Category: State News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – A Republican political consultant was sentenced to 18 months in prison Friday after arranging for a Russian national to contribute illegally to former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign – the second time he’s been convicted of campaign violations. The first conviction was in Iowa. Jesse Benton, 45, of Woodlands, Texas, charged Russian national Roman Vasilenko $100,000 to have a picture taken with Trump. Benton pocketed $75,000 of the fee, then illegally passed along the remaining $25,000 as a contribution to Trump’s campaign committee, Trump Victory, and the Republican National Committee.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a plan that limits non-economic damages in several medical malpractice cases. The change still allows Iowans to receive payments for things like medical bills and loss of employment. But it limits other judgments for pain and suffering. The law caps payments from clinics and individual doctors at $1 million and $2 million when hospitals are involved.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After a long month of recovery and investigation from a cyber attack back in early January, Des Moines Public Schools are nearly back to normal.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar River is currently experiencing an ice jam located above the impoundment upstream of the Center Street Bridge in Cedar Falls. The City of Cedar Falls will continue monitoring the situation

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people are in the hospital after a shooting in Cedar Rapids early this morning. A man and a woman were injured. It appears to have been a domestic incident.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – The Waukee Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are conducting a death investigation after two dead people were found in a Waukee home on Thursday. It looks to be a murder/suicide.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the second month, home sales in the Des Moines metro dropped by more than a third over the same time a year prior, according to the latest figures released from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. Experts say cold January temperatures and high-interest rates were part of the reason.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa DOT says most roads south of I-80 will be completely covered through Friday morning. The DOT has more than 400 plows out attempting to clear the highways, but due to high winds and blowing snow Thursday, they likely won’t improve until this morning. In many areas 7-8 inches of snow fell.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – ESPN’s College GameDay is coming to Iowa City to broadcast live from Carver-Hawkeye Arena ahead of the Iowa women’s basketball game against Indiana on Feb. 26. The national broadcast will air from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. before the game at 1 p.m.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some Senate Republicans are pushing to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa on a limited basis. Senate File 14 would legalize capital punishment in cases that involve kidnapping, sexual abuse and murder of a child.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – At a rally in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, former Vice President Mike Pence said that he will challenge a subpoena by the special counsel overseeing Trump investigations to compel his testimony before a grand jury — pursuing it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines bar owner already facing charges for allegedly stalking a woman is now facing a civil lawsuit from a different woman who claims he repeatedly demanded sex from her as a way to “work off” her rent. The lawsuit was filed Monday against Edwin Allen, owner of Zora Bar and Rooftop. It accuses him of violating the Iowa Civil Rights Act through sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation.

IOWA (IRN) – A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 6 p.m. today. Area roadways are snow-covered and slick, and driving conditions may be hazardous. Some areas have received up to six inches of snow, and travel is discouraged in some eastern Iowa counties.

COLWELL, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a crash involving an Amish buggy Tuesday near the northeastern Iowa town of Colwell. A 1998 Chevy truck driven by Jim Whitmarsh rear-ended an Amish buggy. This caused the buggy passengers to be ejected.
An infant female, a 2-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were injured, as were Lavern Stauffer and Teresa Stauffer.

CLARINDA, IA (IRN) – A Clarinda police officer was arrested in Florida for allegedly punching his girlfriend outside of a bar. Charles Dailey was arrested on two misdemeanor counts of battery on Monday in the Florida Keys. Dailey will be placed on administrative leave when he returns to Iowa and there will be an internal investigation.

ATKINS, IA (IRN) – The Mayor of the Benton County town of Atkins promised full disclosure of how tens of thousands of dollars were misspent. The mayor made his first public statement Tuesday after a state audit was released criticizing city oversight and the work of former City Clerk Amber Bell. In a February 1st audit report, State Auditor Rob Sand said he found Bell had misused tens of thousands of public dollars; utility bill fees went unpaid, and employees had improperly received bonuses and other benefits. Some of those purchases the auditor flagged included meals, alcohol, and purchases at Starbucks.

IOWA (IRN) – A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for much of southern Iowa starting at 9 p.m. tonight, lasting until 6 p.m. Thursday. The bulk of this snow will fall overnight into the morning hours of Thursday. Six to nine inches of snowfall is expected over much of the area.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A winter storm watch will be effective from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday for parts of Iowa. The watch impacts locations along and southeast of a line from Newton-Indianola-Greenfield-Red Oak. Anywhere from 4 to 7 inches of snow and blowing snow is likely.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Chad Heathcote, an Adel man who pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor charges for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection, was sentenced on Monday. A judge gave Heathcote 36 months of probation and 15 days in jail. During his sentencing, Heathcote said the incident brought him “a great deal of shame,” and he wished he never went. Prosecutors say dozens of rioters followed Heathcote into the Capitol that day.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police were called to the scene of a shooting Monday evening. Officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. The incident is under investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Today is Valentine’s Day, and if you’re still looking for romance, the Federal Trade Commission is warning you to be cautious of online romance scams. They say online romance fraud is rampant and growing. In Iowa, impostor scams were the top reported scam in 2021, comprising nearly a quarter of all fraud complaints.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ashley Joens scored 24 points, Emily Ryan had 12 points and eight assists, and No. 22 Iowa State beat No. 17 Texas 66-61 on Monday night to snap a three-game losing streak.