Category: State News

LISBON, IA (IRN) – A man walking across Highway 30 in Lisbon yesterday was struck by a vehicle, according to KCRG-TV. He is expected to recover.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – The Muscatine Fire Department says a vehicle caught fire on Sunday after a firework incident. KWQC-TV reports after the fire was put out, an investigation revealed physical evidence, burn patterns, witness reports and remnants show the fire was caused by a fireworks explosion.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man is facing a felony domestic abuse charge for allegedly choking out a woman twice. KIMT-TV reports Brandon Benson, 26, allegedly strangled a woman to the point where she lost consciousness and after she came to he did it again.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – An investigation is underway in Waterloo after reports that violent comments were made by one councilperson about another council member. KWWL-TV reports witnesses heard Councilwoman Margaret Klein made threatening comments towards Councilman Pat Morrissey. She reportedly said, “if I was in a dark room with Pat Morrissey with a knife, I would stab him.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police issued a warning Monday about scams that could pop up as flood cleanup begins. KCCI-TV reports officials encourage flood victims to only use legitimate contractors when planning home repairs and to research charities asking for donations for flood victims before pulling out their wallets. To verify that a charity is legitimate, visit charitywatch.org.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An ax-throwing pub has opened in Iowa, according to KWQC-TV. Hatchet Jack’s in Iowa City is the first pub in Iowa in which patrons can throw axes at targets. The concept started in Canada about 10 years ago, and now there are hatchet throwing bars located in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, among other cities. Safety measures are in place, and employees known as “axperts” enforce the rules. The bar will cater to corporate events and bachelor or bachelorette parties.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A Marion mother of two has died after her boyfriend allegedly beat her unconscious causing a serious brain injury. KWWL-TV reports Stephanie Bowling died early Friday morning. 27-year-old Cody Brown faces a murder charge. Brown told officers he was arguing with Bowling when he picked her up and threw her on the ground. When officers arrived they found Bowling unconscious and without a heartbeat.

PANORA, IA (IRN) – There was an officer involved shooting in Panora yesterday, according to Raccoon Valley Radio. The Guthrie County Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a man with a knife threatening people in an apartment complex. Upon arriving at the address, law enforcement located him in a hallway. He confronted law enforcement with a knife. They ordered him to drop it several times but he refused. An officer fired his weapon striking the man. He was given medical aid but later died from his injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County officials described this weekend’s heavy rainfall and major flooding as a “historic event” and anticipate at least a monthslong cleanup effort, according to KCCI-TV. Much of the metro received over six inches of rain, with Ankeny receiving ten inches. Longtime Iowa sportscaster Larry Cotlar, 66, died when he was swept away in flood waters after his van flooded on a north Des Moines street. His body was found several blocks away. There were approximately 40 water rescues during the period due to vehicles stalled in flood waters.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A motorcycle crash in Ottumwa sent two people to the hospital late Friday night. An SUV pulled out in front of the motorcycle, and the motorcycle struck it, ejecting both occupants from the bike.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Brazilian man faces federal charges after causing a flight from Calgary, Canada, to Chicago to be diverted to Cedar Rapids. KGAN-TV reports the man became disruptive, and “lost it” with a flight crew member. Passengers restrained him with zip ties provided by the flight crew before the plane landed. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

IOWA (IRN) – It’s been ten years since Iowa cleared the air with the Smoke-free Air Act. Former Governor Chet Culver signed the bill into law in 2008. It bans smoking in bars, restaurants and outdoor entertainment venues.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 65-year-old man died after he was swept away in flash flooding in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a report of a stalled and occupied van in flooded streets. The occupants had left the van, and one person was swept away in the flash floodwaters. First responders found the man, deceased, several blocks away. The Des Moines Metro received more than seven inches of rain in less than three hours, possibly a record.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Firefighters responded to a house explosion in Urbandale Saturday night, according to KCCI-TV. People living in the area reported hearing and feeling an “enormous explosion” and noticed flames coming from the building. No injuries were immediately reported. It’s unclear what caused the explosion, but firefighters suspect the major flooding contributed.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A driver is dead, after refusing to stop and crashing through gates at the Davenport Municipal Airport. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver accelerated and crashed into an aviation fuel container which caused a large fire.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Texas man was arrested in Davenport Saturday for illegally selling fireworks without a permit. KWQC-TV reports Jarred Carlyle also had marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a loaded firearm in his vehicle.

BREMER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man has died in a rollover accident in rural Bremer County, according to KWWL-TV. The Iowa State Patrol says 72-year-old Richard Martin died following Friday’s rollover accident along U.S. Highway 218. Martin’s truck went into a ditch and rolled several times.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people were stabbed Friday night at an apartment complex on Des Moines’ south side, according to KCCI-TV. It’s unclear what led up to the stabbing, and one person has been arrested. Both victims are expected to survive.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A crash involving a DART bus injured five people in Des Moines Friday. WHO-TV reports a truck rear-ended the bus while it was stopped. Four people on the bus and one person in the truck went to the hospital for treatment. The incident is under investigation.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 54-year-old man who brought a gun to Davenport school grounds — while distributing white supremacist recruitment fliers — was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and a five-year suspended incarceration in Scott County Court Friday. WQAD-TV reports James Lee Mathias also had multiple prior interactions with law enforcement related to weapons, in addition to interference with official acts.

USA (IRN) – Officials urge caution when letting children use sparklers this Fourth of July. On Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated nearly 13,000 people suffered fireworks-related injuries last year. About 67% of them happened around the holiday. Sparklers were the number one problem, causing 14% of the injuries. Sparklers can leave nasty burns, reaching temps that can get to 1,200 degrees or more. As a comparison, glass melts at 1200 degrees, or 300 degrees less than the temperature of a sparkler.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected a proposed 72-hour waiting period for abortions in the state, according to KCCI-TV. The ruling reverses a lower court decision, calling the law unconstitutional. The ruling was 5-2. The two dissenting justices were Thomas Waterman & Edward Mansfield. Mansfield wrote the dissent and is reportedly on President Donald Trump’s shortlist to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man accused of stealing trade secrets will plead guilty next week. KWWL-TV reports 55-year-old Josh Isler has been indicted on charges of theft of trade secrets and making false statements to the FBI. While Isler was working for DuPont’s ethanol fuel enzyme division in August 2013, he downloaded hundreds of electronic DuPont files after accepting a job with an unnamed DuPont competitor. He lied to FBI agents when he told them he had not downloaded the files.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Severe thunderstorms with winds of up to 80 mph on Thursday afternoon downed trees and power lines, among other devastation, across central Iowa. Multiple semi-tractor trailers were knocked over or collided on Interstates 80 and 35. In Winterset, the gusts and torrential rain destroyed a fireworks tent and its merchandise. In Indianola, several trees were snapped at the trunk, landing on top of cars and houses. The National Weather Service indicates Greenfield appears to be the epicenter of the storms’ force. A heat advisory or an excessive heat warning is in effect for all of Iowa today.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A parent is accusing the Cedar Rapids School District of destroying evidence. KCRG-TV reports the parent alleges video was destroyed that showed a school bus driver assaulting a special needs student. The district claims the camera was broken.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Marion woman was taken to a hospital with possible life-threatening injuries after being assaulted Thursday. KGAN-TV reports the 24-year-old victim was found unresponsive. Police arrested 27-year-old Cody Brown and charged him with domestic assault with serious injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Liang Chow, who coached Iowan Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas to Olympic gold medals, has been named coach of the Chinese women’s national team, according to the Des Moines Register. He came to the University of Iowa in 1991 on scholarship to study English, then became an assistant men’s gymnastics coach. He started Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines 20 years ago. Chow grew up in Beijing.