Iowa Radio News

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross is asking for blood donations after Friday night tornadoes destroyed entire communities and killed dozens in five states. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The murder trial for a 20-year-old Cedar Rapids man accused of killing his father, mother and sister will be pushed back to April 2022. The trial for Alexander Jackson was originally set for January 25, but is now set to start on April 5. Police found 61-year-old Jan Jackson, 68-year-old Melissa Jackson and 19-year-old Sabrina Jackson dead. Alexander Jackson has pleaded not guilty. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The search is underway for a 11-year-old boy from Des Moines who is missing. Fray Sanchez voluntarily left home riding a green BMX-style bike and hasn’t returned. He’s approximately 5’2” tall and weighs approximately 95 lbs. WEBSTER CITY, IA (IRN) – An inmate escaped Webster County jail around 11 p.m. Saturday. The inmate, 43-year-old Jordan Mefferd of Fort Dodge, escaped through a third story window using sheets tied together to climb down into an alley. After a car chase, he was apprehended. Mefferd is facing felony eluding and felony escape charges. Destiny Sumpter, 27, is charged with violation of probation and aiding and abetting felony escape. AMES, IA (IRN) – T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the 17th-ranked Cyclones past Jackson State 47-37 on Sunday. The Cyclones improved to 10-0 after ending last season with 18 straight losses.

IOWA (IRN) – Lawyers for Gov. Kim Reynolds are arguing in court that she was too busy to respond quickly to public-records requests this year due to the pandemic, and that her decision-making process is shielded from disclosure by executive privilege. The governor’s office has made those arguments in recent weeks as part of an effort to dispose of two lawsuits alleging she and her staff have violated the Iowa Open Records Law. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One hundred health care professionals are being contracted to work at over a dozen medical facilities across Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health says the health care providers will be nurses and respiratory therapists, a need during the pandemic. They will work at facilities across Iowa that provide 1, 2, and 3 trauma level care. IOWA (IRN) – Deer hunters found a dead mountain lion with a broken snare around its neck in east-central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the nearly 120-pound cat was found Tuesday in Poweshiek County by a group of hunters. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Sioux City is considering spending $250,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to provide a $300 bonus to city employees a little more than a week before Christmas.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Just weeks before Christmas, thieves are targeting people who spend their lives helping others in Story County. On Thursday, cars were broken into in the parking lots of two long-term care facilities Bethany Life and Accura Healthcare. Multiple car windows were smashed and purses were stolen. The suspects then went to Walmart where they quickly used stolen credit cards. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Volunteers and visitors will be allowed to enter all Cedar Rapids Community School District buildings beginning on Jan. 3. Masks will be required. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s leading rusher has played his final game as a Hawkeye. Running back Tyler Goodson announced Friday he will skip the bowl game and his senior season to focus on the NFL Draft. Goodson has led Iowa in rushing the past three seasons. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Maurine Nieman is a professor of biology at the University of Iowa. Two years ago, she lost her son JJ to the flu. Inspired by her tragic loss, she teamed up with Families Fighting Flu and her students to create a video game to teach kids about the flu and the importance of vaccination. The game is called “Flu’s Clues,” and is available online.

IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning or winter weather advisory for much of the northern half of Iowa. Moderate to heavy snow will be possible, especially in the warning area. Winds could cause blowing snow to near blizzard conditions in the northwest. A wintry mix with light icing will be possible from central into northeast Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person has been arrested after an SUV with a four-year-old inside was stolen from a gas station Thursday night in Des Moines. The suspect stole an Infiniti FX35 from a Git N’ Go. The owner of the SUV left it running with the child in the back seat when they went inside the convenience store. After stealing the SUV, the suspect let the child out of the vehicle. Police later found the four-year-old safe and brought them back to their family. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a strong condemnation of the way Iowa treats people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, telling the state it must find ways to care for people in community settings and not in institutions. They say the state is violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. ​​FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – The longest-serving inmate in Iowa and the fifth-longest in the country has died of natural causes in Fort Madison. In 1956, Warren John Nutter, 84 was 18 years old when he murdered police officer Harold Pearce in Independence. He had been scheduled to be executed by hanging, but the governor of Iowa commuted his sentence to life in prison. Nutter served 62 years in prison. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State men’s basketball team continued its resurgence Thursday night with a 73-53 pounding of rival Iowa in the annual Cy-Hawk Showdown. No. 17 Iowa State improved to 9-0, and also paid back Iowa for last year’s blowout loss in Iowa City. The loss drops the Hawkeyes to 7-3.

DES MOINES, IA (IR) – The Iowa Department of Public Health and the State Hygienic Lab confirm detection of the first case of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, in an Iowa resident. The case involves an unvaccinated individual under the age of 18 who resides in Black Hawk County. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bondsman has been accused of offering female inmates bail in exchange for sex. On Wednesday, the Iowa Insurance Division released details into one of their most recent investigations that included charges against bail bondsman David Ellis. Ellis, who owns Always Affordable Bail Bonds in Des Moines, faces allegations of fraud, theft and prostitution. IOWA FALLS, IA (IRN) – A deadly encounter between police and a man reportedly stalking a woman he used to date led Iowa Falls schools and Ellsworth Community College to cancel classes Wednesday. Officers saw the man run his vehicle into the woman’s car. Police ordered the man to get out of his vehicle. He refused and displayed a shotgun and tried to flee. That’s when police shot and killed him. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have identified the man who was killed when he and a police officer were struck by a vehicle Monday night. Donald Hill, 31, of Des Moines died Tuesday. Hill allegedly fled on foot from a traffic stop on the city’s south side on Monday. Senior Police Officer Curt Brass gave chase. The two men struggled in the roadway where they were struck by a vehicle. Brass remains hospitalized with serious injuries but is expected to survive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – 100 nurses and respiratory therapists are being contracted by the state to support hospitals that provide one, two and three trauma level care. Federal funding will help 17 facilities around the state. AMES, IA (IRN) -The Joens sisters, Ashley and Aubrey, each had a double-double for the second game in a row and No. 15 Iowa State edged No. 12 Iowa 77-70 to end a five-game losing streak in the series. The game, a first when both were ranked in the top 15, wasn’t decided until Ashley Joens made three of four free throws in the final 15 seconds.