Category: State News

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Five people are recovering after a boat accident on Saylorville Lake. Their boat crashed into the Mile Long Bridge just after 6 p.m. Monday. All five people were taken to local hospitals and are expected to survive. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A child died in an accident on Adventureland’s Raging River Ride Saturday. 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died from injuries sustained after a raft overturned with six passengers on board. Another juvenile remains in critical condition, while the remainder of the passengers suffered minor injuries. Four off-duty Altoona police and two Altoona fire medics were working alongside Adventureland security when the accident occurred and quickly responded. First responders and witnesses helped free the riders and initiate life-saving measures.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people were seriously hurt in a rollover crash that shut down the ramp from I-380 South onto Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids on Monday. An Air Ambulance took at least one of those victims to a nearby hospital.

ALGONA, IA (IRN) – Three people were found dead overnight in Algona. An investigation is underway.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Last week, 30 girls were part of a free construction camp created by the Iowa Department of Education for girls ages 14 through 18. They spent the week in Des Moines exploring multiple career opportunities in the construction industry. Organizers say there are a great many jobs open, and are looking for girls and women to help fill them.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – An accident happened on a ride at Adventureland Park Saturday evening. Fire officials said it happened on the Raging River when one of the rafts overturned. Six people were on the raft. Three people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition and one person was hospitalized in non-critical condition. One person has died.

SLATER, IA (IRN) – A celebration turned into a tragedy moments after a parade concluded Saturday in Slater, as a driver accidentally backed into a crowd and killed one person. The accident injured multiple people–including a 6-year-old boy who was airlifted to a hospital–and onlookers raced to lift up the car to get to those trapped below it. A 59-year-old woman from Minnesota was killed.

PALO, IA (IRN) – State officials are investigating the death of two people after their bodies were found in a parked car in a state recreation area. On Friday, staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were performing a routine check after park hours of Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, north of Palo. A park ranger located a parked car and went to check on it, finding the bodies of one male and one female.

VENTURA, IA (IRN) – The road running between a marsh wildlife area and Clear Lake in Ventura is dangerous for turtles, even with a turtle crossing sign. So five boys aged 8 to 10 have spent some time this summer helping the turtles cross. On one recent day, they spent several hours assisting turtles, saving 20 to 30 from being flattened by motorists, and they believed they’ve saved close to 200 overall.

SLATER, IA (IRN) – A celebration turned into a tragedy moments after a parade concluded Saturday in Slater, as a driver accidentally backed into a crowd and killed one person. The accident injured multiple people–including a 6-year-old boy who was airlifted to a hospital–and onlookers raced to lift up the car to get to those trapped below it.

PALO, IA (IRN) – State officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of two people after their bodies were found in a parked car in a state recreation area. On Friday, July 2, staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were performing a routine check after park hours of Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, north of Palo. A park ranger located a parked car in the parking lot on the north side of the dam and went to check on it, finding the bodies of one male and one female.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Altoona Fire Department officials confirm an accident happened on a ride at Adventureland Park Saturday evening. Fire officials said it happened on the Raging River when one of the rafts overturned. Adventureland officials said six people were on the raft. Three people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition and one person was hospitalized in non-critical condition.

IOWA (IRN) – A federal appeals court concluded a 2019 Environmental Protection Agency rule that allowed for the sale of a 15% ethanol gasoline blend throughout the year and not just during the summer is contrary to federal law. Friday’s ruling deals a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers.

SAYLORVILLE LAKE, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reporting a harmful algae bloom at Saylorville Lake and advises people not to drink or swim in the water.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa junior Joe Wieskamp is going to the NBA. Wieskamp announced his decision Friday. He wrote, “Hawkeye Nation…it’s been an incredible 3 years. I can’t thank you all enough for your support throughout my career…at this time, I’d like to officially announce that I will be keeping my name in the 2021 NBA Draft. I’ll be a Hawkeye for life!”

IOWA (IRN) – Vibrant colors at sunrise and sunset and hazy skies across the state of Iowa and beyond are due to smoke from spreading wildfires across British Columbia. An unprecedented heat wave has led to record temperatures and dry conditions in Canada and the western U.S. The smoke is now trapped in the upper levels of the atmosphere and winds have transported that smoke to the midwest.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge man will face life in prison for murdering his wife. Justin Hurdel shot and killed his estranged wife, Maggie, last August, then attempted to take his own life. A witness saw Hurdel wait in a detached garage and confront his estranged wife before pulling the trigger. She was a 38-year-old mother who was well-known for her love of art and helping others. The violence dates back to November. Justin Hurdel was charged then with harassment after telling his wife, “I will kill you if you try to leave” and “you’ll be dead anyways.”

ADAIR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating after finding a person’s body off a rural Adair County road Thursday and are treating the death as suspicious.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Security officials at an Iowa jail must allow a man charged with killing a state trooper to meet privately with his lawyers, a judge ordered Thursday. Staff at the Black Hawk County jail in Waterloo had refused to allow Michael Lang — who is awaiting trial for murder in the shooting of Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith — to meet with his lawyers outside their presence. They argued that taking their eyes off Lang would pose a unique threat given his alleged hatred of law enforcement.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Fire crews responded to a fire at a Perkins restaurant in Coralville Wednesday night. Officials said the fire was primarily contained to the roof and crews extinguished it in about 30 minutes. The building sustained heavy smoke and water damage estimated at around $500,000.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Fireworks injuries more than doubled in Iowa in the four years since a 2017 law legalized their sale and use, with far more children getting hurt and more patients requiring amputation, according to a new study. Emergency room visits stemming from fireworks-related injuries rose to an annual average of 147 from 2017 through 2020. That’s a 114% increase from the state average of 69 over the previous four years.