Monday, June 1, 2015

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man from Texas was killed in a single-vehicle crash on a rural road in Story County on Saturday. KCCI-TV reports that the driver was Hernan Loza, 31, of Baytown, Texas. Authorities said his vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign, left the road and rolled several times.  Loza was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center with apparent non-life threatening injuries.

HILLS, IA (IRN) – A registered sex offender in Johnson County has been arrested on a warrant for possessing child pornography.  KCRG-TV reports that Jason Dlouhy, 20, of Hills, had digital photographs on his Google account showing an underage girl in a sexual situation. Dlouhy admitted to knowing the girl was a minor. Dlouhy faces one count of possessing a depiction of a minor in a sex act, a Class D felony.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – Residents in Warren County are being warned to be on alert after two inmates escaped from the county jail this morning. WHO-TV reports that Frank Manders, 26, and Darian Crayton, 29, escaped from the jail this morning. Manders was in custody for forgery and vehicular homicide charges. Crayton was being held for driving while barred and various probation violations. Officials said they should be considered dangerous.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN)  – Iowa City police were called to the Creekside Market Friday night for a report of a burglary. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that officers discovered 20-year-old Francisco Munoz near the convenience store carrying two cases of beer. Munoz’ shirt was covered in nacho cheese and there was a trail of snack foods and lottery tickets between him and the store. He was arrested and faces charges of third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and public intoxication.

JEFFERSON, IA (IRN) – An Amber Alert issued this morning for two missing Jefferson children has been cancelled. Raccoon Valley Radio in Jefferson reports that the children were located in Des Moines, and are safe.

MARSHALL COUNTY, (IRN) – One person is dead and four others injured after a head-on collision in Marshall County Sunday afternoon. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Frank Glenn, 50, of Marshalltown, was northbound in a pickup truck on a rural road when he crossed the center line. Glenn’s truck crashed head on into a Ford Expedition driven by David Akers, 39, of Eldora. Glenn was killed in the collision. Akers and his three passengers, two female members of the South Hardin golf team and their coach, were taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One man was injured when he was shot in the leg in Cedar Rapids on Sunday morning. KGAN-TV reports that the victim was trying to stop two men from breaking into his vehicle when he was shot in the leg. The injury is described as non-life threatening.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Six people were transported to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa by ambulance due to inhaling chlorine gas at the Holiday Inn Express on Sunday. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that bleach and acid were accidentally mixed in the laundry room on the first floor of the hotel, creating chlorine gas. The fumes were mainly contained to the first floor, but the entire hotel was evacuated.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines and Waukee police received a private donation Friday to purchase body cameras for their departments. The Des Moines Register reports that Rod French, founder of Kenworth Mid-Iowa Inc., a trucking company, gave $14,000 to Waukee to equip their entire department with 18 cameras and $125,000 toward Des Moines’ 250 camera or $500,000 goal.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – A Bettendorf man has died after being stabbed by his brother. KWQC-TV reports that police were dispatched to a disturbance Friday night where they found a 34-year-old male bleeding from multiple stab wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The victim’s 15-year-old brother was taken into custody and has been charged as a juvenile with first degree murder. Names have not been released.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Newton mother who was charged with child endangerment after her 12-year-old daughter became pregnant has been sentenced to 10 days in jail.  The Newton Daily News reports that Tina Durant, 37, was charged last August following an investigation in which police determined the victim was sleeping in the same bed as Jacob White, 25, of Newton, and was suspected of being sexually abused.  White is out on bond with a trial date of July 8.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A man whom Iowa City Police were searching for this week has been found dead of an apparent suicide.  The Iowa City Press Citizen reports that the body of Jeffery Sterba, 45, was discovered Thursday afternoon at Waterworks Prairie Park. Police had issued a call for the public’s help in locating Sterba on Tuesday, stating he was last seen entering the park and may have been suicidal. A group of his friends assisting with the search found the body.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Coast Guard celebrated 50 years of service for the cutter Wyaconda Saturday, which has been based in Dubuque for the past 42 years. The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports that more than 100 people attended the event, which was held at the Coast Guard base in Dubuque’s Ice Harbor.  Officials say the cutter will likely be in service 15-20 more years.

 

Saturday, May 30, 2015

DES MOINES (IRN) Des Moines Police are investigating a shooting Friday afternoon in the 2100 block of Forest Avenue. WHO-TV reports two female family members were arguing when a man grabbed a gun from a woman who was holding it, and fired three shots at the other woman. No one was injured. The woman who was shot at drove her kids home, then returned and called police.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa legislative leaders say they have reached a tentative budget agreement that could enable them to adjourn within days. KCCI-TV reports that Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said Friday they had reached an understanding. They declined to provide details on the overall spending level or on individual items, saying that information would be released next week.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to two new cases of avian flu in Wright and Sac counties.  The Wright County case is a pullet farm with 400,000 birds, and the Sac County facility is a Turkey farm with 42,000 birds.

AMES (IRN) – The National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded a five-year, $20 million grant to establish a Forensic Science Center of Excellence to be based at Iowa State University. Its primary goal will be to focus on two branches of forensics, pattern evidence, which includes fingerprints and bullet marks, and digital evidence, including data from cell phones and computers.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Corn and soybean prices continue to fall from last year. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that the average price received by farmers for corn during April in Iowa was $3.74 per bushel, $1.02 lower than April 2014. The April 2015 average price for soybeans, at $9.58 per bushel, was $4.72 lower than the April 2014 price.

 

Friday, May 29, 2015

ALBIA, IA (IRN) – A pedestrian who walked in front of oncoming traffic in Albia last night was airlifted to Mercy in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol reports that Laura Moore, 49, of Albia stepped into the travelled portion of the street where she was hit by a vehicle driven by Peter Greiner, 52, also of Albia.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A class ring lost nearly 50 years ago on a little league outfield has been returned to its owner. KIMT-TV reports that in 1967, Terry Long and his future wife Lois, were sitting in the outfield on a blanket when the ring was lost. Mason City postal worker Tom Teeter found the ring recently with a metal detector.  The ring, identified as belonging to a graduate of the 1965 class of Meservey Thornton High School, had Long’s initials engraved on it. With a little internet research, Teeter was able to locate Long and return his ring.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Governor Terry Branstad’s authority to close the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo. Two state senators, two state representatives, and the president of the labor organization representing employees at the home filed suit against the Governor and the director of the Department of Human Services saying the Governor’s actions were unconstitutional.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The 68th case of avian flu has been identified in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture reports that a turkey farm in Hamilton County with approximately 17,000 birds is the latest facility where the disease has been identified.

CLAY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Amber Alert issued in Clay County Thursday may result in charges filed. The alert was for two missing and believed endangered juveniles from Everly. The juveniles were located unharmed in Cherokee County. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reports that the investigation is continuing and criminal charges are pending.  Both juveniles are being held for their safety.

ALBIA, IA, (IRN) – One person is dead as a result of an accident in Albia Thursday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Peterbuilt semi-truck and trailer driven by Larry Kirscher, 42,  of Osceola was slowing in preparation for a stop at the intersection of Highways 5 and 34 when a 1995 Chevy Sportvan failed to slow and ran into the back of the trailer. The name of the deceased is being withheld until family is notified.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Human remains were found inside a car left burning on property owned by the Dubuque Regional Airport. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the remains were sent to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification.  Investigators do not suspect foul play.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a traffic stop that was conducted by a man allegedly impersonating a police officer.  On Tuesday a 17-year-old Alleman girl reported that she was stopped by an unmarked sedan with emergency lights.  The suspect told the driver that he had pulled her over for speeding.  She became suspicious, and when she told the man she was dialing 911 to ask for an additional officer, he fled.