State News

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Tuesday, May 1, 2018

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City nursing home where three residents allegedly died after separate incidents of neglect has been hit with $45,750 in state fines. The Des Moines Register reports the Casa de Paz care facility, home to 56 elderly and disabled Iowans, is accused of employing incompetent caregivers, neglecting residents with life-threatening conditions and denying residents their pain medication. MITCHELL COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Minnesota man is facing numerous charges after a traffic stop led to the finding of drugs and cash in Mitchell County. KIMT-TV reports James Ogden, 36, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, faces numerous drug charges. He was found with almost a pound of marijuana, prescription drugs, and more than $5,000 in cash. He was pulled over for speeding. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Des Moines men received upgraded charges Monday in the beating of Mike Wasike, according to KCCI-TV. Wasike was found on a street in Des Moines in 2013 after he was robbed and pistol-whipped by three teenagers. The Kenyan immigrant, who came with his family to Des Moines seeking a better life, spent his final years unable to eat or speak because of the beating. Watsike died in January. Leshaun Murray and Terrance Cheeks Jr. are now charged with first-degree murder in Wasike’s death. Both are already in prison after having been convicted on robbery charges in the incident. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man who showed up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound says he was shot while inside his car. KWWL-TV reports police are investigating. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A beloved bulldog is now home safe after being stolen from his owner’s car Sunday. WHO-TV reports the dog, named “Tank,” was taken from a parked car at Jordan Creek Mall. All of the windows of the car were rolled down. After a Facebook post was widely shared, the dog was returned anonymously. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The co-director of the biggest movie in the nation was in Iowa Monday night, according to KCRG-TV. Joe Russo co-directed “Avengers: Infinity War” with his brother Anthony. Joe Russo is a University of Iowa graduate, and was in Iowa City to speak with students. He says his classes at the University of Iowa inspired him to be a storyteller.


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Monday, April 30, 2018

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Bondurant man admitted to killing his entire family as part of a plea deal Monday. KCCI-TV reports Chase Nicholson faced charges for shooting and killing his parents and sister last April. Nicholson was arrested in Missouri just a day after the shooting. In court today, Nicholson withdrew his original not guilty plea, and has asked to be sentenced immediately. WALNUT, IA (IRN) – A fire broke out Sunday morning at the Super 8 motel in Walnut. KSOM radio reports flames and heavy smoke were coming from the building when firefighters arrived. Thirty-one rooms were occupied, but no one was hurt. Twelve guest rooms and the pool area are either heavily damaged or destroyed. Around a dozen fire departments assisted. WEBSTER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man died Sunday after exchanging several gunshots with an Iowa State Patrol trooper who was responding to a call west of Fort Dodge. The trooper found a man and woman involved in a dispute, and the man pointed and fired a handgun at the trooper. After exchanging several rounds at each other, the man was shot and killed; the trooper was not injured. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One of two men charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Davenport last year has agreed to testify against everyone involved. The Quad-City Times reports 21-year-old Nakita Ronschel Wiseman Jr., of Bettendorf was one of five people involved in a robbery where 20-year-old Brady Tumlinson was shot to death last September. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Linn County standoff ended Sunday when deputies entered a garage and found the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. KCRG-TV reports earlier that evening a male had shot another, causing minor injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Saturday was graduation day at Grand View University, and one student gave the term “graduation walk” a whole new meaning. WHO-TV reports Ankeny native Andrew Tressel was born with spina bifida, which has left him paralyzed from the waist down. Tressel hasn’t been able to use crutches for years, but surprised his parents and the entire university on the graduation stage with a walk to remember. His father said it was, “very exciting, a very proud moment for his mom and myself.”


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Sunday, April 29, 2018

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating the city’s third homicide of 2018. KCCI-TV reports it happened Friday night when a 20-year-old man was shot and killed on the east side. Witnesses are cooperating. MOWER COUNTY, MN (IRN) – One person was hurt after a man from Riceville, Iowa, driving a motorcycle hit a deer in Mower County, Minnesota. He’s OK, but his female passenger from Alabama was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Both were wearing helmets. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman is facing 22 felony charges for stealing money from her former clients, who are dependent adults. WHO-TV reports Malia Ollom, 42, is accused of theft, forgery, fraudulent use of credit cards, identity theft, and dependent adult abuse. The former Crest Services employee committed the crimes between March of 2017 and January of this year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Olympian Jenny Simpson set an American record in the 2-mile at the Drake Relays Friday as the crowd pushed her toward the finish with a standing ovation.The Des Moines Register reports Simpson was born in Webster City, but moved out of state as a child. Yet, Iowans have welcomed her as one of our own. Simpson has won all 11 of her Drake Relays races, and says, “it feels like these people have been on a journey with me — the fans are a big part of it.”


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Saturday, April 28, 2018

HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – A Hiawatha Iowa man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 2016 killing of his mother. The Des Moines Register reports 33-year-old Joseph Duane Hubbard told officers he killed his 56-year-old mother in her home by shoving a rotten apple down her throat during a heated argument. She died from asphyxiation. GARNER, IA (IRN) – An accused mail thief has been arrested, according to KIMT-TV. Carl Douglas Werstein, 36, of the northern Iowa town of Leland, is charged with theft. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says it began receiving complaints in of mail being stolen from rural mailboxes. Werstein became a suspect and law enforcement set up a sting to catch the thief. Two items were placed in a mailbox monitored by authorities and Werstein drove up to the mailbox around 4 am and took the “trap mail.” He was apprehended. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A firefighter from the eastern Iowa town of Prairieburg was hurt while battling a brush fire that re-kindled Friday, according KGAN-TV. Nine agencies responded to the fire. The injured firefighter was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Governor’s office and the Republican led Iowa State Legislature have reached an agreement on a tax cut and reform plan. For income taxes, the Governor says the average Iowan will see a 10% tax break immediately. At full implementation, which could happen as early as 2023, the Governor’s Office says some Iowans will see a 25-percent tax savings. Critics say the state budget is already too tight. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Get ready for the return of those ticket-issuing speed cameras on Iowa interstate highways. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Iowa Department of Transportation doesn’t have the authority to regulate speed cameras. In a unanimous decision, the justices told the Iowa DOT it can only enforce laws, not make its own. And right now there is no law banning speed cameras.


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Friday, April 27, 2018

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person died in an accident on the Julien Dubuque Bridge this morning, according to KWWL-TV. An ambulance rear-ended an ammonia tanker. The Julien Dubuque bridge crosses the Mississippi River and connects the city of Dubuque to East Dubuque, Illinois. CEDAR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Cedar County man died in a farm accident Thursday evening, according to KCRG-TV. An emergency call reported a person was stuck in a grain bin five miles north of West Liberty. 64-year-old Randy Koch was pronounced dead at the scene. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating a shooting Thursday night. KGAN-TV reports two people were shot and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The head of a state agency fired last month over sexual harassment allegations consistently displayed sexually inappropriate behavior to female colleagues for years, according to a redacted complaint Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office released Thursday. KCCI-TV reports Reynolds initially denied there were documents related to the firing of her longtime ally Iowa Finance Authority Director David Jamison. The document is explicit in detailing Jamison’s alleged offenses. PRAIRIE CITY, IA (IRN) – Spring has arrived at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. WHO-TV reports so far five bison calves have been born on the Refuge. Each year around 10-15 Cows have calves. The herd these days can often be seen in a large field northwest of the visitor center.