Category: State News

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa Central Community College football players are facing felony charges after badly beating a man early Tuesday morning in Fort Dodge. The Des Moines Register reports 19-year-old Jesse Drive Jr. and 20-year-old Darryl Kelley, both of Danville, Illinois, have been charged with willful injury causing serious injury after they allegedly punched and “stomped” another man’s head during a fight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was shot during a home invasion robbery on Des Moines’ east side Wednesday. WHO-TV reports a woman told police three armed men kicked in the door of her home, shot her boyfriend, and then stole her car. Her boyfriend is expected to recover.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Opioid-related deaths in Iowa are down this year compared to this time last year, according to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The number of deaths involving opioids has fallen 35 percent.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of books have been donated to a northwest Iowa library where a man checked out, and then burned, several LGBTQ children’s books. The Orange City Public Library has received more than 200 books since religious activist Paul Dorr engaged in a book burning Oct. 19. Thousands of dollars have been raised for the library, much more than the roughly $50 needed to replace the burned books. In protest of the city’s second annual OC Pride, Dorr threw four library books into a burning trash can while streaming live on Facebook.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport truck driver has driven UPS semis for 35 years without an accident, according to WQAD-TV. John Manderscheid says it takes your “A-game” to stay safe on the roads. He spends 10 hours a day driving 400 miles to drop off packages at UPS hubs in Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. Over 40 years, he estimates he’s traveled four or five million miles.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have arrested a second man in connection with the slayings of two brothers in Fort Dodge. KCCI-TV reports 46-year-old Paul Keller is charged with obstructing prosecution or defense and with possession of amphetamine. Another man, 28-year-old Tanner King, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Oct. 22 shooting deaths of 37-year-old Marion and 34-year-old Eldominic Rhodes. The younger man’s body was found in an alley and his older brother’s body was found in a nearby apartment parking lot.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The race for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District is heating up. Incumbent Republican Rep. Steve King has easily won re-election since taking office in 2003, but polling suggests the race against Democrat J.D. Scholten is close. Fellow Republican Congressman Steve Stivers from Ohio condemned King’s alleged racist behavior Tuesday in a tweet that said, “We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms.” Facing boycotts, Land O’ Lakes and Purina have ended donations to King’s campaign.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A man is expected to recover from injuries he received after being stabbed in the neck at a Marion motel Tuesday night. KCRG-TV reports an arrest has been made.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two dogs are dead in Des Moines after a man’s dog was attacked early Tuesday. WHO-TV reports a man was walking his small dog when he came upon two dogs he believed to be pit-bulls. He picked up his dog, and the other two dogs followed him home where one attacked him and ripped the small dog from his hands. He picked up his small dog, threw him over his fence, and went inside to get his gun. The larger dog was trying to jump over his fence, so he shot it. Both dogs are dead, and the man suffered minor injuries.

GRANT COUNTY, WI (IRN) – A Dubuque man was involved in a fiery crash in Wisconsin. KWWL-TV reports he was driving a tractor trailer loaded with saw dust, when he swerved to avoid a collision with a Freightliner hauling corn. The two trailers collided, and caught fire. Both drivers will be OK.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police in Waterloo were conducting a narcotics search at a home Monday when a man nearby took off running. KWWL-TV reports the suspect allegedly fell while running and discharged his 9mm handgun. The bullet hit a nearby house. The man was charged with four weapon law violations. The suspect at the home was charged with possession of a firearm as a felon, carrying weapons and possession of marijuana second offense.

ELGIN, IA (IRN) – An Elgin woman is facing a murder charge after the death of her 5-week-old daughter last month. KGAN-TV reports Alicia Rios is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. First responders were called to a home for a report of an infant having difficult breathing. The child, identified as Lydia Rios, was flown to a hospital in Wisconsin where she died from her injuries five days later.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man will serve up to 30 years in prison in connection with a deadly shooting. WHO-TV reports nineteen-year-old Jahmar Mustin, a member of the Heavy Hitters street gang, was riding in the same car as 23-year-old Choice Elliston in May 2017. Mustin became involved in a shootout with another vehicle of rival members of the C-Block gang. Mustin shot Elliston in the head during the battle, killing him.

TRURO, IA (IRN) – There will be increased security at Interstate 35 schools today in response to a reported threat. Deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office plan to have an increased presence at the schools after an employee reported that a verbal threat had been made against the district. An investigation into the threat, who made it, and its credibility is on-going.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa could soon see a shortage of physicians assistants. That could be a big problem, especially in many rural counties. A University of Iowa study shows 32 percent of the physician assistants population is 50 or older. Those P\As will reach retirement soon. Only 25% of physicians assistant graduates who were trained in Iowa choose to stay and practice in Iowa.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man who possessed an unregistered sawed-off shotgun and who was an unlawful user of methamphetamine was sentenced to one year in prison. KWWL-TV reports Michael Dennison, 41, from Dubuque, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A man in his 40’s died Sunday evening after a single car crash in Davenport, according to KWQC-TV. Witnesses say the vehicle crashed into a pillar of a railroad bridge.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Two Wisconsin women have been arrested following an undercover prostitution sting in Sioux City. KCAU-TV reports officers responded to an ad on the internet placed by a 20-year-old woman. An officer gave her $200 and she agreed to have sex with him. Following the arrangement, the woman told the officer a 24-year-old woman could join them for an extra $100. Both women are in jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of central Iowans spent Saturday night outside in structures made of cardboard as part of the 13th annual Reggie’s Sleepout, an event that raises awareness of homelessness. KCCI-TV reports the event was held at Drake Stadium, where 500 campers, staff members and volunteers came together with the goal of raising $130,000 to benefit the Iowa Homeless Youth Center.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Wednesday to honor those murdered and injured in Saturday’s deadly shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Trump’s order to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Firefighters were called early Friday morning to a fire at a restaurant on Des Moines’ southside. WHO-TV reports it happened at the China Chef restaurant. It burned for about 20 minutes before crews arrived, but once on scene they were able to extinguish the fire quickly.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake woman is facing charges after she drunkenly crashed into a Cerro Gordo County sheriff’s patrol car. KIMT-TV reports the patrol vehicle was at a traffic stop when her vehicle struck the back of it. There were no injuries.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Former Vice President Joe Biden will return to Iowa Tuesday. Biden’s Cedar Rapids rally appearance will come exactly one week ahead of Election Day, as he will join Democratic candidates currently in tight Iowa races. Those candidates include gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell and 1st congressional candidate Abby Finkenauer.

IOWA (IRN) – An intercepted a pass thwarted Iowa at the Penn State 2 with 3:18 left and the No. 17 Nittany Lions held on to avoid a third straight home loss with a 30-24 victory Saturday over the No. 18 Hawkeyes. Iowa State rallied to beat the Red Raiders 40-31.