Author: Iowa Radio News

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A fire forced some residents of an apartment building in Cedar Rapids out of their homes Friday night. KCRG-TV reports firefighters found a fire in a ground floor apartment, with smoke throughout the building. Firefighters say at least one person climbed out a second-floor window onto a car to escape the fire. No one was injured.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has new charges in an ongoing lottery investigation. Eddie Tipton, previously convicted of rigging the Iowa Lottery in an attempt to win $14.3 million, is now charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony. The new charges are related to lottery sales in Colorado and Wisconsin. Tipton was charged Friday with tampering with the lottery so his brother and his friend could win prizes too.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – An explosion happened inside a building operated by Hunt Cleaners in Newton Friday night. WHO-TV reports firefighters with the Baxter and Newton Fire Departments were on hand to assist with the fire. Four people were inside the building, but no one was hurt.

LE MARS, IA (IRN) – A former Remsen-Union Community School teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student has pled not guilty. KGAN-TV reports 24-year-old Samantha Kohls, of Cedar Falls, entered a written plea Thursday in Plymouth County District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Authorities say Kohls had sex with a 17-year-old male student while she was a teacher at the school.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Trumpeter swan wounded last weekend at Princeton Wildlife Area has been captured and will soon be on its way to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. The swan was captured Friday by DNR conservation officers and biologists with assistance from employees of the Clinton County Conservation Board. Levi Young, 25, of Davenport, and Kyle Munson, 25, of Eldridge, allegedly shot two swans while waterfowl hunting, killing one and injuring the other. Both face multiple charges.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man has pled guilty to injecting an unconscious woman with heroin, causing her to overdose. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa says 37-year-old Richard Roberts pled guilty on Wednesday in federal court to distribution of heroin. Roberts faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – A North Liberty man who police say told them about a meth lab in his camper was arrested this week on felony drug charges. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports police were looking for Michael Joseph Vogel, 22, regarding a credit card theft case while he was camping near Coralville.  As Vogel was being taken into custody he told police there was a methamphetamine lab inside the camper. He faces numerous charges.

IDA GROVE, IA (IRN) – An Ida County District Court jury has found a Sioux City man guilty of robbing a Holstein bank last year. The Sioux City Journal reports jurors found Michael Dutcher, 22, guilty of first-degree robbery. In 2014, Dutcher walked into United Bank of Iowa in Holstein with a loaded revolver and demanded money from a teller. He left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

DES MOINES (IRN) – A judge says he’ll decide within 30 days whether Gov. Terry Branstad violated the law by using a line-item veto to close two state mental health hospitals. The Des Moines Register reports a bipartisan plan that Branstad vetoed this summer would have reversed his closing of one mental health institution and temporarily kept open another. Both sides of the case were argued in court Thursday.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A 7-year-old Boone child was killed Wednesday in a car vs. pedestrian crash, according to KCCI-TV. Connor Joseph Ribgy, 20, of Madrid, was driving his car when he hit Taron Coty, 7, of Boone. Coty died from injuries sustained in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A disgraced former Des Moines police officer is now facing criminal charges — accused of stealing from other cops. WHO-TV reports that Tarry Pote resigned in January after he was caught peeping on a female officer showering in the police gym. Now investigators say Pote was stealing from the gym, which is run by police officers, for some time. It’s estimated that Pote stole tens of thousands of dollars from other officers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – At least twelve flights scheduled to arrive in Des Moines last night were canceled, delayed or diverted because the lights went out on the airport runway. Multiple news sources report the problem was traced to a lightning strike last week that likely weakened a wire that failed. The lights went out around 8:00 pm. Flights resumed about midnight.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – It was a special surprise for a big Taylor Swift fan at ChildServe in Johnston, according to WOI-TV. Thanks to an anonymous donor, a young lady named Katie got free tickets to the concert, and she was thrilled. Katie has Williams Syndrome and has had to overcome many health obstacles. She also loves music, and was overjoyed to be going to the hottest show in town. Childserve serves local children with health care needs.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County deputies arrested a driver after a short vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash in Des Moines Wednesday.  A Polk County deputy initiated a traffic stop on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The driver of the Jeep refused to stop and began eluding deputies.  The vehicle then ran a stop sign where it struck a minivan and then a tree. The driver took off running on foot. 45-year-old Jeffrey Dishman of Des Moines faces multiple charges.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Firefighters and police investigators were called to a Des Moines home Wednesday night, according to KCCI-TV. A woman reported a truck in her backyard was on fire. The woman approached the truck and noticed a fifth of Captain Morgan stuck behind the vent window on driver’s side. She tried to remove it, but burned her hand. Firefighters arrived on scene and put out the fire.  They said the fire appeared to be intentionally set.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An auto shop owner in Waterloo has been sentenced to life in prison for the killing of a man last year. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Anthony Albert Tronca was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Ronald Randall. Tronca was found guilty of shooting Randall in the paint room of his auto shop in September 2014. Randall’s body was found days later in a rural area.

CHEROKEE, IA (IRN) – Iowa farmers may find out today whether they’re at risk for losing their land through eminent domain. WHO-TV reports a hearing in Cherokee will bring answers about the Bakken oil pipeline. The company Dakota Access wants to build the pipeline to pump oil through 18 Iowa counties, and eminent domain will likely be used to get the land. The hearing in the Cherokee County District Court will determine whether they can.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Fort Dodge police are investigating a homicide where a man was apparently shot and killed while he was driving down the road. WOI-TV reports witnesses thought they heard gunshots, and then saw that a car had skidded off a road into a yard. Dead is 30-year-old Wendell Clark. Police are unsure what lead to the incident, and are investigating.

NORTHWOOD, IA (IRN) – A dead body was found Tuesday in a vehicle in Northwood at the Top of Iowa Welcome Center. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the identity of the man is being withheld, and the cause of death is still under investigation. The Worth County Sheriff’s Office says foul play is not suspected.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The City of Dubuque is trying to fight crime with more lighting, according to KWWL-TV. Dubuque has seen more shots fired incidents this year than last, and has had five homicides so far this year, which is more than the past five years combined. In an effort to combat that uptick in crime, Dubuque’s City Council approved more than $500,000 for 96 new cameras and more than 200 new LED streetlights.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines police officer had some fun last weekend racing with kids. KCCI-TV reports Officer Aaron Cawthorn and his partner were joking with the kids at the Oakridge Apartments when Cawthorn’s partner bet them that Cawthorn, stocky at 5 feet 9 inches tall and 225 pounds, was faster than they were. The children learned the officer is surprisingly fast. A video of the kids racing Cawthorn–a two time all state running back at Roosevelt High School — was posted to YouTube and has been viewed nearly 10,000 times.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police arrested three men minutes after an armed robbery was reported early Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports minutes after workers at the convenience store reported the robbery, two officers in the area spotted an SUV accelerating at a high rate of speed and they followed. Police reported seeing “fear and confusion in the face of both the driver and the front seat passenger,” and the vehicle was pulled over and three men arrested.

THE MIDWEST (IRN) – Gas prices in Iowa and other Midwestern states could spike as much as 30 cents in the next week according to GasBuddy.com. The increase is due to a larger than typical slate of maintenance work at refineries around the Midwest.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The wife of a couple hit by a car late last month near Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City has died. KCRG-TV reports that 49-year-old Peggy Knight, of Iowa City, died Sunday at a hospital, five days after she and her husband were hit while crossing a street near the stadium. The 45-year-old driver of the car might have suffered a medical condition, causing her to crash into the couple.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The former owner of Pipe Dreamz in Iowa City, which was shut down after a raid in 2014, pled guilty Monday in federal court to three counts of manufacturing and distributing illegal synthetic drugs. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports Robert Carl Sharp, 37, of Cedar Rapids, faces up to 20 years on each charge and a $3 million fine.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines 16-year-old is fighting for his life after a crash that one witness says likely could have been prevented. According to WHO-TV, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Dan Charleston witnessed a sedan t-boned by a pick-up in Des Moines. While helping rescue the unconscious teen driver, Charleston saw a cell phone with a text page open on the boy’s lap. There was a half written text on the phone.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Marshalltown father is facing several charges after he was arrested in Newton last month for drunk driving while his four children were in the car. KCCI-TV reports 40-year-old Juan Bonilla Barron is charged with OWI and four counts of child endangerment. The children in the car were ages 10, 9, 7 and 1.

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – Two former guards at the Anamosa State Penitentiary face federal charges while two others face state charges after an investigation into drug possession and cell phone smuggling.  KWWL-TV reports the various charges include possessing controlled substances and being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. One former guard faces one count of Hobbs Act extortion for taking money to smuggle cellphones into prison for prisoner use.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – CF Industries of Sioux City is working on a $2 billion expansion, and Woodbury County is seeing economic and financial benefits. County Supervisors are planning what to do with the windfall. Among proposals on the table are banking some of the money, using some for future economic development, and property tax relief for residents. CF Industries manufactures and distributes fertilizer.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo police are investigating the death of a dog who was shot outside its home Monday night, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. The shooting happened following an argument involving the dog’s owner and another person. The dog attempted to intervene in the argument, and the other person shot the dog more than once. The dog died at the scene, and the suspect left before police arrived.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa —Council Bluffs police have arrested an alleged unruly man who reportedly tried to run someone over, according to KETV. The incident happened early Tuesday morning when witnesses saw Michael Wurtz attempt to run over another man who says he was also assaulted by Wurtz. The victim tells police he was hit by Wurtz’s vehicle. Wurtz resisted arrest and officers deployed a Taser to help subdue him.

MADISON, WI (IRN) – The celebration over the Hawkeyes’ Saturday win against Wisconsin ended early for one fan. The Des Moines Register reports a 15-year-old boy wearing Hawkeye gear was punched in the face by a man. The attack was unprovoked and the suspect fled. The punch came after the boy, who lives in Madison but supports the Hawkeyes, said he was mildly teasing one of his friends about the Iowa win, and the suspect approached him and hit him in the face.

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – A sentencing hearing was held Tuesday morning for a former Webster City Schools wrestling coach convicted of assault. Ted Edward Larson, 51, pled guilty to charges of serious assault and second-degree criminal mischief. He was sentenced to one year in the Story County Jail for the assault charge. Larson assaulted a man who was in bed with his wife.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Dubuque are investigating the death of a man who was found in the rear of a home with gunshot wounds. KGAN-TV reports James Richardson, 21, of Freeport, Illinois, was found behind a home Sunday. Authorities say the victim and shooter knew each other. The death marks the fifth homicide in the city in 2015.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Neighbors are concerned after two violent incidents occurred at a Cedar Falls park. KWWL-TV reports the first was an assault including ten people, the second, an assault and robbery. In both cases, 18-year-old Lyric Mims was involved. In June she was arrested after she used a crowbar to attack three men. In September, she met a man she talked to online at the park at 3 am. After meeting her, a group of people came out of the bushes and beat and robbed the man.

GRINNELL, IA (IRN) – Eleven people had to go to the hospital after an ammonia leak at a Grinnell food company. WOI-TV reports it happened at PurFoods. Firefighters and hazmat teams from nearby and as far away as Waterloo were on scene to help victims. Crews went into the building to air it out and isolate the leak so it could be repaired. PurFoods makes and delivers special dietary meals.

AMES, IA (IRN) – One Iowa city has been ranked as one of the best cities in the nation to be single. A new study released by website Livability.com ranked Ames as number seven. Among the reasons? Residents are active, there is a high concentration of singles, they use online dating sites and apps at a higher rate than most Americans, and also spend more time dancing at clubs, playing pool, watching romantic movies and singing karaoke.