BOONE, IA (IRN) – The man who killed two women in Ames last week had a history of mental illness. A police report from May 6 says Boone police made a welfare check at Johnathan Whitlatch’s home. The person who asked for the check said they were worried he would harm himself. Police found Whitlatch in his car parked halfway in his driveway. He was reportedly not responding well and told officers he had recently seen a doctor about a medical condition. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge for a March shooting where he shot and killed his second cousin. Dorray Cooper, 58, pleaded guilty this week to Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm for killing 41-year-old LaVance Cooper. The victim was shot in the abdomen and died. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police arrested four armed robbery suspects and recovered two handguns. The victim told police two people with guns robbed him near Drake University on Friday. Officers spotted a car that matched the description, but the suspects took off. The car ended up crashing nearby. Two 17-year-olds, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old got out and ran. All four were eventually arrested. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The March For Our Lives movement for gun control inspired demonstrations across America on Friday, which included a march through downtown Des Moines to the State Capitol. They chanted “no more silence end gun violence” along the way, and many in attendance wore orange for gun violence awareness. The March For Our Lives movement, which started after the deadly shooting at Parkland, a Florida high school in 2018, is primarily led by teenagers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A former inmate at the Polk County Jail says he was sexually assaulted by an employee. He said that former employee Brianna Miller followed him into the walk-in cooler and sexually assaulted him while he was working in the jail’s kitchen. Brianna Miller has now been arrested and charged with sexual misconduct. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works has restarted operations at their nitrate removal facility, which hasn’t been used since 2017. The Racoon River is the main water source for Central Iowa. Now Des Moines Water Works says it will be spending an extra $10,000 a day to make the water drinkable. Nitrate levels in their water sources have been high due to upstream land-use practices where excess nutrients leave the soil and enter Iowa’s water. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Republican Party hosted a reception Thursday where Senator Joni Ernst was joined by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. State GOP chairman Jeff Kaufman moderated an hour-long discussion where the two senators discussed topics ranging from global warming to the performance of President Biden to what keeps them up at night. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo native and Dallas Cowboy great Don Perkins has died at the age of 84. After graduating from Waterloo West in 1956, Perkins was an all-American at the University of New Mexico in 1959. From there he was a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys under the legendary Tom Landry. Perkins was named NFL rookie of the year in 1961 and was a six time pro bowl selection. He ended his career in 1968 as the Dallas Cowboys all-time leading rusher, and still ranks third all-time behind Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett and Ezekiel Elliott.

GRUNDY CENTER, IA (IRN) – Michael Lang, the man found guilty of murdering Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith, has requested a new trial. Prosecutors said Lang shot and killed Smith in Grundy Center as he led a tactical team into the home. Before the shooting, a chase led police there and Lang barricaded himself inside. Lang was captured after a tactical team broke in with a wheeled, armored personnel carrier. Smith was the first state trooper killed in the line of duty in 10 years at the time of his death. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport Police Officer shot and killed a man who was firing at the officer early Wednesday morning. The shooting happened shortly before 1:00 a.m. at a Casey’s Convenience Store. Police were called to investigate a suspicious person tampering with an air conditioner. When the officer confronted the suspect “a physical confrontation ensued. That confrontation led to both the officer and the suspect exchanging gunfire. The suspect was shot and died at a nearby hospital. The officer suffered “non-life-threatening injuries.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Johnston man was sentenced on Friday for Making a Destructive Device and Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm. Chad Allen Williams, 47, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for manufacturing three explosive devices found in the middle of a road in Ankeny in 2021. One explosive device was found by a 9-year-old girl. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Catch Des Moines has announced that an Ironman race will be held in central Iowa until at least 2025. Des Moines’ first full-length Ironman race starts Sunday. Last year, the state hosted a half-Ironman. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – First, there was “Survivor.” Now, “The Challenge.” Cedar Rapids Police investigator Sarah Lacina is one of 28 competitors slated to compete for a $500,000 prize on “The Challenge: USA” – a new spinoff of the popular MTV show. The winner will take on other champions in a global competition.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City woman facing several charges from an altercation with police has been arrested again. Daria Brown was booked into the Johnson County Jail on Tuesday afternoon. This time she’s facing an OWI third offense charge. Brown was already facing seven charges from an incident last Friday. In a viral video, she appears to resist arrest and reportedly assaulted three Iowa City Police officers. Then when she was put in the officer’s patrol car, she allegedly grabbed his stun gun. IOWA (IRN) – US Senator Chuck Grassley will fight to retain his senate seat after crushing challenger Jim Carlin Tuesday evening. Grassley began his tenure in the U.S. Senate back in 1981. Before that Grassley served in the Iowa State legislature and U.S. House of Representatives. IOWA (IRN) – Democratic Candidate Mike Franken has won the primary race to take on Republican Incumbent Chuck Grassley with a win over former Congresswoman Abby Finkenaur and Doctor Glenn Hurst. Finkenauer entered the race last summer as the perceived front-runner, tallying more than $1 million in fundraising during her first quarter, but Franken outpaced Finkenauer in each of his last two fundraising periods. IOWA (IRN) – Zach Nunn, a state senator and U.S. Air Force veteran, has won the Republican nomination in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. He will run against U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne in November. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man, Kenneth Rader, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the insurrection at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6. Rader pleaded guilty to count four of his indictment, parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building. According to court records, that charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison followed by no more than five years probation.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The booze business is booming for Iowa Athletics. The department made $3 million by selling alcohol at sporting events during the past school year. This was the first year fans could purchase beer or wine at a game. 80% of sales were made at football games at Kinnick stadium. The games against Indiana, Penn State and Purdue outsold any other sport for their entire season. FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – The trial for one of the teens charged with killing a Fairfield High School Spanish teacher will have his trial moved to Pottawattamie County. The trial for 16-year-old Willard Miller is now set for November 1 in Council Bluffs. Miller is one of two teens charged with First-Degree Murder for killing Nohema Graber with a baseball bat. Her body was found in a Fairfield park on November 3. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place near downtown Monday evening. First responders arrived to find a 21-year-old woman with a gunshot wound. She was declared dead at the scene. Preliminary information indicates the shooting is a targeted attack. This is the city’s ninth homicide of 2022. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Following the high school state soccer tournament last week, the Iowa High School Athletic Association is sounding off on the treatment of referees by fans, coaches and athletes. Officials say this treatment could jeopardize the future of many high school sports programs, because they have had enough of being mistreated. And it’s not just soccer. It’s all high school sports. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Planting season is nearing completion across Iowa according to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report for May 30th through June 5th. The report showed 98 percent of the state’s corn crop has been planted. That’s 11 days behind last year but still three days ahead of the 5-year average. For soybeans, 94 percent have been planted; five days behind last year but six days ahead of the 5-year average.