Category: State News

BRANDON, IA (IRN) – A woman and her children escaped a fire that killed her husband in eastern Iowa. KCCI-TV reports firefighters found the body of 37-year-old Chauncey Raue on Friday inside his heavily damaged two-story home in Brandon. His wife, Brittany, and their three sons fled the home, but one of the boys was burned. He was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

ELDORA, IA (IRN) – Another state worker has been severely beaten by a resident of the Eldora Boys State Training School. The unidentified staff member had numerous teeth smashed out and suffered broken bones in his face. Six weeks ago four residents beat up another staff member during an escape attempt.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Most Iowans can expect to see savings from $2.8 billion income tax cuts awaiting Iowa Gov. Kim Reynold’s signature. KCCI-TV reports a typical family of four will save about $7 per paycheck. About 40 percent of the tax cuts will benefit the top 4 percent of Iowa taxpayers. The bottom half of Iowans will receive about 7 percent of the overall savings.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man on parole after an earlier conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine at a home with a daycare is facing new meth-related charges. The Quad City Times reports Dale Blumer, 40, made meth at a home daycare operated by his girlfriend. At least one of the children tested positive for methamphetamine exposure.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman is in custody after she rolled her car in Des Moines on Sunday evening. WHO-TV reports the vehicle landed on its side and trapped the woman, and patrons from a nearby bar helped get her out. Police conducted a field sobriety test and determined the woman was impaired, so she was taken into custody.

CLARKSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Iowan Maddie Poppe advanced to the finals of “American Idol,” marking the first time a Hawkeye has ever gone this far on the reality singing show. The Des Moines Register reports in addition to making it to the Top 3 show next Sunday, Poppe’s entry into the finals means that she will host a hometown hero celebration, rally and concert in Clarksville Tuesday evening.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A former Iowa boarding school director convicted of abusing students has been sentenced to nine years in prison. The Hawk Eye reports that 40-year-old Benjamin Trane was sentenced Thursday over defense objections that he didn’t get a fair trial. A jury in December convicted Trane of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a child by a counselor and child endangerment at the now-defunct Midwest Academy in Keokuk.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A Marion family had to find another place to sleep last night after a house fire Saturday. KCRG-TV reports when fire crews arrived, the home had smoke and flames showing from the roof. Everyone got out safely, and officials believe the cause was a chimney fire.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – First responders in Davenport had to ditch their vehicles and break out the boats to help a man in need of medical attention. KCCI-TV reports floodwaters in the city made it impossible to get to the man’s house by vehicle. First responders were able to bring him back to higher ground–and to an ambulance. Many roads in the city have been closed until floodwaters recede.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake University softball team won its fourth Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title with a 4-1 victory over Southern Illinois in the title game Saturday. Drake (43-10) earned the conference’s automatic berth to the 2018 NCAA Tournament, its third NCAA appearance in school history and first since 2008. The Bulldogs also won the 2018 regular season title after going 24-1 in league play.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A car hit a bicyclist in Cedar Rapids last night, according to KGAN-TV. Police say the man on the bike was taken to the hospital with what appeared to be serious injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman accused of leaving her children and dogs alone in filthy conditions has received a deferred sentence. KCCI-TV reports Destinee Miller pleaded guilty after police found her 4-year-old boy trying to care for his 2-year-old sister, who was naked and covered in feces, and his 1-year-old brother, who was only wearing a diaper that was full. Miller will be placed on probation with mental health and substance abuse counseling. She must also follow through on a five-year no-contact order with her children.

MOLINE, IL (IRN) – Moline, Illinois police arrested a Davenport man yesterday after a scuffle in which the suspect attacked an officer and attempted to unholster his duty weapon, according to WQAD-TV. Officers were investigating a group of suspicious subjects when 21-year-old Randy Anderson of Davenport fled on foot after giving officers a false name. After a short foot pursuit and struggle, Anderson was arrested. He’s in jail, facing numerous charges.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque and East Dubuque fire crews rescued someone from the Mississippi river Friday night, according to KCRG-TV. A person running from police jumped into the river, and then swam and clung to a pylon. Fire crews helped rescue the person.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Do you play the lottery? If so, the Iowa Lottery is encouraging ticket holders to double-check their numbers as a $1 million prize remains unclaimed. It’s been nearly a month since the numbers were announced and no one has claimed to have the winning ticket, which was purchased at a Casey’s General Store in Nevada. The winner has until April 11, 2019 to claim their prize.

CLARKSVILLE, IA (IRN) – A boy died after an accidental shooting in northeastern Iowa.
KCCI-TV reports the shooting was reported yesterday in rural Clarksville. At the scene, first responders found three people, all under 18. The names of the boy, the others involved and how the shooting occurred have not been released.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A Muscatine woman died after her car swerved off a highway in Muscatine County and came to rest in a ditch full of floodwater. WQAD-TV reports Traci L. Avis, 47, was extracted from the vehicle and transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where she was pronounced dead. The incident remains under investigation.

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA (IRN) – Protesters gathered in Mount Pleasant Thursday to express opposition to the ICE raid that resulted in the arrest of 32 men working at Midwest Precast Concrete for alleged immigration violations. WHO-TV reports protesters say the raid is tearing families and the community apart. Local churches have opened their doors to help those whose families have been impacted.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police say a man was killed Thursday evening after a vehicle rolled on top of him. KCRG-TV reports the vehicle was not in park, and rolled on top of the man who was in the driveway. He died at the scene.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Ft. Dodge man was hospitalized Wednesday after being shot by his dog. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports Richard Remme, 51, told 911 dispatchers that he had been playing with his dog, a Labrador-pit bull mix, when the dog accidentally hit his gun. The gun fired, injuring Remme.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo woman had been arrested for allegedly hurling a frozen chicken at someone in a supermarket. The Courier reports Decedra Harrington, 45, was at Hy-Vee when she allegedly became involved in an argument with an employee. Harrington then threw a chicken at the worker, who ducked. The propelled poultry flew over the employee’s head and smacked a customer in the chest.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Health officials in northern Iowa have confirmed seven cases of whooping cough in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports that the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health says it’s investigating instances of the highly contagious disease in the Mason City Community School District and among staff at a local McDonald’s restaurant.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa man is in jail after being accused of possessing child pornography. KTVO-TV reports Jett Lee Johnson, 60, was arrested Tuesday. He is charged with 23 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for the photos.

AMES, IA (IRN) – More than 200 students and staff at Iowa State University say they have been raped or molested on campus, according to a new campus report. KCCI-TV reports ISU commissioned the study after it reached a nearly $50 thousand settlement with a former student who claimed the university failed her after she was sexually assaulted.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – Two Clinton women and one man have been arrested and charged with felony assault for their role in the beating of an 18-year-old Clinton teen captured on video and shared with the Clinton Police Department’s Facebook page. WQAD-TV reports in the video the three adults can be seen repeatedly punching, striking and dragging the woman as she cries and asks them to stop.

MT. PLEASANT, IA (IRN) – Federal immigration officials have raided a precast concrete manufacturing plant in southeastern Iowa. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say ICE agents and local law enforcement took 32 people at Midwest Precast Concrete in Mount Pleasant into custody Wednesday on suspicion of immigration violations. The agency says those detained came from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Twin sisters working in a University of Iowa lab found out they have a unique connection to it. They were conceived there through in vitro fertilization. KCRG-TV reports Alyssa and Olivia Ray started working in the lab when they were freshman. Now they are about to graduate. They didn’t learn about the connection until their Dad came to visit them at work. They soon head off to medical school.