Category: State News

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A 9-month-old passed away from injuries they sustained after being attacked by a dog Thursday. The second victim, a 49-year-old woman, was flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with serious injuries. The boxer-hound mix was a family pet and has been put down.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is in the Polk County Jail after police say he tried to grab an officer’s gun following a chase and crash early Friday morning. Dylan Jerelle Pettyjohn, 31, faces multiple charges. The incident began when an officer attempted to pull Pettyjohn over for a registration violation. He fled and crashed into a stop sign, disabling his vehicle. Pettyjohn then ran from the crash scene and attempted to throw a handgun onto the roof of a building. The officer caught up with him and they fought, during which Pettyjohn attempted to take the officer’s gun before he was taken into custody.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former Iowa Board of Parole member says Iowa’s parole system is “broken and it’s dangerous.” Kathleen Kooiker, who is a retired magistrate judge, said board members voted to release inmates within minutes while she served. She also said former Board of Parole Chair Helen Miller didn’t review cases like her predecessors while collecting a salary of around $97,000.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa families may begin applying for education savings accounts on May 31 to have the state pay for their children’s private school. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Students First Act allows families to apply for taxpayer funds to send their child to an accredited private school. Many private schools have already started raising tuition from 10-40%.

DES MOINES, (IRN) – More than 30 bats were released by the Iowa Wildlife Center at Gray’s Lake Thursday evening. Big Brown Bats are the species that were released in front of dozens of people who came out to watch. This is the first time the Iowa Wildlife Center has had a public release since before COVID-19. The bats are insect eaters and will help protect people and gardens.

TAMA, IA (IRN) – An Iowa paper mill is closing after being in operation for more than 100 years. In a first-quarter earnings report released Tuesday, Graphic Packaging International said it will close its recycled paperboard mill in Tama in the second quarter of 2023. A filing with Iowa Workforce Development shows the company will lay off 85 workers, effective June 2.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames Police have arrested nurse practitioner Carl Markley twice this week after months of investigating his possible sex crimes. Police now say more than 40 possible victims have contacted them since his initial arrest. Markley, 44, was first arrested Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. Markley had hidden cameras inside a clock and a pen and inappropriately touched a teenager while a hidden camera captured the act. Police arrested Markley again Monday on charges of pimping, prostitution, and human trafficking.

CLAY COUNTY IA (IRN) – An Iowa judge says a state law allowing pipeline companies to survey property owners’ land without permission is unconstitutional, delivering a victory to landowners who’ve been battling against three proposed carbon capture pipeline projects.

JASPER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – More than 100 mailboxes in rural Jasper County have a problem, and now homeowners might not have their mail delivered if it’s not fixed. The Colfax postmaster sent out notices that say mailboxes must be a certain height off the ground — 41 to 45 inches to the bottom of the box. And if not corrected, the post office might stop delivering mail after May 14. Some of the mailboxes that are in violation have been in place for decades.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Over a thousand third-graders took part in an health and fitness event at Kinnick Stadium on Wednesday. The event was put on by the Hy-Vee Kidsfit School Wellness Club. Students were active and learned different exercises and tips on how to incorporate healthy habits in their everyday lives. The students even got a surprise visit from Iowa Women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Democratic Party is scrapping the traditional caucus structure that requires making a presidential pick in-person. Instead, Iowans would mail in a card to express their presidential preference, and the 2024 in-person democratic caucuses would focus solely on party business.

AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames nurse practitioner who is accused of sexually abusing young boys for a decade is the owner of several Ames businesses geared towards family entertainment. Carl Markley, 44, was arrested on Friday and charged with Sexual Exploitation of a minor after a first victim came forward against him. Ames and Gilbert public school districts both contracted Markley to provide pre-activity physical examinations. More victims are coming forward.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A man is dead after a shooting in Fort Dodge Tuesday night. Fort Dodge police say a man in his 20s was shot and killed in front of the Community Health Center. The man was not associated with the health center.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) After hours of debate Tuesday, Iowa House lawmakers approved a plan that would make major changes to Iowa’s child labor laws. The plan passed in a 60-34 vote. Republicans say Senate File 542 would expand opportunities for Iowa teenagers. But Democrats argue it would put children in dangerous situations.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A country music legend will perform in Des Moines this summer. Willie Nelson & Family are booked for a June 27th show at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park. Nelson, who just turned 90, has enjoyed a seven-decade music career. He’s also racked up acting credits, published books, and launched cannabis companies.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – Fire crews responded to a large fire that destroyed a home in Boone Monday. Boone police said they were first dispatched to the scene and spoke with a man identified as Michael Glynn, who was believed to be in violation of a no-contact order. Glynn refused to leave the house, and it is believed he started a fire. As the fire spread, Glynn ran from the house and was taken into custody. He was then transported to the Boone County Hospital. He is charged with arson, interference with official acts and violating a no-contact order.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Lawmakers are in overtime for the 2023 legislative session, but that didn’t stop House Republicans from passing legislation relating to Iowa caucuses. House Republicans passed a bill with a vote right down party lines. The bill requires people participating in caucus to register with a political party 70 days before the caucus date. This would kill the planned Democratic caucus changes, if constitutional.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa woman who broke through police lines and stormed into the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was sentenced Monday to five months in prison. Deborah Sandoval, 56, pleaded guilty in December to entering a restricted building. In exchange for her plea, several other counts were dropped.

FAYETTE, IA (IRN) – Upper Iowa University has announced that they are reducing the number of sports programs offered in their athletics department. The sports being cut include men’s and women’s bowling, men’s cross country, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s tennis, and shotgun sports.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge Baptist missionary was found guilty of felony sexual abuse, incest and misdemeanor child endangerment after two hours of jury deliberation Friday. 30-year-old Jordan Webb didn’t tell his wife he’d had extramarital affairs until after both he and a 4-year-old family member tested positive for gonorrhea. Webb faces up to 32 years behind bars.

GILBERT, IA (IRN) – Ames Police arrested nurse practitioner Carl Markley Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor during a physical exam. Markley performed similar exams on Gilbert Community School District students, and the district alerted parents about Markley after his arrest. Markley performed annual athletic exams on middle and high school students in the district since 2017. Police used search warrants on Markley’s home and businesses after his arrest. They found a clock and a pen with hidden cameras, as well as sexually explicit pictures of minors likely taken with the hidden cameras.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Police believe they’ve found the body of 48-year-old Joann Stone, who went missing early Friday morning. Police say a body was found at a pond in Clive and that they have tentatively identified the body as Stone. She was last seen leaving a medical facility in West Des Moines just after 2 a.m. on Friday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Five Iowans serving federal prison time for methamphetamine charges will soon be released. On Friday, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences for 31 people convicted of non-violent drug-related crimes across seven states. They will all be released from federal prison by June 30 but will serve the remainder of their sentences in house arrest.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Kids were gifted free tackle boxes Sunday for the Iowa Wild’s Wild About Fishing event at Gray’s Lake Park. Despite the wind and cold, people came out to the event to enjoy some spring fishing. The Iowa Wild said the goal of the partnered event with Fleet Farm was to bring fans of the hockey team together during the off-season.