Category: State News

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque fire crews put out a fire at Loras College this morning.
A fire broke out at about 5 a.m. at the Visitation Complex. Fire Chief Rick Steines says a police officer noticed sparks in the cupola. The fire engulfed the roof and attic, so crews were pulled out to fight the blaze from the outside fearing it might collapse. Everyone was evacuated, and no one was injured. Lightning may have caused the fire.

QUAD CITIES, IA/IL (IRN) – Strong storms hit the Quad Cities and surrounding communities Tuesday night, according to WQAD-TV. The National Weather Service began sorting out multiple reports of tornadoes and funnel clouds in the area early Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service received two spotter reports of a funnel cloud crossing the Mississippi river about two miles south of Keokuk just before 6 p.m. High winds are expected today.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Council Bluffs teenage driver is facing charges after an investigation indicated she had marijuana in her system during a rollover crash that killed one of her passengers. KWWL-TV reports the 16-year-old girl has been charged with motor vehicle homicide. A 16-year-old passenger was partially ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A string of assaults and a homicide on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines last year led many to question why the area did not have security cameras. KCCI-TV reports law enforcement can now keep watch over Court Avenue activity thanks to newly installed security cameras. Police say they may look into adding additional cameras for other downtown areas later, if needed.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An assault charge has been dropped against an Ankeny mom who confronted a student at Northview Middle School. WHO-TV reports Alisha Morton was charged with assault following an altercation with a student at the school on Jan. 11. Morton says she was protecting her 14-year-old daughter from bullying. Morton’s daughter said she was the victim of bullying for several months. As part of a plea deal, the charge will be dropped if Morton attends a first-time offender class.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – High school students in Dubuque’s Alternative Learning Center are getting some real experience in the world of economics. According to KCRG-TV they started a business that makes and sells chicken coops. Students learned in economics class that more people are taking an interest in raising chickens. The students decided to start their own business called “Key City Coops.” They sell for $500, and when the semester ends, another group of students will take over the business.

HARRISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Western Iowa woman is dead following an ATV accident in Harrison County. WHO-TV reports an ATV driven by 27-year-old Jordan Muxfeldt of Logan made an abrupt turn causing it to roll. Jordan and her 3-year-old son Wade were both thrown onto the pavement. Jordan was transported to a Creston hospital where she was pronounced dead. Wade was taken to an Omaha-area hospital and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Jordan was pregnant with twins at the time of the accident.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – U.S. Marshals have arrested the man suspected to be involved in a stabbing in Marion last week, according to KGAN-TV. 42-year-old Sean Hemphill was wanted for a stabbing that prompted schools in the Marion Independent School District to go on a lockdown. The victim survived. Hemphill was arrested without incident.

SEYMOUR, IA (IRN) – The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says a 10-year-old boy has died after being involved in a skid loader accident in southern Iowa. KCCI-TV reports authorities found Aaron Borntarager injured in a field Saturday afternoon after responding to a report of an accident involving a skid loader near Seymour. A Wayne County medical examiner pronounced the boy dead at the scene as a result of his injuries. No charges will be filed in connection to the incident.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man facing federal firearms charges in Iowa who attempted to escape prosecution by fleeing to Cuba has entered plea agreements. KWQC-TV reports Shawn Wegmann faces up to 45 years in prison. Wegmann admits to stealing more than 30 guns in burglaries. He failed to appear in court for a hearing in October. He was found a week later in Havana, Cuba. The U.S. Marshals Service says he was the first fugitive to be returned to the U.S. by the Cuban government since diplomatic relations began a year ago.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A teenager was injured when a woman shot her through a restaurant booth at an IHOP in Des Moines Monday. KCCI-TV reports 22-year-old Maryann Hannam was arguing with the 17-year-old when Hannam shot her. The bullet struck the teen in the upper torso. Police say the injury may have been fatal if the booth hadn’t slowed the bullet. Hannam is in the Polk County jail – charged with attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and carrying weapons.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One person had to be taken to the hospital following a stabbing in Waterloo Monday, according to KWWL-TV. Police say the victim is expected to survive. Jasmine Roosevelt has been arrested, charged with Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury. She’s in jail.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Authorities have released the name of the man who died in a shooting in rural Wapello County. KCRG-TV reports someone shot and killed 24-year-old Hugo Hernandez of Ottumwa yesterday. Authorities took 23-year-old Erik Davila into custody on several charges. They include possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance. But he has not been charged for the death of Hernandez.

CORYDON, IA (IRN) – Wayne County’s best drug enforcement officer is on the mend. WHO-TV reports K-9 Officer Deny has helped take $130,000 worth of drugs off the streets, and she’ll be back at it again after a little down time. She became ill after swallowing a piece of rubber and having her small intestine obstructed. Unfortunately, the Sheriff’s Office didn’t have the $4,000 needed to pay for surgery. Veterinarian Dr. Christine Adams took care of the bill.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man is in custody at the Johnson County Jail accused of assault and kidnapping. KWWL-TV reports that 18-year-old Zachary Gibbs took a student from the common area at Clear Creek Amana school in Tiffin on March 10th. He allegedly took her against her will to a secluded area where he allegedly tried to assault her. The victim says she kept telling Gibbs “no” and struggled to get away. Gibbs is charged with Assault with Intent on Sexual Abuse causing no injury and 3rd degree Kidnapping, a class C Felony.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A single-vehicle rollover killed one person in Northeast Iowa Saturday morning in Winneshiek County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver was headed in the west bound lane on Highway 24, 3 miles west of Fort Atkinson. Then moments later, the driver’s SUV veered towards the road’s shoulder and struck a bridge rail before going airborne. The SUV then rolled down an embankment. The driver wore a seatbelt, but was ejected from the vehicle. Officials have not released the victim’s name

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Scott County prosecutor wants three 15-year-old boys charged with assaulting a 12-year-old boy with bricks, bats and a hammer tried in adult court as youthful offenders. The Quad-City Times reports the teens were arrested Wednesday and charged as juveniles with causing serious injury and going armed with intent. Police say the three attacked the younger boy on Tuesday. The 12-year-old suffered a brain bleed and was hospitalized.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Firefighters put out a fire at a Cedar Rapids motel where a man reported being stabbed. KCRG-TV reports firetrucks were dispatched to the Motel 6 a little after 1 a.m. Monday after a crew responding to the medical call noticed flames shooting from the motel roof. Guests were evacuated, and no injuries from the fire have been reported. Authorities say the man had a stab wound when he went to the lobby and reported that a mattress had been set on fire.

MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 13-year-old boy is dead following an accidental shooting in Mahaska County. WHO-TV reports emergency crews responded to an address in rural Mahaska County on Saturday for a report of a shooting. Officials found the boy suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

STORY CITY, IA (IRN) – Police responded to reports of a burglary at a Story City gun store on Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. When authorities arrived at Jacobson’s Gun Center, they found one of the front windows broken out and a small U-Haul truck with front-end damage behind the building. Witnesses said they saw three or four people wearing hooded sweatshirts running from the scene.

OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A large methamphetamine lab operation was found in Mahaska County Sunday afternoon. The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force reports they found more than 20 one-pot meth labs at an apartment. The building was evacuated. No one was injured, but three animals were rescued. One man has been arrested and booked into the Mahaska County Jail.

IOWA (IRN) – The Hawkeyes, Cyclones and Panthers men’s basketball teams are headed to the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes will face Temple Friday in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Cyclones will play their first-round game against Iona Thursday in Denver. The Panthers will face Texas Friday in Oklahoma City.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have taken a teenager into custody following a shooting that happened Thursday morning. WHO-TV reports two groups of juveniles had an altercation on property next to a Buffalo Wild Wings on the south side of town. During that altercation, one juvenile shot another juvenile in the leg. On Friday, police took a 17-year-old into custody in connection with the case.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police are working to find out who shot a man Saturday morning according to KCRG-TV. When officers arrived on scene they found a man with a gunshot wound to the lower leg. Police said the man’s injuries weren’t life threatening, and he was taken to a local hospital. Investigators are working to determine a motive for the shooting and how many people were involved.

PALO ALTO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A northwest Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in prison for shooting at a crop-dusting plane in Palo Alto County last year. KWWL-TV reports 55-year-old John Metzger of Whittemore was sentenced Friday. Metzger was found guilty in November by a jury of going armed with intent. He was not found guilty of other charges, including terrorism. Metzger fired a gun that hit the wing flap of a plane while spraying a field. The plane landed safely and the pilot wasn’t injured.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A WWII veteran recently received France’s highest military honor for his bravery, according to KCCI-TV. At 95 years old, Ralph Crawford, of Villisca, still remembers the mission vividly. It was June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day. His bomber was shot down, but the crew survived. Crawford was awarded the Legion of Honor, for his “gallantry of action and the liberation of France in WWII.” He says he’s shocked by the recognition, and his family says it’s long overdue.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a house in Davenport around 3 a.m. Saturday. WQAD-TV reports the driver was the only one in the car and after he was pulled out of the car by medics, he was taken to the hospital. He’s in serious condition.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Two brothers were taken into custody after a shotgun was found in their car on the Iowa Western Community College campus in Council Bluffs. KIMT-TV reports 19-year-old Eric and 18-year-old Edrick Maymon, of Markham, Illinois were charged. They both attend the school. Students reported Thursday that the two made threatening comments and gestures as they drove by in their car. Police found the brothers in a student’s room later and then found the shotgun in the car.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A sale to undercover officers in Dubuque led to two charges of possession of heroin with intent to deliver. KCRG-TV reports 23-year-old Maurice Whitehead of Chicago was arrested Tuesday as part of an undercover operation. Police said officers met Whitehead, bought .37 grams of heroin for $50, then arrested him.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court says an eastern Iowa woman given up for adoption as an infant cannot unseal adoption records to learn the names of her biological parents, even though it would help in her alcoholism recovery. KGAN-TV reports the Linn County woman says her drinking problem is rooted in feelings of abandonment. The Supreme Court says the disclosure of her birth parents’ names would assist in her treatment but Iowa’s adoption law weighs heavily toward confidentiality.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new sport is becoming popular in Iowa, according to KCCI-TV. It involves moving like a ninja, and is called tricking. The sport is a combination of martial arts and gymnastics. Participants say it involves putting together combos that allow you to express yourself. Where do most people learn how to do it? YouTube.