Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Johnston High School teacher accused of sexual abuse and exploitation submitted an Alford plea Monday. KCCI-TV reports Dustin Mead, 33, was accused of inappropriately touching a female student. Johnston police said Mead kissed the student, then gave her grades she did not earn. An “Alford plea” is plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines city workers cleared a homeless camp Thursday and Friday next to a downtown shelter. The Des Moines Register reports a couple dozen men and women had been living in tents at the site since November. The city had planned to close the camp earlier but it let an eviction notice expire when frigid winter temperatures set in.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Some parents say a bill making its way through the Iowa Senate is discriminatory against students with learning disabilities, according to WHO-TV. The bill would allow families to receive public funding for their children to enroll in a private school. Parents of children with disabilities say the private schools don’t have to admit their children, and they fear public schools will suffer financially if taxpayer dollars are transferred to private schools.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – The documentary “Hero Among Us” debuted Sunday in Vinton, according to KCRG-TV. A Vinton veteran of World War II, John Gualtier, was the subject. The film depicts Gualtier and his battalion as they entered a Nazi concentration camp. Gualtier worked to clean and feed those held captive. He says, “I had a prisoner die in my arms as I was feeding him.” The experiences haunted Gualtier for decades, but he finally decided to let his story be told.

IOWA (IRN) – A massive winter storm hit northern and eastern Iowa Saturday, leaving more than a foot of snow in its path. Mason City led the pack in snow totals, finishing with 17.5 inches. Clear Lake, Rockford and Garner received 16 inches.

CRESTON, IA (IRN) – After a Creston family of four was found dead in a condo in Mexico Friday, their cause of death has now been released. The Sharp family died of “asphyxia by inhalation of toxic gases,” according to NBC News. A vigil was held Saturday evening in Creston to remember the Sharps and their impact on the community.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Despite the snow, hundreds of central Iowans descended upon the steps of the Statehouse in Des Moines as part of the nationwide March For Our Lives protest to demand an end to gun violence and call for stricter gun control. Marchers shouted numerous chants, including “Gun Control Now,” “Enough is Enough” and “Vote Them Out,” referring to Iowa’s Republican congressional leaders who take money from the NRA. Marches were held at eleven other Iowa cities as well.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Downtown Des Moines is anticipating an unprecedented wave of hotel construction, including a 330-room Hilton that opened this week. The Des Moines Register reports that the city expects a surge of 951 hotel rooms in the next few years, which is a nearly 50 percent increase from the rooms currently available.

IOWA (IRN) – Yesterday’s winter storm packed a punch, according to WQAD-TV. Snowfall rates were higher than two inches per hour for a time Saturday. The swath of heaviest snow produced more than a foot from northeast of Cedar Rapids to Clinton. In Lowden, 14 inches of snow fell, with 12 inches reported in Maquoketa and Clinton. 9.6 inches fell at the Quad City International Airport making it the second biggest March snow since record keeping began.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The trial for a man who’s accused of randomly attacking, raping, and killing a woman on a street in Dubuque two and half years ago will happen. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Supreme Court has said it will not rule on the mental competency of Helmon Betwell. The 22-year-old faces charges that include first degree murder and first degree sexual abuse.
For the last couple of years, the lawyers in the case have gone back and forth on whether he is mentally able to stand trial.

CRESTON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa couple and their two young children were found dead in a rented condominium in Mexico, according to KCCI-TV, and there is no news yet on the cause of death. The Sharp family was reported missing by relatives in their hometown of Creston early Friday, about a week after the family left for vacation. Creston police say they contacted the U.S. Department of State, and the bodies were found during a welfare check at the condo in Akumal near Tulum, Mexico. Police said there were no obvious signs of foul play.

KINGSLEY, IA – A propane explosion yesterday in the northwestern Iowa town of Kingsley injured two people and destroyed four rural buildings. The Sioux City Journal reports the explosion happened when two men walked into a hog nursery building. A propane leak in the building likely touched-off the explosion and resulting fire when door was opened, kicking on an automatic heater. The blast severely injured the two men.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City is already a testing ground for self-driving vehicles, according to KCRG-TV. Iowa City leaders think self-driving cars are in the city’s future, so the council is hiring a researcher to find out what their effect could be on traffic, parking, and more. This comes just days after a self-driving Uber car struck and killed a woman in Arizona.

IOWA (IRN) – An end of the season snowstorm is hitting northern and eastern Iowa, and many cities have issued snow emergencies. John Haase, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Quad Cities office, says some parts of the region could receive 10 inches of snow.

CRESTON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa couple and their two young children were found dead in a rented condominium in Mexico, according to KCCI-TV. The Sharp family was reported missing by relatives in their hometown of Creston early Friday, about a week after the family left for vacation. Creston police said they contacted the U.S. Department of State, and the bodies were found during a welfare check at the condo in Akumal near Tulum. Police said there were no obvious signs of foul play.

OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A man accused of killing a college basketball player in Oskaloosa says he was defending himself. The Des Moines Register reports twenty-three-year-old Luke VanHemert is charged with second-degree murder, accused of stabbing to death 22-year-old Marquis Todd earlier this month. Todd played for William Penn University.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Two men were arrested yesterday in connection with a homicide that took place at the Joshua House in Council Bluffs. KETV reports police were called to the homeless shelter, and found that a middle aged man had been stabbed to death. All three men lived at the shelter.

AMES, IA (IRN) – An ISU student has been accused of threatening other students. WHO-TV reports 21-year-old Billy Noy threatened a female student by posting on Facebook he was going to use an AK-47 on her and others because “of what they did to him.” No weapon was found at his residence, but police say during an interview he spoke about the Sandy Hook shootings, and his feelings of harming others. He’s free on $5,000 bond after a ten-day stay in a behavioral health facility.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Senate is moving forward with a bill that would allow taxpayer money to be used for private school tuition. KGAN-TV reports the “Iowa Student Opportunity Act” would give $4,000 in state money, about 60% of state per-pupil funding, to go towards private school tuition. Critics say the bill would seriously hurt Iowa’s public schools.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Trump’s plan to impose $60 billion in tariffs on products coming from China has Iowa leaders worried. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig say the tariffs will hurt Iowans. 39% of China’s soybean imports are from the United States. Iowa Soybean Association President Bill Shipley says the tariffs pose a grave threat to Iowa Agriculture, and that no one wins a trade war.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett says Republicans who filed a challenge to his run for Governor on Wednesday are just the latest example of Reynolds supporters trying to derail his campaign. KGAN-TV reports on Friday Corbett turned in more than 4,000 signatures he’s collected in his bid to run against Governor Kim Reynolds in the June 5th primary. Now party member Craig Robinson, a Reynolds supporter, claims to have discovered several duplicate signatures. Corbett says he “smells a rat,” and the accusations are “bogus.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Senate moved forward with a possible amendment to Iowa’s Constitution on Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the measure would recognize owning firearms as a fundamental individual right and any restrictions would face strict scrutiny. Opponents say the term “strict scrutiny” would make it nearly impossible to pass future gun legislation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Meredith Corporation announced plans Wednesday to lay off at least 1,200 employees and sell off magazine titles including TIME, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Money as it transitions following its acquisition of Time, Inc. earlier this year. Meredith says its trying to find $400-$500 million in “cost synergies.”

CENTER POINT, IA (IRN) – Emmet Cummings of Center Point isn’t going to be allowed to be part of the American Legion program, Boys State. KCRG-TV reports Cummings was born a female and is transitioning into a male. He was accepted into the program last fall after his local American Legion Post gave him the good news he was their nominee. The state board said no.

LAMONI, IA (IRN) – The small town of Lamoni turned out in a big way Wednesday to welcome back their national champion Graceland University men’s basketball team. WHO-TV reports Tuesday night the Yellowjackets beat LSU Alexandria in the NAIA National Championship in Kansas City on a buzzer beater 3-point shot in overtime. It’s the first national title in Graceland’s history.