Category: State News

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) -The causes of death for three members of a Cedar Falls family who were murdered at the Maquoketa Caves State Park campground in July have been released, along with the cause of death for the man believed to have killed them. The parents and their daughter were killed while camping on July 22. The DCI said Tyler, age 42 died from a gunshot wound and multiple sharp force injuries. Sarah, age 42, died from multiple sharp force injuries. Lula, age 6, died from a gunshot wound and strangulation. The cause of death for Anthony Sherwin, age 23, was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 49-year-old woman died after a multi-vehicle crash on Hubbell Avenue on the east side of Des Moines Wednesday. A total of five people were transported to local hospitals.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The newly elected chair of Iowa City’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission is facing calls for removal after the leak of a podcast where she disparaged other Black leaders in Iowa City, referring to some with racial slurs..

MARION, IA (IRN) – Leaked screenshots show the Linn-Mar School District is dealing with a ransomware attack much more severe than the “technical difficulties” the district has described to staff and parents. Screenshots from district computers show a warning message stating “all your files have been encrypted by Vice Society.” The warning goes on to threaten to upload those files to the dark web unless the user contacts them to purchase a key within 7 days. The notice does not give the cost of that key.

IOWA (IRN) – A cold and wet spring to a hot and dry late summer season is making farmers across the state worried. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System 56% of Iowa is categorized as abnormally dry, resulting in stress shown on crops.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In the midst of slowing growth, Casey’s General Stores CEO Darren Rebelez signed a new contract with the company that includes a $200,000 raise and the possibility of additional annual bonuses, stock options and equity. Rebelez is also eligible for more pay in the form of stock options or other forms of company equity. He can now receive $6.1 million, up from $2.6 million under his previous contract.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a crash in Dubuque County on Highway 20. One car was traveling eastbound, another was waiting to turn northbound. The first car tried to pass cars in the turning lane and rear-ended the second car.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police say two people were arrested after a road rage incident on Interstate I-380 Tuesday. The investigation determined the passenger in the suspect vehicle pointed the gun at the other vehicle with two adults and two juveniles inside and fired two rounds at the vehicle. The victim’s vehicle was hit in the front end. No injuries were reported.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa professor is preparing to testify in front of the Senate today about changes lawmakers are hoping to make to smooth the transition of power between presidents, to hopefully prevent another January 6th Capitol riot. After agreeing on how they’d like to modify the century-old Electoral Count Act, the senate rules committee is holding a hearing to hear from experts. Muller is one of five chosen to testify before the committee.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Conference United Methodist Church is preparing a team of volunteers to aid in relief efforts after the deadly flooding in Kentucky. Most recent reports say 37 lives were claimed by the floods, dozens are missing and hundreds are currently displaced. Pastor Catie Newman says “We are compelled to help one another.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police say 22-year-old Charles Lovelady of Des Moines is the victim of the city’s 11th homicide this year. Detectives have arrested 21-year-old Darion Hermes of Des Moines. He is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and felony possession of a firearm. Police say it was a planned drug related robbery.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has identified the driver who shot at police officers in Cedar Rapids early Saturday morning. 23-year old Brandon Nelson of Cedar Rapids was pulled over shortly before 4 am. Officials say Nelson pulled out a gun and started shooting at officers. Officers fired back and Nelson was injured. He’s in the hospital.

DES MOINES, Ia (IRN) – A bar south of downtown Des Moines is now closed after a shots fired call late Saturday night and dozens of others in the last six months. The building owner that houses Extra Innings says the bar’s lease was set to expire in August, but the recent shots fired call over the weekend forced the business to close for good. Police have been called to the bar 57 times in the past six months.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Less than a year after heading to Kentucky to help feed tornado survivors, the owner of Willie Ray’s Q Shack in Cedar Rapids is planning another trip to the bluegrass state. Willie Ray made a name for himself as a local hero, after serving thousands of free meals after the derecho, as well as traveling to Texas and Louisiana after disasters there.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man faces several charges after police say he threatened bar staff with a gun. Iowa City Police responded shortly after midnight Sunday to El Ray’s Live and Dive. Police say Alex Bwayonga, 18, pulled the gun after being kicked out of the bar. Police say Bwayonga had a stolen gun on him when he was arrested. During his arrest, police say Bwayonga appeared to have a medical emergency; he was given care at the scene and evaluated at an area hospital before being booked into jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating the 11th homicide of the year in Des Moines. Police say the victim was an adult male. He went to a local hospital yesterday afternoon with a gunshot wound and died.

MONONA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A pilot has died following a crash over the weekend in Monona County in western Iowa. A commercial spray plane hit a powerline before crashing into the roadway on Saturday. Responding agencies found the plane in the roadway on fire.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – The Democratic National Committee will delay its plans to restructure the presidential nominating calendar until after the November midterms, prolonging Iowa’s fight to maintain its traditional first-in-the-nation caucuses. The committee had been slated to make a decision this week at meetings in Washington, D.C.

WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – A swimmer nearly drowned while having a seizure at the Winterset Aquatic Center Saturday, but the quick thinking of one 13-year-old saved their life. Soon-to-be 8th grader Chantz Haisman says he’s at the pool almost every day in the summer. He and his friends like to jump off the diving board. But as he was waiting in line on Saturday, the swimmer in front of him never resurfaced after jumping in. That’s when Chantz dove in, swam to the bottom of the pool and grabbed the drowning swimmer.

CALLENDER, IA (IRN) – A Callender man already facing sex abuse allegations is now accused of hurting a child. Police in Webster County say they found two videos on Joseph Hill’s phone showing him punching a toddler in the stomach. In one of the videos, Hill is seen striking the toddler eight times. He hits the same child 17 times in the next video. The victim was not even 2 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN)- A jury trial has been set for Dec. 5 for Jeremy Goodale, one of the teens accused of killing a Fairfield teacher last year. Goodale is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nohema Graber. Earlier this month, a judge moved the trial from Jefferson County to Scott County. The other teen charged in the killing, Willard Miller, was also granted a change of venue for his trial, which will now be held in Council Bluffs.

HENRY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Sheriff’s deputies in Henry County are on the lookout for a man who they say took thousands of dollars as part of stolen valor scheme. Authorities said Christopher Williams posed as a military veteran in 2020 when neighbors in Mount Pleasant held a benefit ride for him. Williams got more than $4,500 worth of donations. Officials later determined Williams is not a veteran. He’s now wanted on fraud charges.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state of Iowa has an opportunity to repair transportation infrastructure after a new federal program was announced on Friday. President Biden’s new program allocates $7.3 billion in federal funds to all 50 states over five years. Iowa has $93 million available over the next several fiscal years. All Republicans voted against it.