Category: State News

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Lottery is reporting record sales for the 12 months ending June 30, bolstered by booming purchases of scratch tickets that are far outpacing the rest of the nation. Preliminary figures for the 2018 state fiscal year show the Iowa Lottery generated about $87 million in profits for state government, an increase of 7.8 percent from a year ago. Overall sales totaled $371 million, up 5.3 percent, while lottery players received $227 million in prizes up 5.5 percent.

BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – People living in Brooklyn, Iowa are ramping up efforts to find a missing University of Iowa student. KCRG-TV reports 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was last seen Wednesday night in Brooklyn. Friends and family say she had been dog sitting at the time she disappeared.

CUMMING, IA (IRN) – Fire investigators are looking into what caused a massive blaze that destroyed a $1.8 million dollar home in Warren County Sunday. KCCI-TV reports the home is a total loss. No one was injured. Records indicate the home is owned by Britt Baker, the chief executive officer of Baker Electric.

DES MOINES COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Rescue personnel were dispatched to a golf cart crash in rural Des Moines County Sunday, according to KTVO-TV. The golf cart exited the roadway and went into a ravine. The driver was treated for minor injuries while the passenger was extricated from the vehicle by mechanical means and hospitalized. The driver said he was swerving to miss a deer when he exited the roadway.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – President Trump will visit Iowa this week to support a congressman running for re-election. Incumbent U.S. Representative Rod Blum is up against Democrat and State Representative Abby Finkenauer. The Des Moines Register reports the president will be in Dubuque on Thursday. His visit comes as tensions continue to rise between the administration and Iowa farmers, who are caught up in an escalating international trade war.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating an overnight knife attack, according to WHO-TV. Two groups were involved in an argument when the suspect grabbed a large knife and began slashing at the victim, who was hospitalized. Officers found the suspect a short time later hiding in an apartment nearby, and located the knife under a mattress.

SCOTT COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A death investigation is underway after a body was found near the railroad tracks between LeClaire and Princeton in Scott County. WQAD-TV reports the body was found Friday.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Workplace safety officials are investigating the death of a man at a manufacturing plant in Fort Dodge. The Messenger reports that the man died after being hit by and pinned under a steel beam Thursday evening. The beam was being erected as part of a construction project at CJ Bio American in Fort Dodge when the accident happened.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Cyclists participating in RAGBRAI this week will enjoy nearly perfect weather throughout the duration of the route, with most of this week being sunny, with temperatures in the lower to mid-80s. Riders will start today in the western Iowa town of Onawa near the Missouri River. Other stops on the route include Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, Iowa City and Davenport.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – The Ottumwa Police Department is investigating the death of a 5-year-old girl. KTVO-TV reports she was found hanging in a closet without a pulse. An autopsy will be performed Monday, and the investigation continues.

BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – Poweshiek County officials are searching for Mollie Tibbetts. The 20-year-old University of Iowa student was last seen Wednesday evening in Brooklyn, Iowa.
She was last seen while jogging, wearing gym shorts, a black sports bra and running shoes.
Tibbetts is described as a 5-foot-3 white woman, weighing 120 pounds.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager is recovering in the intensive care unit at Iowa Methodist Medical Center after diving into shallow waters. KCCI-TV reports 6-foot 7-inch Juan Rivera, 18, dove into the shallow end of his grandparents’ pool. Doctors say he is paralyzed from the chest down.

FARLEY, IA (IRN) – A teen from the northeastern Iowa town of Farley is using his love of Wiffle Ball to raise money for a local charity. KCRG-TV reports Cade Messer is hosting a two day Wiffle Ball tournament in his parent’s backyard. He does this for his classmate Jackie Kluesner, who was diagnosed with spinal cord cancer in 2013. She’s now cancer-free. Messer started the tournament last year to raise money for Jackie’s charity, Jackie’s Cause. He raised $2,000 with 19 registered teams. He’s hoping to double that amount this year. All money goes to fund spinal cord cancer awareness and research.

MINNETONKA, MN (IRN) – A Minnesota hotel clerk says a southern Iowa county attorney who was temporarily removed from office for sexual harassment spent hours in March “intensely” pursuing her for sex and drugs while his wife and children were in their room. The clerk told the Des Moines Register that the incident involving Van Buren County Attorney Abraham Watkins occurred in March — the same time the Iowa Supreme Court was reviewing Watkins’ removal from office. She says Watkins asked her where he could find marijuana, suggested she would be a good stripper, talked about sex with his wife, among other comments.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A total of 27 tornados tore through Iowa on Thursday afternoon, hitting key landmarks such as the Marshall County Courthouse in Marshalltown and Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella. Heavy rain, damaging winds and hail were also part of the system. Seven people inside Vermeer Corporation were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. Funnel clouds or tornadoes were also seen near Bondurant, Ankeny, Altoona, Prairie City and Colfax. No other injuries were reported.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have identified the man pulled from the Iowa River in Iowa City on Monday. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Mohammad Albaghdadi of Iowa City was recovered after pedestrians noticed his floating body. An autopsy is being performed.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A Sioux City man was arrested for robbing a Sioux City business Wednesday night. KCAU-TV reports the suspect, later identified as Derrick Henderson, 45 of Sioux City, went in and demanded cash, pointing a fake gun at the clerk. He fled on a bicycle before he was taken into custody.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A new report from the state auditor’s office accuses a former University of Iowa employee of making nearly $60,000 worth of improper purchases. KCRG-TV reports while an employee of the College of Dentistry, Amanda Shumaker allegedly spent over $40,000 at Amazon, $5,000 at Barnes and Noble, and $9,000 at other vendors. Among the items purchased include bath bombs, aromatherapy items, manicure and pedicure sets, and camera equipment. Shumaker has since passed away.

REMSEN, IA (IRN) – A person trapped inside a grain bin has died in northwest Iowa. KWWL-TV reports 65-year-old Lee Grage died in the bin before being reached by rescuers.

ACKLEY, IA (IRN) – A concerned teacher potentially saved the life a 9-year-old north-central Iowa child from Ackley whose parents face accusations of abuse and torture, according to KCCI-TV. Traci Tyler, 39, and Alex Shadlow, 30, were arrested Wednesday. The child was locked under basement stairs and deprived of food, among other disturbing allegations. A teacher noticed the warning signs and contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services, which authorities and child advocates say saved the boy’s life.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport Police released the details of a robbery and theft that resulted in a vehicle pursuit Wednesday. KWQC-TV reports four juveniles were arrested and two will be charged as adults. The victim says she was pushed out of a vehicle and her cell phone was taken. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, strongly criticized two Presidents Wednesday–our own and Russia’s–following another confusing day of what President Donald Trump believes when it comes to Russia’s meddling with the 2016 election. Grassley said, “Russia’s our enemy. Putin is a liar.”

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City woman turned 101 years old Wednesday. KCAU-TV reports Lucille Burkett celebrated the milestone with cupcakes. Burkett was a stay-at-home mom, and says she likes azaleas, roses, and hot fudge sundaes. She says she likes to golf and paint in her free time.