Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A proposal from the American Cancer Society could more than double Iowa’s cigarette tax. Governor Kim Reynolds heard the proposal Tuesday, which includes a $1.50 tax increase. Currently, Iowa has the 29th lowest cigarette tax in the nation. Reynolds declined to comment on the proposal, saying her staff would need time to review the request before any decisions would be made.

HANCOCK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – High winds blew a grain bin over near Britt, according to KIMT-TV. Approximately 11 semi loads of corn were in the bin. The National Weather Service says winds were a sustained 35-40 mph, with gusts reaching 60 mph.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport student is recovering after being hit by a bus Wednesday. WQAD-TV reports the 14-year-old boy was using a marked crosswalk when he was hit. The bus driver was cited.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A suspicious activity investigation is underway in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. Police received a report Tuesday of suspicious activity involving a woman driving a black van. The vehicle approached two children walking home from school.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids organization says parents need to be aware of a newer legal drug that could mimic the effects of opioids. KCRG-TV reports the Area Substance Abuse Council is warning parents about Kratom. It’s a plant-based drug from southeast Asia. A safe dose of Kratom is one gram. Experts warn it can be dangerous in larger amounts or if mixed with cough syrup or caffeine. Thirty-six people have died from the substance worldwide. The group is concerned that Kratom is often sold at malls at gift stores teens frequent.

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – Sports Illustrated Kids recently released its 2017 SportsKid of the Year and Washington’s Trashaun Willis was one of five finalists. KCII-radio reports he is a normal 14-year-old kid with outstanding athletic abilities who dominates anything he plays–and he does it with one arm. Despite the national accolades, Washington head coach Collin Stark has been most impressed with Willis’ ability to stay grounded. He described the freshman as a “kid that is not about himself who is going to continue to work extremely hard for his teammates.”

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The West Burlington School District issued a public apology Tuesday to a freshman who is recovering from cancer for not allowing her to wear a hat or hood at school. The Hawkeye reports 15-year-old Chloe Terpenning was disciplined for failing to follow the school’s dress code. Superintendent David Schmitt said, “it was an error of judgement on our part and we regret making this mistake.” Chloe was less than impressed, saying “I need a sincere apology — not an email. I’m not moving on. I’m fighting for future patients.”

ADAMS COUNTY, IL (IRN) – A Keokuk woman with three kids in her car drove into the Mississippi River Monday night. WGEM reports she fell asleep at the wheel and drove the vehicle into the river in Adams County, Illinois. The woman and her children were able to escape from the car before it submerged. No one was injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating what they call a “horrifying” case of child abuse. 18-year-old Dominick Clausi faces felony charges after his 5-month-old baby was admitted to the hospital with a fractured skull, according to KCCI-TV. Clausi allegedly had shaken the baby, forced the baby’s face into a pillow, and at one point bit the baby.

MAYSVILLE, IOWA – A car hit a home in the eastern Iowa town of Maysville last night and exploded. WQAD-TV reports one person lives at the home but was not there at the time. There’s no word on the condition of the driver.

ATLANTIC, IA (IRN) – Shoppers and store clerks in the town of Atlantic found dozens of pornographic photos hidden inside two stores. WHO-TV reports a customer at one store was trying on a pair of gloves when she found a picture of man’s genitals inside. Police searched the store and found the pictures hidden only in women and children’s gloves and coat pockets.

STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – Racist language has been found on multiple residence hall doors at Buena Vista University, including that of a cheerleader who quit the team after the university said students could not kneel during the national anthem. Alyssa Parker, the former cheerleader, said she found the “N” word written on her door Monday. Parker was among about a dozen BVU football players and cheerleaders who knelt at the start of their homecoming game Sept. 30 as a protest against social injustice. She is now considering transferring to another school.

OAKLAND, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead after a bus fire was reported this morning just east of Oakland, Iowa. KETV reports the Riverside Community School bus was found in flames, and there may have been as many as 20 students on the bus when the fire was reported. Once the fire was contained, the remains of two individuals were found on the bus. The school district is in the western Iowa town of Carson.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames Police Department is investigating a drive-by shooting that injured one person late Monday night. The Des Moines Register reports the victim is an adult female who suffered a gunshot wound.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Two officers at the Des Moines County jail in Burlington were injured in an assault that took place over the weekend. WQAD-TV reports an officer was pinned down in the maximum security area and assaulted by three inmates. He was eventually pulled out of the cell by other officers and hospitalized. Two of the assailants were recently convicted of murder.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man is in the hospital in serious condition following a shooting at a home, according to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Neighbors told police they heard a half dozen gunshots. Police found the man inside the home where the sound of the shots came from.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Another tight budget year is expected at the Statehouse. The Revenue Estimating Conference released its outlook Monday, which calls for revenues of $7.2 billion in the next fiscal year. While Iowa is seeing growth, it is slower than expected, which could mean up to $90 million more in budget cuts. Democrats blame tax credits given to large corporations for wrecking the state budget. The Legislature convenes in January.

PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A visit to the Des Moines Metro Waste Authority landfill in Pleasant Hill gave a Des Moines fifth grade class an idea. WHO-TV reports students at Four Mile Elementary saw thousands of plastic bags blowing in the wind, getting stuck in trees and fences, and decided to put them to good use. They are are making mats with strips of plastic cut from plastic bags for the homeless. It takes 400 plastic bags to make one mat. They’ll deliver the completed mats to a homeless shelter soon.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa DNR is investigating three hunting accidents that happened over the last week, one involving an 11-year-old boy. The DNR says the 11-year-old boy was hunting with his grandfather and 13-year-old brother in Johnson County when the brother shot the 11-year-old in the hip while trying to shoot a deer. Sunday, a man was shot near New Market when another hunter mistook him for a deer. A third man was shot in the foot by a member of his own hunting party who was trying to shoot a deer.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man is facing a felony forgery charge for allegedly using a check of a deceased man. KIMT-TV reports 42-year-old Jeremy Forrester wrote a check to a bar and grill for $79.82 on Nov. 20. The check was stolen from a deceased man and the account was closed.

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An investigation is underway regarding a body found in rural Allamakee County. KCRG-TV reports two hikers found the body, a male who has been dead for some time. No foul play is suspected.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A Megabus passenger captured a video of his bus driver trying to read papers Sunday while he was driving from Des Moines to Coralville. The driver was weaving in and out of his lane while reading. The bus company is investigating.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Rock Rapids teenager shot and killed a female mountain lion Saturday near Akron while he was out deer hunting. The Sioux City Journal reports that 17-year-old Jake Altena fatally shot the animal with a Savage bolt-action 20 gauge shotgun. After he heard rustling in the bushes, he pulled his gun. When the animal came toward him, he pulled the trigger. Altena said it was “one hell of an adrenaline rush.” Mountain lions are not a protected species in Iowa.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A 9-year-old from Indianola sent his “life savings” to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital after being inspired by the wave this season. The note says, “Hi! My name is Riley. The reason I sent the money is that when I watched the Hawkeye football game, I saw a kid that had cancer and I felt sad, so now I realized that you need the money more than I do.”

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A Charles City man has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for the June shooting death of another man. The Courier reports that 36-year-old Antoine Williams was sentenced Friday for second-degree murder. Williams was found guilty in October of killing 36-year-old Nathaniel Fleming. Police say Williams shot Fleming several times before pulling Fleming out of a vehicle and fleeing the scene. Williams says he shot Fleming when he thought he was reaching for a gun.

WILLIAMSBURG, IA (IRN) – A Williamsburg man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another man multiple times. KWWL-TV reports 41-year-old Bryan Arthur Grout broke into a home with a knife around 2:15 a.m. Saturday. Police say Grout was under a restraining order to stay away from the home. Once inside, Grout stabbed Heath Hershey in his neck, back and chest.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a stabbing that happened on the south side. KCCI-TV reports a man was stabbed in the back and stomach. No arrests have been made.

IOWA (IRN) – Starting today, Iowans can legally buy fireworks in the state. This can be done between December 10th and January 3rd. Vendors can sell them only out of permanent structures, not tents like this past summer. Authorities say anyone planning on buying fireworks should check they are allowed in your city.