Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Family members of slain 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbetts are calling out those using her death to push a “racist, false narrative” after it was discovered her alleged murderer is in the United States illegally. Mexican native Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts’ death. The family says the problem is toxic masculinity, not immigration status.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hubbell Realty is selling the former home of the Riverfront YMCA in Des Moines to the federal government for the construction of a new federal courthouse, but the company is not happy about it. WHO-TV reports Hubbell has entered into a purchase agreement with the GSA under the threat of eminent domain. Both the City of Des Moines and Hubbell Realty publicly spoke out against the government’s acquisition of the land and preferred a private development. As a federal courthouse the city will not collect any property tax from the site.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Four true freshmen on the Iowa State football team have been suspended indefinitely for what Cyclones coach Matt Campbell called multiple incidents of poor choices and behavior. Campbell said the suspensions are not related to any one incident but rather a pattern of conduct that will not be tolerated within the football program.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A surveillance video from a victim’s front porch helped Cedar Rapids police make an arrest in a theft case, according to KCRG-TV. The thieves that do this type of crime have become popularly known as porch pirates. On Friday officers arrested 40-year-old Stephanie Conyers of Cedar Rapids for theft. The video caught Conyers in the act of stealing a package from the front porch of a home.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old from Ottumwa is charged with murder in connection with a deadly shooting. KCCI-TV reports Ottumwa police responded to calls of a shooting at a home Thursday night. Officers said they found a man with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to Ottumwa Regional Hospital where he died. Jacob Heckethorn has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. He’s in the Wapello County Jail without bond.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Chariton are investigating an alleged assault by a Catholic priest, who was suspended after he allegedly made an unwelcome advance on a woman at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. KCCI-TV reports Father Francis Aning Amoah, a priest from Ghana temporarily ministering in Iowa, is accused of a “serious violation of boundary issues.”

DIXON, IL (IRN) – Three men men from Clinton were taken into custody by the Dixon Illinois Police Department yesterday after allegedly stealing high-value items from Walmart. One of the men entered the store, filled his cart with several high ticket items and snuck out through the emergency exit. The man’s partners then pulled up in a blue pickup truck and sped out of the parking lot. They were later detained.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The level of the Mississippi River has dropped as much as two feet in two days in eastern Iowa, causing boats and marinas to come to a standstill. KCRG-TV reports the sudden and dramatic drop was caused by little rain up north. Boats at many marinas are sitting on dry land.

BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – The funeral for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in her hometown of Brooklyn. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 2 p.m. in the gymnasium of BGM High School in Brooklyn. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy yesterday on the body confirmed to be Mollie Tibbetts, and drew some preliminary conclusions. The examiner determined that the manner of death was homicide resulting from multiple sharp force injuries. Further examination may result in additional findings. Cristhian Bahena Rivera has been charged in the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County with Murder in the First Degree.

IOWA (IRN) – FEMA has denied a request from Governor Kim Reynolds for federal money to help individual victims of flooding this summer. Gov. Reynolds asked for federal dollars to be made available to home and business owners and renters in Buchanan, Dickinson, Polk and Winnebago Counties for flooding that happened between June 6th and July 2nd. However, FEMA determined that the impact to individuals and households was “not of such severity and magnitude to warrant a designation.” Reynolds plans to appeal.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Congressman Rod Blum’s Dubuque office was vandalized early Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports cameras show a suspect with a gallon paint can opening it and tossing white paint on the front doors of the building.

CLAYTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A plane crashed Wednesday evening in a field near the Monona Airport in Clayton County, according to KGAN-TV. No injuries were reported.

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – At an open house to unveil the new Grant Wood Elementary School in Bettendorf, staff surprised the crowd with a flash mob. WQAD-TV reports Pharrell’s “Happy” started playing as dozens of teachers started strutting their stuff after the ribbon cutting of the new school.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – An Iowa mother is wanted in the slaying of her 5-year-old son who died after a serious assault by her boyfriend. Police are looking for 24-year-old Jacqueline Rambert and 26-year-old Tre Henderson of Davenport. They face first-degree murder and child endangerment charges. The Des Moines Register reports Henderson attacked Ja’Shawn Bussell, leaving him with head and other injuries that made him vomit and constantly sleepy. Ja’Shawn was eventually taken to a hospital and placed on life support for four days before he died 10 days after the assault. Henderson didn’t seek medical help for her son.

BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – The suspect charged with the murder of Mollie Tibbetts worked for a dairy farm owned by the family of a well-known Iowa Republican. KCCI-TV reports 24-year-old Cristhan Rivera entered the country illegally. The owners of Yarrabee Farms in Brooklyn issued a statement confirming that Rivera had worked for the dairy farm for four years. Yarrabee Farms is owned by the family of former Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Lang. Lang unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture earlier this year. Yarrabee Farms said Rivera was vetted through the government’s E-Verify system.

LAKE DELHI, IA (IRN) – A man will spend up to 15 years in prison after admitting he left someone behind in a vehicle that plunged into Lake Delhi in January. Joshua Junegel drove the vehicle into the lake then fled. The body of 23-year-old Alex Salow was later found in the submerged vehicle.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids festival launched by the city’s convention and visitors bureau lost millions, city officials said Tuesday. Newbo Evolve, a three-day arts and music event featuring headliners Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5, lost an estimated $2.3 million. The organizers were fired.

MARION, IA (IRN) – An intoxicated driver in Marion ran over the arm of a passenger who had fallen out of the vehicle, according to KCRG-TV. Police found a parked vehicle with a 34-year-old male laying on the curb with his feet still inside the passenger side. Officers stopped behind the vehicle and the driver, 36-year-old Andrew Dvorsky, began to slowly drive forward, running over the man’s arm. Dvorsky then turned into the driveway of a house and drove through the closed garage door. The man will be OK.

MONTEZUMA, IA (IRN) – A suspect is in custody in connection with the death of Mollie Tibbetts. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed Tuesday during a news conference that Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, is charged with first-degree murder. Rivera is an undocumented immigrant. Tibbetts’ body was found in a cornfield southeast of Brooklyn. The 20-year-old was last seen jogging July 18. Investigators say Rivera saw Tibbetts running and began running alongside her. Tibbetts threatened to call police and Rivera “got mad” and “blocked” his “memory.” Surveillance video brought investigators to Rivera. When confronted, Rivera brought investigators to Tibbetts’ body. Rivera is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A woman faces two counts of murder for her role in a deadly Waterloo house fire, according to KCRG-TV. Waterloo Police arrested 41-year-old Denise Susanna O’Brien Monday. She is charged with two counts of first degree murder for her role in an April 22 fire. Ashley Smith, 32 and Jaykwon Sallis, 9, both died in the fire.

INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – A man accused of trying to smother a fellow state psychiatric hospital patient has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. KGAN-TV reports 45-year-old Terrance Rooney Jr. has been a patient at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for years and was a patient there when he pleaded guilty in 1999 to making a threat to the life of President Bill Clinton. Authorities say in the latest case Rooney tried to suffocate another patient and twisted the thumb of a staffer and threatened to kill her.

OSAGE, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa woman has been charged with drunk driving and child endangerment. KIMT-TV reports Mitchell County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of an erratic driver forcing other vehicles off the highway. Police charged Rebecca Golden, 24 of Kensett in the incident. There were five children in the car ranging in ages from nine years old to under three. She’s in jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair set a record for attendance this year. Fair officials say an estimated 1,130,260 people attended the fair that ended Sunday. That topped the previous record set in 2017 by 189 people. Attendance was a bit behind the 2017 mark but moved ahead thanks to pleasant weather over the weekend.