zephyr onto tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad to the north to maintain service between Omaha and Chicago. Amtrak says the move is being made in response to historic flooding which is affecting railroad tracks throughout the state.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people were injured yesterday morning after a shooting in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports police responded to a call of shots fired in the parking lot of Woody’s Night Club, around 4:30 a.m. Two people suffered apparent non life-threatening gunshot wounds. Police say the incident isn’t random and is under investigation.

IDA GROVE, IA (IRN) – A small town in northwestern Iowa has ended its decades-long practice of treating the city’s drinking water with fluoride. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Ida Grove City Council narrowly voted last week to halt fluoride treatment in the city’s water supply. The move comes after city leaders and residents questioned whether the fluoride was effective at preventing tooth decay or presented health risks.

COLUMBUS, OH (IRN) – The Iowa men’s basketball team roared back from a 25-point deficit, but the comeback was not enough to get past Tennessee, falling to the Volunteers 83-77 in overtime of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – In women’s basketball, Iowa pulled away from Missouri in the fourth quarter to win 68-52 and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA basketball tournament.