Category: Uncategorized

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who was holding his girlfriend against her will at a hotel in Altoona has been arrested. KCCI-TV reports the incident started when police received calls of a man with a knife holding a woman against her will. The couple stopped at a QuikTrip, and when she went in to pay for gas she called police. 28-year-old James Overton fled, ran through Air Lanes Bowling Alley, scaring patrons with a knife before he was captured.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are looking for whoever robbed a Culver’s restaurant employee early Saturday. KCRG-TV reports a man with a handgun approached the victim while he was taking out the trash around 7:15 a.m. The suspect demanded money and forced the victim at gunpoint into the restaurant. The victim was able to lock himself in an office. The suspect then took an undisclosed amount of money and ran away.

EASTERN IOWA (IRN) – At least three tornadoes have been confirmed by the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities on Saturday. They were reported near Delhi in Delaware County, near Worthington in Dubuque County, and near Farley, also in Dubuque County. Damage is still being assessed, and no injuries have been reported.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Microsoft announced Friday that it will build a third data center in West Des Moines. The center will generate roughly $12 million in taxes each year, and will be approximately twice the size of the covered shopping area at Jordan Creek Town Center. Construction will be in four phases, beginning in spring of 2017 and ending in 2022.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist was killed in a wreck in Iowa City on Friday. The motorcyclist lost control, laid the motorcycle down and slid into the ditch.  26-year-old I-An Liang of Iowa City was transported to the hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.  He was not wearing a helmet.  The passenger was wearing a helmet and was taken by ambulance to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

NEW LONDON, IA (IRN) – A partial train derailment happened shortly after 8 a.m. Monday morning between New London and Danville. KCII-Radio reports an eastbound loaded coal train struck a road grader at a rural crossing. The collision caused 21 cars and two locomotives to derail. The road grader operator sustained non-life threatening injuries. The train was 135 cars long.

DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines teen is being held on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of 28-year-old Jose Lopez. The Des Moines Register reports witnesses say 17-year-old Josue Ricardo Socop deliberately fired a shotgun at Lopez, killing him. The killing is the 14th homicide in Des Moines this year.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Authorities say a man was slightly injured after jumping into the Missouri River near a casino in Council Bluffs. KCCI-TV reports the incident occurred around 2 a.m. Monday, after the man who was described as extremely intoxicated was barred from the Ameristar Casino. He soon jumped into the river, but authorities talked him into coming back out. He was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication.

DES MOINES (IRN) – One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting Sunday morning in Des Moines. 20-year-old Dashawn Smith was shot around 2 a.m. near the Evolution Nightclub. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Deputies heard multiple gunshots when they arrived on scene. Several hundred people were in and around the club when the shooting occurred. It’s the third Des Moines homicide in 48 hours.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police are looking for information related to a report of several gunshots and a car crash. KWWL-TV reports witnesses heard multiple gunshots, and a car crashing into a tree. The vehicle is an older model Mercedes sedan with two bullet holes in it. Four teenagers or young adults were seen running from the vehicle when they heard police sirens.

REINBECK, IA (IRN) -|A Board of Education decision last spring to close one of Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s three schools has spawned an effort to put the fate of the entire district before residents for a vote. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports more than 700 citizens signed a petition calling for Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community Schools to dissolve, with its attendance and property divided among neighboring districts.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA  (IRN) – A Xavier High School senior in Cedar Rapids is collecting used sporting equipment for families who may not be able to afford the gear needed to join local teams. The initiative is called ‘Got Gear CR?’ Organizer Daniel Richardson believes not all families can pay for new baseball gloves, soccer cleats, or other necessary items. He believes that sports is a positive thing kids can do, and that participation will help lead them in positive directions.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Marion husband and wife have been sentenced to prison for enticing a 15-year-old girl into sexual activity, according to WHO-TV. Federal prosecutors say 27-year-old Jennifer Darling was given 19 years in prison and 21-year-old Michael Darling was given 30 years. Both pled guilty to one count each of enticement of a minor. The Darlings admitted they were planning to produce child pornography.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Sprinklers inside a Polk County courts building being renovated flooded part of the building Thursday according to KCCI-TV. Workers heard a boom and saw water running down a wall from the ceiling. Voters approved an $81 million bond referendum in 2013, which is now being used to give the Polk County Courthouse campus a face-lift.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – An Iowa school district had to dispatch a second bus and driver to pick up students because the first driver quit midway through her morning route. KWWL-TV reports the incident occurred Tuesday morning in Waukee. A Waukee Community School District spokesperson says no students were endangered. It’s not clear what made the bus driver quit so abruptly.

DES MOINES (IRN) – More police plan to patrol rural roadways in five rural Iowa counties starting today. The increased patrol is part of a traffic safety campaign called the “High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project,” according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.  Jackson, Boone, Lee, Monona, and Poweshiek counties have been targeted after data revealed they were among the lowest ranked in seatbelt compliance.

GLENWOOD, IA (IRN) – The man who was involved in a shooting that happened Sunday involving a school principal is a former Iowa State basketball standout, playing alongside Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State in the ’90s. KCCI-TV reports Hurl Beechum, 42, along with Denver Cook, 18, and Colton McDaniel, 21, face different charges following the shooting in Glenwood. Beechum was well-known for his athletic ability and being a leader on the court.

MOLINE, IL (IRN) – John Deere & Company announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the UAW to replace the six-year master labor contract that expired yesterday. KWQC-TV reports the tentative agreement is for six years and will now be presented to members for a ratification vote. The agreement covers employees at John Deere facilities in Davenport, Ankeny, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Donald Trump supporters verbally assaulted peaceful protesters at the recent Iowa vs. Iowa State game.  WHO-TV reports students were protesting Trump’s comments on immigration. That incident led to an emotional conversation Wednesday night on the ISU campus. Students said the incident made them feel unsafe, discriminated against, and unwelcome. University President Dr. Steven Leath led the discussion about how to create a better environment for students on campus.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man and his 11-year-old daughter teamed up to save their neighbors from a fire, according to KWWL-TV. Joshua Hentges was watching television with his family Monday evening when his daughter, Natalee, noticed flames coming from a home across the street. They rushed over and woke a sleeping woman and her young daughter. Firefighters extinguished the fire. The cause? Unattended candles.