Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who suffered life-altering injuries after three teenagers brutally beat him and stole his car in 2013 has died. The Des Moines Register reports that 41-year-old Mike Wasike of Des Moines died Monday. The teens stopped him by walking in a formation in the middle of the road so he couldn’t maneuver around him. When Wasike exited his vehicle, one struck him on the back of the head with a handgun, causing an injury that left him unable to speak, feed himself or walk. The teens stole the car because one needed to make it home before curfew.

CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A woman from Missouri has been charged with stealing nearly $2,000 from a patient in a Centerville care center. KTVO-TV reports 66-year-old Lucinda Rae Giese of Lampe, Missouri, was arrested Sunday and charged with Dependent Adult Abuse and Second Degree Theft. The patient was at the Golden Age Care Center when staff noticed suspicious activity and notified authorities. Giese is not an employee of the center, and her relationship to the victim is unknown.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police are investigating two sexual assaults that happened Saturday morning. KGAN-TV reports the first incident happened around 2 a.m. A female student says a man offered to give her a ride back to her residence hall from downtown, but after she got into his vehicle, he sexually assaulted her. He then drove her home. At 3:30 a.m., another woman reported a man attempted to sexually assault her.

DES MOINES, IA – A West Des Moines mother convicted of starving her 16-year-old adopted daughter to death has requested a new trial. Nicole Finn submitted a hand-written motion for a new trial and new counsel last week. A jury found Finn guilty of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping in the starvation death of Natalie Finn, who weighed just 85 pounds at the time of her death. Nicole Finn claims she did not receive a fair trial

AMES, IA (IRN) – A state lawmaker charged with OWI while possessing a firearm will benefit from a law he helped change. The Des Moines Register reports Representative Chip Baltimore, a Boone Republican, was arrested last week and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a firearm while under the influence. Less than 10 months ago he voted to support legislation reducing penalties for carrying a gun while drunk.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Field of Dreams baseball field near Dyersville has been vandalized, according to KCRG-TV. Someone drove through the field leaving deep tracks. It was the site of the 1989 movie by the same name, starring actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. Opening Day is April 1.

CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A May trial has been scheduled for a man accused of killing a hunter in south-central Iowa. 27-year-old Ethan Davis entered a plea of not guilty Monday to a charge of first-degree murder. His trial begins May 1. Davis is charged with killing 31-year-old Curtis Ross, of Cedar Falls, whose body was found Dec. 2 in a remote area of Appanoose County. Ross suffered several stabbing and gunshot wounds.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A man charged with an Iowa City murder will get his trial moved.
KWWL-TV reports the trial of Curtis Jones will move from Johnson County to Polk County to avoid pre-trial publicity. Jones is accused of robbing a business and killing a man by shooting him in the head. His trial is scheduled for July. Jones is also charged with another murder. He’s accused of killing an Iowa City cab driver in June. That trial will begin in Scott County in April.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A settlement of almost $1 million has been reached between the Waukee School district and a former employee. WHO-TV reports Terry Welker is one of three who filed lawsuits against the district alleging they were wrongfully terminated for reporting the conduct of district CEO Eric Rose. Rose has admitted to using school property for private use and instructing district employees to pick up and drop off equipment at his house while on the clock. A criminal investigation found Rose could face charges, but the Dallas County Attorney decided against filing them.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls Police are investigating a robbery at a jewelry store, according KCRG-TV. Around 8:00 p.m. Monday, a man entered the store, took merchandise, and then sprayed the employees with pepper spray.

APPANOOSE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A new report is out announcing the poorest county in every state. Iowa’s poorest, according to Wall St. 24/7, is Appanoose county. Once a leading producer of coal, the county has never recovered from the loss of that industry. The county’s median household income is just short of $41,000, which is nearly $14,000 less than the state average. 16% of residents live in poverty.

ELKADER, IA (IRN) – International relationships may soon result in local investment for one Eastern Iowa City. KWWL-TV reports the City of Elkader has been fostering relationships with their sister city in Algeria for decades. In November, Elkader officials met with business owners in Algeria. An Algerian businessman now wants to build a 40-room hotel in Elkader with indoor and outdoor pools for community use.

DELHI, IA (IRN) – A man has been charged in a fatal plunge through the ice. KIMT-TV reports a Manchester man was driving when a vehicle broke through the ice at Lake Delhi, drowning his passenger. The body of 23-year-old Alex Salow was found in the vehicle Jan. 8. A witness had spotted it doing doughnuts on the ice before plunging into the frigid water. 36-year-old Joshua Juengel has been charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving and related crimes. Juengel initially denied being at the scene.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames hydraulic motors manufacturer Danfoss is investigating after a worker died from serious injuries while at work. 45-year-old John Lavery of Ames died Thursday after a safety hood on a motor testing operation fell and struck him.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are looking for a gunman who shot a man in the foot Sunday afternoon near Drake Stadium. KCCI-TV reports a man pulled up in a car and spoke with the victim before shooting. Police say it was an isolated incident between two individuals who knew each other.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a drive-by shooting at a Kum & Go, according to WHO-TV. The victim fled the scene and was later found at Mercy Hospital with several gunshot wounds to his stomach and arms. The witness who drove him to the hospital has been questioned.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A homeless shelter in western Iowa will be starting a Girl Scouts troop. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Micah House in Council Bluffs will begin holding troop meetings next month. Shelter director Jaymes Sime was inspired after reading about a troop expanding to homeless shelters in New York City. Sime says girls will have sashes, be able to earn badges and might even try selling cookies. The house served more than 130 girls ages 5 to 17 last year.

CAMBRIDGE, IA (IRN) – Two women were sent to the hospital after their car was hit by a train Saturday in Story County. KCCI-TV reports it’s unclear what caused the crash, but the train struck the car, sending it 30 feet onto its top, destroying it. The driver had to be extricated. The women, ages 26 and 30, were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

SHUEYVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of shots fired near Shueyville, according to KGAN-TV. They responded to a report of two people shooting at each other. It was actually one man who was shooting at an embankment, who then left. The man left his gun behind, and officers recovered it. The investigation is ongoing.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A Muscatine Police officer was transported to the hospital after being involved in a car crash early Saturday. The collision was between a Muscatine Police squad car and a tractor/trailer. The officer faces non-life threatening injuries.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Freshman Cameron Lard scored 18 points and Iowa State cruised past No. 8 Texas Tech 70-52 on Saturday, its first win over a ranked opponent this season. The Cyclones are 2-5 in the Big 12, and 11-7 overall.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – New data show Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds raised more money last year than all her gubernatorial challengers. The Republican governor collected more than $3.7 million in 2017. Fred Hubbell, a businessman seeking the Democratic nomination alongside six others, raised over $3 million in the same period. Ron Corbett, a former Cedar Rapids mayor challenging Reynolds in the Republican primary, raised more than $844,000.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny man has been found guilty of kidnapping and sexually abusing a girl in Jasper County. The Courier reports that a jury on Friday found 57-year-old Jeff Lee Altmayer guilty. Altmayer was arrested after approaching a 12-year-old girl and her friend in Colfax in 2016. He offered them $100 to come to his home in Des Moines and do yard work. The 12-year-old got into his car, where Altmayer assaulted her. Altmayer is also awaiting charges for similar incidents in other cities. He faces life in prison.

SACRAMENTO, CA (IRN) – The governor of California has blocked parole for Leslie Van Houten, the youngest follower of Charles Manson. KWWL-TV reports Houten was from Waterloo. She’s behind bars for murder and conspiracy tied to the crimes orchestrated by Manson in 1969.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa legislator was released from jail Friday after police arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving and possessing a firearm while under the influence. Republican State Rep. Francis “Chip” Baltimore was arrested around 3:30 a.m. Friday in Ames after police say he was going 25 mph under the speed limit and weaving between lanes. The 51-year-old lawmaker recorded a blood alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Dance Marathon announced a $2 million gift commitment to establish the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Chair in Pediatric Oncology. KGAN-TV reports the gift marks the first student-funded chair in the history of the University of Iowa and will fund a faculty position to lead the pediatric cancer research program.