DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans are at a greater risk for gambling problems, according to a recent study by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Today, they released the results of a study that shows 13.6% of the 1.7 million Iowans who have gambled over the past 12 months are classified as “at-risk” for gambling problems. That’s up over a percentage point in 2015.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton, KCCI-TV reports police are taking extra safety measures at the Iowa State Fair. Doug Phillips, commander of the Iowa State Fair Police says, “you may see cops in places you wouldn’t normally — cops on high ground keeping an eye on the crowd — there will be more uniformed and plain clothes officers, 100 new cameras, and staff monitoring the cameras.”

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has been arrested after a 12-year-old driving his car struck a 4-year-old boy on a bicycle. KGAN-TV reports 34-year-old Jesse Azbill had given the 12-year-old boy permission to drive the vehicle, and Azbill was in it when the little boy was struck Tuesday in Waterloo. The boy’s condition has not been released.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police are looking for three suspects accused of using stolen credit cards across the metro, including one suspect who is disguising herself with wigs. WHO-TV reports the woman is wearing various wigs in an attempt to conceal her identity.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville was buzzing with excitement on Thursday. KCRG-TV reports Major League Baseball announced it would be the site of a regular-season game next year. The White Sox will play the Yankees at the historic movie site on August 13, 2020. The baseball organization will construct a temporary, 8,000-seat ballpark in the cornfield.

BREMER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A pilot died in a crop duster crash this morning in Sumner in Bremer County, according to KCRG-TV. Witnesses say a wheel from the plane crashed through the front doors of First State Bank.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A man has been found dead in a Council Bluffs home, and the discovery is related to a case of an armed man who was shot dead by police hours earlier. KETV reports police began chasing a pickup truck that refused to pull over. Shots were fired at officers from inside the truck before the truck crashed and rolled onto its side. Officers surrounded the pickup and could see a man pointing one handgun at officers and another gun at a woman inside the truck. He refused to put down his weapons and was shot in the head by an officer.

HARLAN, IA (IRN) – A Shelby County man is behind bars as he awaits trial for allegedly purchasing bomb-making materials and threatening to use them to cause “collateral damage.”
In June, 50-year-old Blake Cooper of Harlan was charged with possession of incendiary or explosive device with intent. The charge came after his girlfriend reported to law enforcement that he sent her a text message about his plan to cause death and injury to police and innocent civilians in an attack.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Justice has been served for an accused serial dine-and-dasher. KCCI-TV reports Ames police arrested Tracy Haas, 47, after numerous restaurants and bars had posted his photo on-line. Commander Jason Tuttle with the Ames police said, “I think word travels pretty fast through Campustown bar district…that’s how we were able to get him.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids will host the 2021 men’s and women’s Curling National Championships. The competition spans a week and will take place February 6 – 13.
It’s expected to bring in 200 athletes, coaches and officials and will be held at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – New accusations have been made in the case of a former Boys and Girls Club employee who allegedly showed pornographic images to children. KCCI-TV reports former Boys and Girls Club of Story County employee Bobby Chase, 18, is charged with dissemination of obscene material to a minor after a 12-year-old at the club told her parents that Chase showed her video from a pornographic website on his phone.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man will spend the rest of his life in prison for trying to kill himself and a woman he kidnapped. Ronald Share, 55, kidnapped a woman who had a restraining order against him. When police spotted Share’s car, he drove more than 100 mph trying to get away. The chase ended when Share veered off the road and slammed head-on into a bridge support at more than 90 mph. Share and the victim suffered extensive injuries, but they both survived.

MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have discovered the body of a woman in the South Skunk River in Mahaska County, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office discovered the body near the Glendale Access Tuesday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – FFA hogs began moving in at the Iowa State Fair with extra scrutiny. Veterinarians donned protective suits on Tuesday to inspect hogs entering the fairgrounds for African Swine Fever. Hogs with signs of illness will not be allowed on the fairgrounds.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The City of Cedar Rapids has released data from the city’s automated traffic cameras from the first six days of July, when the city began issuing citations for the first time in two years. Over 4,300 citations were issued. The top speed to receive a citation was registered at 96 m.p.h.

HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old male is in the hospital following a shooting at a Hiawatha apartment complex this morning, according to KWWL-TV. Police found 17-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds inside the common area of the building. There was a large gathering or party at the time inside of the apartments. The victim was reportedly shot while outside but managed to make it back inside the building.

CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Appanoose County are investigating the deaths of two people discovered in a rail car last week. WHO-TV reports officials believe the two were from Mexico, and were killed when a load of steel shifted during transport.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Three teenagers are charged with attempted murder after a shooting that targeted a Waukee home. KCCI-TV reports an 18-year-old male and two 17-year olds shot at a home and a nearby parked car. One of the juveniles was in an altercation with a juvenile at the targeted house, which could have led to the shooting. No one was injured.

EPWORTH, IA (IRN) – Authorities in Dubuque County are investigating after a man reportedly fell off a golf cart he was riding in Epworth. KCRG-TV reports the man had been riding on the rear-facing seat on the back of a golf cart when he fell off and hit his head on the pavement.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – A century-old building has gotten a face lift in Eastern Iowa and will have a second life as a brewery. KGAN-TV reports the old H.B. Golver building was a textile factory for more than 100 years. When it closed in 2017, an art teacher and her husband purchased the building to rehabilitate it. As part of the rehab, the couple preserved the history of the building, incorporating any old elements and hardware into the new design. The revamp is part of Dyersville’s larger downtown revitalization.