Author: Iowa Radio News

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames police are asking for the public’s help to identify a driver involved in a fatal pedestrian crash Monday near the Iowa State campus. KCCI-TV reports a memorial has appeared at the scene where 18-year-old EmmaLee Jacobs of Urbana was hit. She died from injuries sustained in the crash. Authorities say it was dark and raining when she was hit, but that’s not an excuse to leave the scene of an accident.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa’s president has apologized to one offended employee for saying publicly that instructors who aren’t ready to teach their classes should be shot. KWWL-TV reports Bruce Harreld has apologized, saying it was “an unfortunate off-the-cuff remark.” He says he didn’t mean to offend anyone or imply that he supports gun violence.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for fatally stabbing his younger brother. The Des Moines Register reports that 34-year-old Frank Turner pled guilty to charges of attempted murder and going armed with intent for killing 29-year-old Tad Foster in February. The brothers’ brawl broke out when Foster tried to break up a fight between their mother and Turner, who had been drinking.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A man had to be rescued from the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge early Tuesday morning after police say he went into the water to get away from them. WHO-TV reports police were called to a bridge just after midnight on a report of a man walking in traffic. When they arrived they found 38-year-old Harry Carvalho III and began talking with him, when he ran and jumped into the river. The Fire Department arrived on scene and rescued him.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Two Newton women are facing child endangerment charges after police say four children in their care tested positive for methamphetamine. WHO-TV reports 29-year-old Cristy Clark and 28-year-old Somer Speer were charged. The children were two, four, six, and nine years old.

DES MOINES (IRN) – A former legislative clerk has pled guilty to a white powder hoax on the floor of the Iowa Legislature. 28-year-old Michael Dekota McRae pled guilty to conveying false information concerning a biological weapon. McRae, a former legislative clerk, wrote a threatening letter addressed to Representative Abdul-Samad. The letter contained racial slurs and threats to kill both McRae and the legislator. McRae inserted the letter, along with a white powdery substance, into an envelope which he opened during a session of the legislature.

DAVIS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation officials are assisting the Davis County Sheriff’s office with a death investigation. On Sunday, the sheriff’s office was called to do a welfare check on an individual in rural Davis County. Deputies found a man dead inside the home. An autopsy is planned.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Heavy rainfall throughout much of the state has overloaded many wastewater treatment systems in Iowa, causing wastewater discharges. The DNR reports
although heavy rains have diluted the wastewater, people should keep children and pets away from runoff.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A car chase with a wanted man in Davenport broke out after officers spotted him behind the wheel of a minivan. WQAD-TV reports the chase went on for several minutes and ended in a collision with another vehicle. 32-year-old Darryl Bernard Shears was wanted on a variety of charges, including intimidation with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, going armed with intent, domestic abuse assault with a weapon, and eluding. He now faces additional drug charges and nearly 20 traffic charges.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Falls man was jailed Saturday morning following an incident in which a Cedar Falls police officer and two others were assaulted at a Hy-Vee. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports 33-year-old Michael Paul Myers faces charges of second-degree robbery and assault causing bodily injury. As a responding officer was attempting to exit his patrol vehicle, Myers rushed the officer and assaulted him. Myers was then subdued with a Taser.

AMES, IA (IRN) – One person is dead in a hit and run in Ames. KCCI-TV reports an unidentified woman has died in a car vs. pedestrian crash. An Ames police officer saw the female lying in the street and then called paramedics. She was rushed to the hospital where she later died from her injuries. No witnesses have come forward.

HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – Hampton police say a man killed his girlfriend Sunday. WHO-TV reports sixty-year-old Ronald Rand is charged with first degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Michelle Key of Waterloo. Police say Franklin County Dispatch received a call Sunday night about a possible suicidal subject. When they arrived they found Key dead from a gunshot wound. Rand is in jail.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Police are trying to locate a man who allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots inside a bar in Fort Dodge early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports Fort Dodge police responded to reports of a fight and gunshots at the Dodger Tap. Police are looking for 23-year-old Jordan Foy, and consider him armed and dangerous. No one was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Leaders from nearly 200 countries have adopted the first global pact to fight climate change. The Paris Agreement calls on countries to collectively cut and then eliminate greenhouse gas pollution. KCCI-TV reports Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie was one of 650 leaders from around the globe who represented local government in the historic agreement. Cownie says the agreement is a good start, but much work remains to be done.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Jolly Holiday Lights, the popular 3 1/2-mile ride through light displays at Water Works Park in Des Moines, is closed for the season due to power issues and flooding. The seasonal attraction is a benefit for Make-A-Wish Iowa, which receives 100% of admission fees.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Today Iowa Governor Terry Branstad becomes the nation’s longest serving governor in history, having served 7,642 days in office. He surpassed former New York Governor George Clinton who started serving New York in 1777. Governor Branstad served from 1983 to 1999, then again from 2010 until today. When elected in 1982, Branstad was also the youngest chief executive ever when he was elected at the age of 35.

UNION COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A second body was found in Union County Saturday, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. KCCI-TV reports the remains of an unidentified person were found near a house in Thayer. Previously, 37-year-old Loretta Dillinger was found dead in a pond near Lorimor. Her ex brother-in-law, 37-year-old Jerry Dillinger was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Casey’s General Stores confirmed on Saturday that credit card skimming devices were discovered at six locations in Nebraska and one in Davenport.  WHO-TV reports after the first one was found, Casey`s launched a company-wide examination of all fuel pumps at approximately 1,900 stores across 14 states. This led to the discovery of additional devices.

WARREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A district judge has threatened to close the Warren County courthouse due to multiple health and safety issues. According to WOI-TV Chief Judge Arthur Gamble sent a four page letter to the Warren County Board of Supervisors on December 2nd, detailing multiple issues with the courthouse. He says it’s “neglected” and smells of “nauseating sewer gas,” among many other issues.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Sarah Pieterek visited Clarke University in Dubuque to discuss her wish to go to Walt Disney World, granted by the Make a Wish foundation. Little did she know that she would have two wishes granted. KCRG-TV reports when the 14-year-old leukemia patient entered the Walhert Atrium, “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson began playing as about 100 people flooded the room to begin dancing around her. Her wish? A flash mob. She’s going to Disney World too.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man wanted for a home invasion homicide in Kansas might have ties to Iowa, U.S. Marshals warned Friday. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports 20-year-old Bryan Bridges is wanted for first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. Bridges and others allegedly broke into a home in Kansas and shot and killed someone in the home when he surprised the suspects.

THAYER, IA (IRN) – Iowa DCI agents and Union County deputies were at two homes Friday in Thayer as part of the investigation into the death of Loretta Dillinger. KCCI-TV reports 37-year-old Dillinger was found dead in a pond near Lorimor on Monday. The man who found her body was bow hunting when he saw what he thought was a cow or a deer in the water. When he got closer, he saw human feet and legs.

SHELDON, IA (IRN) – Following what administrators are calling a “non-specific threat,” Sheldon High School in northwest Iowa will have additional security in place on Monday. KIWA Radio reports high school students won’t be allowed to bring backpacks to school, and there will be a police presence in the school that day. While school officials are confident the threat is a hoax, they say they take the responsibility of keeping their students safe very seriously.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Clients and staff at the Central Iowa Shelter in Des Moines were shocked when they learned more about their new director, 46-year-old Mark Hanrahan, according to WHO-TV. Hanrahan, once a high-level executive at Principal Financial, was charged with felony kidnapping in January. Hanrahan held a man at gunpoint and tried forcing him to buy crack cocaine. Hanrahan obtained a plea deal, and received two years probation. Board members say he’s doing a great job, and the shelter is a place for second chances.

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – Charles City Middle School has a new staff member–a therapy bunny named Comet. KIMT-TV reports school counselor Heather Wilson came up with the idea.  Wilson says it’s amazing to see how the bunny is helping kids already, and that “Comet doesn’t care what you look like or who you are. It’s just an unconditional acceptance for some of our kids who don’t always fit in.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines mother has been charged with child endangerment after leaving three infants alone in a car in a Walmart parking lot Thursday, according to KCCI-TV. An off-duty police officer still in uniform was told by several customers about a vehicle in the parking lot with three infants left alone in the back seat.  An officer who approached the car reported one of the children was crying. 24-year-old Briana Webb was charged in the case.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa is renaming a longstanding program due to recent complaints. KWWL-TV reports the Iowa Student Information System is more commonly known as ISIS, the same as the terrorist group. The university says it’s only received a handful of direct complaints but takes those complaints seriously. The university has not yet decided on a new name.

OGDEN, IA (IRN) – An Ogden man was killed in a crash on Highway 30 Thursday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a semi driven by 38-year-old Jeffrey Gray of Story City was eastbound on Highway 30 when an SUV driven by 79-year-old Thomas Myers of Ogden pulled out in front of the semi and was hit.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Two University of Iowa students are accused of going on a shopping spree with a stolen credit card. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the victim reported that her wallet was taken while she was on a bus. Surveillance video and credit card records show 19-year-old Frensua Hooker and 18-year-old Danyelle Patton made numerous purchases with a credit card stolen from the victim’s wallet, including food, clothing and a bus ticket.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A woman was arrested after a 23-month-long investigation in connection to the death of a 3-year-old Ottumwa child. WHO-TV reports 31-year-old Kashenna Nichole Tucker was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder. Police say Tucker was the guardian of 3-year-old Wysdom Evans when he suspiciously died in 2014. Tucker was arrested in Utah by the Utah State Bureau of Investigation.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The families of two men who were hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver four weeks ago are enraged to learn the suspect is out of jail Thursday night. KCCI-TV reports the crash killed lifelong best friends Randy Sonnenburg and Rick Hummell. The men’s families are angry they won’t be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones, while the alleged drunk driver will. The driver of the car, 53-year-old Deanna Gliem, posted bond and was released Thursday.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A real-life Grinch was caught on camera stealing Christmas decorations from a Davenport family. WQAD-TV reports the family put up a row of lighted candy canes in front of their home on Tuesday, and they disappeared later that night. Surveillance video shows a car pull up in front of the home, then someone gets out of the vehicle and looks around, before walking up toward the house, and stealing the decorations.

AMES, IA (IRN) – It was a game for the ages when Monte Morris scored with nine seconds left and fourth-ranked Iowa State rallied from a 20-point deficit to stun Iowa 83-82 on Thursday night. Morris and Jameel McKay each had 20 points for the 8-0 Cyclones, who scored the game’s final nine points to remain unbeaten. Iowa is now 7-3, and has lost seven straight games in Ames.