Iowa Radio News

TOLEDO (IRN) – A mail carrier in Toledo is accused of lifting a woman’s skirt. KCCI-TV reports Terry Noe was allegedly caught making the action on camera and asking the victim what was underneath. Noe faces a charge for assault. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Des Moines International Airport broke ground on its new terminal Wednesday. The project is expected to cost $455 million, and could be funded by a bond referendum up for Polk County voters this November, according to WHO-13. The new terminal will expand the number of planes and passengers that the airport can serve and will be two stories tall. IOWA (IRN) – The upcoming fall colors show across the state of Iowa has kicked off in the northern tiers of counties, but due to ongoing drought, is expected to be shorter than normal in 2023. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says that the ongoing drought is diminishing the soil profile, which will make for a quicker viewing season. Generally, the most tree leaves have turned from green to reds, oranges, yellows, and purples in mid-October. The Iowa DNR releases a weekly fall color report every Tuesday. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Pork Producers Association announced five finalists for the 21st annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. KCRG-TV reports the finalists are Cliff’s Place in Manning, Spillway Supper Club in Harpers Ferry, Stumpy’s Bar and Grill in Duncombe, ToJo’s Bar and Grill in Jamaica, and The Roadhouse in Orange City. The Iowa Pork Producers received a record 9,000 nominations for nearly 800 restaurants across the state.

GRINNELL (IRN) – A person has died following a reported shooting along Interstate 80. WHO-13 reports the unidentified individual was killed as a result of a gunshot wound and found Tuesday morning near Grinnell. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, and Poweshiek County Sheriff’s office are investigating and a suspected shooter was in police custody. HAMPTON (IRN) – A Hampton man was killed while crossing a roadway in Franklin County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 84-year-old Robert Irwin failed to yield and attempted to cross Highway 65 Sunday afternoon while riding in a golf cart. A motorcycle driven by 54 year old Corey Spear of Hampton struck the cart. Irwin died and Spear was injured. NEWTON (IRN) – It’s official — NASCAR’s elite drivers are coming to the Iowa Speedway for a race next summer. Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement Tuesday after The Athletic reported the stock car series would converge in Newton. Three days of competition are scheduled from June 14th through 16th. IOWA CITY (IRN) An Iowa City hospital is heading to an auction today. The Gazette reports Mercy is up for sale after two offers were received, including $20 million from the University of Iowa.

NEWTON (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to announce today officially that NASCAR is bringing its top series to the Iowa Speedway. The Athletic reported first Monday that a race in Newton will replace a former competition at California Speedway. This will be the first time in 18 years that the track will host the top Cup drivers from NASCAR. IOWA (IRN) – Despite worsening drought across most of Iowa, the annual crop remains in decent shape and ahead of schedule. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed 92 percent of Iowa’s corn is mature — well ahead of the five-year average at this point in the season of 76 percent. Approximately 16 percent of the crop is out of the field, up from 10 percent in 2022. The soybean harvest is in line with the five year average, and one-fourth of the crop is out. Seventy-three percent of Iowa’s topsoil and 79% of the state’s subsoil is short on moisture or worse. DES MOINES (IRN) The State of Iowa agreed to an interim settlement in a lawsuit brought on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children with serious mental and behavioral health needs, which asserted that Iowa administers an inadequate mental health system that does not provide children and youth with legally required services. To address these decades long issues, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced it has launched major transformations through the Mental Health and Disability Regional structure to provide core services to children in Iowa and will continue to improve the state’s mental health system. IOWA (IRN) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts this week. The national test will consist of two portions, with both scheduled for 1:20 p.m. this Wednesday. The wireless portion will be directed to all consumer cell phones, and should display in either English or Spanish, depending on the device and its language settings. All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The emergency alert test will then go over the airwaves, including all FCC-regulated television and radio stations.

IOWA (IRN) – Dry conditions remain in place across 99.99% of Iowa, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. While the smallest sliver of Fremont County is considered in normal moisture conditions, the rest of the state remains dry, with 67.4 percent of residents going through severe drought or worse. Exceptional drought — the worst of the four categories on the national report, is currently impacting Benton and Tama Counties. DES MOINES (IRN) – Record high temperatures were broken across the state, according to the National Weather Service. The Johnston office of the federal agency reported all four major stations in Iowa broke long-standing high marks for heat on Saturday, including Des Moines, Waterloo, Ottumwa, and Mason City, and on Sunday, in Cedar Rapids. The upper 80s and low 90s reported since Friday are about 20 degrees warmer than typical for October 1st. This was the first time 90 degrees was recorded in October in many Iowa communities since 1997. Cooler conditions are on the horizon by the middle of this week. FREMONT COUNTY (IRN) – A Lexington, North Carolina woman was killed while walking by truck stops near Nebraska City. The Iowa State Patrol reports 65 year old Debora Lee Turbett was struck by a semi driven by Jeffery Hartley of Glenwood near the intersection of Highway 2 and 211th Avenue Friday morning. The semi was leaving a fueling area and turning on the road. The crash remains under investigation. GRUNDY CENTER (IRN) – A Grundy Center firefighter was arrested after he was accused of starting several fires he would later respond to with the Holland Fire Department. KCRG-TV reports 60 year old Kendall Rhoads was arrested by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office last week and faces 13 counts of second degree arson. Their investigation started in April after several ditch fires were reported, as were others at abandoned buildings. Rhoads has been with the Holland Fire Department for six years.

STORM LAKE (IRN) – An athletic trainer facing accusations of inappropriate interaction with female college students will keep his license in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that Richard Bingham was working at the College of Southern Idaho in 2021, when he was then placed on leave. Bingham was accused of several inappropriate actions with members of the school’s volleyball team. In June, the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licensure agreed to a disciplinary order that included educational coursework, but did not require Bingham to admit to wrongdoing. The Iowa Board of Athletic Training, citing that decision, allows Bingham to continue practicing in Storm Lake under probation for two years with supervision, but did not remove his license. GRIMES (IRN) – Two people are arrested after alleged involvement in a shooting Thursday. WHO-13 reports that court documents indicated 21-year-old Armstrong Kyne and 25-year-old Abednego Nyemah pointed and fired a handgun at four other victims. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says witnesses identified the pair. No injuries were reported. COUNCIL BLUFFS (IRN) – The Council Bluffs Police Department is partnering with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to find out more about a scam. The department received several reports of residents being targeted by a group of suspects spoofing phone numbers and were posing as law enforcement. Both agencies believe the same group is targeting people in Carroll, Sioux City, and Iowa City. Those with information should contact their respective police departments or the Iowa DCI. IOWA CITY (IRN) – NOT FOR KCII – A Washington County man has been charged in relation to a crash that resulted in the death of a Wellman woman in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports 24-year-old Drake Brezina has been charged with homicide by vehicle for an August 7th collision. Police say video showed the man was holding a cellular device when he ran a red light, broadsiding a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Kristina Pearson, who later died from injuries. Another passenger needed to be revived at a hospital as well. Court records indicate the light was red for 15 seconds and Brezina was traveling nearly 10 MPH over the posted speed limit.