VINTON, IA (IRN) – A toddler was hit with a taser during a police struggle with a suspect in Benton County. KWWL-TV reports that a 20-month-old child was taken to two different hospitals Wednesday after police deployed a taser against the child’s father, Joshua Carl Hendryx, 34, of Vinton. Hendryx was holding the child when he attacked the officers and the Vinton Police deployed the taser. Hendryx was arrested and charged with domestic abuse assault, child endangerment causing injury and interference with official acts.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man has been sentenced to 40 years for child sexual exploitation offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports that Micheal Jones, age 41, received the sentence after a guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Republican Party unanimously voted today to end the Iowa Straw Poll, which had been scheduled for Aug. 8. The event has fallen out of favor for failing to accurately predict who would go on to win the Iowa caucuses. The last poll winner, former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, placed sixth in the 2012 caucuses.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Biting a police officer has landed an Ottumwa woman in jail. KTVO-TV reports that Ashley A. Reynolds, 28, has been charged with Assault on a Police Officer and numerous misdemeanors. Spencer C. Stuart, 33, of Fremont, was also charged with multiple misdemeanors. The arrests stemmed from a fight at an Ottumwa bar. As an officer attempted to place Reynolds in the squad car in the early morning hours Thursday, she bit him on the wrist.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Heavy thunderstorms through much of the state brought record rains to many communities. The National Weather Service reports that Dubuque had over 2.5 inches of rain, breaking a record set in 1876. Totals of 3 to 5 inches were reported in southwest Iowa. Flood warnings have been issued for the Nishnabotna River in southwest Iowa, the North Raccoon, Raccoon, and Des Moines River in Dallas, Greene, and Polk counties, and the Iowa River at Marengo.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines woman was one of five passengers hurt when her flight into Des Moines was hit by turbulence during Thursday’s thunderstorms. KCCI-TV reports that Cris Krull was flying from Phoenix to Des Moines with her son on a U.S. Airways flight. Krull and four others suffered apparent non-life threatening injuries. Three people, including Krull, were taken to area hospitals after landing.

KANSAS CITY, MO (IRN) – A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who was critical of the agency after an Iowa man drowned at the Lake of the Ozarks last year has been demoted for speaking out.  Various news services report that the trooper was moved from the Lake of the Ozarks, where he had patrolled for nearly three decades, and demoted from sergeant to corporal. The trooper told Missouri lawmakers road troopers who occasionally helped the Water Patrol didn’t receive enough training.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Four Guttenberg men were arrested and a portion of Highway 136 was shut down as a precaution Wednesday night after a mobile meth lab was found in a vehicle. KWWL-TV reports a Dyersville Police officer spotted a vehicle being driven by 40-year-old Jason Schroeder who was wanted on a warrant. After stopping the car, a K-9 unit found the drugs. Three other men were also charged.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, FL (IRN) –  A Cedar Falls man and two children were killed in a traffic accident in Florida. WCTV reports that 39-year-old Benjamin Bartlett and two of his children, ages 9 and 1, died at the scene. Another child is listed in serious condition. Four other individuals were also injured in the three vehicle crash. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Ford F-250 hydroplaned and lost traction, hitting two other vehicles.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in northwest Johnson County has been closed to camping to curtail all night parties and damage to the area. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that the closure will allow officials time to address problems with littering, off-road driving, illegal tree and grass cutting, drug use, under-age alcohol consumption, public intoxication, and large bonfires left unattended.

BOONE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Jefferson man was killed in a motorcycle accident in Boone County Wednesday. According to Raccoon Valley Radio, a motorcyclist drove off the eastbound ramp at the intersection of Highways 169 and 30.  The driver of the motorcycle, Michael Buswell of Jefferson, later died of his injuries.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A two-time convicted felon has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possession of ammunition.  KWWL-TV reports that 50-year-old David Kuhlemeier, of Clear Lake, pleaded guilty to the charge on March 12.  Authorities discovered the ammunition at his home. Kuhlemeier was also convicted of two felony burglaries in Pocahontas and Emmet Counties, and has more than 100 traffic violations on his record.

LOUISA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is examining an incident where a Louisa County deputy shot a man. On Tuesday, Louisa County deputies initiated a traffic stop when the operator of the vehicle, Richard Spurling, 55, of Muscatine, failed to stop. A pursuit began and when deputies approached the vehicle after it had been stopped, Spurling drove toward a deputy, and a deputy shot him in the torso. Spurling suffered non-life threatening injuries. He was charged with OWI, Eluding, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia among other charges.

PELLA, IA (IRN) – A former Pella Community School District band teacher is accused of sexually exploiting a student. Benjamin James Thompson, 31, was arrested on Wednesday in Ankeny and charged with several counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee, including one felony charge. The alleged incident occurred in May 2014 with a now graduated Pella High School student.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny-based Casey’s General Stores announced this week that they have completed a record fiscal year. Gross profit for fuel was up over 31%, grocery up over 13%, and prepared food was up over 15%. The company added 81 new stores during the past year, and next year it plans to add between 75 and 113 new stores.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Vision Iowa Board has awarded a $468,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant for improvements to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque.  The project includes the construction of a stingray touch tank along with other exhibits and energy sustainability efforts.

OMAHA, NE (IRN) – The infant son born of a brain-dead Iowa woman who was kept on life support so he could develop and survive has left an Omaha hospital. KETV reports that Angel Perez was released on Tuesday. He went to his new home in Waterloo with his grandparents. Angel weighed less than 3 pounds when he was delivered by cesarean section and has gained nearly 4 pounds since. His mother, 22-year-old Karla Perez, had collapsed at home. Doctors discovered a brain bleed and determined that she was brain-dead. She was kept on life support for more than seven weeks.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture reports that the Emerald Ash Borer has been positively identified in Davenport and Davis County, bringing the total of confirmed counties to twenty-four since it was first detected in Iowa in 2010. The metallic green insect kills all ash tree species and is considered to be one of the most destructive tree pests in North America.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The search for a man who was last seen yelling for help in the Des Moines River on Monday night near the northern Des Moines city limit was terminated Tuesday afternoon. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports the Metro Star Water Search/Rescue Team and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources deployed a boat equipped with sonar equipment Tuesday morning.  After searching the river for almost three hours they were unable to locate the possible drowning victim.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is assisting the Fort Dodge Police Department in investigating a case where a man and a teen arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds on Tuesday. One of the victims, Joseph Guillen, 21, of Fort Dodge was transported by helicopter to a Des Moines hospital. His condition has not been released. The other victim, a 15-year-old, was treated and released.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – The 9-month-old boy Iowa authorities issued an Amber Alert for early this morning has died. His father who abducted him is also dead. KCCI-TV reports that Missouri authorities located a burned vehicle in a conservation area in Harrison County, Missouri. The vehicle matched the description of the one in the alert. Missouri authorities say the remains of an adult and infant were found in the vehicle, and authorities believe they are the bodies of those sought in the Amber Alert.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A chase that occurred Tuesday evening ended with Des Moines police fatally shooting 28-year-old Ryan Bolinger of West Des Moines. WHO-TV reports that the incident started when an officer pulled over a driver for a traffic stop near the Merle Hay Mall. Bolinger then drove up in his car and parked so close to the officer’s door that the officer could not leave the vehicle. Bolinger then exited and danced around, before returning to his car and driving away. Police followed. Bolinger eventually stopped, got out of his vehicle and started walking toward a different police car. He continued to show erratic behavior as he advanced on the officer, and the officer shot him.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man has admitted to killing his daughter. KWWL-TV reports that 62-year-old Robert Stern has been charged with First Degree Murder in the death of 27-year-old Kimberly Stern.

DES MOINES, Iowa —Des Moines police are investigating a shooting north of Drake University Tuesday.  KCCI-TV reports 16-year-old Terry Harris was pronounced dead after he was shot at close range in the mouth. A male in his early 20’s armed with a handgun is wanted in connection with the shooting. Authorities believe Harris knew his assailant.

 

 

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) –  The Muscatine County attorney has requested that the Iowa attorney general’s office prosecute theft and burglary charges against the Muscatine police chief’s son, citing a conflict of interest. Drake Talkington, 19, has been charged with several felonies including second-degree burglary, trafficking in stolen weapons, second-degree theft and possession of methamphetamine.

COUNCIL BLUFFS (IA) – Efforts to create citywide Wi-Fi access in Council Bluffs are underway. The Daily NonPareil reports that the city has obtained the necessary equipment and will soon begin installation. The effort is a collaboration between the city and the Council Bluffs Community School District. In addition to assisting students who are issued laptops by the school, the collaboration is also seen as an incentive to economic development.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (IRN) – Two Iowans are among 5 men who have been charged in federal court in South Dakota with attempted commercial sex trafficking. KCCI-TV reports that the charges relate to responses to online advertisements during an undercover operation. Those indicted are 25-year-old Benjamin Iverson and 29-year-old Scott Larson of Sioux Falls; 27-year-old Nathanuel Downs of Sioux City, Iowa; 29-year-old Lance Hunter Jr. of Little Rock, Iowa; and 26-year-old Jose Oxlaj of Guatemala. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The financial website bankrate.com has selected Des Moines as one of the top five places in America to retire. They ranked 196 of America’s cities in terms of walkability, cost of living, crime rate, health care quality, tax rates, wellness and weather. The other top cities were Mesa, Prescott, and Tucson Arizona, along with Arlington Virginia.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County deputies responded to a call of a man yelling for help in the Des Moines River near the northern city limits of Des Moines Monday evening.  Shortly before sunset two separate men who were fishing contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to report the incident.  The two fishermen lost sight of the man after he went underwater.  Polk County deputies and Des Moines Fire and Rescue launched multiple boats but were unable to locate the man before darkness caused the search to be postponed. The search has now resumed.

COUNCIL BLUFFS (IRN) – Council Bluffs Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found near a burning pickup truck early Monday morning. WOWT-TV reports the woman was with a dead dog, and both had gunshot wounds to the head. Foul play is not suspected. She was identified as Paula Arnett, 43, of Ingleside, Texas. A handgun was found under her body. Police have learned that Arnett, her husband, and 17-year-old stepson were traveling from Texas to Sioux City.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is responding to a new case of the bird flu in Sioux County. The flock has a variety of species and an estimated 3,800 birds.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – A North Liberty girl received the trip of a lifetime last week when she met her idol, pop singer Justin Bieber. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Maria Kramer is the only person in the world known to have the deletion of her 17th chromosome, a condition that has caused her to spend much of her life at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Family and friends started a social media campaign to help Maria meet Bieber, and the meeting took place last week in California. Bieber tweeted several photos of him with Maria accompanied by the hashtags #mialovesjustin and #justinlovesmia.