Category: State News

SAYLOR TOWNSHIP, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews rescued a man overcome by fumes at a business in Polk County early Wednesday. Crews were sent to Amcor in Saylor Township on a report of a worker who was overcome by fumes and became unconscious in a pit. The 40-year-old was rescued.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Water Works is warning that Iowa’s drought may soon endanger central Iowa’s drinking water supply. The Raccoon River, the metro’s primary water supply, typically has a water flow of 1.8 million gallons per minute. Right now, that water flow is down to a relative trickle at 135,000 gallons per minute. Water Works warns that while the Des Moines River is an option to draw water from, during the summer months, toxins from Blue Green algae make that water almost undrinkable. They’re asking customers to begin cutting water use now.

OELWEIN, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian was hit by a car in a parking lot in Oelwein yesterday. The 54-year-old pedestrian was crouched down in front of a 2014 Ford Explorer while the SUV was leaving the parking lot.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The top Democrat in the Iowa House of Representatives says Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision to decline some federal unemployment assistance a publicity stunt designed to hurt Iowans in order to garner national publicity. State Representative Todd Prichard from Charles City says, “her decision to end additional assistance to Iowans who lost their job during the pandemic is unconscionable and heartless.”

IOWA (IRN) – In the next several weeks, there is a chance that Northeast Iowa will be visited by black bears coming down from Minnesota and Wisconsin ahead of breeding season. It’s been an annual occurrence each spring since 2014. Since 2002, there have been 43 confirmed black bears in Iowa, and two to five per year.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Tuesday the state will end its participation in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs by June 12. Gov. Reynolds said the new measure will address the state’s severe workforce shortage.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man is hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a car Monday in Polk County. A car struck the 36-year-old man when he stepped out into traffic.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa will get $1.48 billion in aid under the federal government’s plan to help states hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Governments can use the money to cover local public health costs, address the economic impacts of the pandemic and replace lost tax revenue. They can also spend it on premium pay for essential workers and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure projects.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A forklift operator for Tyson Foods in Waterloo is now a millionaire. Anton Garrett, 48, won just over $2,000,000 on a $15 Powerball ticket for Saturday night’s draw.

GEORGE, IA (IRN) – More than 70 years after he was killed in action during the Korean War, Iowa native Eldert Beek will finally be laid to rest. From the Lyon County town of George, Corporal Beek was 20 years old when he was killed in action in North Korea in 1950. Beek’s remains were never recovered. In 2018, the US took possession of 55 boxes reported to contain the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War. On Monday the DOD announced that they have identified Beek among those remains. Corporal Beek’s remains will be returned to Iowa and he will be laid to rest on June 14th in George. More than 500 Iowans were killed during the Korean War.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Fort Dodge police say a man faces attempted murder charges after striking another man with his car Saturday. Officers found 57-year-old James Altman, of Fort Dodge, lying on the sidewalk with serious injuries. A white Jaguar at the scene had significant front-end damage. Witnesses said the driver of the vehicle, 52-year-old Edward Brown, of Fort Dodge, drove past the victim, and then turned around, approached Altman at a high rate of speed, drove onto the sidewalk and struck him.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person is dead and another is in custody after a shooting Sunday in Davenport. A 31-year-old man from Georgia is accused of murdering a 20-year-old woman from North Carolina.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The West Des Moines Police Department has identified the woman found dead near I-35 late Sunday night. A passerby said they found what appeared to be a dead person off the shoulder of the interstate north of Mills Civic Parkway. Police found the body of Stephanie Waddell, 38, of Oskaloosa. The preliminary investigation finds that Waddell may have been hit by a vehicle overnight.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A man is in the Dallas County Jail after authorities said he struck a 1-year-old child in a Waukee home. According to a police report, Gregory Stucky called authorities on Friday evening. He said he had spanked his 1-year-old daughter and “she was behaving strangely.” When authorities arrived they found the child unconscious and breathing on the ground.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police say a transient man tried to set fire to an electrical box at an Iowa City building. Brian Yauk, 49, was arrested and charged with Reckless Use of Fire or Explosives, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and Interference with Official Acts-Bodily Injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman shot in Des Moines Friday night has died, according to police, and the man suspected of killing her was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque woman is charged with child endangerment after she’s accused of failing to protect her 2-year-old niece from consuming a bag of marijuana gummies inside the apartment where she was caring for the child.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties have declined or partially declined COVID-19 vaccine allocations for the week of May 10.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District will provide Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at Kennedy, Jefferson, Washington, and Metro high schools for students who want the shot. Those students must be at least 16 and have written permission from a parent.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A measure to remove the statute of limitations for filing child sex abuse charges in Iowa is on its way to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk for signature. The Iowa House approved the measure in an 84-2 vote. Under current Iowa law, child sex abuse victims have until age 33 to press criminal charges.

GUTHRIE CENTER, IA (IRN) – A crack in a muffler allowed engine exhaust gases into the aircraft cabin, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning that eventually led to a crash killing four people in Guthrie Center, federal safety officials have found. The Piper PA28 took off from Le Mars Municipal Airport Nov. 9, 2018, en route to Osceola for a hunting trip.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The man police say was driving a speeding vehicle that crashed into three motorcyclists in Des Moines Tuesday night, killing two of them, has turned himself in and has been booked into the Polk County Jail. Quntonio Herron turned himself in Friday morning. Herron was driving a 2016 Mercedes Benz when he hit two motorcycles. Witnesses told police it appeared the car was speeding.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health said the state of Iowa ordered 28% of the COVID vaccine doses it was allocated for the week of May 10th. A total of 97 counties either declined part or all of their allocated doses.