Category: State News

DES MOINES, (IA) – Des Moines police are investigating a nighttime crash and shooting. KCCI-TV reports it started as a chase around 7 p.m. yesterday. The chase ended when the suspect crashed into a house, then suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect is now in critical condition.

HUXLEY, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old boy with autism has died of his injuries just days after a house fire in Huxley killed his father. KCCI-TV reports two daughters, ages 16 and 19, escaped unharmed. Brett Van Ersvelde, 47, died in the fire. His wife, Julie McLain, 44, and their 17-year-old son, Dan Van Ersvelde, were still trapped in the back bedroom. The parents were trying to save their son who was scared and wouldn’t leave the house. Huxley police officers broke through the window with an ax to rescue the three, but only McLain survived.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny beekeeper wants to press charges after one of his hives was vandalized not once, but twice. WHO-TV reports Jake Knutson counts on money from his beekeeping to keep his organic farm, Grateful Acres, running. At first, he didn’t want to press charges. Knutson says, “I thought they were just curious kids and you know, I’ve done a lot of stupid crap when I was growing up, but when they came back the second time it’s more than just being curious, it’s being destructive.”

OLIN, IA (IRN) – While floodwaters have been a problem for many in Iowa this year, it has been worse for some citizens of Olin than most. KCRG-TV reports the nearby Wapsipinicon River has left its banks flooding homes four times in the past five weeks.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans have been deployed to the Florida panhandle to help with cleanup after Hurricane Michael. The Iowa Red Cross has sent five volunteers to Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. They say they are ready to deploy more people to assist in providing shelter, food, health service and emotional support if necessary.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa officials say they’ve temporarily suspended nine fraternities for incidents with alcohol. University vice president Melissa Shivers says “the blatant and systemic failure to curb holding dangerous open events with alcohol, including tailgates, will stop.” The suspensions mean the chapters cannot participate in some organization-sponsored meetings, programs, social events, intramural sports or homecoming activities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people have been charged with attempted murder after a shooting Tuesday in Des Moines. WHO-TV reports 34-year-old Laura Dickey told her neighbor, 41-year-old Eleazar Villanova, that she was upset at her ex-boyfriend. Dickey drove Villanova to the ex-boyfriend’s apartment, where they saw him walking across the yard. Villanova jumped out of the car and began chasing the man while firing a gun at him. No one was injured.

BELLE PLAINE, IA (IRN) – A train collided with a semi in Belle Plaine Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports the semi tractor was destroyed. No injuries were reported.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – Simpson College will layoff 13 full-time employees, including 12 faculty members, and eliminate the school’s art department as it contends with lower enrollment and changing student interests. The Des Moines Register reports Simpson’s enrollment has dropped 9 percent in the past three years and is currently at 1,250 full-time students.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says nearly a dozen tornadoes touched down in rural areas across Iowa as strong storms swept the state Tuesday. Ten tornadoes were confirmed in the central third of the state, with the strongest hitting near Creston. That EF-2 twister brought winds of up to 120 mph, destroying a garage and pulling off part of a mobile home roof. No injuries were reported.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police arrested a 15-year-old last night, following a social media threat that caused Waterloo High Schools to cancel classes today. KWWL-TV reports the teen is facing a threat of terrorism charge. The teen is a high school student in the district.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump touched down in Iowa on Tuesday for a campaign-style rally in Council Bluffs. KCCI-TV reports Trump praised new trade deals, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and jobs numbers. The president also confirmed his plans to allow year-round sales of E-15 ethanol — something that has been on the wish list of farmers in the Hawkeye State for years.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – An armed robber got away with cash from a Davenport gas station in the Village of East Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. Around 4:00 a.m. Tuesday a man wearing dark clothes went into a Kwik Shop, showed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. He got away on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health was awarded a $3.5 million federal grant this week. The money will go towards launching the “Zero Suicide” policy program across Iowa. The program will provide training and resources to behavioral health and treatment centers. More than 400 Iowans died by suicide last year.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Rain is keeping farmers out of their fields to harvest, and now the continued rain is starting to actually damage crops. The Iowa State University Extension Office says flooded streams are overwhelming crops, and corn moisture varies across the state, with field mold starting to show up.

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – Sen. Bernie Sanders is embarking on a nine-state tour on behalf of Democratic candidates competing in the November elections, returning to the campaign trail ahead of a decision on another White House bid. In Iowa, Sanders will assist Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten as he seeks to earn the Fourth District Seat currently held by Republican Steve King.

CASTANA, IA (IRN) – A West Monona School District bus went up in flames near Castanda Monday morning, according to KCAU-TV. The driver was just starting morning pick-up’s, and the three people onboard all escaped without injury. Two children and the bus driver moved off the bus after they heard a loud bang, and were far away before the blaze started. By the time firefighters arrived, the bus was fully engulfed in flames.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – The Trump administration will allow year-round sales of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol, a boon for Iowa and other farm states. President Donald Trump announced he is lifting a federal ban on summer sales of high-ethanol blends during a trip to Iowa today.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of Des Moines is revising its panhandling ordinance, according to WHO-TV. The ordinance, which has been on the books for years, is now considered unconstitutional after recent supreme court rulings. The court has held that panhandling is a form of protected free speech.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Severe weather systems brought tornado warnings to multiple counties in central Iowa yesterday. Tornadoes were spotted north of Perry and north of Woodburn. Much of Iowa is under a flood watch until Wednesday morning. Total accumulations after multiple days of rain may reach as high as three to six inches.

ALVORD, IA (IRN) – A South Dakota woman died after being struck by a train in northwest Iowa. KCCI-TV reports Lyon County deputies and medics were sent to the crash site Friday in Alvord. It appears that 32-year-old Savannah Flynn, of Marion, South Dakota, may have thought a southbound train was on the east set of parallel tracks when she tried to cross the west tracks and was struck. Flynn died at the scene. Authorities suspect alcohol consumption played a role in her death.

HUXLEY, IA (IRN) – A father died, two teenage daughters escaped on their own and rescuers saved a mother and son after a home in Huxley caught fire early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports firefighters pulled the mother, father and teenage boy from the home. They say the parents were trying to get their autistic son, 17, out of a bedroom when all three became trapped. The father, Brett Van Ersvelde, 48, died. Two first responders were injured.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police say an accident Thursday morning involving a school bus and a 15-year-old student happened because the bus driver ran a red light. KGAN-TV reports the student is in the hospital with serious injuries.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Students from Mount Vernon high school discovered a body at Palisades State Park in Linn County Friday afternoon. The students immediately reported to their teacher, who then reported to authorities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags on state property flown at half-staff on Saturday to honor a fallen World War II soldier. Flags were lowered to honor Army Pvt. Donald E. Brown, of Thompson, who killed in action on July 28, 1944, when his tank was destroyed by enemy fire in France. The 24-year-old’s remains were buried at an American military cemetery in France as an unknown soldier. His remains were disinterred last year and identified through DNA testing. He was buried with full military honors Saturday.