Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three women have accused Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Nate Boulton of inappropriate sexual conduct. The Des Moines Register reports the three women describe repeated acts of inappropriate and unwanted touching. Boulton did not deny the allegations, and has apologized. He suspended his campaign earlier today.

ST. CHARLES, IA (IRN) – A family of nine from the Madison County town of St. Charles is safe thanks to working smoke detectors, according to KCCI-TV. Crews arrived to flames shooting from a second-floor window. They were able to contain the fire to the master bedroom. Everyone got out safely after smoke detectors alerted them.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – Two people suffered non-life threatening injuries after a crash in Clear Lake Wednesday night. KIMT-TV reports a truck failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a suburban in the intersection. Deputies say two golden retrievers ran from the Suburban, and have not been found.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A body was found floating in the Mississippi River in Davenport by a fisherman yesterday. WQAD-TV reports the body of an adult man was recovered by the Davenport Fire Department and the Iowa DNR. An autopsy is scheduled.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A teenager who pleaded guilty to burning down the iconic Cedar Covered Bridge in Madison County has been arrested on another arson charge, according to KCCI-TV. 18-year-old Alexander Hoff was booked Wednesday. He was charged with second-degree arson, stemming from a 2017 case involving a car fire in West Des Moines.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Elementary school kids in Cedar Rapids got something yesterday to help keep them active and thinking all summer long. KCRG-TV reports UnitedHealthcare donated summer survival kits to students. The kits included items like bug spray, water bottles, books, and basketballs. A spokesperson for UnitedHealthCare said, “this is an opportunity to keep kids engaged and do something fun outside in the summer months.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is behind bars after police say he chased his neighbor with a sledgehammer Tuesday. WHO-TV reports the man said he heard his neighbor, 26-year-old Ryan Pastorik, screaming at their property line and went outside to check what was wrong. An argument began, and Pastorik began chasing the man while wielding a large sledgehammer. The incident was captured on video.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A firefighter was injured while battling a house fire Tuesday night, according to KGAN-TV. The Muscatine Fire Department was called to a garage fire that had spread to the second story of the house. During the initial attack, a firefighter was injured when a ceiling collapsed on him.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man is in custody after a two-hour standoff near a Dubuque elementary school yesterday. KCRG-TV reports police pulled the man over just before the end of the school day. As the man fled his car, he pointed a handgun at himself, and the school went under lockdown. Negotiators talked with the man for two hours before he surrendered.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – In an era of school shootings, Johnston officials believe one simple step could save lives. KCCI-TV reports the school district will allow city police to review the school’s security footage in real-time. Previously, police have not been allowed to watch footage in real-time due to privacy concerns. The agreement now allows real-time viewing in emergency situations.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s economic development board has approved a new round of tax breaks for companies to expand in the state. Eight companies will receive tax breaks under the state’s “high quality jobs program.” This includes money for Atlantic Bottling to add 106 jobs in Walcott, and a tax break for Tyson meats in Perry to install a new cooling system. That project will not create any jobs. Tyson Foods had a net income over $1 billion last year.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – The Muscatine School District is investing one-million dollars into it’s music programs, according to WQAD-TV. While a million dollars is a lot of money, the district believes it’s an important investment. Student participation is growing rapidly, and student grades and graduation rates are better for music students than those of the general student body.

BELLE PLAINE, IA (IRN) – A woman and boy whose bodies were found at a railroad crossing in eastern Iowa died in a murder-suicide. KCCI-TV reports Teresa Gerleman, 36, and her 8-year-old son, Henry Fields were found at a Belle Plaine crossing on May 4. Video shows that Gerleman waited near the railroad tracks for the Union Pacific train to approach. As the train draws near, Gerleman goes to the center of the tracks and at the last moment pulls Henry into the path of the train with her.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A northeast Iowa woman is facing charges for helping hide fugitive parents and their child they abducted from South Carolina. KGAN-TV reports 56-year-old Tami Linne of Bluffton is charged with accessory to a felony. 2-year-old Dakota Ray was reported as a missing and exploited child after her parents took her from her South Carolina home to Iowa, despite not having custody of her. Both parents allegedly use meth heavily.

HUBBARD COUNTY, MN (IRN) – A four-year-old Worth County child and their father have died after a kayaking accident in Minnesota over the weekend. KIMT-TV reports Jesse Anderson, 42, of Northwood, and his 4-year-old child died after authorities received a report of two kayakers who had overturned on Hart Lake on Saturday and had not returned to the water’s surface. Neither victim were wearing a life jacket.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa is joining the call for drug manufacturers to be held accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. Attorney General Tom Miller joined 38 other state attorneys general in asking lawmakers to pass stiffer penalties for opioid producers.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – New digital signs will be able to quickly alert drivers as soon as a wrong-way driver is reported on I-380 in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports the Cedar Rapids Police Department partnered with the Iowa Department of Transportation to run the alerts. It will allow the warning to go out within seconds of a report of a wrong-way driver. The hope is drivers will have more time to react and be more alert if they see a warning sooner.

CLARKSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Maddie Poppe is the first Iowan to win American Idol. The Des Moines Register reports the Clarksville native beat out Gabby Barrett, Vegas’ odds-on favorite to take the crown, and Caleb Lee Hutchinson, the bluesy baritone from Georgia. In addition to the title, Poppe won $250,000, a headlining performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One person is dead and three others injured after a violent Saturday morning involving three shootings in Waterloo. KGAN-TV reports there have been no arrests.

WORTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of entering another woman’s house and trying to change into her clothes is facing a felony burglary charge. KIMT-TV reports Tasha Nelson, 29, of Albert Lea, Minnesota is facing a third-degree burglary charge in connection to an incident in Kensett. The homeowner heard a noise, checked her house and found Nelson in the bathroom trying to change into her clothes.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old boy boy has died after being shot on the street Saturday night in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports multiple shots were fired, and police are investigating.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman was killed and two others injured Sunday morning when a car drove off the road just before a bridge on Interstate 80, north of Des Moines, and landed on Second Avenue below. The car landed on a concrete barrier dividing northbound traffic from southbound traffic on Second Avenue. The woman driving the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were hospitalized.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are investigating a robbery last night, according to KCRG-TV. The victim was tackled to the ground by a man, who then stole an undisclosed amount of cash and property before running away.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Two Council Bluffs men are walking across America for a good cause. KETV reports Matt Andersen and Trevor Stephens met playing football in seventh grade. They walk at a pace of about three miles per hour, and spent a few days at home in Council Bluffs last week. They have now departed for the west coast. The walk is to raise money for the Purple Heart Foundation, which is a program supporting veterans.

NEOLA, IA (IRN) – A Nebraska man died after the motorcycle he was driving hit a livestock trailer in western Iowa. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that 26-year-old Adam Blake, of Omaha, died following the crash Thursday night on a county road near Neola. Blake was following a pickup truck pulling the empty trailer, and hit the trailer when the truck slowed to turn. He died at the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A homeless man was hospitalized Friday evening after being stabbed in the head during a fight. WHO-TV reports the incident happened near Central Iowa Shelter and Services in Des Moines. No arrests have been made.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fire crews battled a massive house fire Saturday night near Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, according to KCCI-TV. When firefighters arrived, flames were bursting from the roof, which eventually collapsed. A woman and her pets were able to escape.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – Dozens of dodgeball players competed on the court Saturday, raising money for the four lives lost in a tragic car accident on I-80 in Nebraska. WQAD-TV reports Teen Club in Clinton hosted the benefit. They raised about $2400 dollars to go towards the funeral costs and medical expenses.