Category: State News

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A western Iowa jury has found a man guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of another homeless man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 46-year-old Vance Good was found guilty Friday in the March stabbing death of 44-year-old Lee Johnson. Good is one of four men charged in Johnson’s death. Police called to the shelter found Johnson’s body outside with multiple deep cuts to his face and neck.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A man armed with a knife vandalized a car Friday on the ISU campus, and the university sent an alert to students, saying a knife-wielding college-age man with brown hair and a camouflage backpack was headed toward Hilton. The suspect was located around 7 p.m., and officials gave the all clear.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IR) – A former North Iowa investment broker is going to federal prison.
Darrell Smith of Forest City pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Authorities say between 2010 and 2013, Smith either forged his clients’ signatures or used pre-signed forms to take money from their accounts. On Friday, he was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. Smith must also pay over $1 million in restitution.

STILLWATER, OK and MINNEAPOLIS, MN (IRN) – Freshman quarterback Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as Iowa State upset #25 Oklahoma State 48-42 in Stillwater on Saturday. For the Hawkeyes, a fake field goal touchdown and Nate Stanley’s four touchdown passes helped Iowa beat rival Minnesota 48-31 in Minneapolis. Iowa won the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for a fourth-straight season.

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – A second man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a gender-fluid Iowa teenager. The Hawk Eye reports 26-year-old Jaron Purham was found guilty in the 2016 death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson of Burlington. Johnson identified as both male and female. He was wearing a pink headband and hair extensions when Jorge Sanders-Galvez and Purham saw the teen at a store, followed him, and then took the teen to a Burlington home. Police say Johnson was sexually assaulted and tortured before being shot to death in an alley.

COLO, IA (IRN) – A 30-year-old Colo man faces numerous abuse charges after allegedly molesting several boys as young as 9 while they were camping at a Story County park. KCCI-TV reports that Michael Ferguson, a registered sex offender, took several boys between the ages of 9 and 14 camping at Hickory Grove Park and abused them. Authorities found Ferguson in Stark County, Ohio, and he was extradited to Story County.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs man has been accused of threatening to kill the city’s mayor. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 33-year-old Chase Points faces charges of first-degree harassment, assault and disorderly conduct. Points is being held without bond at the Pottawattamie County Jail.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump will be in Council Bluffs next week.
Trump will be holding a rally on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. At the rally, Trump is expected to talk about the economy as well as about electing Republicans to the House and Senate.

WAUKON, IA (IRN) – A northeast Iowa man convicted of fatally shooting his stepfather at the home they shared has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison. The Courier reports that 32-year-old John Quanrude of Waukon was sentenced in the April death of 60-year-old Dean Russell. Quanrude told officers he’d fired a warning shot with a shotgun because Russell had been messing with him, and then shot Russell in the chest.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A high-speed chase that passed through four eastern Iowa counties ended without any injuries on Thursday evening. KWWL-TV reports the chase started in Dubuque county when a deputy pulled over a Dodge Charger and discovered the registration plates did not match the vehicle, and a VIN check revealed the car to be stolen out of Chicago. The driver sped off, and passed through parts of Dubuque, Jackson, Maquoketa and Clinton counties before being apprehended. He’s from Indiana.

JONES COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down in Jones County on Wednesday. The EF-0 had peak wind speeds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for .71 miles. There was no warning issued by the NWS. Some corn was flattened and branches were snapped, but there wasn’t any reported property damage or injuries. This was the 51st tornado of the year.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) The Nebraska football team is on an eight-game losing streak, which dates back to last season when the Huskers ended the year 0-4. KETV reports Barley’s Bar in Council Bluffs says it’ll provide free beer if the Nebraska Cornhuskers win a football game this season.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old boy was seriously hurt when he was hit by a school bus in Cedar Rapids this morning. KGAN-TV reports he’s been transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating a shooting overnight that left one man dead, marking the city’s 10th homicide of 2018. WHO-TV reports it happened in a second-floor apartment. On arrival, first responders found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The man was transported to Mercy Hospital, where he later died.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was injured following a shooting Wednesday afternoon in Cedar Rapids, according to KCRG-TV. Police said two people got into an argument and one person was shot. The shooting victim then attempted to run across the street and was struck by a car. The victim is expected to recover, and no arrrest has been made.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City woman was arrested for allegedly going into a residence in September and then tasing the resident. KCAU-TV reports Dora Morris, 32, was charged with first-degree burglary. Police say Morris and an accomplice forcibly entered a residence and tased the victim. Morris and her accomplice then took the victim’s phone and other items before leaving. Morris told police that she went to the residence to get “dope” and some of her items she had left there previously.

JEWELL, IA (IRN) – The Iowa DOT has closed a section of highway in central Iowa’s Hamilton County after several drivers hit a massive sinkhole. The 9-by-8 foot hole in Highway 69 north of Jewell was reported sometime between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday, after five vehicles had hit it. One injury was reported, when one driver’s head hit his steering wheel.

KEOKUK AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested following bank robberies in Packwood and Hedrick over the summer. KCII-radio reports Ethan Nelson-David Spray of Ottumwa was charged in Jefferson and Keokuk Counties for robbery in the first degree, class B felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison. On June 1st the Pilot Grove Savings Bank in Packwood was robbed at gunpoint. On August 6th in Hedrick the South Ottumwa Savings bank was also robbed, also at gunpoint.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 42-year-old man was booked into Polk County Jail Monday for sexually abusing a 14-year-old in July 2017. KCCI-TV reports Jason Imi and another person allegedly forced the teen into a room inside a Des Moines apartment building and assaulted her. Authorities were able to identify Imi as a suspect but were unable to find him. Imi spent a year on the run before authorities tracked him down in Hawaii.

BENTONVILLE, AR (IRN) – Human remains found near Mason City are that of an Arkansas woman missing for nearly 10 years. Cerilla Ann Doyle purchased a bus ticket to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in October of 2008 and her whereabouts were unknown since then. There’s no indication of foul play, but police continue to investigate. Doyle had retired from a local police department and was 51 when she disappeared.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa middle school student who allegedly threatened to shoot another student via Snapchat is now facing a misdemeanor charge. WHO-TV reports the student was on a Facetime conversation via Snapchat when the second student showed a handgun and threatened to shoot the first student. Police found the threat to be credible.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump has scheduled a campaign rally on Oct. 9 in Council Bluffs where he is expected to announce year-round access to gasoline with 15 percent ethanol, also called E15. The announcement will come as a boost to the farm economy.