Category: State News

LINCOLN, NE (IRN) – The body of a missing Nebraska woman has been found, and two Iowans are in custody. KETV reports Sydney Loofe, the Lincoln woman who went missing in mid-November, has been found dead in Nebraska. 51-year-old Aubrey Trail and 23-year-old and Bailey Boswell, both from Iowa, are in custody and being questioned by officials. Trail and Boswell were booked into jail in Missouri on November 3.

ALEDO, IL (IRN) – A Burlington man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for beating an elderly man and leaving him for dead. WQAD-TV reports it happened at a farmhouse in Joy, Illinois last May. 56-year-old Brian Tully admitted robbing and beating 83-year-old Fred Rooth in the head with a metal lamp. Rooth is still recovering after several surgeries. Rooth was implicated in other burglaries in several different counties when he was arrested in the May attack.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A woman is dead and a man has been charged with her murder in Dubuque, according to KWQC-TV. 42-year-old Beverly Puccio met 36-year-old Michael Piantieri at a bar December 3. The two left and went to her home, where they fought and she was killed. He’s in jail.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is defending GOP efforts to reduce the hit to the wealthy from the federal estate tax because it helps those who invest rather than people who spend their money on “booze or women or movies.” Grassley says his comments were taken out of context by the Des Moines Register.

EAGLE GROVE, IA (IRN) – A long-time Forest City radio host for KIOW-FM who was fired Monday for making racist comments towards the Eagle Grove High School basketball team has apologized. Some members of the community aren’t accepting the apology, saying he meant what he said, and his remarks were ‘filled with hate.” Eagle Grove School District superintendent Jess Tolliver says a quarter of the district is Hispanic and that number is growing. He says, “If it wasn’t for diversity, we wouldn’t be here…diversity has kept our schools alive and has brought more than 1,000 jobs to our community.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Navy will give a posthumous combat medal to the family of a Dubuque sailor on the 76th anniversary of his death on the battleship USS Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Father Aloysius Schmitt has been awarded the Silver Star. Schmitt helped shipmates escape to safety as the Oklahoma was capsizing during the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, giving his own life to save others. More than 400 sailors on the ship died.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person died in a crash on Highway 5 south of Des Moines early this morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol a pickup truck was eastbound and crossed over the median into the westbound lane and hit a Sweet Honey tanker truck. The pickup truck was split in half on impact.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – One person died in a Mason City house fire Friday, according to KWWL-TV. The victim’s name hasn’t been released. The fire started at a multi-plug surge protector.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man punched a police officer and pointed a gun at him during a traffic stop Friday. WQAD-TV reports 24-year-old Alexander Noel tried to run after punching and threatening the officer with the gun, but was apprehended. The handgun was stolen and had an obliterated serial number. When apprehended, Noel tried to use false identification. He’s in jail on multiple charges.

BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two were injured in a crash in rural Buchanan County Saturday, according to KCRG-TV. 39-year-old Todd McCloud of Oelwein, was driving a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue and ran a stop sign, hit a ditch, catapulted into a field and rolled several times before coming to rest. McCloud and his passenger, a juvenile, were hospitalized.

IOWA (IRN) – The Hawkeyes and Cyclones have both made it to bowl games this season, and their locations and opponents have been announced. The Iowa Hawkeyes will be going to the Pinstripe Bowl to play Boston College December 27th at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Iowa State Cyclones will be going to the Liberty Bowl to play #20 Memphis on December 30.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – November was National Adoption Month, and adoption professionals, court employees, and families came together Saturday in Des Moines to celebrate and finalize adoptions on the 17th annual Adoption Saturday. KCCI-TV reports more than 50 children were adopted. For one family who added two sons, 60 people came to the courthouse to celebrate.

FLOYD COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The body of a missing man has been found near Charles City. WHO-TV reports 28-year-old Michael Johns had been murdered, but the cause of death wasn’t released.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Clive police are investigating a crash that sent two people to the hospital and ripped one car in half Saturday. KCCI-TV reports two cars were involved in the crash: One appeared to roll over on its top, while the other split in two. One half wrapped around a light pole while the other half appeared to have flown into the Greenbelt walking trail area.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Cedar Rapids, according to KCRG-TV. A woman was shot in the face and a man has traumatic injuries. Both were taken to a local hospital. Police believe the two knew each other. They have not named a suspect or taken anyone into custody.

IOWA (IRN) – Winter weather is coming to Iowa, according to the National Weather Service. After a warm fall, a system will move into the Upper Midwest Monday bringing rain and a few thunderstorms. Monday will be warm with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s. As this system moves to the east, colder air will dive into Iowa. Any leftover precipitation will likely fall as light snow but little to no accumulation is expected. Temperatures by Wednesday will plummet into the 20s and 30s, which is normal for this time of year but almost 30 degrees colder than the past few weeks.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A suspect wanted for a homicide in Chicago was arrested in Johnson County on the interstate on Friday. KGAN-TV reports 31-year-old Justin Smith was wanted for a homicide that happened in November 2016. U.S. Marshals received a tip that Smith was staying at a home in Cedar Rapids and watched him leave the residence while staking him out. They apprehended him without incident.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating the death of a 4-year-old child that was “accidental in nature.” WHO-TV reports the death involved a dog collar.

CARROLL, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating the “suspicious death” of a 4-year-old boy in Carroll. According to witnesses, the boy went to bed and when caregivers went to wake him he was dead. The cause of death is unknown.

FLOYD COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people died in a crash between a train and an SUV yesterday in Floyd County near Nora Springs. The Iowa State Patrol says the train struck the front passenger side of an SUV and it rolled. Two people died at the scene, and first responders airlifted a third person to the hospital. There is not a crossing arm at that crossing.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City student is wasting no time pursuing his dream. 18-year-old Daniel Wilbur has started his own diesel repair shop. He’s currently taking classes at North Iowa Area Community College through their entrepreneurial youth program. Wilbur works on semi-trucks and tractors at his shop. He plans to keep expanding and growing his business.

POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A black bear frequently spotted in Poweshiek County was struck and killed along I-80 Thursday night. KGAN-TV reports the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a van that hit a bear on I-80. The van was found in a ditch and the bear dead at the scene. The driver of the van was not hurt.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Campus police have arrested an Iowa State lecturer who they say smelled of alcohol in his classroom. The Des Moines Register reports that 56-year-old Gordon Knight was taken into custody Thursday by officers sent to check on his concerning behavior. The philosophy and religious studies lecturer is charged with public intoxication, second offense.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – An altercation near Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines ended with a woman suffering a stab wound and a suspect on the run. WHO-TV reports the stabbing happened outside the mall and the victim walked into the mall seeking help. The suspect fled the scene.

FLOYD COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A transit bus and a jeep collided yesterday near Rudd in Floyd County when the bus failed to yield the right of way. The number and extent of injuries has not been reported.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake middle school student allegedly brought brownies with marijuana in them into the school. KIMT-TV reports the investigation is ongoing.

IRVING, TX (IRN) – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell was named the 2017 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year. Campbell’s 2017 Cyclones, picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, wrapped up the regular season with a 7-5 record. Iowa State, bowl-eligible for the first time since 2012, rose into the AP Top-25 for the first time since 2005.