Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Tuesday, April 11, 2017

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – One of two men who broke out of the Jackson County Jail in eastern Iowa has been given 10 years in prison. KCRG-TV reports 20-year-old Brian Willey was sentenced Friday. Willey and 19-year-old Andrew Combs were captured after a short foot chase March 6. The men had pried open a gate and escaped Feb. 28 from the jail in Maquoketa. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A shooting during a fight at a convenience store in Newton Monday night injured one man. WHO-TV reports police were called to the store on a report of a fight, and that a gun had been fired during the incident. When officers arrived no one was there, but they did find damage to the store’s front door and blood at the scene. They later located a 20-year-old male victim at a local hospital who was linked to the incident. He was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa officials have confirmed an 18-year-old student was found unresponsive in a campus dorm room. KCRG-TV reports campus police responded to Daum Hall where witnesses said the student had been drinking earlier in the evening. They said he appeared to have a seizure and collapsed. He later died at the hospital. His death is under investigation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces charges after police say he beat his girlfriend with a baseball bat, severely injuring her. He then handed the bat to the woman’s daughter and told her to beat her mother with it. KCCI-TV reports 27-year-old Taner Mann was charged with assault causing bodily injury, child endangerment, and willful injury causing bodily injury. He’s in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines homeowner had a rude awakening overnight, according to WHO-TV. A car left the road, sped through his yard, and crashed into the home. After the crash, the homeowner found a car dangling through the ceiling of a downstairs bedroom. No one was injured in the incident, and an investigation is underway. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Storm Lake Times won the Pulitzer Prize Monday for taking on agricultural organizations after the Des Moines Water Works sued the paper’s home county and two others over farm pollution. Art Cullen says his editorials were about government transparency. The counties tried to hide the names of the agricultural groups who were helping them fight the lawsuit with financial support until the 3,000-circulation newspaper exposed the names of the groups.


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Monday, April 10, 2017

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Five people were killed in an early-morning crash in Mason City, according to KIMT-TV. All five occupants of a white 2007 Jeep Liberty were pronounced dead at the scene. At around 2:40 Monday morning, officers noticed a power outage and began to search for a cause. At 2:42 a.m., an officer discovered the Jeep Liberty had hit a power pole. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Court documents filed in the arrest of a 20-year-old man suspected of killing his parents and sister at their Bondurant home Thursday reveal new information in the case. Chase Nicholson has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Court documents state Nicholson shot and killed his family using a shotgun. CLARKE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist died after crashing into a car in Clarke County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a car made a u-turn in front of 59-year-old Jon Jackson’s motorcycle and he wasn’t able to stop in time. The Osceola native was taken to the hospital, where he died. The driver of the car, 82-year-old Porter Sproll of Osceola, was injured. DES MOINES COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Three people were hurt in a head-on collision on Highway 61 in Des Moines County on Saturday, according to WQAD-TV. When deputies arrived, one of the drivers was unconscious and trapped in his vehicle. David White of Mediapolis crossed the centerline while going around a curve. An SUV, driven by Wayne McDaniel of Muscatine, was headed in the opposite direction. Both cars swerved, but collided head-on. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police arrested an Iowa City woman after she offered a ride to another person while police were giving a sobriety test to the suspected drunk driver. KCRG-TV reports police asked Melanie Hester not to intervene, and leave. When she refused, they asked her to get out of her car and take a sobriety test. Police said she failed it, and arrested her. AMES, IA (IRN) – Adam Rice of Ames created a game that is available for download on the Apple iPhone app store. KCCI-TV reports the 10th-grader has been teaching himself different computer languages. His efforts paid off with “Rim Bal.” A ball bounces back and forth and players get a point every time you hit each of the sides. People from a dozen countries have downloaded the game. Adam started learning to code in sixth grade.


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Sunday, April 9, 2017

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities have identified the two victims killed Friday in a small-plane crash in Johnson County. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reports that 70-year-old Terry Koehn, of Iowa City, and 56-year-old James Spicer, of Cedar Rapids, were killed when their single-engine 1965 Piper Cherokee crashed near Oxford. JACKSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Jackson County boy was critically injured after a car hit him Saturday near Maquoketa. KCRG-TV reports the 6-year-old ran out into the street without looking. He was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City by helicopter. His condition is unknown. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Burlington Police have arrested three Florida men for using counterfeit cash, according to WQAD-TV. On Saturday employees at a Burlington business called police to report a man attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill. The man and two accomplices were arrested and charged with forgery. More charges are expected as police believe the men passed numerous counterfeit bills in several states prior to their arrest. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa native Ashton Kutcher is back in his home state this weekend to receive the Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award for 2017 for his work with the Native Fund. Kutcher and Dallas Clark started the nonprofit to donate to Iowans in need, such as veterans, children and those impacted by natural disaster. So far, his financial contributions have helped 132 schools across the state. Kutcher accepted the award last night.


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Saturday, April 8, 2017

ANITA, IA (IRN) – A man’s body has been recovered from a lake in southwestern Iowa. The DNR reports a passer-by spotted an overturned kayak Thursday in Lake Anita in Cass County. The man’s body was found and pulled from the lake, along with the kayak and a paddle. The department identified the man as 63-year-old Roland Henderson, who lived in Wiota, Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Relatives of a man suspected of killing his parents and sister in Bondurant are blaming the Iowa mental health system as ineffective. KCCI-TV reports 20-year-old Chase Nicholson turned himself over to Missouri authorities Friday after fleeing the crime scene. Family say he’s been crying out for help, but is bipolar, and there aren’t enough beds in the Iowa mental health system for him to be placed and his treatment to be effective. OXFORD, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed in a plane crash at the Green Castle Airport near Oxford in Johnson County Friday. The plane was a small, single-engine aircraft, and the flight originated at the airport. No other details have been released. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican Congressman Rod Blum says President Trump should have asked Congress for authorization before ordering the missile strike on a Syrian air base. KCRG-TV reports Congressman Blum says firing the missiles at Syria’s airfield was the right thing to do, but congressional approval should have been sought before the strike. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Principal Park in Des Moines is opening up the stadium to fans ahead of the first game of the season. The I-Cubs will hold an open house from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. today. Fans can get a tour of the skybox suites, go out onto the field, and be among the first to see the new high definition ribbon board in left field. The I-Cubs will host their first game Tuesday evening against the New Orleans Baby Cakes.


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Friday, April 7, 2017

BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – A suspect and three victims have been identified in an early-morning triple-homicide in rural Bondurant. Polk County authorities have identified the victims as 58-year-old Mark Nicholson, 56-year-old Charla Nicholson, and 24-year-old Tawni Nicholson, all of Bondurant. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified 20-year-old Chase Nicholson of Bondurant as a person of interest in the case.Sometime around 10am this morning, Nicholson was arrested after turning himself in to Neosho, Missouri, Police. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill making sweeping changes to Iowa’s firearms laws is headed to Gov. Terry Branstad for final approval. The Des Moines Register reports the bill would allow children to use handguns under adult supervision, enhance “stand your ground” laws, create a way for Iowans to sue cities or counties that enact gun-free zones, legalize short-barreled rifles and shotguns, allow permit-holders to carry handguns in the Capitol, and create confidentiality for permit-holders. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A second health insurance company is pulling out of the individual market in Iowa. KCCI-TV reports Aetna is the second major health insurer to announce this week that it will stop offering individual policies. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield made the move Monday. Medica and Gundersen are currently left on the individual market in Iowa. They have until June to decide if they will continue. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A new and unusual emergency response team is being trained in Iowa City, according to KGAN-TV. Lisa Bragg with the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center says that animals suffer in the face of natural disasters like humans do, and may become injured, scared, displaced, or lost. This Saturday more than 60 volunteers have signed up to receive training to establish the group. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A massive walleye has been caught at Big Creek Lake north of Des Moines. It weighs 12 pounds and is 28 inches long. The walleye was caught by scientists who are doing research on the effectiveness of a fish barrier on the Big Creek Lake spillway, and how it’s working at keeping walleye and muskie in the lake. Don’t worry – the big guy was released.