Iowa Radio News

POLK COUNTY (IRN) – A Polk County judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of a child who died in a ride malfunction at Adventureland. The Des Moines Register reports a motion made by the State of Iowa and by a ride inspector was rejected after they were added as defendants in April. The lawsuit filed by the family of 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo alleges that the state and inspector Bruno Burriola were negligent while inspecting the Raging River in the summer of 2021, less than a month before a malfunction resulted in the boy’s eventual death. A state report in 2022 showed the ride was in violation of 17 safety standards — Burriola gave the operation full clearance a year prior, according to court records. The then-owners of Adventureland are also named in the suit. DES MOINES (IRN) – Record highs are possible as the calendar turns to October this weekend. The National Weather Service anticipates high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s, and possibly near 90, starting today and continuing through Monday with little-to-no rain expected statewide during that time. The previous record in Des Moines is 90 degrees today, and 92 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This comes as the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday that 95% of the state remains in drought, and one-fourth of Iowa is in extreme conditions or worse. LAKE CITY (IRN) – The former city administrator of a northwest Iowa town faces fines but no additional jail time after pleading guilty to charges related to fraud. The Des Moines Register reports Eric Wood of Lake City was sentenced to probation and a suspended prison sentence, with more than $2,000 in fines. Wood was arrested in September 2022 and faced several accusations, including perjury, which would have been felonious misconduct while in office. Wood was involved in signing false documents related to the employment of two Lake City police officers, including Aaron Alspach, who pled guilty to tampering with records and was sentenced to a year in probation. (Not for KNIA/KRLS) WARREN COUNTY (IRN) – Two Warren County patrol cruisers were struck while assisting with a crash on Interstate 35 early Thursday morning. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office shared a post from Sheriff Joseph Carico about the collisions that occurred as emergency crews were responding to a two-vehicle incident near mile marker 53. Carico said two cruisers were hit by the truck traveling near normal interstate speeds at a scene that was blocked off and that closed the road due to a fire. He reported both officers involved were able to flee safely.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced the State of Iowa will end Fiscal Year 2023 with a balance of $1.83 billion in the General Fund, $902 million in reserve funds and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund. Reynolds promised additional tax cuts in the next session as a result of the surplus — Iowa Democrats criticized the news, saying the state is not spending enough to meet critical needs such as education and infrastructure. Last week, Gov. Reynolds announced that Iowa’s corporate tax rate will drop to 7.1 percent from 8.4 percent for Tax Year 2024 due to corporate tax receipts exceeding $700 million. ‘ ODGEN (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League says it needs help to care for dogs rescued an alleged puppy mill. KCCI TV reports a Boone County deputy found nearly 100 dogs during a welfare check at a house in Ogden. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is caring for 81 of the 93 canines found. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and no charges were filed as of Wednesday. VOLGA (IRN) – A Missouri man is facing charges after a fatal incident in Volga. KCRG-TV reports two people fell off the tailgate of a truck allegedly driven by Tucker Baker of St. Josephn, according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. He faces charges of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving and serious injury by vehicle.m Investigators said videos of the incident obtained from witnesses show three trucks rapidly accelerating in succession, with the last occupied by seven people near the Volga Campground. IOWA (IRN) – A agricultural businessman who has a significant role in a proposed carbon pipeline does not have to testify for permit hearings, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Bruce Rastetter is the co-founder of Summit Carbon Solutions, and those opposed to the pipeline wanted him to expand about potential conflicts of interest. The Iowa Utilities Board ruled that Rastetter will not need to testify. The project proposed to span five states has run into concerns in two of those — both North and South Dakota have put various blocks and holds on the idea.

POLK COUNTY (IRN) – Police have identified a man involved in a standoff in Polk County Tuesday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Scott Eugene Smith of Des Moines for an outstanding warrant and several other charges, including attempted murder. The department alleges Smith abandoned a vehicle during an attempted traffic stop, shot at a deputy, and fled into a nearby hotel. A perimeter was set up by several state and federal agencies, which led to a four hour standoff than ended without incident. DES MOINES (IRN) – One of two family members charged in the death of a newborn in Norwalk is planning to used diminished responsibility as a defense. Rodney Staude’s strategy was revealed in the Warren County Court House, according to WHO-13. His daughter Megan Staude is also charged with first degree murder for an incident that led to the discovery of a newborn’s body in March. BURLINGTON (IRN) – A Des Moines County jury ruled in favor of a Burlington man in his lawsuit related to a COVID-based unemployment claim. The Des Moines Register reports Jonathan Critser will receive $100,000 after a six-day trial. His former employer CNH Industrial fired Critser in 2020 after he filed for partial unemployment that summer after he had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and missed two days. While CNH claimed Critser failed to follow protocols, the jury disagreed.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating human remains found on the city’s east side. KCCI-TV reports officers responded to a wooded area late Saturday, and found what appeared to be a skull. The location is four miles away from a site where two sisters found a skull in June near Yellow Banks Park in Polk County. IOWA CITY (IRN) – An Indiana man faces charges following an alleged scheme to steal rent checks from several Iowa apartments. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa City Police Department arrested 27 year old Kalvin Brown, and he is one of two other suspects. Police say several thefts in Iowa City were reported at an apartment complex totaling nearly $9,000 in July, and that similar thefts took place in Urbandale, Ames, and Cedar Rapids during the same time period. Many of those checks were chased at Western Unions in Des Moines as the payee line was washed and replaced with the names of the suspects involved. AMES (IRN) – A creative new Name, Image, and Likeness deal features the unique last names of Iowa State Cyclones football players. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Pork Producers Association has reached a deal with Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann, and Caleb Bacon. The new marketing campaign encourages Iowans to “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon.” CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – The Class 4A and Class 3A site for the 2024 IHSAA State Baseball Tournament will be Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The 5,300-seat home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels was selected through a summer bidding process by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The one-year agreement follows three seasons at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City for the larger school classes. When IHSAA and University of Iowa added an agreement from 2022-24, potential renovations at Duane Banks Field made the extension year-to-year. Upgrades are scheduled to begin on the UI campus following the NCAA season in 2024. Carroll will again host Class 2A and Class 1A next summer. The tournament is scheduled for July 22-26, 2024.

OTTUMWA (IRN) – An Ottumwa man who was not present when given a guilty verdict for first degree murder has been found. The Iowa Department of Public Safety and Ottumwa Police Department searched for 63 year old Gregory Showalter and arrested him Saturday. He was supposed to be at Wapello County District Court on Friday but did not appear to receive the verdict in relation to the death of his wife in 2021. SAYLORVILLE (IRN) – An unidentified man ran into traffic on Interstate 80 Saturday and was struck by three vehicles, leading to his death. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating why a pedestrian was on the six-land highway near Saylorville. The man was struck in the eastbound side and was thrown into the westbound lanes, and ultimately hit by three total vehicles. MILLS COUNTY (IRN) – A missing woman in Mills County has been found dead. WHO-13 reports 72 year old Judy Kreuger was located Saturday, one week after she was reported missing. Kreuger suffered from dementia, which likely contributed to her death, according to officials.