Category: State News

DES MOINES (IRN) A missing 14-year-old Des Moines girl was found safe in Indiana Wednesday night. The Des Moines Register reports Nina Williams was located after an Amber Alert was issued. Williams was found with her mother, who does not have custody.

ANKENY (IRN) – Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest in connection to a dependent adult case that resulted in the death of an individual. Ray Crammond of Ankeny has been identified as the victim, who died in APril. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified Diana Lynn Becker-Abeyta (61) of Ankeny as the “live-in caretaker.” On October 18th, detectives filed a warrant for Becker-Abeyta for the charge of Murder in the 2nd degree. An autopsy ruled Crammond’s death as a homicide.

IOWA (IRN) – A major cooldown is on the horizon state wide ahead of trick-or-treat events in area communities. The National Weather Service encourages an extra layer for ghosts and ghouls as a major cold front is expected to drop temperatures well below average, with evening temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s starting Saturday and continuing through Wednesday.

FORT DODGE (IRN) – A teenager was charged in connection to a large apartment fire in Fort Dodge on Sunday. WHO-13 reports firefighters arrived on scene and discovered the entire back half of the apartment complex fully engulfed in flames. No injuries occurred. According to the Fort Dodge Police Department, a 13-year-old male has been arrested and charged with reckless use of fire.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds welcomed the president of Kosovo to the Iowa Statehouse Tuesday. Vjosa Osmani thanked Iowans for their commitment to the European nation since 2011, according to KCCI. Seven hundred National Guard members have been stationed in Kosovo for nearly two decades.

DES MOINES (IRN) – A trial has started with a man charged in a deadly street racing crash in Des Moines. WHO-13 reports opening statements were made Tuesday as Keith Jones stands trial for a crash that led to the death of four year old Marcos Faguada. Robert Miller III was found guilty of vehicular homicide, and received a three-decade prison term in August.

IOWA CITY (IRN) – In perhaps the least surprising news in women’s basketball nationally, a megastar with the Iowa Hawkeyes has been tabbed as a preseason elite pick for another standout season. Caitlin Clark was named a unanimous preseason All-American honoree to kick off the 2023-24 season. Clark has also been tabbed as the Big 10 preseason player of the year, after she was tabbed and swept every National Player of the Year award earlier this year.

IONIA (IRN) – A firefighter was killed during a response to an emergency in Chickasaw County Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol reports Tony Hoffman 17 year member of the Ionia Fire Department, died when he rear ended a fire truck while assisting in response to a field fire. Hoffman was driving a modified UTV when both vehicles attempted to pass a tractor at the same time.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the signing of a disaster proclamation for Pocahontas County effective immediately through November 22nd, as the USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock there. This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites. The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products, according to the Governor’s office.

DES MOINES (IRN) – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office of Drug Control Policy encourages Iowans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and unneeded medications. Local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies are teaming up to collect leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as part of this special one-day event held each spring and fall. The spring collection, held in April, netted over 3,800 pounds of old medicine from Iowans. To date, Iowans have safely disposed of over 98 tons of unused medications at these events.

BETTENDORF (IRN) – An Iowa woman who falsely faked a cancer diagnosis and received benefits on social media will stay out of prison. The Associated Press reports Madison Russo never had pancreatic cancer or leukemia as claimed in postings online. But over 400 people sent her donations. As part of a 10-year suspended sentence handed down Friday, she was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution and a $1,370 fine, with three years of probation. The Bettendorf woman pled guilty in June to first-degree theft.

POLK COUNTY (IRN) – A Pleasant Hill woman was killed in a collision on Interstate 80 Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Kia Optima driven by William Owen Barnhart rear-ended a tractor trailer near Mile Marker 133, flipped, and came to a rest in the center lane. The passenger in the Kia, 40-year-old Kimberly Louise Barnhardt, died as a result of injuries. The semi driver was uninjured.

DICKINSON COUNTY (IRN) – A hunting accident this at the Spring Run Wildlife Management Area Saturday has left one person serious injured. KIWA Radio reports that the Iowa DNR says the victim sustained a gunshot wound while waterfowl hunting with friends. The individual was airlifted an area hospital.

OMAHA (IRN) – Navigator CO2 has announced they are cancelling their carbon dioxide pipeline. WHO-13 reports the Texas-based company announced Friday they were stopping their proposal due to uncertainty in the regulatory process in several states. This comes as several states have halted the progress of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. The Iowa Utilities Board is reviewing their proposal. Both pipelines would have spanned multiple states.

URBANDALE (IRN) – An Iowa community is sorting out how to fight back against an increase of the coyote population. The Des Moines Register reports Urbandale is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on a coyote management plan. The city intends to have annual reports on encounters between the wildlife and humans. The city is working on ways to reduce the population in a humane manner while also protecting residents.

KANSAS CITY (IRN) – An NFL star making headlines for his Super Bowl title defense and love life with megastar Taylor Swift sported a bit of Iowa attire this week. KCCI-TV reports Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce wore the head of Cy the Cardinal, the mascot for Iowa State, after his alma mater Cincinnati lost to the Cyclones last weekend. Kelce says he made the wager with Chiefs administrator Brad Gee, and Iowa State graduate.