Author: Iowa Radio News

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man who used a belt to spank a 4-year-old child is facing a felony charge. KCCI-TV reports 33-year-old Charles Pennington is charged with felony child endangerment resulting in injury. Officials were notified about severe bruising on the boy’s buttocks, lower back and upper legs. Other children in the household told investigators the child was beaten with the belt for “getting in trouble.”

EASTERN IOWA (IRN) – The Linn and Johnson County Auditors are receiving reports of text messages directing voters to the wrong polling place. KCRG-TV reports the auditor’s office tells prospective voters to check on their polling places at the Secretary of State’s website.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Two bodies were found at a home in the Autumn Ridge Estates community in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. Police say the bodies had been there for some time and that there is no threat to the public. Neighbors say the couple got an eviction notice, and were unable to pay their bills.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An investigation into a retired Iowa judge who admitted that hundreds of his decisions were ghost-written by attorneys found that more than a dozen of his cases were resolved inappropriately. KWWL-TV reports on at least 13 occasions, former Plymouth County judge Edward Jacobson improperly used proposed orders from attorneys as the final order of the court without the knowledge of other parties in the case.

IOWA (IRN) – School is out for the summer in Parkland, Florida, and the survivors of a February massacre are hitting the road to Iowa. WHO-TV reports a group of students from Stoneman Douglas High School announced they’ll spend the summer on tour talking to other teens about registering to vote. The group says there are four million kids who will turn 18 before election day, and they want them to vote to end gun violence. The location of their stop in Iowa hasn’t been announced.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – President Trump’s Lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has been telling reporters that if President Trump is guilty of any crime, he can pardon himself. When asked about the potential pardon, Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley told a CNN reporter, “if I were President of the United States and I had a lawyer that told me I could pardon myself, I think I would hire a new lawyer.”

FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – The Fairfield Fire Department is investigating a four-vehicle semi fire, according to KTVO-TV. On Sunday, workers at the Heartland Co-Op in Fairfield noticed one of the semi-trucks was on fire. They immediately called the Fire Department. But, while trying to put out the fire, it spread to the other trucks next to it, causing four vehicles to be completely destroyed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man died early Sunday morning after he was shot in a domestic-related dispute. KCCI-TV reports the 40-year-old man arrived at Methodist hospital by private vehicle. He later died as a result of the gunshot wounds. No arrest has been made.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Two people were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Burlington, according to WQAD-TV. A driver lost control of the motorcycle, and he and his female passenger were thrown from the bike. The were hospitalized with unknown injuries.

SPRINGVILLE, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Linn County are investigating an armed robbery that took place at a bank in Springville Friday morning. KGAN-TV reports a white male in his mid-thirties entered the Security State Bank, proceeded to a teller window, and displayed a handgun. The suspect then fled the scene. No one was hurt.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The United States’ unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent, according to the May jobs report. Iowa’s rate is even lower. WHO-TV reports Iowa restaurants are experiencing a worker shortage, and restaurants are starting to look at better compensation. While Iowa’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, some restaurants are starting teenagers at $10 or $12 an hour in their first jobs.

PROSPER, MN (IRN) – A Decorah motorcyclist is dead after he collided with a horse Friday near the Iowa/Minnesota state line, according to KCRG-TV. Timothy Holt, 60, was driving on a rural stretch of a highway near Prosper, Minnesota when a horse which had been grazing in the ditch broke free of its chain and entered the highway.” Holt braked and swerved his Harley Davidson, but was unable to miss the horse. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate released new data showing that Iowa has more active registered voters than before any June primary in Iowa history. Secretary Pate reminds voters who want to participate in Tuesday’s June 5 primary but are not registered to vote can register and vote at the polls on Election Day. If you are registering to vote on Election Day you will need to bring a photo ID and proof of residency.

HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – Wind gusts up to nearly 90 miles per hour were recorded near Hampton yesterday morning according to WHO-TV. There have been no reports of serious damage or injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fireworks sales are expected to be booming this year, given an increase in the number of licensing applications the state fire marshal’s office has received.
KCCI-TV reports Friday marked the first day of year two of legal fireworks sales in Iowa. State Fire Marshal Dan Wood said he expects about 800 requests to sell fireworks in the state, and about 500 requesters have already been licensed, compared to the 664 licenses that the state issued last year.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Fire and Rescue crews rescued a baby from a locked car parked in a Dollar General parking lot according Friday, according to KWWL-TV. The temperature in Waterloo at the time was in the mid-80s. The baby is doing fine.

BERTRAM, IA (IRN) – A male has died after crashing his bicycle in the Linn County town of Bertram, according to KCRG-TV. The rider attempted to go down a steep hill when he fell off his bicycle, causing life threatening injuries. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Newton have identified the victim of a carbon monoxide leak on Memorial Day. WHO-TV reports Melvin Boyd was found dead in his apartment after a report of a gas leak. The apartment building had to be evacuated and ventilated due to toxic levels of carbon monoxide. The Newton Fire Department says the source of the leak hasn’t been identified.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa teenager responsible for burning down a historic Madison County covered bridge will avoid prison time after a judge handed down a suspended sentence with five years’ probation and community service. KCCI-TV reports Alexander Hoff, 17, of West Des Moines must also receive substance abuse training and a mental health evaluation.

IOWA (IRN) – President Trump’s tariffs are drawing retaliation that is hitting Iowa hard. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa pork producers, already dealing with a 25% tariff on U.S. pork exports to China, could face another trade hit. Mexico is considering a 20 percent tariff on hams and pork shoulders. Falling pork prices have already cost Iowa producers about $560 million. Gregg Hora, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says the tariffs are “potentially devastating news for Iowa’s pig farmers and the rural Iowa economy.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A judge will temporarily block the most restrictive abortion law in the country from taking effect in Iowa next month under an agreement between lawyers for the state and abortion rights groups. KCRG-TV reports the advocacy groups have sued the state to block the law, which bans most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager accidentally shot and killed himself earlier this week on the city’s east side, according to the Des Moines Register. James Shorter, 17, was sitting in a car Monday when he moved a handgun and accidentally shot himself in the neck.

TIPTON, IA (IRN) – A Cedar County woman has been charged with the 1992 murder of a man near West Liberty. KCRG-TV reports 55-year-old Annette Cahill has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Corey Wieneke. Police say Cahill had a previous sexual relationship with Wieneke, and that they have new evidence she beat him to death with a baseball bat after an argument about his involvement with another woman.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The body of a man missing after his kayak overturned on the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge has been found. KCCI-TV reports Alex Dencklau was discovered yesterday by family members assisting in the search. Dencklau and his wife were kayaking when both kayaks flipped Monday. She swam to shore, but he was swept away by the river.

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man was hospitalized after getting stuck in a grain bin Wednesday. WHO-TV reports the accident happened in West Burlington, along the Mississippi River. The farmer was trapped in the bin for over an hour. Firefighters believe an air pocket in the grain collapsed and pulled him under. The man’s head and neck remained exposed, but the grain crushed the rest of his body.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – What’s the fastest growing town in Iowa? It’s Tiffin, according to the Des Moines Register. The bedroom community near the Iowa City and Cedar Rapid metro areas, saw its population increase from 1,964 to 3,361 between 2010 and 2017. That’s a 72 percent increase. In 1990, the eastern Iowa town was home to only 460 people. Projections are it’s poised to top 4,000 residents by 2020 and 12,000 by 2030.