Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, Iowa —A Goodrell Middle School teacher accused of using racist language will not return to the classroom.The Des Moines Public School Board has approved the teacher’s retirement request. He was accused of using a racial slur in the classroom. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man has been charged with vehicular homicide after police say he ran over his girlfriend with his pickup truck during an argument, killing her. The incident happened Tuesday night in Bettendorf. Police arrested Logan Paul Voss, 24, of Goose Lake. Voss was allegedly drunk. The victim’s name hasn’t been released. DURANT, IA (IRN) – A collision between a semi-truck and a pickup truck on Wednesday in rural Cedar County resulted in the death of the pickup’s driver. A semi-truck traveling westbound on I-80 near Durant broke through a cable barrier, crossed into eastbound traffic and hit a 2020 Ford F-150 head-on. Steven Michael Dolezal, 71, of Cedar Rapids, was killed in the crash. A passenger in the pickup and the driver of the semi were injured and hospitalized. PRINCETON, IA (IRN) – A man died Wednesday after he was shot in the head at an outdoor gun range near Princeton in Scott County. Authorities are investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Trailing at one point 20-9, Waverly-Shell Rock’s wrestling squad stormed back to win five of the final six matches to secure their 2nd straight duals State title, and their 5th all time dual crown, beating Southeast Polk 30-26.

PRINCETON, IA (IRN) – One man is dead following an incident at the Princeton Wildlife Area Gun range Wednesday, according to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said foul play is not suspected at this time. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed a private bus on Wednesday morning in Ottumwa, with the organization’s employees helping to rescue its passengers as the fire burned. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at First Resources before they spread to surrounding areas. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 4% flat income tax in Iowa is one step closer to reality. House Republicans passed their tax proposal on Wednesday — mostly along party lines. The plan would reduce all individual income tax rates to a flat 4% by 2026. The plan would also get rid of all state taxes on retirement income. HF 2317 now goes to the Senate for consideration. Economists say the math favors the wealthy. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Big events downtown and falling COVID-19 cases may help some restaurants in Des Moines return to 2019 levels — if not exceed them. As thousands of people arrived for the state wrestling tournament, restaurants were already filled at lunchtime Wednesday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa officials agreed Tuesday to pay a group of attorneys nearly $5 million in a case that showed staff wrongly kept boys at a state-run school in isolation chambers and restraints. The Iowa Appeals Board approved the payment to attorneys for former students of the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora. The former students earlier won a lawsuit against the state over their mistreatment. INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) – An Oelwein woman is facing an attempted murder charge following a road rage incident in Buchanan County. Heather Lynn Beck, 36, is charged with attempted murder and one count of second-degree criminal mischief. Independence Police responded to two calls: one a road rage report; the second about a fight in the street. Police said Beck repeatedly struck another car with her car as they drove several blocks. She’s in jail. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A 76-year old Newton Community School Bus driver has been fired after CBD oil she uses to help with arthritis triggered a positive drug test. Peg Esperanza says it was presented to her as THC-free. She drove special needs students to and from school. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa farmers and landowners are fighting to keep carbon pipelines out of their backyard. Summit Carbon Solutions and Navigator CO₂ Ventures are two companies looking to build carbon pipelines in Iowa. Many are concerned that the two companies behind the pipelines will use eminent domain to get them built. In response, Iowa lawmakers are trying to ban all private businesses from using eminent domain. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Food delivery apps like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats could face new restrictions under a bill moving through the Iowa House. The Iowa Restaurant Association says 40% of restaurants across the state have complained about problems with food delivery services. Drivers not following food safety guidelines is one of the biggest concerns. Studies show about 25% of drivers delivering your food sample it before they give it to you.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Fists, feet and teeth. Urbandale police say a woman used them all when she violently attacked a convenience store clerk. The random act of violence happened Saturday at a Kum & Go on in Urbandale. Police say Amber Revell of Jefferson entered the store and laid down on the floor. The cashier asked her if she needed help, and Revell started hitting, kicking, and biting the cashier. She also attacked an officer during her arrest. Police think she was drunk. NEWARK, N.J. (IRN) – An Iowa woman was arrested by police after TSA agents stopped her from carrying a loaded handgun onto her flight on Friday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Authorities said the 9mm gun was loaded with five bullets, including one in the chamber. They did not identify the woman. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Large numbers of geese and pelicans have been found dead along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, and wildlife biologists aren’t sure what’s killing them. The carcasses of more than 20 Canada geese were recently discovered along the river in Davenport, and more were found in the city. About two dozen dead American white pelicans were found in the river in Bettendorf. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are sending to Gov. Kim Reynolds a school funding bill that offers a 2.5% increase from the current year. Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to increase state aid by 5%. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police officers took a break from their usual calls on Monday to spread some love for Valentine’s Day. Officers made a stop at the West Ridge Care Center to drop off flowers to the residents. Chief of Police Wayne Jerman said they wanted to make sure everyone felt a little love for the holiday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – New data from the Iowa Department of Public Health shows COVID-19 numbers in retreat from the last several weeks. Every key metric has improved in the last week. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Three people who were attending a monster truck rally in Waterloo were taken to a hospital Saturday night with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Truck exhaust is assumed to be the source of the carbon monoxide that sickened the spectators. The three became ill as the crowd was filing out of the National Cattle Congress complex at the end of the event. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed a camper on a property north of Runnells Sunday night. Two people were inside a camper trailer when it caught fire. They were able to escape without injuries. JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Johnson County government has extended the face covering requirement in county buildings through May 15, 2022. LOS ANGELES, CA (IRN) – Eight University of Iowa students were in Los Angeles working at the Super Bowl. All of the students are in the university’s Sports and Recreation Management program. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.