Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works says the Blank Park Zoo owes nearly $1,000,000 in unpaid water bills that have accrued since 2003. KCCI-TV reports the zoo says this came as a surprise to them because they were never told the nonprofit organization they operate under had to pay the bill.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Authorities in eastern Iowa have uncovered a body believed to be that of a man missing since late last year. WHO-TV reports thirty-one-year-old Chris Bagley disappeared Dec. 14 of 2018. Bagley was last seen leaving his Walker home with a person his wife did not know, telling her he would be back soon.

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A police officer was hospitalized and a Minnesota man was arrested after a chase through Charles City. KIMT-TV reports during the chase on Highway 14, a Charles City police officer was dragged by the suspect vehicle a short distance until it crashed into a snowbank. The officer will be OK.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Three people were hurt in a crash that shut down Highway 1 between Solon and Iowa City Friday morning. According to Iowa State Patrol, a 2013 Subaru Outback, driven by a 25-year-old, was heading north on Hwy 1 when it crossed the median and struck the trailer of a semi. All three people in the Subaru, ranging in age from 22 to 25 were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. It’s unclear as to why the car crossed the median.

ALTOONA, IIA (IRN) – Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel opened up in Altoona 30 years ago Friday on a foggy March 1, 1989. It has since given nearly $2 billion back to the community since.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol covered 624 crashes across the state in the month of February. They report most of those crashes were attributed to motorists driving too fast for conditions or following too close. They ask the public to slow down, put the phone down, and buckle up.

EARLVILLE, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man was charged Thursday with murder in the killing of his wife, who was found with a corn rake impaled in her back. The Des Moines Register reports Todd Mullis, 42, of Earlville, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Amy Mullis. Friends say the couple had marital problems for years. Months before she died, Amy Mullis told a friend she feared her husband would kill her, saying if she was found dead, “you’ll know Todd did something to me.”

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A convicted sex offender is allowed at school events in Boone, leaving parents livid, but the school district says they are following state guidelines. KCCI-TV reports Joel Waltz, a former youth pastor, was sentenced in 2017 to two consecutive two-year prison sentences after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old. Under state law, he can go to events involving his children.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A new ordinance in Iowa City related to massage parlors is working to help prevent human trafficking. KCRG-TV reports the ordinance requires all employees to be licensed with the state.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines Valley high school student is using an honors project to give back to the community through music. WHO-TV reports sixteen-year-old Kathryn Wittrock created the nonprofit “Recycling Instruments for Needy Kids,” when she saw not every student could afford to rent or buy a musical instrument to learn how to play. So far, she has recycled 22 instruments.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Charges have been filed against a woman in a January crash that killed a man in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports the vehicle was westbound on Grand Avenue when it left the roadway and went over a concrete wall, crashing into the parking lot below. The driver, 32-year-old Grant Stokka, was pronounced dead. Police say a vehicle driven by Tessa Mullen, 26, entered traffic and may have prompted Stokka to make an abrupt change in his direction of travel.

IOWA (IRN) – A school voucher bill that would use public education money to fund private schools and homeschooling in Iowa is moving through the state Capitol. The Republican sponsored bill would divert $6,880 per child from public schools to the private school or home school the child attends.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A 37-year-old western Iowa woman has been sentenced to three months in prison for Social Security fraud. Jamie Opalia, of Council Bluffs, must serve three years of supervised release after she leaves custody and must pay restitution of nearly $22,600. She admitted she used Social Security benefits for herself that were granted to support another person.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery was suspended for two games on Wednesday, following his post-game comments directed at an official after Tuesday night’s game at Ohio State. Iowa’s athletics department made the decision to suspend McCaffery. The Big Ten Conference supported the suspension, and fined the athletics department $10,000, which McCaffery will pay. They also issued a public reprimand.

IOWA (IRN) – A majority of Iowans oppose legalizing sports betting on professional or college sports, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Just over half of Iowans — 52 percent — say they oppose legalizing betting on professional sporting events. 68% of Iowans oppose betting on collegiate sports.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Brazilian man was sentenced after disrupting an airline flight, causing an emergency landing in Cedar Rapids last year. KCRG-TV reports Guilharme Alves De Melo, 34, was sentenced to one year and one day of prison for a charge of intimidating a flight crew. Alves allegedly “lost it,” became disruptive, and was scaring other passengers while on an international flight going from Calgary, Canada to Chicago. Passengers and crew restrained him with zip ties.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa school districts wouldn’t be required to employ nurses or librarians under a Republican-sponsored bill that advanced in the Iowa Senate Tuesday.
School districts would still have the option of hiring nurses and librarians.

COLUMBUS, OH (IRN) – Following Iowa’s 90-70 loss to Ohio State, men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery reportedly cursed at an official and called him a cheater. KCCI-TV reports when asked about the incident in the media session, McCaffery declined to comment.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Snow kept around 300 Ankeny Centennial High School students stuck in Minnesota an extra two days after a singing competition. WHO-TV reports nearly a dozen busloads of show choir students were reunited with their parents yesterday. Senior Shantal Hernandez says, “It wasn`t really a problem because we were spending the days with our best friends in the hotel, and we literally went to the Mall of America, so … it was a good time.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of Des Moines will clear excess snow from downtown tonight. All vehicles must be moved from downtown streets by 5 p.m. Crews will be clearing the piles of snow between the street and sidewalks. Any car that’s parked on the street past 5 p.m. will be ticketed and towed. Once the snow is gone, cars should be able to park closer to the curb and people should have an easier time getting to sidewalks.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Three people are dead after a house fire in Muscatine Monday evening. KWQC-TV reports neighbors heard several children screaming in the street as a Muscatine police officer attempted to break out the home’s windows to gain access, but was unsuccessful. The fire department arrived shortly after, but were too late.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa diocese has released a list of 28 priests who have been accused of the sexual abuse of minors while serving the Catholic Church. The alleged abuse took place from 1948 to 1995. Twenty-two of the priests named have passed away and just one of the six who is still alive lives in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Des Moines taxi driver accused of being drunk and crashing his car — killing one person and injuring another — has been sentenced to 17 years in prison, according to the Des Moines Register.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dozens of Iowa businesses are pushing for new comprehensive immigration reform. KCCI-TV reports business leaders gathered at the Statehouse yesterday to announce the Iowa Compact on Immigration, recognizing the positive impact immigrants have on Iowa’s economy. Employers say immigration is crucial to the health of their businesses.