Author: Iowa Radio News

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Marshals Service continues to search for a fugitive after one of its agents fired a weapon during an investigation. KCRG-TV reports members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force were searching for a suspect in Waterloo on Wednesday. Officers were taking part in a traffic stop connected to that search around 10 a.m. when the task force officer fired. The suspect got away.

CUBA (IRN) – A man from Muscatine was caught by Cuban border guards after he allegedly stole a boat and took it to Cuba in an apparent attempt to run from federal charges in the U.S. WQAD-TV reports 38-year-old Shawn Michael Wegmann Luskey was accused of stealing a 13-foot Boston Whaler from a marina in the Florida Keys.  

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who went on a shooting spree in Pleasant Hill last year was sentenced Wednesday morning. WOI-TV reports Pete Polson was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being found guilty of one count of attempted murder, one count of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and several other related charges. During his trial, Polson said he was heavily intoxicated at the time and didn’t remember much from the shootings.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Vandals struck the Webster County Courthouse early Tuesday morning. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports a vandal or vandals sprayed fire extinguishers early Tuesday morning throughout the third and fourth floors. A fine dust from the extinguishers covered surfaces throughout the building. The dust must be removed from all office computers, lest they suck in damaging material. The courthouse has no security system.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Roosevelt High School girls basketball coach is facing criminal charges, according to KCCI-TV. Coach Gerald “Tig” Johnson has been charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee and assault. He turned himself in to police Tuesday. Johnson had been coach until 2009, when he resigned to take a job at AIB. The girls team made five trips to the state championships, winning a state title in 2006. Johnson returned to lead the Rough Riders this year.

OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – A large canine was shot in Osceola County by a coyote hunter on Sunday. The DNR says it resembles a wolf, and DNA testing is underway. Testing is necessary because many wolf characteristics are similar to domestic dogs. The hunter shot the animal from 100-150 yards away as the it was lying down. When the hunter realized it was not a coyote, a conservation officer was called.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Caucusing as an absent Iowan will be easier than ever for Democrats this election cycle. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Democratic Party announced the first ever Tele-Caucus initiative. It will allow deployed service members and other Iowans living abroad to participate in the first-in-the-nation event.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Rose Bowl celebration is underway in Iowa City, according to WHO-TV. On Tuesday, the Iowa City Hy-Vee delivered 4,300 roses to the athletic department. The roses were a gift from the community to celebrate the Hawkeye’s season. Tickets to the game went on sale Tuesday, and by 2 p.m., there were nearly 40,000 ticket requests for the 22,000 tickets allotted to the Hawkeyes. The university will announce who gets tickets on Monday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Pleasant Hill day care provider was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for abusing kids in her care. KCCI-TV reports Christina Williamson reached a plea deal in the case involving abuse caught on tape in her home. The video was taken by her own husband.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids teenager pled guilty to lesser charges in connection with the shooting death of another teen. KCRG-TV reports 14-year-old Robert Humbles admitted in court he shot and killed 15-year-old Aaron Richardson in September. Police said the shooting happened when two rival groups met in a park.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – An unattended pan of frying chicken ignited and caused a fire that forced the evacuation of a Sioux City apartment complex Monday night, according to the Sioux City Journal.  All 20 residents were safely evacuated, but none were allowed to return to their apartments until further notice. They were given temporary housing through the Red Cross.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A $5 million renovation will close Des Moines City Hall in spring and a temporary home will be established a few blocks away. KCCI-TV reports after more than a century, the building is receiving an update. Crews will install a new heating and air conditioning system and a new sprinkler system. The building will be closed until 2018.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A bomb threat was made in Newton Monday as authorities were conducting a federal search warrant targeting drugs. The Newton Daily News reports residents of a neighborhood were evacuated and an explosive device was found during the search. Newton police arrested 44-year-old David Kelso and 35-year-old Jennifer Kelso. Charges are pending.

GILBERTVILLE, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a body found in an Eastern Iowa river, according to KWWL-TV. The body was found in the Cedar River near Gilbertville on Sunday morning by a man checking his otter traps. The man said he wasn’t sure at first if it was a body or a mannequin in the river.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Fort Dodge police say they have arrested a man who was wanted for attempted murder following a November shooting. WHO-TV reports Torre Ashton Mosley was taken into custody Monday. Moseley allegedly shot 25-year-old Damal Clayton multiple times in the parking lot of Sneakers Eatery and Pub. He’s now in jail.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A 57-year-old woman and her 17-year-old grandson were arrested after a coupon dispute at a Family Dollar store in Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports officers were called to the store after the woman became upset she couldn’t use a coupon for pop. Police were in the process of arresting her for disorderly conduct when her grandson intervened. He fought with two officers and was arrested as well.

UNION COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting the Union County Sheriff’s Office with a suspicious death. On Wednesday a hunter found the decomposed body of a female in her 30’s in a farm pond in Union County. The cause and manner of death are not being released at this time.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating the shooting of a woman at Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs Saturday. The Daily Nonpareil reports the woman went for a walk and was resting on a bench when an armed woman approached. The woman ordered her to get on the ground, made a vulgar comment, and then shot her in her thigh. The wounded woman says her assailant then ran off.

SWALEDALE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have release the names of two Minnesota women who were killed in a collision with a semitrailer on Interstate 35 in northern Iowa near Swalesdale. The Iowa State Patrol says the two women were southbound when their car veered across the median and hit a northbound semi. The truck entered the median and rolled onto one of its sides. The driver wasn’t injured.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Two hunters were injured by gunshot wounds in separate incidents while deer hunting Sunday. 47-year-old Walter Freeman of Winfield was struck in the abdomen by a deer slug fired by another member of his hunting party. He underwent surgery for internal injuries. 28-year-old Travis Myers of Dundee was struck by a deer slug in the shoulder by a shot fired from another member of his hunting party. Both incidents occurred when shots were being taken at moving deer.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have identified the man killed during a home invasion in Des Moines this weekend. KCCI-TV reports 31-year-old Travis Alan Williams of Earlham died Saturday after an altercation with two people who lived at the home. Investigators believe Williams broke into the home before the confrontation. An autopsy will be performed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating a shooting at Kirkwood Court Apartments on the southwest side. KCRG-TV reports police responded to calls of multiple shots being fired at an apartment building Sunday. Authorities found a man with a gunshot wound and took him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say they have not made an arrest.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines motel was engulfed in flames Saturday morning. WOI-TV reports fire crews were called out to the Cozy Rest for a fire in one of the rooms. Officials say the fire was likely caused by an unattended cigarette. There are no reports of any injuries, and the fire has been ruled an accident.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Hawkeyes received a great consolation prize on Sunday after being narrowly defeated by Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game. WHO-TV reports Iowa has accepted an invitation to play in the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. The No. 5 Hawkeyes will face Pac-12 Champion, No. 6 Stanford on Friday, January 1.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (IRN) – Number 4 Iowa lost to Number 5 Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game at Indianapolis Saturday. Iowa held a lead late into the fourth quarter, when Michigan State was able to score with 27 seconds left to play. The final score was 16-13 Michigan State.

ALTA, IA (IRN) – An Alta man was arrested after a month long investigation into a report of suspected child abuse. KTIV-TV reports 30-year-old Andrew Russell was charged with child endangerment. The investigation began after a report was made to the Department of Human Services by a mandatory reporter, alleging that a 6-year-old boy was being physically abused. Russell was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man has been arrested after leading police on a chase before crashing his car in the yard of a home. KWWL-TV reports 24-year-old James A. Brown is facing charges of eluding, not having a valid driver’s license, reckless driving, and careless driving. While attempting to elude police, Brown tried to negotiate a curve at a high speed and rolled the car into the yard causing the car to stop upside down.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – While the Hawkeye football team lost on Saturday, you wouldn’t know it from Senator Joni Ernst’s twitter account. The Des Moines Register reports the Senator erroneously tweeted a congratulatory post to the University of Iowa football team on their big victory. Ernst blamed a staffer for the error.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police in Des Moines are conducting a homicide investigation after discovering a man’s body inside a home after a report of an altercation on the southeast side. WHO-TV reports officers arrived on scene and found the body of an adult male inside the residence. Another resident was transported to the hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. This is the 20th homicide of the year in Des Moines.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested in connection with a double shooting that killed one person and injured another in downtown Des Moines’ popular Court Avenue District last weekend. WHO-TV reports 24-year-old Dresean Maurice Barber of Des Moines has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls police have arrested a man accused of sexual assaulting an eight-year-old at an AMVETS post.  KWWL-TV reports police say 72-year-old Ronald Nielsen took the child into a closet at the post. The incident ended after the victim’s father walked in. Nielsen is charged with second degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames ranked No. 1 and Iowa City ranked No. 3 in a new national list of the best college towns in the USA for 2016. KCCI-TV reports the American Institute for Economic Research rated the top 75 college towns. The rankings were based on cost of rent, city accessibility, arts and entertainment, culture, bars and restaurants, diversity and cost of living.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (IRN) – It’s one of the biggest days in Iowa football history. Big Ten Coach of the Year Kirk Ferentz leads the record setting 12-0 Hawkeyes to Indianapolis to take on Michigan State today. A trip to the College Football Playoff is on the line as Big Ten West Division winner, No. 4 Iowa will face Big Ten East Division winner, No. 5 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game tonight. Kickoff is at 7:17 PM.