Iowa Radio News

COUNCIL BLUFFS (IRN) – The year 2023 is among the most deadly on Iowa roadways in several years. The Iowa DOT reports that 323 people have lost their lives in vehicle crashes so far this year, outpacing the past five years by 13%. The most recent fatality occurred on Tuesday, when a Council Bluffs man died in a Fremont County semi and trailer rollover. The Iowa State Patrol released a report detailing the death of 67 year old James Kinney. DES MOINES (IRN) – Police identified the woman killed in an apparent stabbing in Des Moines Tuesday. WHO-13 reports 20 year old Alyssa Anne Maher was pronounced dead in a metro hospital with stab wounds. Brantlee Austin Gage Rainey has been charged with first degree murder after police say he was found with a knife and the man covered in blood inside of the room where Maher was allegedly attacked. DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines metro bus riders could see their available public transportation options nearly cut in half if the city council does not approve a proposal during the upcoming budget process. The Des Moines Register reports the state’s only regional transit system, also known as the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority or DART, is funded by property taxes but faces a $3 million shortfall in the 2025 fiscal year. This would mean most routes would run every hours instead of every 30 minutes and could become reduced on weekends and holidays, starting next November. The City Council could also vote to increase its franchise fee to provide a 2.5% increase allowed by state lawmakers to prevent some cuts.

URBANDALE – The Iowa State Patrol and Urbandale Police Department are investigating a motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a tow truck operator. Just after 10:00 pm Sunday night, an Urbandale Police Officer was assisting with a crash on Interstate 80. The patrol vehicle was parked on the outside shoulder with its emergency lights and left directional lights activated. An Iowa Department of Transportation Highway Helper, located behind the patrol vehicle, was also signaling traffic to move left and away from the outside lane. A semi-truck and trailer, driven by Dmytro Prysich, is accused of not moving over or slowing down and striking the tow truck operator Joshua Villa as he was getting out of his tow vehicle. Villa died as a result of the crash. Prysich is charged with vehicular homicide/OWI, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and failure to yield for hazards in a crash resulting in death. FAIRFIELD – An Iowa teen that pled guilty to killing his Spanish teacher will be sentenced this week. WHO-13 reports Jeremy Goodale will find out his fate following a plea agreement to a murder charge. Prosecutors recommended 25 years to life in prison for Goodale’s role in the killing of 66 year old Nohema Graber in November of 2021. Willar Miller was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years this summer. CEDAR FALLS – Seven state football champions will be crowned this week at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls during the championship round. Four games will be played on Thursday: 8-plyaer, Bishop Garrigan vs Bedford, Class A: West Hancock vs. Woodbury Central, Class 1A: MFL MarMac vs Grundy Center, and Class 4A: Lewis Central vs Western Dubuque. Three contests will be held on Friday: Class 2A: Van Meter vs. C-L-G-L-R, Class 3A: Bishop Heelan vs. Williamsburg, and Class 5A: Ankeny vs. Southeast Polk.

KOSSUTH COUNTY – More cases of the bird flu have been confirmed in the state, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Additional outbreaks were confirmed on Saturday in Kossuth and Cerro Gordo County, WHO-13 reports. In Kossuth County, game bird pheasants, quail, and chukars tested positive, while mixed species were the cause in Cerro Gordo county. IOWA – One high profile Republican presidential nominee has ended his campaign. Senator Tim Scott announced on Fox News Sunday he was suspending operations ahead of the Iowa Caucus. Scott first announced his intentions in May of 2022, and announced last month it would be going all in on the Hawkeye State. COLFAX – A Colfax man has broken a unique Guinness World Record. KCCI-TV reports Aaron Bartholmey has a pencil collection totaling more than 69,000 items. The story was first shared this summer, and three months later, the record is now broken.

TAYLOR COUNTY – More than one million chickens will be slaughtered due to an outbreak of the bird flu in Taylor County. The Associated Press reports the Iowa Department of Agriculture announced the infection on Friday, with a disaster proclamation that shortly followed from Governor Kim Reynolds. The USDA has found fewer wild birds carrying the virus, but in an attempt to prevent spread, farms found with the disease have entire flocks wiped out to prevent further spread. DES MOINES – A teen shot at a Des Moines park walked to Hoover High School for help on Friday. WHO-13 reports the individual had non-life threatening injuries for a shooting that occurred at 3 p.m., and the case remains under investigation. CEDAR RAPIDS – Two men were arrested Thursday in relation to October shootings in Cedar Rapids that killed two people. KCRG-TV reports Cameron Leonard was arrested in Burlington for the death of DoorDash driver Myron Snyder. Maurice Brown was also found dead at the apartment. Police say they also arrested Pierre Morrow in connection to the case. Leonard was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and charged with first degree murder and other charges.

ELDORA – A therapist hired to work with at-risk students in Eldora has been fired after being accused of having sex with minors in the facility. WHO-13 reports the State Training School at Eldora let go the currently unidentified individual, who is the subject of an ongoing investigation by Eldora police. The therapist is accused of bringing in contraband and having sex with seven residents, all of whom are likely underage. MONTICELLO – Memorial services have been planned for a Monticello man killed in a shooting. Aaron McAtee died Tuesday at Fareway in Monticello in what police are calling a random act of violence, according to KCRG-TV. A visitation is scheduled on November 14th and a funeral the next day. The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Nathan Russell of East Dubuque. IOWA – A planned forum with presidential candidates is moving forward despite pressure from the Republican National Committee for invitees to not attend. The Des Moines Register reports Family Leader President Bob Vander Plaats is continuing a Thanksgiving event that has a select list of GOP candidates invited, including Former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Those candidates