Category: State News

CALHOUN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a wrong-way crash that killed one person west of Fort Dodge on Highway 20. A Dodge Caravan was driving the wrong direction in the westbound lanes when the driver hit a GMC Yukon. The driver of the Dodge was killed. The GMC’s driver and three passengers were taken to hospitals for unknown injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Legislation that will allow multiple small businesses and associations to offer health coverage plans that don’t comply with federal Affordable Care Act rules is on its way to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk for her expected signature. The plans would not be regulated by the state insurance commissioner or subject to ACA rules and regulations.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man was electrocuted at a mobile home park in Cedar Rapids Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports an investigation is underway.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A central Iowa restaurant owner has agreed to pay nearly $834,000 to 64 employees the federal government says were underpaid. KCCI-TV reports the U.S. Department of Labor says Gloria Ochoa violated minimum wage requirements by requiring servers to cash their paychecks and return part of the money, in cash, back to the restaurants, in addition to giving up $20 from their daily tips. Ochoa owns El Rodeo Mexican Restaurants in Urbandale and Clive.

IOWA (IRN) – Legislative budget cuts are hurting Iowa’s community colleges. WHO-TV reports the cuts Governor Kim Reynolds signed include slashing half a million dollars from community colleges. Rob Denson, President of DMACC says they now can’t fill open teaching jobs in key areas like IT, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and more.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa teen is a finalist for Miss Iowa Teen, and she’s already making history. KCCI-TV reports Nadine Qadoura is the first Hijabi woman in the state to compete for the title. A hijab is a traditional head scarf some Muslim women wear. Nadine is from Cedar Rapids and is a member of the National Honor Society. She hopes to use her spot in the pageant to clear up misconceptions about her culture.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Le Mars man has been given two years of probation for using counterfeit cash at a Sioux City casino, according to KCRG-TV. 27-year-old Kurt Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday to forgery. He was fined $750 and given a deferred judgment, which will allow his conviction to be removed from court records if he successfully completes the terms of his probation. Jones, Brittany Derby and Jackelen Hartsock made several cash transactions Aug. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Police say the bills were later found to be counterfeit.
Derby and Hartsock were also given probation.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Ron Corbett’s bid to challenge Gov. Kim Reynolds for the Republican gubernatorial nomination ended Tuesday when he was found eight voter signatures short of the number needed to qualify for the June primary ballot. Ginny Caligiuri, a Republican seeking to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack in Iowa’s 2nd District, was disqualified when she failed to gather enough signatures in one of the district’s counties. She was five votes short in Washington County.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A Johnson County judge ruled a man convicted in a deadly shooting in the Iowa City Ped Mall cannot be granted immunity because the law is too vague. KGAN-TV reports Lamar Wilson, 24, was hoping to be cleared by Iowa’s new “stand your ground” statute, claiming he shot at a group of people in self-defense. One man died and another was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill that passed the Iowa Senate could take away the rebate residents get from utility companies for making their homes energy efficient. WHO-TV reports supporters of the bill say it’s too costly. Opponents say energy efficiency should be encouraged, and if the bill passes, 21,000 Iowans who work in the industry will lose their jobs.

MEDIAPOLIS, IA (IRN) – The six Mediapolis firefighter babies born within seven months have now all turned one year old, according to WQAD-TV. One dad says they may be the next generation of firefighters in training. The department already has second and third generation firefighters on the team, and the kids love playing in the fire trucks.

OAKLAND, IA (IRN) – The parents of Megan Klindt, the 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are critical of school officials and the 74-year-old bus driver who also died. Glen and Natalie Klindt told the Des Moines Register Hendricks couldn’t walk without a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire, so the couple says he wasn’t physically fit to drive the bus.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health Office announced Tuesday its intent to issue medical marijuana dispensary licenses to five locations in Iowa. They are in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Waterloo, Windsor Heights, and Sioux City.

TULUM, MEXICO (IRN) – A gas leak suspected of killing a Creston family in Mexico is believed to have come from the boiler in their vacation rental, according to NBC. Kevin and Amy Sharp and children Sterling, 12, and Adrianna, 7, were found dead Friday at the Tulum condominium where they were staying. It’s unclear if the condo had a gas detector.

FAYETTE, IA (IRN) – Three women who were Certified Nursing Assistants at the Prairie View Residential Care in Fayette are accused of having sex with patients, according to KCRG-TV.
The women were fired, and face charges. The arrests came following the arrests of two other women who were CNAs who had sex with patients at the same facility.

IOWA (IRN) – U.S. Rep. Steve King’s campaign Facebook page mocked a teenage survivor of the Florida school shooting yesterday. The Des Moines Register reports the page featured a photo of Emma Gonzalez as she gave a speech at Saturday’s “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington. Alongside a photo of Gonzalez, the page noted: “This is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don’t speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens; hence their right to self defense.” Hundreds replied with outrage, and the campaign responded by mocking liberals.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa DOT recently proposed making I-80 a toll road with eleven toll booths across the state in order to pay for lane expansion. After receiving public feedback, the proposal was dropped.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Johnston High School teacher accused of sexual abuse and exploitation submitted an Alford plea Monday. KCCI-TV reports Dustin Mead, 33, was accused of inappropriately touching a female student. Johnston police said Mead kissed the student, then gave her grades she did not earn. An “Alford plea” is plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines city workers cleared a homeless camp Thursday and Friday next to a downtown shelter. The Des Moines Register reports a couple dozen men and women had been living in tents at the site since November. The city had planned to close the camp earlier but it let an eviction notice expire when frigid winter temperatures set in.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Some parents say a bill making its way through the Iowa Senate is discriminatory against students with learning disabilities, according to WHO-TV. The bill would allow families to receive public funding for their children to enroll in a private school. Parents of children with disabilities say the private schools don’t have to admit their children, and they fear public schools will suffer financially if taxpayer dollars are transferred to private schools.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – The documentary “Hero Among Us” debuted Sunday in Vinton, according to KCRG-TV. A Vinton veteran of World War II, John Gualtier, was the subject. The film depicts Gualtier and his battalion as they entered a Nazi concentration camp. Gualtier worked to clean and feed those held captive. He says, “I had a prisoner die in my arms as I was feeding him.” The experiences haunted Gualtier for decades, but he finally decided to let his story be told.

IOWA (IRN) – A massive winter storm hit northern and eastern Iowa Saturday, leaving more than a foot of snow in its path. Mason City led the pack in snow totals, finishing with 17.5 inches. Clear Lake, Rockford and Garner received 16 inches.

CRESTON, IA (IRN) – After a Creston family of four was found dead in a condo in Mexico Friday, their cause of death has now been released. The Sharp family died of “asphyxia by inhalation of toxic gases,” according to NBC News. A vigil was held Saturday evening in Creston to remember the Sharps and their impact on the community.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Despite the snow, hundreds of central Iowans descended upon the steps of the Statehouse in Des Moines as part of the nationwide March For Our Lives protest to demand an end to gun violence and call for stricter gun control. Marchers shouted numerous chants, including “Gun Control Now,” “Enough is Enough” and “Vote Them Out,” referring to Iowa’s Republican congressional leaders who take money from the NRA. Marches were held at eleven other Iowa cities as well.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Downtown Des Moines is anticipating an unprecedented wave of hotel construction, including a 330-room Hilton that opened this week. The Des Moines Register reports that the city expects a surge of 951 hotel rooms in the next few years, which is a nearly 50 percent increase from the rooms currently available.

IOWA (IRN) – Yesterday’s winter storm packed a punch, according to WQAD-TV. Snowfall rates were higher than two inches per hour for a time Saturday. The swath of heaviest snow produced more than a foot from northeast of Cedar Rapids to Clinton. In Lowden, 14 inches of snow fell, with 12 inches reported in Maquoketa and Clinton. 9.6 inches fell at the Quad City International Airport making it the second biggest March snow since record keeping began.