Author: Iowa Radio News

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – Sen. Bernie Sanders is embarking on a nine-state tour on behalf of Democratic candidates competing in the November elections, returning to the campaign trail ahead of a decision on another White House bid. In Iowa, Sanders will assist Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten as he seeks to earn the Fourth District Seat currently held by Republican Steve King.

CASTANA, IA (IRN) – A West Monona School District bus went up in flames near Castanda Monday morning, according to KCAU-TV. The driver was just starting morning pick-up’s, and the three people onboard all escaped without injury. Two children and the bus driver moved off the bus after they heard a loud bang, and were far away before the blaze started. By the time firefighters arrived, the bus was fully engulfed in flames.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – The Trump administration will allow year-round sales of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol, a boon for Iowa and other farm states. President Donald Trump announced he is lifting a federal ban on summer sales of high-ethanol blends during a trip to Iowa today.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of Des Moines is revising its panhandling ordinance, according to WHO-TV. The ordinance, which has been on the books for years, is now considered unconstitutional after recent supreme court rulings. The court has held that panhandling is a form of protected free speech.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Severe weather systems brought tornado warnings to multiple counties in central Iowa yesterday. Tornadoes were spotted north of Perry and north of Woodburn. Much of Iowa is under a flood watch until Wednesday morning. Total accumulations after multiple days of rain may reach as high as three to six inches.

ALVORD, IA (IRN) – A South Dakota woman died after being struck by a train in northwest Iowa. KCCI-TV reports Lyon County deputies and medics were sent to the crash site Friday in Alvord. It appears that 32-year-old Savannah Flynn, of Marion, South Dakota, may have thought a southbound train was on the east set of parallel tracks when she tried to cross the west tracks and was struck. Flynn died at the scene. Authorities suspect alcohol consumption played a role in her death.

HUXLEY, IA (IRN) – A father died, two teenage daughters escaped on their own and rescuers saved a mother and son after a home in Huxley caught fire early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports firefighters pulled the mother, father and teenage boy from the home. They say the parents were trying to get their autistic son, 17, out of a bedroom when all three became trapped. The father, Brett Van Ersvelde, 48, died. Two first responders were injured.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police say an accident Thursday morning involving a school bus and a 15-year-old student happened because the bus driver ran a red light. KGAN-TV reports the student is in the hospital with serious injuries.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Students from Mount Vernon high school discovered a body at Palisades State Park in Linn County Friday afternoon. The students immediately reported to their teacher, who then reported to authorities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags on state property flown at half-staff on Saturday to honor a fallen World War II soldier. Flags were lowered to honor Army Pvt. Donald E. Brown, of Thompson, who killed in action on July 28, 1944, when his tank was destroyed by enemy fire in France. The 24-year-old’s remains were buried at an American military cemetery in France as an unknown soldier. His remains were disinterred last year and identified through DNA testing. He was buried with full military honors Saturday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A western Iowa jury has found a man guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of another homeless man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 46-year-old Vance Good was found guilty Friday in the March stabbing death of 44-year-old Lee Johnson. Good is one of four men charged in Johnson’s death. Police called to the shelter found Johnson’s body outside with multiple deep cuts to his face and neck.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A man armed with a knife vandalized a car Friday on the ISU campus, and the university sent an alert to students, saying a knife-wielding college-age man with brown hair and a camouflage backpack was headed toward Hilton. The suspect was located around 7 p.m., and officials gave the all clear.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IR) – A former North Iowa investment broker is going to federal prison.
Darrell Smith of Forest City pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Authorities say between 2010 and 2013, Smith either forged his clients’ signatures or used pre-signed forms to take money from their accounts. On Friday, he was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. Smith must also pay over $1 million in restitution.

STILLWATER, OK and MINNEAPOLIS, MN (IRN) – Freshman quarterback Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as Iowa State upset #25 Oklahoma State 48-42 in Stillwater on Saturday. For the Hawkeyes, a fake field goal touchdown and Nate Stanley’s four touchdown passes helped Iowa beat rival Minnesota 48-31 in Minneapolis. Iowa won the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for a fourth-straight season.

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – A second man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a gender-fluid Iowa teenager. The Hawk Eye reports 26-year-old Jaron Purham was found guilty in the 2016 death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson of Burlington. Johnson identified as both male and female. He was wearing a pink headband and hair extensions when Jorge Sanders-Galvez and Purham saw the teen at a store, followed him, and then took the teen to a Burlington home. Police say Johnson was sexually assaulted and tortured before being shot to death in an alley.

COLO, IA (IRN) – A 30-year-old Colo man faces numerous abuse charges after allegedly molesting several boys as young as 9 while they were camping at a Story County park. KCCI-TV reports that Michael Ferguson, a registered sex offender, took several boys between the ages of 9 and 14 camping at Hickory Grove Park and abused them. Authorities found Ferguson in Stark County, Ohio, and he was extradited to Story County.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs man has been accused of threatening to kill the city’s mayor. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 33-year-old Chase Points faces charges of first-degree harassment, assault and disorderly conduct. Points is being held without bond at the Pottawattamie County Jail.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump will be in Council Bluffs next week.
Trump will be holding a rally on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. At the rally, Trump is expected to talk about the economy as well as about electing Republicans to the House and Senate.

WAUKON, IA (IRN) – A northeast Iowa man convicted of fatally shooting his stepfather at the home they shared has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison. The Courier reports that 32-year-old John Quanrude of Waukon was sentenced in the April death of 60-year-old Dean Russell. Quanrude told officers he’d fired a warning shot with a shotgun because Russell had been messing with him, and then shot Russell in the chest.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A high-speed chase that passed through four eastern Iowa counties ended without any injuries on Thursday evening. KWWL-TV reports the chase started in Dubuque county when a deputy pulled over a Dodge Charger and discovered the registration plates did not match the vehicle, and a VIN check revealed the car to be stolen out of Chicago. The driver sped off, and passed through parts of Dubuque, Jackson, Maquoketa and Clinton counties before being apprehended. He’s from Indiana.

JONES COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down in Jones County on Wednesday. The EF-0 had peak wind speeds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for .71 miles. There was no warning issued by the NWS. Some corn was flattened and branches were snapped, but there wasn’t any reported property damage or injuries. This was the 51st tornado of the year.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) The Nebraska football team is on an eight-game losing streak, which dates back to last season when the Huskers ended the year 0-4. KETV reports Barley’s Bar in Council Bluffs says it’ll provide free beer if the Nebraska Cornhuskers win a football game this season.