Author: Iowa Radio News

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A car slammed into the back of a school bus stopped at a traffic signal in Davenport this morning, according to KWQC-TV. The bus was empty and returning to the bus barn. The driver of the car was transported to the hospital.

OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – Grandview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Oelwein had 40 of their air conditioners stolen. KCRG-TV reports they were taken from a storage facility in Independence.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Economists say President Donald Trump’s decision yesterday to impose a 25% tariff on Chinese goods will hurt the farm economy. KCCI-TV reports Chad Hart, an economics professor with Iowa State University, says China will likely retaliate with a tax on U.S. exports like soybeans and pork. The Dow dropped nearly 400 points after Trump announced the tariffs, and corn and bean prices fell as well.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating the death of a two-year-old boy. WHO-TV reports police have not identified anything criminal about the child’s death, but police say they must complete due diligence in their investigation. The mother says her son died from lack of oxygen to the brain following a seizure.

MONTEZUMA, IA (IRN) – A Montezuma man has been arrested for arson in connection with a rural structure fire in Poweshiek County. The Des Moines Register reports Chance Ryan Beres, 20, of Montezuma, who is an EMT with Midwest Ambulance in Grinnell, was also a probationary member with the Montezuma Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The last steel beam has been placed for the 15 story Chauncey Tower in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports city leaders, workers, and business owners signed the beam before it went into place. Plans call for it to open sometime next year. It will feature apartments, condominiums, a bowling alley, and two movie theaters.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A gas leak is to blame for a death in Newton. The Newton Daily News reports it happened at the Meadowbrook Apartments Monday afternoon. There was a high level of carbon monoxide gas throughout the building, and one man was found dead. Officials haven’t found the cause of the leak.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports. The Des Moines Register reports that confirmed child abuse cases in Iowa increased 26 percent, from almost 8,900 in 2016 to more than 11,200 last year. Gov. Kim Reynolds cut $4.3 million in March from the Department of Human Services, which oversees child protection.

SPARTA, WI (IRN) – An Iowa man accused of making threats to kill relatives at a high school graduation in Sparta, Wisconsin has been arrested. KCCI-TV reports Benjamin Sidie was taken into custody by Dubuque police on Monday. School district officials cancelled Friday’s graduation because of the alleged threats. The threats were made by text message over a period of several days, and police say Sidie threatened to die by suicide by cop, and he was going to do it at the graduation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old boy from Omaha drowned at Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs yesterday. KETV reports two hours after he was reported missing, divers located his body within the swimming area of the beach in less than five feet of water. There were three lifeguards at the beach when the boy disappeared.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A 13-year-old boy is recovering Monday after he was struck by a car near the Altoona Walmart, according to KCCI-TV. The teen suffered significant injuries to his head and legs.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Vandals burned two American flags in Dubuque on Memorial Day. KWWL-TV reports police are investigating.

STILLWATER, OK (IRN) – West Des Moines Valley graduate Broc Everett won the golf individual NCAA Championship Monday, according to the Des Moines Register. Everett was an an unlikely winner, as he has never secured an individual victory and barely cracked the rankings among the top 200 amateur golfers in the nation. Everett won in a playoff by sinking a birdie shot on the first playoff hole to secure the win at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Crews were able to save a man who jumped off the Court Avenue bridge Sunday afternoon in a dramatic rescue. KCCI-TV reports emergency teams were on scene around 3:30 p.m. near the Scott Street dam across from Principal Park. Officials speculate it might have been a suicide attempt.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police arrested a 15-year-old male after a carjacking at Walmart in Cedar Rapids Friday night. KGAN-TV reports an uninjured female victim said her vehicle had been stolen by a male with a handgun. The stolen vehicle was then reported as a reckless driver on I-80 near Davenport. After a short pursuit the vehicle crashed, and a 15-year-old male was taken into custody.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a train derailment in Ottumwa, according to WQAD-TV. Around 1:45 Sunday afternoon, a BNSF Railway coal train was headed east when it derailed. No one was injured.

IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service reports record heat will continue today with highs in the mid to upper 90s to low 100’s under a sunny sky. The average high for the end of May is 76°. Heat Advisories will be under effect.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a crash between a vehicle and a motorcycle in Waterloo Saturday. KCRG-TV reports the driver of the motorcycle and a passenger in the vehicle died on the scene. The driver of the vehicle is in the hospital with serious injuries.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man is facing multiple charges after a trip on acid. KGAN-TV reports 18-year-old Phillip Antonio Lopes-Round took four acid tablets early Friday, after which he took off his pants and underwear, went to his neighbor’s house and asked her to have sex with him. When she said no, he ripped his her mailbox from its post, broke the house number and a light. Police arrested him and took him to the hospital, where he attempted to headbutt a doctor.

DECORAH, IA (IRN) – The Raptor Resource project says two eaglets at the Decorah North nest died Friday. Blackflies combined with the heat and humidity may have been why.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is home to many different Asian cultures, and this weekend is the annual CelebraAsian Festival at Western Gateway Park. WHO-TV reports dozens of food tents line the streets allowing visitors to taste foods from around the world, but the event is more about pride. Guests gathered downtown to taste authentic Asian cuisine, hear traditional music, and socialize.

IOWA (IRN) – The flu killed twice as many Iowans this winter as last year. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Friday that the state recorded 270 confirmed flu deaths in the season starting last fall. That compares to 133 at this point a year earlier. Just 44 flu deaths were confirmed in Iowa two winters ago.

CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – The children of a Centerville woman accused of killing her husband and lighting him on fire are now without both parents. Firefighters found Timothy Pasa dead May 5 in Centerville. His body was badly burned. Two weeks later his wife, Barbara Pasa, was arrested for his murder and arson. Their father’s death and subsequent charges against their mother left 14-year-old Kate Pasa and 17-year-old Owen Pasa without parents.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating an armed carjacking at a Cedar Rapids Walmart yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. No one was injured, and no arrest has been made.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa woman says she learned a hard lesson this week.
KWWL-TV reports the Waterloo woman’s SUV was stolen from her apartment, and found less than 30 minutes later on fire. She says she will never leave her car running again. The fire is being investigated as an arson.

CLARKSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Iowa has its first ever “American Idol,” and her hometown is making changes to celebrate, according to WHO-TV. On Monday night, Maddie Poppe was named the winner of the singing competition. In her hometown of Clarksville, she’s receiving another honor: a park. The Maddie Poppe Trailhead Park will soon fill an area near Highway 188. Plans include a picnic shelter and a bike trail.