Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University has paid $125,000 to settle two lawsuits brought by a former university administrator who accused the school of blocking her efforts to investigate sexual assault reports. WHO-TV reports the State Appeal Board approved the settlement with Robinette Kelley on Monday. Kelley was the university’s equal opportunity and Title IX director who was fired in October 2015. She now works for North Carolina State University.

SALIX, IA (IRN) – A body was found Tuesday in a lake near the northwest Iowa town of Salix. KCAU-TV reports authorities believe it is that of a missing kayaker. The body is that of an older male. Police were searching the area because someone had found an unattended kayak in the lake.

AUDUBON, IA (IRN) – Sen. Chuck Grassley told Audubon residents Tuesday that he and other Iowa leaders have President Donald Trump’s ear on trade, though he said it remains to be seen whether they can affect policy outcomes. The Des Moines Register reports Grassley said, ““If (Trump’s) successful, then it’s better for all of us…but if he’s not successful, it could be a catastrophe. And if you’re getting, like at New Hartford, $3.25 for your corn, it’s a catastrophe already, considering you got $3.75 before the tariffs went on.”

WARREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Warren County voters have said “yes” to a $30 million plan to build a new courthouse and jail. According to unofficial election results from the Warren County Auditor’s Office, 69.6 percent of voters voted yes. The current courthouse will be bulldozed, with a new one built in its place on the town square. The building closed in February due to code violations.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines City Council is moving forward with plans for an underpass between Gray’s Lake and Water Works Park. The city council approved design plans Monday night. Construction of the walkway is expected to cost $3.5 million.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Transportation Security Administration at the Des Moines International Airport discovered a loaded firearm Monday morning, the 10th found this year. KCCI-TV reports TSA security found a Glock 43 loaded with six rounds during an X-ray screening of a passenger’s carry-on bag. Des Moines police took the weapon and cited the passenger with a local charge. The passenger booked a later flight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. General Services Administration confirmed Tuesday that its preferred site for a new federal courthouse in Des Moines is the site of the former Riverfront YMCA. The land currently belongs to Hubbell Realty, who planned to build a $75 million condo at the same site.

LEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 28-year-old man has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in the case of a body found in Lee County early Sunday. The Des Moines Register reports Damian Hamann of Morning Sun turned himself in after the body of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Sadie Alvarado, was found in a ditch. Hamann told police Alvarado jumped out of his car while they were arguing.

MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Oskaloosa man drowned Sunday after a boat capsized on the Des Moines River northwest of Eddyville. WHO-TV reports emergency crews were called to the location on a report that a boat that had overturned, and several people were in the water. Forty-six-year-old Martin Almond was found unconscious and later pronounced dead.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are investigating a shooting involving two vehicles. KCRG-TV reports Monday night people in the vehicles shot multiple times at each other. Officers found one of the vehicles involved with a bullet hole through a window. Police haven’t said if there were any arrests or if anyone was injured.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The Sioux City council approved a $7.5 million settlement for a man critically injured in an accident with a city bus two years ago. Chad Plante was critically injured when a city transit bus ran a stoplight. Plante’s wife Rosanne said that although she and her husband have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives, she’s pleased to see the issue come to a rest.

LEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The body of a white female was found in rural Lee County Sunday morning. She has been identified as Sadie Alvarado, 20, of Muscatine. Damian Hamann, 28, of Morning Sun has been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in a Death, a Class D Felony.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man faces charges after police say he drove drunk and hit three people in downtown Des Moines Saturday night. KCCI-TV reports Moises Plaza’s truck jumped the curb and hit three people on the sidewalk along with another occupied vehicle. Plaza then took off, trying to elude police. He is charged with OWI, felony eluding, and several other traffic offenses. The pedestrians were not injured in the incident.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews pulled an unidentified male child’s body from the Mississippi River in Muscatine yesterday. KCRG-TV reports boaters saw the body and called police.

KEOSAUQUA, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds banned the news media from covering a meeting last week with farmers in southeast Iowa. The Hawkeye Newspaper reports the event, a roundtable discussion with about 25 farmers Wednesday in Keosauqua, had been listed as open to credentialed media. When they arrived, the media were told they could not be in the room for the discussion. The purpose of the meeting was to hear directly from Iowa farmers about how President Donald Trump’s controversial trade policies have affected their businesses.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – Warren County voters will decide Tuesday if nearly $30 million should be borrowed to bulldoze down an old, nearly vacant courthouse on the Indianola square in favor of a newer and larger facility. The current courthouse has plumbing leaks, decaying infrastructure and leaking windows. The jail closed in February due to code violations. A similar vote failed in 2016.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police believe the suspect involved in a deadly hit and run is hiding and investigators say their patience is running out. WHO-TV reports police are looking for 32-year-old Anthony McGilvery. Officers believe McGilvery hit and killed 56-year-old Darrell Ford while Ford was riding his bike last Saturday.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a Hawk Alert after a report of an armed robbery in downtown Iowa City Saturday night. KCRG-TV reports authorities issued the alert around 11:00 p.m. after someone reported being robbed by a man with a gun.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – Marshalltown’s largest employer has announced $1 million in aid to its employees and the community as they recover from the July 19 tornado that tore through the city. KGAN-TV reports JBS USA employs 2,300 people at its Marshalltown pork facility. The tornado that hit Marshalltown was among a flurry of twisters that swept through central Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Kids are beating the heat in Sioux City. KCAU-TV reports the Sioux City Fire Department hosted one of their “hydrant parties” at Pulaski Park Friday afternoon.
It was a great way for kids to cool off for free, as well as fire crews getting to engage with the community. They say they’ll do one more event before school starts.

HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – A woman reported missing in January is now accused of setting fire to someone’s house. KIMT-TV reports Dawn Renae Debell, 50 of Hampton, was charged with 1st degree arson on Wednesday. Police say she started a fire at a home and there is video of her leaving the scene. 1st degree arson is a class “B” felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Debell was reported missing in North Iowa on January 24, and found by law enforcement on January 30.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – One man is dead and three have been arrested in an officer involved shooting in Ottumwa yesterday. A 911 caller reported shots fired, and that one subject had been shot. Officers responding were told that three men involved in the shooting were fleeing the area on foot. Officers then responded to Liberty Elementary School where they confronted three male subjects approaching the school. The officers came under fire, and returned it. One of the subjects was pronounced dead at the scene, another was wounded. Another subject was located later.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A chase ended in a crash Friday near Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports troopers were pursuing a car with four passengers when the vehicle drove up an embankment and crashed. Two people were taken into custody and two people were taken away by ambulance.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The leader of Iowa 4-H Youth Development was fired Thursday, just a week before the start of the Iowa State Fair, the focal point of the 4-H calendar. The Des Moines Register reports John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, the first Latino statewide youth leader in 4-H’s 115-year history, confirmed his departure. His termination comes after a suggested 4-H LGBTQ inclusion policy drew rebuke from conservative groups and praise from LGBTQ advocates.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Complaints about a girl selling cookies in Cedar Falls generated three different calls to police in the span of five days. WHO-TV reports 10-year-old Savannah Watters has been selling cookies to children in the neighborhood this summer. Savannah says her business was going really well until neighbors called police. She says it’s hard to believe they called police before talking with her mom. Savannah plans to spend her cookie money on school clothes. Her dream is to one day open up her own bakery.