Iowa Radio News

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Firefighters have concluded firefighting operations at the ADM site in Cedar Rapids. ADM personnel are continuing the clean-up and are working to evaluate the damage. MARENGO, IA (IRN) – The blend of chemicals that C6-Zero employees used in the company’s Marengo shingle recycling plant had a “significantly low” flash point, potentially leading to a Dec. 8 explosion and fire that sent 20 people to the hospital and forced the evacuation of surrounding homes, according to law enforcement. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Fire Department extinguished a house fire in the Beaverdale area Friday morning. The back of the house was fully engulfed in flames. The house was empty at the time. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Rolando Ruiz works as a butcher for the Texas Roadhouse in Cedar Falls and this month he will compete to be in Dallas, Texas in a national meat cutting competition. He is one of thirty finalists from around the country vying for the $25,000 grand prize. The winner is the person who yields the most steaks with the highest quality cut.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Plant workers and the Cedar Rapids Fire Department continued through Friday morning to work together to evaluate the situation after an explosion on top of grain elevators at the ADM corn processing plant Thursday night. No one was injured. MARION, IA (IRN) – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office reports the two women who died in a shooting in rural Linn County on Tuesday were mother and daughter. The sheriff’s office said 68-year-old Debra Mayfield and 43-year-old Karie Mayfield died in the shooting at their home. The case remains under investigation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide for his involvement in an October crash. Wesley Derrell Sullivan, 50, was allegedly drunk and driving at a high rate of speed when he collided with a motorcycle. A woman who was a passenger on the motorcycle was killed. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Two people were injured in a house explosion in Fort Dodge Wednesday night and officials are investigating what caused the incident. When crews arrived, they found the two-story home partially collapsed and on fire. An adult man and woman were found outside the home suffering from burn injuries. They had been asleep in the living room when the explosion happened, and had to crawl over and under debris to escape the burning structure. A passerby stopped and helped them until emergency crews arrived. POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Brand family in Poweshiek County had a surprise early Sunday morning. One ewe started going into labor at their farm south of Grinnell at 2:30 a.m. The ewe’s belly was large, the family was expecting twins or even triplets. Instead, there were quintuplets. Veterinarians say quintuplet lambs are a one-in-a-million chance and it is even rarer for all of them to be healthy.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police have made an arrest in a nearly 16-year-old Cedar Rapids murder case. Curtis Padgett, 42, is charged with first-degree murder in the May 2007 death of Dennis First. First, 64, was found dead in his apartment. His death was investigated as a homicide at the time, but no arrests were made. Investigators now say Padgett killed First by beating then stabbing or cutting him following an argument. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa man accused of shooting his sleeping wife with a crossbow has pleaded guilty. 69-year-old George Dennison has entered a guilty plea to the charges of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and Going Armed with Intent. Investigators say the victim was shot with the crossbow while sleeping on a couch. She reportedly sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital. Dennison was arrested later that day. RUNNELLS, IA (IRN) – First responders rescued a woman from a vehicle submerged in water near Runnells last night. The vehicle left the roadway and went into a pond. An adult female was airlifted to the hospital. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – AJ Fitzpatrick of Cedar Rapids has been invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials for wheelchair basketball. At just 18 years old, Fitzpatrick is the youngest of 26 players who got an invite.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two sisters from West Des Moines are being recognized as heroes for their quick thinking after saving two kids who fell through the ice in a pond behind an apartment building. Fifteen-year-old Jasmine Morris and 17-year-old Jacora Morris were scrolling through TikTok when they happened to look out their third-story window at the right time. They ran to the pond and rescued the kids, one of whom who was completely submerged. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The murder trial of a Fort Dodge mother accused of drowning her newborn baby in the bathtub has been scheduled for September. Taylor Blaha is charged with first-degree murder in the baby’s death. Court documents say Blaha admitted to investigators that she and the father of the child, Brandon Thoma, drowned the baby girl shortly after she was born. They were worried the two-year-old son they shared would be taken away if authorities learned there was methamphetamine in their daughter’s system when she was born. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some Republican lawmakers want to change the state constitution to ban gay marriage. House Joint Resolution 8 was introduced in the Iowa House on Tuesday. The bill has eight sponsors. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Students at 14 Iowa Public Schools are planning a walkout today in order to protest a series of bills in the Iowa Legislature relating to LGBTQ+ students. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – The historic, red brick Maytag headquarters buildings in Newton are a huge source of civic pride. And now, a $30 million plan could transform them into something new. The buildings haven’t been used much since the major appliance manufacturer closed in 2007. Soon, they could become Newton’s newest hotel and apartment complex.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids teenager accused of stabbing his parents at their home in October 2021 has pled guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. Court documents say Ethan Alexander Orton killed Misty Scott-Slade and Casey Orton at their home. When police arrived, they found Orton sitting outside the home, covered in blood. Orton admitted to stabbing and killing them in order to “take charge of his life.” They also say he used an axe to kill his mother when she appeared to have survived the initial stabbing. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman was sentenced Friday to a total of 45 years in prison for conspiring to produce child pornography and child exploitation. Ashley Marie Butler, 33, produced child pornography on at least three occasions in 2021 when she video recorded her co-defendant and husband, Shane William Butler, sexually abusing a minor victim. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Firefighters and paramedics responded to a police chase that ended with a crash in West Des Moines Monday. The chase began after a reported theft at Walmart. A car with Washington state plates led officers on a chase that ended when it hit an SUV. Multiple cars were involved in the crash and several people were taken to the hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries. 43-year-old Wesley Mihalovic Jr. is charged with felony eluding and theft. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Dozens of Lincoln High School students were ejected from the basketball game at Waukee Friday night. An official whistled to the Lincoln student section with about seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, then seconds later whistled again and ejected every visiting student. The students were using foul language against the officials and Waukee players. They lost the game too.