Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The former superintendent of the Des Moines Public School system serving federal prison time for immigration status charges used a fake Social Security card to get hired locally. The Des Moines Register detailed a memo filed by prosecutors in U.S. District Court, claiming Ian Roberts used the document to back up his claim of citizenship. Roberts pled guilty to federal charges and is serving time in prison before likely deportation.

HARRISON COUNTY – A juvenile was killed in a single vehicle crash in Harrison County on Thursday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford F-150 was traveling at a high rate of speed along the Tama Trail before striking an embankment. The 15-year-old was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

DES MOINES – Air travelers using the Des Moines International Airport will experience changes while traveling to the facility. KCCI-TV reports construction on a new terminal will impact vehicles making their way to the space starting today. Passenger and commercial curbs will be reduced to a single lane over the next few weeks.

DES MOINES – An Iowa native and former Masters champion won the Principal Charity Golf Classic in his first appearance at the event. WHO-13 reports Zach Johnson shot a 5-under 67 at Wakonda Club to earn the victory. Johnson is a Cedar Rapids native now competing on the PGA Champions Tour.

TAYLOR COUNTY – Authorities found a fisherman in a southern Iowa lake on Friday. WHO-13 reports the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in the afternoon for a person who had gone under the water at Wilson Lake near Lenox. Nearly 15 minutes after the call, first responders had removed the man from the water. Despite life saving efforts, the man died.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 11 Iowa counties on Friday for continuing severe weather. KCRG-TV reports the declaration allows for state assistance programs. Several rounds of severe weather have impacted the state this spring and summer, with multiple tornadoes, wind storms, rounds of hail, and flash flooding causing damage in Iowa communities.

IOWA – Six public beaches in Iowa are posted with swimming not recommended warnings. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have tested for high levels of E. Coli, finding those amounts at Backbone, Black Hawk, Clear Lake, Crandalls, Emerson Bay, and Lake Darling beaches.

OTTUMWA, Iowa – On Wednesday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called to an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Ottumwa. At approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the US Marshal Service (USMS) attempted to serve an arrest warrant on 31-year-old Michael Zurek. During the interaction, a US Marshal discharged his weapon, striking him, and Zurek died at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured. The USMS is cooperating with the investigation.

IOWA – Another round of severe thunderstorms pushed through the state on Thursday, bringing strong winds, flash flooding, and hail to many parts of the state. According to the National Weather Service, several southern Iowa communities reported damage as winds approached 80 MPH in a line of morning storms. The city of Corning reported extensive damage. Additional chances for storms impact mainly southern Iowa on Saturday afternoon and evening.

WASHINGTON D.C. – President Donald Trump told reporters he didn’t have enough information about Republican Randy Feenstra before making his endorsement in the contested Iowa Governors race. KCCI-TV reports Trump made the comments following a question on Thursday, and says Zach Lahn was more like him than Feenstra.

ADEL – A shooting incident left a 26-year-old dead and his father wounded in Adel. KCCI-TV reports 26-year-old David Ocasio has died in the incident. Members of the family spoke to the TV station this week, claiming he was suffering from depression. Ocasio may have shot Josh Bohrn in the incident.

DECATUR COUNTY – Multiple tornadoes touched down in southern Iowa on Wednesday night. According to the National Weather Service, emergency managers in both Decatur and Wayne Counties confirmed damage from tornadoes near Garden Grove. Several flash flood warnings were also issued as multiple rounds of storms impacted the region.

DES MOINES – Two weeks after receiving federal prison time, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools has been transferred to Illinois. WHO-13 reports Ian Roberts received two years for a guilty plea related to false statements made about his legal status in the country. Roberts will be turned over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement once his prison term ends.

ADEL – One person died and another was injured in a Monday shooting incident in Adel. WHO-13 reports police responded to a report of shots fired, and found two adults with gunshot wounds. One person was pronounced dead at the scene; the other was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

INDIANOLA – State Senator Julian Garrett has died following a battle with prostate cancer. KCCI-TV reports Garrett announced in March he would not seek election again as he was undergoing treatment. The retired attorney was elected to the Iowa House in 2010 before winning a special election for his current senate seat in 2013.

DES MIONES – A new Iowa law that passed the legislature unanimously aims to crack down on fraudulent businesses that use Iowan’s names and addresses to register. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House File 2678 sets new rules for organizations registering with the Iowa Secretary of State’s office. Secretary of State Paul Pate says the law allows his office to better address situations in which fake businesses choose a random individual or home address as their location in the state.