Category: State News

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A collision between two vehicles in rural Muscatine County led to the death or injury of every occupant of the vehicles. Troopers believe that a 2019 Toyota Highlander was traveling eastbound on a county road and failed to stop at an intersection. A Dodge Ram, traveling northbound, crashed into the Toyota. Three people were killed in the crash, with six others sustaining injuries requiring hospitalization.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a crash on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids on Saturday night. An 81-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man were both pronounced dead at a local hospital.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man was arrested Friday for allegedly pointing a gun at his victim’s face and stealing over $1,000 in cash. On Saturday, Larry Eugene Botts, 52, lured the victim to his car in the parking lot in front of the Merle Hay Liquor and Smoke store. When the victim approached Botts’ car, Botts allegedly pointed a gun at the victim’s face and stole $1,800 in cash. A second person was involved in luring the victim into the parking lot.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny couple faces child endangerment charges after police discovered the condition of their apartment. Christine and Joshawa Briggs were arrested on Saturday. Officers say they found two children living in a garbage-filled apartment. Court records show bugs were crawling on the floor, walls, and inside the refrigerator. The couple blamed the filthy conditions on the cat.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A 34-year-old man from Charles City was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in manufacturing pipe bombs and distributing methamphetamine in 2020. Thomas Jay Downer admitted to distributing more than 5 grams of pure methamphetamine and selling five pipe bombs. The pipe bombs were made of plastic plumbing pipe and included BBs and nails as shrapnel.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces dozens of charges after admitting to secretly recording his ex-wife inside her home for more than a year. Mathew Greiner used his child’s keys to gain access to the victim’s home and hid cameras behind the air vents in her bedroom and bathroom. The child discovered the explicit images on Greiner’s phone.

CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is hosting a rally ‘for parental rights’ next week in Cedar Rapids. The rally is to protest the Linn-Mar School Districts’ policy that allows students to request a gender support plan. It lets students transition socially and without the permission of their parents. Pence’s group “Advancing America’s Freedom, says they filed a lawsuit against the school district to overturn the policy. Pence is considering a run for president in 2024.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Zoom meetings at the Iowa statehouse meetings could be coming to an end. It’s something lawmakers are considering after an incident during a senate sub-committee meeting Thursday where someone joined the Zoom call while displaying a swastika.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is now among two dozen states whose Republican attorney generals have joined conservative and gun-rights groups in a challenge to a new federal regulations on pistols with stabilizing braces, suing to block a gun-control action touted by President Joe Biden after the accessories were used in two mass shootings.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man died from a morning garage fire in Dubuque on Wednesday. No details about what caused the fire or what happened have been released.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A house fire broke out Thursday afternoon in Des Moines after a lit candle was tipped onto combustible materials. No one was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Thursday, an Iowa Senate subcommittee moved a bill forward that would restrict LGBTQ topics in schools. The bill is more expansive than the other plans seen so far this session. It would also create harsher penalties for school districts. That content would be banned for all Iowa students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

WASHINGTON, D.C. Sen. Chuck Grassley is demanding answers after a woman, believed to be dead, was sent to a funeral home in Ankeny where she turned out to be still alive. 89-year-old Grassley wants state investigators to share their findings to keep this from happening anywhere else. Especially to him (just kidding).

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s dog breeders had the worst record of compliance with federal regulations in 2022, accounting for 36% of all violations cited nationally. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited dog and cat breeders and brokers for 795 violations in 2022. Of the 795 cited violations, Iowa breeders were responsible for 286. In addition, six Iowa breeders received official warnings from the USDA in 2022.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools officials could close buildings to balance next year’s budget. They’re also exploring the potential for staff cuts. The Des Moines School Board is in the beginning stages of planning a budget amid new legislation that uses taxpayer money to help send students to private schools and a 3% state funding increase that lags behind sky-high inflation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Despite bi-partisan opposition, a bill was passed in the Iowa legislature that limits awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. The proposal would impose a $1 million dollar pain and suffering limit on lawsuits directed towards clinics or doctors, or $2 million if a hospital is involved.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A Johnston Community School District student filed a federal lawsuit against the district, district administrators and a teacher. The student was sent out of class and suspended after wearing a T-shirt to school on Sep. 1 that had a second amendment quote and a picture of a gun. This came two days after a discussion in Government class about free speech. The teacher told the class the right to free speech was limited on school grounds.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a 59-40 vote, the Iowa House on Tuesday passed a 3% increase in public school funding. The increase represents about $107 million that would go to Iowa schools. On Tuesday evening, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law. The increase is less than half the increase in inflation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republicans are making a new push to get books they deem inappropriate out of the classroom and out of school libraries. One of many new proposals from Governor Kim Reynolds could end up putting restrictions on controversial books state-wide. Reynolds says material that’s removed by any Iowa school district should require consent in every district before being shared with children.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools and Drake University’s stadium under construction next to the Knapp Center now has a name: Mediacom Stadium. Mediacom Stadium will be Des Moines Public Schools’ main venue for football and soccer.

IOWA (IRN) – A possible winter storm is heading our way, arriving tonight through Thursday morning. As the low-pressure system moves in, moisture will enter the state, bringing a mix of rain and snow. A 1-2 degree difference in temperature will make the difference between all rain and all snow. Travel impacts are expected Thursday, especially in the morning.