Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The director of a Des Moines-based non-profit faces allegations of using money from donations and grants for herself over seven years, according to a report by the State Auditor’s Office. The Des Moines Register reports Jodi Spargur-Tate is formerly a leader at Children and Families of Iowa, and is accused of improperly spending more than $400,000 from the organization from 2015 to 2022. Most of those funds allegedly came from the U.S. Department of Labor, and they were used on clothes, auto repairs, bills, and her son’s rent.

DES MOINES – The Iowa House of Representatives voted to pass a five-year ban on new casino licenses in the state. KTIV reports that lawmakers are moving quickly ahead of casino licensing meeting next week scheduled with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, who is considering approval of the Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids. Both the Iowa Senate Local Government Subcommittee and Committee also approved the text Thursday, meaning the full chamber can consider it next week. Opponents have argued a new casino in Cedar Rapids would take revenue from other nearby facilities, while supporters claim the state would gain millions more in revenue.

IOWA CITY – Following a ceremony this weekend to retire her jersey number, and Iowa basketball icon is set to return to play at Carver Hawkeye Arena this year. KCRG-TV reports the Indiana Fever will play a preseason game against the Brazilian National Team in Iowa City on May 4th — meaning Caitlin Clark will return home to compete. The University of Iowa is handling tickets for the event. Clark, a two-time unanimous NCAA National Player of the Year, is having her #22 retired this Sunday.

DES MOINES – A federal court preliminarily approved a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit brought against the Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that children with mental health disabilities receive legally required and medically necessary care services. It Iowa HHS to develop and roll out a set of key services statewide, including care coordination, in-home mental health services, and mobile crisis services. It also requires a new screening and assessment process, to ensure children with mental health disabilities are screened for appropriate services.

IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that tenants in the state no longer need to adhere to a Federal CARES Act mandate that had landlords provide 30 days notice before evictions. The Des Moines Register reports the state will be the first in the nation to break away from the requirement passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to prevent mass homelessness with several different parts of the law, but the 30-day eviction notice standard did not have a specific end date. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that it was meant to expire.

DES MOINES – After twenty-two years of leadership, Rob Denson announced that he will retire as President and CEO of Des Moines Area Community College at the end of this year. Denson has served in that role since 2003 and helped DMACC form partnerships with the Transportation Security Administration, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, and Google. The DMACC Board of Trustees will hire a consultant and conduct a national search for Denson’s successor.

DEWITT – Democrats have flipped an Iowa Senate Seat in eastern Iowa following a special election on Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports Democrat Mike Zimmer defeated Republican Kate Whittington in District 35. The seat opened up following the appointment of Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer. Zimmer worked in public education and as a the Central DeWitt School Board President. He will serve in the set for the next two legislative sessions.

IOWA – Non-profit groups around the state are struggling to determine the impact of a federal funding freeze issued by President Donald Trump. KCCI-TV reports a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget implied the halt on grants would allow for a review of how that money was being spent. A federal judge blocked the order, but several non-profits in central Iowa that rely on federal funding did not have access to those resources on Tuesday.

IOWA – Multiple record temperatures were broken on Tuesday for warmth. The National Weather Service says highs in Mason City and Waterloo jumped into the mid-50s, the warmest on record for January 28th in both locations. Above average temperatures will continue for most of the week, until a possible winter storm system impacts the southern portions of the state late Thursday into Friday, although much of it is expected to fall as rain early.

STORM LAKE – A man was shot and killed by police following a standoff that went early into the morning hours on Monday. During a Sunday morning traffic stop, police claim the driver, Daniel Joseph James Palenik, was uncooperative, made threats towards law enforcement, and fled at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement located Palenik at his Storm Lake residence a short time later, where he subsequently barricaded himself inside. He allegedly fired at officers several times, striking vehicles and law enforcement equipment. Shortly before 3:00 Monday morning, Palenik again shot at law enforcement. Officers returned fire, striking Palenik, who died at the scene.

OTTUMWA – An Illinois man and former U.S. servicemember was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for enticement and attempted enticement of an Iowa-based minor. According to public court documents, in 2020, Anthony Alan Anderson, while serving in the United States Air Force, was convicted via general court martial of two counts of attempting to commit a lewd act with a person he believed to be a child. In 2023, Anderson, while registered as a sex offender, communicated with a 14-year-old child from Ottumwa. Anderson convinced the child to produce and send him explicit images. In September 2023, Anderson traveled to Ottumwa, where he picked the child up from her residence and took her to a hotel, where they engaged in sex and recording the incident.

ODEBOLT – A former Iowa High School and University of Iowa Standout is playing for a Super Bowl championship. OABCIG and Hawkeye Football Graduate Cooper DeJean is a starting defensive back with the Philadelphia Eagles in their quest to stop a Kansas City Chiefs threepeat. DeJean was a unanimous consensus All-American in 2023 for the Iowa Hawkeyes and an Elite All-State Football Player and two-time state champion for his hometown Falcons. Cooper has racked up 66 tackles and three fumble recoveries between the regular season and playoffs for the Eagles.

STORM LAKE – A man was shot and killed by police following a standoff that went early into the morning hours earlier today. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested in relation to the incident that started with a pursuit Sunday morning. During the traffic stop, police claim the driver, Daniel Joseph James Palenik, 45, was uncooperative, made threats towards law enforcement, and fled from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement located Palenik at his Storm Lake residence a short time later and subsequently barricaded himself inside. He allegedly fired at officers several times, striking both occupied vehicles and law enforcement equipment. Shortly before 3:00 a.m., Palenik again fired at law enforcement. Officers returned fire, striking Palenik, who died at the scene.

CEDAR FALLS – A Cedar Falls doctor has agreed to surrender his license following accusations of misconduct. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports 59-year-old Ted Bonebrake received a fourth sanction rom the Iowa Board of Medicine, which issued an emergency order to suspend his ability to practice medicine. While working at UnityPoint in Cedar Falls, Bonebrake was given several warnings replaced to incomplete medical charts. In the 2000s, he was accused of several substance abuse issues that led to a permanent probation following reinstatement of the medical license in 2013.

ORANGE CITY – The annual RAGBRAI route has been announced and will be focused on northern Iowa this summer. The stops this year for the 52nd annual bike ride across the state starts in Orange City, continues through Milford, Estherville, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls, Oelwein, and ends in Guttenberg. This is the second shortest route in RAGBRAI history and sixth-flattest ever. The event will be held July 19th through the 26th.