State News

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Monday, November 7, 2016

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Rescue crews were called to Interstate 80-35 this morning after a tanker truck slid into Beaver Creek north of Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports the driver suffered minor injuries. The Des Moines Hazmat team and a wet team were at the site, placing absorbent booms into the creek. The crash is under investigation. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A man fired shots before taking his own life early this morning in Johnston, according to KCCI-TV. A 32-year-old man in an apartment building was involved in a domestic dispute with his spouse. He fired shots as police units arrived. The man later turned the gun on himself and took his own life. No officers were injured, or fired their weapons in the incident. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police have arrested two men after an early-morning assault. WQAD-TV reports one man was injured. 29-year-old Justin Jewell and 30-year-old Andrew Albright, both from Davenport ,were charged with false imprisonment, willful injury, and assault while displaying a weapon. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Forty-five pounds of marijuana and $3,600 in cash have been seized, and a minivan driver arrested along Interstate 80 in Omaha, according to KETV. A deputy saw the eastbound minivan drive onto the roadway shoulder without signaling early Friday morning, and a drug dog alerted the deputy to the odor of the drugs. 26-year-old Michael Soto of San Francisco told deputies he was driving from Utah to Iowa to deliver the pot. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a fire that destroyed a city building in Cedar Falls over the weekend. KCRG-TV reports when firefighters arrived, they found the building engulfed in flames. The city uses the space to store police equipment. It was a total loss. ROCKWELL CITY, IA (IRN) – Some Iowa landowners are raising concerns about construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, saying crews have left behind debris, released cattle from grazing areas and disrespected their land. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Utilities Board has received 22 complaints including 10 involving landowners. The company says the complaints are unfounded. CUSHING, OK (IRN) – A magnitude 5.0 earthquake centered near one of the world’s key oil hubs brought down building facades and shattered windows last night in Cushing, Oklahoma. KWWL-TV reports the earthquake was felt as far away as Illinois and eastern Iowa. There have been 19 earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past week.


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Sunday, November 6, 2016

DELAWARE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Delaware County crash involving a tractor killed a Manchester man on Friday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a truck driven by 72-year-old Eric Smith sideswiped a tractor that was driving in the opposite direction. The truck went into a ditch and Smith was killed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating an armed robbery at a Git N’ Go on the Des Moines south side. KCCI-TV reports three suspects armed with a handgun robbed the gas station early this morning. They were wearing dark clothing and face masks. No one was injured. MONTICELLO, IA (IRN) – Three people are facing charges after a late night chase in Jones County, according to KGAN-TV. Monticello Police tried to pull over a vehicle reported stolen out of Missouri Friday night. The vehicle took off, eluding police through farm fields and ditches. The vehicle then rammed a Jones County Sheriff’s vehicle and a Cascade Police vehicle who were assisting. Three individuals were taken into custody. Multiple weapons were found in the vehicle. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The public can now visit an endangered black rhino born last month at Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo. Since being born on Oct. 11, the baby has had her first bath and gained about 50 pounds. She now weighs about 130 pounds. The calf will be getting a name in the coming months. Beginning Nov. 29 everyone who gives at least $50 to the zoo through Dec. 31 can suggest a name. The name will picked from those suggestions and announced in January.


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Saturday, November 5, 2016

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – One person died and several others were injured in a two-vehicle crash early this morning in Cedar Falls, according to KCRG-TV. The crash happened on the 1st Avenue bridge, and it was closed for several hours while police investigated. Both vehicles were travelling the same direction when the crash occurred. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – New court documents show a Dubuque man stabbed his girlfriend 115 times, killing her in June of last year. KCRG-TV reports 27-year-old Eddie Hicks goes on trial Tuesday for the murder of 21-year-old Kahdyesha Lemon. After the stabbing, Hicks opened the refrigerator, and grabbed a can of pop. He then ran outside yelling that someone had robbed him and that someone had “set him up.” Hicks is claiming self-defense, diminished responsibility because he was on PCP at the time, and temporary insanity. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating two overnight stabbings. KCCI-TV reports one man suffered multiple stab wounds near Mercy Medical Center and was taken to the hospital. The second stabbing happened around 12:15 a.m downtown. Police have a suspect. MARION, IA (IRN) – Marion Police have charged a former Linn-Mar Community School District employee with Dissemination and Exhibition of Obscene Material to Minors. KGAN-TV reports 26-year-old Marcus Cain sent a pornographic image to a juvenile. Cain is no longer employed by the school. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While millions celebrated the Cubs World Series title in Chicago, a smaller crowd with the same passion rejoiced at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. Georgia Anne Johnson was a lifelong Cubs fan who lost her battle with cancer in 2015. Her family celebrated the win with her, and at her gravestone is the iconic ‘W’ flag, a Cubs flag, stickers and 108 roses to commemorate the number of years since the Cubs last won the World Series.


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Friday, November 4, 2016

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police announced that Scott Michael Greene has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. When arrested, Greene was secured in the handcuffs belonging to Sgt. Tony Beminio and Officer Justin Martin, the men he killed. Greene is being held at the Polk County Jail on a $10 million dollar cash bond. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old West Des Moines girl who died last week after suffering cardiac arrest had asked neighbors for help with food and clothing in the past, according to the Des Moines Register. Natalie Jasmine Finn died Oct. 24 inside her family’s home. Police are investigating. ALGONA, IA (IRN) – Another attempted child abduction took place in Algona Thursday, according to KIMT-TV. A male student on his way to school was followed by a man in a silver minivan. The man offered the boy money, and the student declined. The man then exited the van wearing a ski mask and black hoodie, and grabbed the boy. The boy broke the man’s grip and fled. Last week several girls were approached by a man offering money, and they too fled. LINN COUNTY, (IRN) – Two people are dead and three seriously injured after a crash involving three vehicles in Linn County yesterday. KWWL-TV reports a pickup truck and a car were stopped waiting to make a left-handed turn when they were both rear-ended by a different pickup. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former substitute teacher accused of sexually exploiting a Cedar Rapids Washington High School student is now facing an upgraded felony charge. KGAN-TV reports Mary Beth Haglin says she’s not guilty. Haglin has made multiple appearances on national TV shows telling her side of the story, including Dr. Phil in October. She claims the student seduced her. CEDAR RAPIDS & HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – At least two eastern Iowa babies will likely carry on their parents love for the Cubs, according to KCRG-TV. Benjamin Matthew Jansen was born at 10:18 p.m. Wednesday, almost exactly when the Indians tied up the World Series game. His Hiawatha parents decided to name him after Ben Zobrist, the Cub’s World Series MVP. Bracy Angle was born in Cedar Rapids early Tuesday morning. Her middle name? Wriglee.


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Thursday, November 3, 2016

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Three people are in custody today after an armed robbery overnight at Domino’s Pizza in Iowa City. KWWL-TV reports two people with guns entered the restaurant, forced four people to give them money, and then locked them in the cooler. Police located the vehicle the suspects fled in, and a chase ensued. The chase ended at Coral Ridge mall where the three were taken into custody. No injuries were reported. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A medical license is being reinstated for a Des Moines doctor acquitted of manslaughter. The Des Moines Register reports that Daniel Baldi was accused of improperly prescribing large amounts of painkillers to patients, including Paul Gray, founder of the band Slipknot. Baldi was found not guilty of seven counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2014. He continues to deny any wrongdoing. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Urbandale police confirm they were familiar with Scott Michael Greene, the suspect in the killing of two metro Des Moines police officers. Video shared on YouTube shows the suspect in an altercation with officers at an Urbandale football game. Greene was escorted from school grounds after he taunted African-Americans in the crowd with a Confederate flag. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A former drainage district board member has been convicted of falsifying documents regarding his employees taking dirt without permission to repair a levee near Fort Madison. The Daily Gate City reports that Michael Pieper ordered his company employees to take the dirt. The dirt value was estimated at around $93,000. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa judge accused of assaulting her husband has taken a plea deal. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 49-year-old Stephanie Rattenborg of Manchester pled guilty to disorderly conduct. Randall Rattenborg says his wife threw a water bottle at him and began hitting him because she’d learned he was having an extramarital affair. Her record will be cleared if she abides by court-imposed restrictions for a year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Acts of kindness and an outpouring of support can be felt across the Des Moines metro after two police officers were killed early Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports in Urbandale, a woman brought water to an officer, and offered him a hug in an emotional moment captured on video that has gone viral. Memorials have sprung up at the Des Moines and Urbandale Police stations, as the communities, Iowa, and our nation mourns.