State News

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Thursday, June 2, 2016

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man faces criminal charges after police found pornographic images involving children on his cell phone. 53-year-old Jeffrey Kirk of Charles City is charged with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department’s Bomb Squad had to be called in Tuesday night to assist Altoona police after a suspicious device was found in the truck of two men accused of breaking into vehicles. WHO-TV reports the bomb squad determined the device had gun powder in it and was loaded with shrapnel. The device was dismantled. The two face multiple drug, weapons, theft and unauthorized possession of an explosive device charges. They’re in jail. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of trying to flush her newborn down a toilet before abandoning the baby now faces an attempted murder charge. KCRG-TV reports 22-year-old Ashley Hautzenrader of Davenport delivered the baby in a restroom at University of Iowa Hospitals early May, then tried to flush the newborn, but then put the baby into a pillowcase and put it in a trash can. A nurse later found the baby alive. CENTRAL CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa woman has been charged with stealing her grandfather’s identity according to KCCI-TV. 40-year-old Jessica Lynn Roloson of Central City was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.­ Authorities say she obtained money and property by knowing her grandfather’s Social Security number, his date of birth, and living in his former home. She applied for numerous credit cards in his name and used them to purchase items online. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police responded early this morning to a report of gunfire, according to KCRG-TV. Arriving on scene, they found one female and one male who had been shot. No one has been arrested in the shootings. The victims suffered apparent non-life-threatening wounds. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police are familiar with the Valley West Inn. KCCI-TV reports in the past 12 months they have had 280 calls for service to the hotel for various problems. Police are now investigating the hotel for a potential financial crime after a complaint from a woman who had been forced to leave the hotel kept receiving credit card charges. Another former patron has come forward with the same story. The hotel says accusations of fraud are without merit. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s driving fatalities are up 30% this year. WQAD-TV reports this time last year, the Iowa DOT reported 108 deaths on the road. This year, there have been 143. Trooper Dan Loussaert says reducing fatalities is simple. Put down your phone, wear your seat belt, slow down, and focus on driving. SAN FRANCISCO, CA (IRN) – Waterloo Police Chief Dan Trelka’s badge went with him on vacation this year, according to KWWL-TV. Trelka was enjoying some time off in San Francisco with his family, when he saw a local police officer struggling to catch a suspect. The suspect was on the run and resisting a San Francisco police officer. Trelka ran across the street, assisted, and helped cuff the suspect. Trelka says it’s just part of the job.


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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new budget for Iowa’s courts has been approved that includes a statewide hiring freeze. The Supreme Court approved the fiscal year 2017 budget, which starts July 1. The freeze was required because of a more than $5 million shortfall in this year’s legislative appropriation. State Court Administrator David Boyd says “With this budget, the supreme court tried to minimize disruption of services to Iowans despite the significant shortfall in our appropriation.” ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A police officer was involved in a serious crash this morning in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. The officer, 34-year-old Jeffrey Davis, was heading to a call with lights and sirens on. He had a green light going through an intersection, but a truck driven by 61-year-old Peter Roeder turned in front of him. The police SUV and the truck collided. The man in the truck was taken from the scene in critical condition. The officer was treated and released. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A federal grand jury in Cedar Rapids has indicted five people in connection with thefts from multiple Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in five states, including Dubuque and Waterloo. The five were charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. The indictment lists 38 thefts between February and May at stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. VINTON, IA (IRN) – A Vinton man faces multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted multiple people, including two police officers. KWWL-TV reports police responded in Vinton Sunday night for a report of a person breaking windows. They found a 37-year-old woman with serious injuries to her head following an assault. Officers also found 38-year-old Roger Hartman with minor injuries. Ambulances took Hartman and the woman to the hospital, where he assaulted two officers. He’s in jail. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man is in the University of Iowa burn treatment center after a fire pit incident, according to KCCI-TV. Curt Carpenter suffered severe burns to his arms and legs after something went wrong with a decorative fire pit over the holiday weekend. The fire pit was a propane pit that was built into a bar in the home’s backyard. It had just been installed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman is recovering after her thumb was severed in a dog attack. WHO-TV reports a shepherd-mix named Denali was in his fenced-in backyard barking at the neighbor’s 10-pound Chihuahua-terrier mix named Jackie, who was in her own fenced in yard. Denali pushed its head through the fence and grabbed Jackie by her throat, killing her. Jackie’s owner ran out to separate the dogs, and she was bit. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – When drivers pull over to fuel up this summer, they’re paying less than they have in years past. KCRG-TV reports the national average gas price for regular unleaded is at $2.32 a gallon. That’s down 42 cents compared to the same date last year. The price is an 11-year-low for the start of the summer driving season. Among the lowest prices in Iowa are in Davenport, at $2.15 a gallon.


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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

HAWARDEN, IA (IRN) – Nine fire departments responded to a hog confinement fire near Hawarden Saturday morning. Upon the first fire department’s arrival, the barn was completely engulfed in flames. The fire was so large at the first barn that a second barn caught fire. Several employees were present at the time of the fire but no injuries were reported. The two building were a total loss and approximately 5,000 hogs perished. MOUNT UNION, IA (IRN) – A small Henry County city has taken its first step toward ceasing to exist. The Hawk Eye reports that the Mount Union City Council voted 4-0 Monday to pass a resolution of intent to discontinue functioning as a city. A petition Mayor John Marek received several weeks ago had 12 signatures out of about 80 registered voters in the city. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A 43-year-old Mason City man has been accused of trying to kill his girlfriend. KWWL-TV reports Jason Clausen is charged with burglary, kidnapping and attempted murder. Mason City police say Clausen used a weapon to injure his girlfriend, and she was taken to a hospital. Police didn’t say what sort of weapon was used or provide other details about Sunday’s incident. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Mason City police have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of throwing a kitten against a wall, killing it. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Jerrick Rinnels was arrested Sunday on a warrant for misdemeanor animal abuse. Rinnels and another resident in a Mason City house were arguing Friday when Rinnels grabbed the kitten from the other person and threw it against the wall, killing it. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque police said a 2-year-old boy went to the hospital after a vehicle struck him Sunday night. KCRG-TV reports a vehicle was backing up when it hit Jaceyon Young, who was riding a small tricycle at the time. The driver of the vehicle told police he didn’t see the boy as he was backing up. The boy has a skull fracture. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman and two men from Nebraska were arrested over Memorial Day weekend at Gray’s Lake Park, according to WHO-TV. Officers responded to a call Saturday evening and found a car blocking the only exit of the parking lot. Other drivers were honking at the car and at a crowd of people nearby. The driver of the car refused to move it, and the crowd became angry at the officers. Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and make arrests. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A 29-year-old inmate has been listed as escaped from the work release facility in Marshalltown. The Iowa Corrections Department says Michael Compston didn’t return as required Sunday from a furlough. Compston had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery in Cerro Gordo County. THE QUAD CITIES, IA, IL (IRN) – A growing group of Quad Cities women have the goal to be healthy and have a good time. WQAD-TV reports they are part of “Moms RUN This Town” and dress in bright colors and bows when they run. One member explains, “We’re just a group of women who get together to run–it’s 100% girl power. We lift each other up.”


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Monday, May 30, 2016

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Authorities in southeast Iowa say a 17-year-old driver has minor injuries after crashing his car into a pond at a golf club. KGAN-TV reports the teen was speeding early Monday in Burlington and lost control of his vehicle at a curve. The car slid sideways, entered Flint Hills Golf Course and eventually went into a pond on the eighth hole. The teen returned to land before his vehicle was fully submerged into the water. He was intoxicated. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A man who was shot to death in Omaha on Saturday had been acquitted of first-degree murder in the 2001 death of his girlfriend. The Omaha World-Herald reports 40-year-old Carlos A. Alonzo was was acquitted in 2005 in the death several years earlier of his girlfriend, Teresa Windham. The 17-year-old Windham disappeared from a Council Bluffs motel where she was staying with Alonzo. Her body was later found near Fremont. SABULA, IA (IRN) – A 21-year-old Clinton man has drowned in a lake near Sabula this weekend. KCRG-TV reports Eugene Kemp Jr. died at a hospital after being found in a small lake Saturday afternoon. The incident remains under investigation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police in Des Moines are investigating an incident involving a car that crashed into an apartment building early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports police were called to the apartments around 6 a.m. where a car had crashed into a first-floor apartment. One person was in the bedroom at the time of the wreck but wasn’t hurt. The driver of the car claims he was hit by a truck that made him spin into the building. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A Freedom Rock completed last fall in Cedar Falls was vandalized Saturday night. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports spray paint was used to damage the rock. Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II painted the rock, which includes images of the Five Sullivan Brothers killed in World War II. A memorial service scheduled for today at the rock will proceed as planned. BOONE, IA (IRN) – The facade of a historic building in Boone partially collapsed Sunday afternoon, according to KCCI-TV. No one was hurt when part of the Boone History Center’s facade came crashing down. The director of the center has been pushing for repairs since winter. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Paralyzed at age 16, Hunter Stoneburner thought he’d never walk again. KWWL-TV reports this weekend he walked across the stage for his high school graduation in Des Moines. After a stroke put him in a wheelchair, Stoneburner thought he’d never walk again. Two years and two brain surgeries later, he’s beaten the odds. Stoneburner says “there were a few times I wanted to give up but I just kept on fighting.” He plans to take business classes at college, and hopes to open up his own business one day.


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Sunday, May 29, 2016

DALLAS, TX (IRN) – Former Iowa State men’s basketball player and current guard for the New Orleans Pelicans Bryce Dejean-Jones was killed after he allegedly broke into a Dallas apartment and was shot early Saturday morning, according to WHO-TV. The resident of the apartment says Dejean-Jones kicked open the front door and entered the residence. He then kicked open the bedroom door and the resident fired his gun, killing him. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Sageville Elementary School in Dubuque is picking up the pieces after a storm swept through the building. KWWL-TV reports on Saturday, thunderstorms and winds as high as 60 miles per hour ripped through Dubuque County, causing the school’s roof to blow off. Students were to return to school on Tuesday, but classes have been cancelled. FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – Small wasps have a big job ahead in Iowa. It’s hoped they can help control the spread of the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB). KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Department of Agriculture launched an opening round in a “bio-war” against the insect that’s infected ash trees in 31 of Iowa’s 99 counties on Friday. They did it with an insect that’s a natural enemy of the EAB, a “stingless” wasp. The first release was in an infected ash tree grove near Fairfield. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It was an emotional surprise at an Iowa Cubs’ game as fans watched a Des Moines father reunite with his family after a yearlong deployment. KCCI-TV reports Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Beargeon’s three kids were overjoyed when he surprised them at Principal Park Saturday night. During the reunion, one of Beargeon’s daughters asked him if he’s here to stay. His reply was, “Yes, I’m home forever now.”