Author: Iowa Radio News

SALIX, IA (IRN) – Two people were seriously injured after a boating incident on Saturday near Salix. People riding a tube were being pulled by a boat when the tube hit a stationary boat. The DNR says alcohol and drugs were not a factor, and the tubers were wearing personal flotation devices when the crash occurred.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A 71-year-old Marshalltown woman has received a traffic citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian within an intersection after she struck and killed 8-year-old Timothy Maxon. Marilyn Diggins struck Maxon with her red Dodge R1500 pickup truck on May 15.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Dubuque County are investigating what events led up to an inmate’s death Sunday night. KCRG-TV reports the inmate was recently admitted to the Dubuque County Jail. The person was found unresponsive around 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It could be back: Des Moines police said they thought a mountain lion had moved out of the metro two weeks ago, but a woman who lives on the city’s south side said she saw a big cat Sunday afternoon. KCCI-TV reports the woman took a photo, and the DNR is examining it.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities say a man involved in a single-vehicle crash died early Saturday when he drove his all-terrain vehicle into a ditch on Des Moines’ south side. KCCI-TV reports there is no indication that another vehicle was involved in the crash, which remains under investigation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was injured after a car vs. pedestrian incident in downtown Cedar Rapids just after 2 am Saturday morning. KGAN-TV reports their name or condition has not been released.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Storm damage survey teams from the National Weather Service have found EF-1 level damage from Friday night’s storms in Washington and Johnson Counties. The survey team found damage consistent with tornado winds of 110 mph, which is at the top end of the scale for EF-1 damage. The EF-scale goes from zero to five.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to noon on Monday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The Burlington Police Department is investigating a “suspicious” death. KWQC-TV reports police responded to a 911 call, and found the deceased person in a home. An autopsy is being performed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill Friday that would expand Iowa’s medical cannabis law. The bill would have increased the number of illnesses that can be treated with CBD oil and raised the legal THC level. The Legislature had unanimously passed the bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – A disaster relief bill that would have helped Iowans and other midwesterners suffering from severe flooding was prevented from advancing in the US House of Representatives on Friday after Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas objected to passing the bill. Lawmakers had hoped to advance the bill using unanimous consent which would quickly pass it out of the chamber. But it only takes one person to object to unanimous consent. Roy says President Trump’s border wall should come first.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Graduates, staff, family, and friends were forced to seek shelter at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Friday evening when a tornado approached Iowa City during the Iowa City West High School graduation ceremony. KCRG-TV reports the storm that produced the tornado stayed to the south of the arena and the ceremony was able to resume once the tornado warning was issued. One witness remarked, “this is a night the graduates and their families won’t soon forget.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) IA – A Decatur County Man has been charged with the attempted murder of a Sheriff. On May 23 the Division of Criminal Investigation charged 54-year old Gerry Greenland with one count of attempted murder. Decatur County Sheriff Ben Boswell, along with two deputies, was dispatched to a rural home a report of an altercation between family members. The initial responding deputy was confronted by Mr. Greenland, who was driving a tractor that was outfitted with a front-end bale spear. As the deputy drove up the driveway, Mr. Greenland drove the tractor towards the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy took evasive action. Mr. Greenland then drove the tractor towards the vehicle occupied by Sheriff Boswell. Mr. Greenland struck Sheriff Boswell’s vehicle, forcing one of the bale spear tines through the driver’s door and pushing Sheriff Boswell and his vehicle more than 100 feet. When the tractor and impaled vehicle came to a rest, deputies were able to take Mr. Greenland into custody. Sheriff Boswell was unharmed.

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – Firefighters are investigating the cause of a house fire in Windsor Heights this morning. KCCI-TV reports one person was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. The homeowners believe the fire sparked in a power outlet in their basement.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines hospital announced Thursday that it’s voluntarily inactivating one of its transplant programs. MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center said its Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program will be inactive for up to 12 months beginning June 1. The hospital plans to evaluate the program’s patient volume, operational and technology needs.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. General Services Administration has released conceptual drawings for a U.S. courthouse planned along the riverfront in downtown Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports city leaders are protesting the decision to build at the location, but the release of the design is seen as an indication that the government is proceeding with the project.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Officials from Iowa’s Blank Park Zoo announced Thursday the passing of Zuri, an elderly female giraffe. Zoo officials said Zuri was humanely euthanized on Wednesday due to several age-related chronic health conditions.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Customers at a Des Moines McDonald’s found protesters as they drove up for lunch Thursday. KCCI-TV reports workers took part in a nationwide walkout to protest sexual harassment allegations and demand a $15 minimum wage. The protestors chanted, “Hold my pickle. Hold my fries. Make my wages supersized!”

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A man who had said he was only defending himself when he killed another man at a central Iowa bar has been given 50 years in prison. KCCI-TV reports 49-year-old Rodney Henricksen was sentenced for killing Joshua Sadlon. Sadlon, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died a day after the incident at the Escape Lounge in Urbandale in January 2018.
Henricksen had said he’d tried to de-escalate threats made by the drunken Sadlon and said Iowa’s “stand your ground” law protected him from prosecution. The jury rejected his claim of self-defense. Prosecutors called it a bar beating, not a bar fight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A federal grand jury indicted five men on Wednesday who are alleged to have participated in sex trafficking in Iowa and elsewhere. All are in custody and have made an initial appearance in federal court in Des Moines. Their victims included minors.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two men and a woman have been indicted on multiple federal charges in connection to an unsolved crime from 2014 that resulted in the death of James Booner of Marion. The three were robbing Booner of meth in his possession, and proceeds from his sale of meth when they allegedly shot and killed him.

U.S.A (IRN) – Dressbarn will be closing all 650 of its stores. The women’s clothing retailer has locations across the country. There are 10 Dressbarn stores in Iowa.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City is bustling during the night hours, according to Iowa City Downtown District executive director Nancy Bird. Bird says, “We went from two hotels to essentially five or six…so that’s a really big impact.” KGAN-TV reports to tap into that night economy ICDD hired the next night-time mayor. Joe Reilly, an Iowa City local and University of Iowa alum, was hired. He’ll be responsible for marketing after-hours events and will serve as liaison between businesses and patrons.