Category: State News

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two firms have been tasked with investigating the partial collapse of a six-story apartment building in Davenport that left three dead, many injured and dozens displaced. The report could start to answer questions about the May 28 partial collapse, including why residents remained in the 116-year-old brick, steel, and concrete building despite the many warnings over many months about its integrity.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A Marshalltown woman is recovering after she was attacked by a shark in the Bahamas. Heidi Ernst was attacked while scuba diving on June 7. Ernst was getting back on a boat when the shark attacked. She is an experienced scuba driver and just completed her 500th dive in May this year.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The State Board of Regents approved pay raises for two of the three state universities’ presidents and a 3.5 percent increase in tuition Wednesday.

GRETNA, NE (IRN) – Hy-Vee announced the opening of its largest store yet on Tuesday. The new 135,000-square-foot store, located in Gretna, Nebraska, features online grocery delivery and pickup service and a convenience store adjacent to the grocery store. It features all-digital shelf labels and digital kiosks where customers can order custom cakes and fresh foods.

AMES, IA (IRN) – As additional victims come forward, more charges have been filed against registered Ames nurse Carl Dale Markley, 44. Markley is now charged with four counts of pimping, four counts of prostitution, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of human trafficking. He faces up to 43 years in prison and $47,500 in fines if found guilty of all charges.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The owners of a West Des Moines grocery store say a group of customers that turned out to be a theft ring almost got away with stealing their nightly deposit. It happened on Saturday at La Michocana. The group worked to occupy all the employees at the store, allowing one person to steal their cash from beneath their cash register. $70,000 in cash and checks were stolen. Police found the group with a little over $1,100 in cash.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Another class-action lawsuit accuses a landlord, the City of Davenport and a former city inspector for “gross negligence” in the partial collapse of the apartment building in Davenport. Dismantling began Monday at the site of the partial collapse.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – On Tuesday Cedar Falls Police and Fire were called to the First Street Bridge for a report of a kayak that overturned. Officers located two people who were on large log in the river that had to be rescued with a high angle rope from the bridge due to river conditions. They are OK, and their kayak was recovered downstream.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The 2024 Field of Dreams game might not happen at its namesake field in Iowa. On Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that next year’s matchup between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals is “expected to happen” at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, not in Dyersville, Iowa. Rickwood Field is America’s oldest baseball park. It was built in 1910 for the Birmingham Barons.

FORT DODGE (IRN) – A former Christian missionary from Fort Dodge has been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for abusing a preschooler and giving them a sexually transmitted disease. Jordan Webb, 31, was convicted by a jury on charges of second-degree sexual abuse, incest, and child endangerment. He’ll have to serve at least 17.5 years in prison before he’s eligible for parole, and he’ll have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life once he’s out. Webb and the child both tested positive for gonorrhea last April.

BONDURANT, IA (IRN – A man was partially buried after part of a trench collapsed at a construction site in Bondurant Monday. Workers were working on putting in a sewer when the trench collapsed. Responders worked quickly to expose the man’s head, giving him oxygen while getting him out of the trench. His condition is unknown.

MARSHALL COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Illinois man is in jail in Marshall County after fleeing authorities Monday. A deputy was westbound on Highway 30 when a car flew past in the eastbound lanes while traveling 110 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone. The deputy was able to get the driver to stop initially, but the driver then took off – once again topping 100 mph. As the chase entered Tama County, deputies were able to use stop-sticks to flatten three tires on the car. Eventually it came to a stop and its driver was taken into custody.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Central Iowa Shelter and Services is working with the city of Des Moines Parks and Recreation to provide meals to kids this summer. Free meals are available at parks throughout Des Moines. Some are a part of the city’s summer camp program, but all the meals are available to anyone 18 and younger.

CRESCO, IA (IRN) – Two people died Sunday after a motorcycle hit a pedestrian near the Minnesota-Iowa state line, according to the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office. They say Wyatt Tibbals, 21 of Cresco, was riding the bike at a high rate of speed and hit Finn Ronken, 22 of Canton, Minnesota, who was in the roadway, killing both.

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – An investigation is underway into the death of a 7-month old in Nevada. The Nevada Public Safety Department said they were made aware of the baby’s death on Sunday evening. They have requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in gathering information. No other details are provided at this time.

BENTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist died after being hit from behind by a car near Luzerne in Benton County Saturday afternoon. A 2012 Ford Focus was pulling a motorcycle, with the motorcyclist still riding it, by a rope at a slow speed. A 2015 Volkswagen Passat came up behind the motorcycle and was unable to stop in time. The Volkswagen crashed into the motorcycle, which caused the bike to then crash into the back of the Ford Focus. The motorcyclist was critically injured and transported to a nearby hospital, but he later passed away.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport city officials have announced that the dismantling process of the partially collapsed apartment building “The Davenport” will begin today. The process is expected to take several weeks.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – June is Pride Month, and thousands of people celebrated this weekend in downtown Des Moines. The 44th Annual Capitol City Pride Fest was held from Friday to Sunday in the East Village. Last year, the event attracted 40,000 people.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly stabbing someone in Waterloo on Thursday. Police said the teen was involved in a fight before pulling out a knife and stabbing someone. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.The teen is charged with willful injury.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – An arrest warrant could be issued for the owner of a collapsed Davenport building, after he missed court Friday morning. Three people died when Andrew Wold’s apartment building partially collapsed two weeks ago. The city cited him for failing to keep the building safe. He was supposed to enter a plea Friday. Instead, his lawyer told the judge by phone Wold agreed to maintain ownership of the building. He says he and the City agreed Wold would plead “no contest” in the case. The judge rejected that agreement, saying pleading “no contest” isn’t an option. It’s guilty or not guilty.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited the Blank Park Zoo for the death of a monkey. The 8-year-old snow monkey underwent a dental procedure in August. The animal was on a heating pad for three hours, which led to severe burns, and the monkey had to be euthanized. The USDA views it as an isolated incident.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of Des Moines will soon be taking over the management and ownership of the Masonic Cemetery. The Des Moines Masonic Cemetery Board of Directors announced on Friday that Des Moines will be taking over the cemetery at the end of the month. The Board said increased operating costs and revenue losses led to the decision to transfer ownership.