Category: State News

ATHENS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A trip into “dark web” drug deals has resulted in the arrest of an Iowa man for allegedly selling thousands of dollars in narcotics to college students in Ohio using bitcoin. ABC News reports 42-year old Anthony Scott Boeckholt of Forest City was arrested on Jan. 29 for allegedly selling drugs including fentanyl to two students in Athens, Ohio. Two drug overdose deaths in 2017 at Ohio University in Athens have been linked to the investigation surrounding Boeckholt.

GEORGE, IA (IRN) – A 10-year-old girl has died in a house fire. The Sioux City Journal reports that Riley Meyer, a third grader at Central Lyon Elementary School, died when her family’s house in George burned early Sunday. The blaze took several hours to extinguish and the effort was complicated by cold temperatures that caused water from the trucks to repeatedly freeze. George is a town of about 1,000 people, located about 40 miles north of Le Mars.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo School District bus was involved in an accident with four other vehicles this morning in Waterloo. KWWL-TV reports no students were on board the time of the accident. Three people, including the bus driver, suffered minor injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 23-year-old man is behind bars Tuesday in connection with a brutal 2017 sexual assault. KCCI-TV reports Ames police arrested Devontez Voigts for allegedly kidnapping and sexually abusing a woman at an Ames Park last January. Voigts allegedly dragged the victim from her car into the park while covering her mouth so she couldn’t scream. Police say she was sexually assaulted at length, and that the attack was “random.”

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old man is facing a criminal charge for sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl. KCRG-TV reports the charge against Noah Neyens is third degree sexual abuse. Police say it happened at a house in Dubuque last May. Officers arrested him Tuesday after confirming his DNA matched that found in a sexual assault kit taken from the girl.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Transportation reports it had 285 trucks on roadways on Tuesday, but their plows weren’t alone. County and city plows across the state were also in operation, and countless private plows worked to push snow as well. Officials say drivers working 12-14 hour days may lead to fatigue that could either impact safety or travel conditions.

IOWA (IRN) – If the election for Iowa governor were held today, incumbent Republican Kim Reynolds would likely defeat all five of the leading Democrats trying to succeed her as the state’s chief executive. The new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll suggests two of those would-be challengers, state Sen. Nate Boulton and retired businessman Fred Hubbell, are more competitive with Reynolds than other Democrats in the race. While that’s good news for Reynolds, she doesn’t garner more than 44% of the vote in any matchup, as 22% of those polled are unsure who they would vote for.

STORM LAKE, (IA) – A 16-year-old boy was charged Friday after he made a list of people he wanted to fatally stab at his high school in Storm Lake, according to the Des Moines Register. The suspect, who was not identified because of his age, planned to bring a knife to Storm Lake High School to fatally stab people on the list, which included the names of fellow students, faculty, school administrators and family members. The teenager was charged with threats of terrorism.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A massive, deadly pileup involving dozens of cars and semis on a snow-covered freeway yesterday in Ames killed one person and sent at least ten others to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports seven people died on Iowa roads Monday. Troopers responded to 185 accidents across the state.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Rescue crews in Muscatine pulled a person from the Mississippi River yesterday, after cutting through ice to reach them. KWWL-TV reports the person is in critical condition, and three first responders were taken to the hospital for exposure to the elements. They’ll be OK. There’s no word on why the person was on the ice.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – The entire city of Clinton was put under a boil advisory yesterday, according to KWQC-TV. A 16-inch water main break was caused by cold temperatures. The hospital immediately secured 200 cases of water, and students were told to bring bottles of water to school.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Brad Dwyer of Des Moines has a new offering on the cutting edge of cell phone applications. WHO-TV reports the 29-year-old is the founder and CEO of Hatchlings Inc. Dwyer has developed a new app that features augmented reality. Called “Nose Zone,” the app lets users play games hands-free and requires only facial movement to play. The app is only available on the iPhone X with its facial recognition technology.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A crash involving dozens of vehicles has forced the closure of I-35 southbound in Ames. Approximately 50 vehicles were involved in the crash, which has closed the southbound lanes of I-35 near Lincoln Way. Officials at the scene report a mix of injuries from serious to walking wounded. People caught in the crash are being picked up by officials.

GEORGE, IA (IRN) – One person died in a house fire in the small northwest Iowa city of George. Crews from six communities helped fight the fire, which was complicated by cold temperatures that caused water from the trucks to repeatedly freeze. The name of the deceased has not been released.

CENTER POINT, IA (IRN) – Two firefighters received minor injuries from a house fire Sunday in the Linn County town of Center Point. KGAN-TV reports the home suffered major damages but everyone inside escaped without injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The 2018 Iowa County Caucuses are tonight. While there is no presidential election this year, Iowans will decide who will be governor and many legislative positions in November. Tonight, attendees will discuss the candidates, policies, and determine their representatives for their county committees.

LAMONI, IA (IRN) – Layoffs are underway at Graceland University in Lamoni. The private liberal arts university is one of the largest employers in Decatur County on the Iowa-Missouri border. The university will cut 15 full-time employees and 4 part-time workers. Decatur County is the poorest county in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Legislature is considering making first offense possession of marijuana that’s 5 grams or less a simple misdemeanor. KCCI-TV reports supporters say it would lessen penalties, save the state money, and reduce racial injustice. Half of the 3,400 cases brought in 2016 involved 5 grams or less. In the same period, 18% of people convicted were African Americans.

IOWA FALLS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa Falls man who is a former Philadelphia Eagles player got a special message from the team Sunday. KCRG-TV reports Russell Verhousky signed with the team as a free agent halfback in 1953, and is now battling a terminal illness. He received a signed jersey with the message that read in part, “You have a loving team in your corner. Sincerely, your friends at the Philadelphia Eagles.”

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – A Nevada man was hit by a train after he allegedly killed his 2-month-old daughter. KCCI-TV reports 29-year-old Calvin White was charged Friday with first-degree murder and child endangerment after the baby’s mother came home to find the infant not breathing and alone with another child. Officers were called to the apartment, and shortly after to the scene of a pedestrian/train accident. White wasn’t seriously injured. He’s in jail.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man will spend two years in prison for killing a puppy by snapping its neck. KCRG-TV reports Christopher Vogel killed his neighbors’ 12-week-old Corgi named “Baby.” The neighbors had refused to give Vogel their Wifi password.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former dentist who had operated clinics in West Des Moines and Des Moines has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for drug and gun convictions. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Shawn Michael Kerby would prescribe the opiate painkiller to patients who didn’t need the drug. He then would have the patients return the pills to him once they were filled at a local pharmacy. The gun charge stemmed from a search of his home and dental offices that turned up several handguns and shotguns.

AUDUBON, IA (IRN) – Super Bowl Sunday will feature an Iowa landmark in a commercial airing during the game. WHO-TV reports Audubon’s Albert the Bull will be featured in a Cenex Commercial, which is expected to air during the third quarter. The add premiered last week in Audubon, and officials hope it will draw tourists to the community.

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – Police in Nevada arrested the father of a two-month old baby two days after the baby’s death. KCRG-TV reports 29-year-old Calvin White faces charges of first degree murder and child endangerment causing death. Officers responded to a call for an infant not breathing on Monday. A short time after they arrived, the baby died. No cause of death has been reported.

POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A teenager was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Poweshiek County yesterday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 16-year-old Connor McCrary of Montour drifted off the roadway, overcorrected, and slammed into another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with unknown injuries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – $50 a tip. That’s how much students at Lincoln High School will get paid under a new program that allows them to report crimes anonymously. WHO-TV reports the program uses smartphone technology and allows students to get paid for tipping off school officials to crimes on campus. The partnership with Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa was the idea of the students. The program is called “Quick 50.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines parking enforcement officer was injured when a driver ran over her foot to avoid having her car towed. KCCI-TV reports the meter checker was having 22-year-old Shyla Chilous’ vehicle towed because of outstanding tickets. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, Chilous showed up and tried to take her car, and ran over the checker’s foot. The checker screamed for Chilous to get off her foot. She did, and then ran on foot. Police chased her, used force to stop her, handcuffed and arrested her, and hauled her to jail. The meter checker will be OK, and authorities say people should just pay the ticket.