Author: Iowa Radio News

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person was sent to the hospital after a Saturday collision involving a plow truck in Linn County. Mildred McCoy, 40, from Central City, was taken to the hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries after the vehicle in which she was riding hit the back of a snowplow.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Officials are investigating after a large multi-vehicle crash in Cedar Rapids, Saturday morning. KCRG-TV reports up to 10 vehicles were involved in the collision, including a garbage truck. No one was injured.

PRIMGHAR, IA (IRN) – Rep. Steve King on Saturday opened his first town hall since sparking outrage over his latest racially insensitive remarks by insisting he isn’t racist. The Iowa Republican was removed from his committee assignments in the new Congress earlier this month for defending the term “white supremacist,” the latest among numerous public statements widely seen as racist or insensitive. The town hall was in Primghar.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Saturday, RAGBRAI officials announced which cities will host overnight stops on the 2019 route. The route will begin in Council Bluffs with stops in Atlantic, Winterset, Indianola, Centerville, Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk. RAGBRAI 47 will take place July 21 – 27.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A student was injured Friday afternoon after a fight broke out between a handful of students on the front lawn of a Des Moines school, according to KCCI-TV. The Hoover High School principal said in an email to parents that the incident happened after school was dismissed. One student had a knife, and another student was injured as a result.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Kidnapping charges in Muscatine have been dropped after the county attorney says the victim sabotaged the case. WQAD-TV reports the victim was bound by the hands and feet, thrown into a car trunk and then dumped in a field in the middle of the night. The victim now refuses to cooperate.

SIGOURNEY, IA (IRN) – Two eastern Iowa kids are recovering from severe burns after trying a viral online trend, according to KCRG-TV. It’s called the “salt and ice challenge.” Participants put table salt on exposed skin, add an ice cube, and then hold it there as long as they can tolerate the pain. A Sigourney 15-year-old tried it with a group of friends. The group raised the stakes by using snow and the results were gruesome. She received severe burns.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The city of Dubuque has a goal of creating a new smart parking system, which could include an app that would show drivers available parking spaces, and allow payment through the app. But at least one city council member worries the implementation of this could hurt the taxpayer. The app will also issue tickets.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Police in Council Bluffs are investigating after a body was found inside a shuttered business. KCCI-TV reports the body was found at the old No Frills supermarket, which closed in 2016. Workers on site to remove shelving and coolers found the body. They say it had been there for some time.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – One person was hurt in a stabbing Thursday night in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports a suspect is in custody.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa legislators are considering whether Iowans can continue to redeem deposits on cans and bottles during their trips to the grocery store. Sen. Mark Segebart, R-Vail, introduced a bill that removes grocery and convenience stores from the law that now mandates retailers to redeem cans and bottles. Opponents say the bill would make it tougher for Iowans to redeem the nickel deposit they pay on beer, soda and liquor purchased in Iowa, and undermine the 41-year-old program’s success.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Robert Stanton is a trailblazer within the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, now serving as it’s first African – American chief. Stanton says, “I am humbled and honored that I have the opportunity and the privilege to serve as a law enforcement officer in the community I was raised.” Stanton is a 20-year veteran of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after an overnight house fire northwest of Boone. The identity of the person who died has not been released, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A 13-year-old boy who disappeared in the middle of a snowstorm is still missing, as brutally cold temperatures and blustery winds sweep the state. KCCI-TV reports Corey Brown, of Marshalltown, was last seen around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. His parents noticed he was missing when they woke up for work Wednesday morning.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Sen. Joni Ernst says in an interview with Bloomberg that she was raped in college by a man she dated while attending ISU. This comes in the wake of the release of Ernst’s divorce papers, which allege abusive behavior by her ex-husband Gail, and mutual allegations of affairs.

MONROE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is taking care of seven animals rescued from rural Monroe County near Albia after being found abandoned in the cold without food, water or shelter. WHO-TV reports three horses, two dogs, a steer and a burro were rescued on Monday. The horses were underweight, and all animals suffered from neglect. No charges have been filed.

MOLINE, IL (IRN) – A Davenport man delivered a load of groceries to the Quad City International Airport yesterday. WQAD-TV reports Eric Schwab is hoping to make life a little easier for TSA agents during the government shutdown. Eric was homeless for nearly a decade. Now that he’s in a better place, he knew he had to give back. Schwab unloaded nearly 600 dollars worth of groceries from his jeep for TSA agents.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Two people who worked for a Sioux City hotel have been accused of a scam using guests’ credit cards. KCCI-TV reports they overcharged guests’ credit cards at the Howard Johnson hotel in downtown Sioux City. They’d then force refunds and split the money. The total stolen was more than $32,700.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s “fetal heartbeat” law — the most restrictive abortion limit in the country — violates the Iowa Constitution and may not be enforced, a state judge ruled Tuesday. The judge ruled “a woman’s right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution.” The decision is a major victory for backers of legal access to abortion. But anti-abortion advocates have vowed to continue fighting the issue in higher courts.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) A woman was allegedly set on fire by another woman at the apartment they shared in Burlington. KCRG-TV reports 51-year-old Deborah Powell is charged with domestic assault, willful injury and reckless use of fire. The victim told police they were arguing, and Powell sprayed her with rubbing alcohol and set her afire. She’s recovering in a burn unit.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man allegedly stole a pickup and crashed it intentionally into a homeless shelter in Des Moines, according to KCCI-TV. No one was injured, and 59-year-old Timothy Jones is in jail.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – A Clinton woman is out more than $100,000 because she fell in love. WQAD-TV reports she fell for a man online, and he took almost everything she had. Her “mystery man” told her he loved her, and promised her he would double her money. Broken-hearted, and just flat out broke, she has filed for bankruptcy.