Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller announced Saturday he will be running for reelection in 2022. The announcement came during the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is looking for a second term in Congress. During an appearance in Iowa City this weekend, the republican congresswoman stated she had plans to run again for the second district. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ job approval rating has inched up since June. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows the governor’s job approval rating has risen to 53% today from 51% this summer. Another 43% disapprove, and 4% are unsure. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids has a new flag. It was unveiled on Saturday. The primary colors are blue, green and white. The blue represents the Cedar River. The round Green shape depicts Mays Island and represents the various green and grassy areas in the city. The white arch makes a border between the blue and green representing homes, businesses, infrastructure, and flood protection. Lastly, the white, five pointed star represents historic structures on Mays Island while also highlighting the Cedar Rapids motto, “City of Five Seasons.”

BELLEVUE, IA (IRN) – One person was killed from a fall at a Jackson County-based state park. At around 4:21 a.m. on Saturday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said that a report came in about a person who had fallen off a bluff at Bellevue State Park. They were pronounced dead at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has joined a coalition of 37 attorneys general to file a lawsuit against Google in California. The lawsuit alleges exclusionary conduct relating to the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices and Google Billing. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller announced Saturday he will be running for reelection in 2022. The announcement came during the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ job approval rating has inched up since June — a change driven by Iowans who like the way she’s handling the state economy as workers and businesses seek a return to normal amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows the governor’s job approval rating has risen to 53% today from 51% this summer. Another 43% disapprove, and 4% are unsure.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is looking for two people who may have information about a homicide investigation. Police discovered the body of 43-year-old Javier Moncada by the Des Moines River on Aug. 30. Moncada suffered a gunshot wound prior to his death. Police have issued material witness warrants for 18-year-old Jonathan Bautista and his 20-year-old sister, Jasmin Bautista, who are both from Des Moines. AMES (IRN) – An Ames man convicted of murder in July was sentenced Friday to life in prison for killing his roommate in November 2019. David Sean Hunter, 57, was convicted by a Story County jury in the death of 37-year-old Christopher Swalwell. Hunter stabbed Swalwell multiple times at their Ames apartment. Hunter says it was self defense. WALFORD, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man surrendered to Linn County Deputies Friday morning in connection to a bank robbery Wednesday in Walford. Jonathan Hefflefinger is charged with second-degree robbery for allegedly robbing the Central State Bank. No weapon was displayed during the robbery and no one was hurt. ALLEMAN, IA (IRN) – Two juveniles were injured after a crash Friday afternoon at Alleman. The incident occurred near the North Polk schools shortly after school was let out. The driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled into a ditch. They are expected to recover.

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – One person was injured and multiple townhomes were destroyed Friday in an overnight fire in Windsor Heights. The flames destroyed four homes and sent one person to the hospital. HAZLETON, IA (IRN) – A man died after being electrocuted while trimming a tree in the Buchanan town of Hazleton. He was using a boom lift to cut down a tree when he came in contact with an overhead power line. He was pronounced dead at the scene. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating after a shooting caused property damage to a Cedar Rapids church on Wednesday. Witnesses say two people got out of a vehicle, discharged a firearm at a young man walking, and then got back in the vehicle and fled the area. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans are getting their first look at proposed congressional redistricting maps. This starts the process for redrawing the political boundaries based on the 2020 Census. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency was responsible for coming up with the redistricting maps. The LSA is tasked, by Iowa law, with minimizing gerrymandering and political influence when it makes its initial drafting of the districts. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The City of Cedar Rapids will unveil the new city flag on Saturday. The new flag was selected by residents from four options.

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – Farm equipment dealers in Dyersville are reporting robberies of tractors and other equipment. At Scherrman’s Implement it only took 16 minutes for two people to steal around $40,000 in equipment. FREDERICKSBURG, IA (IRN) – One person was killed when a car was struck by a semi-truck near Fredericksburg in Chickasaw County. A 2016 Hyundai Accent ran a stop sign and the semi-truck t-boned it. WALFORD, IA (IRN) – A bank in the Linn County town of Walford was robbed on Wednesday. The person who committed the robbery was able to escape with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was displayed and nobody at the bank was hurt. BLACK HAWK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Mosquito surveillance efforts indicate that Black Hawk County is experiencing increased levels of the West Nile Virus to levels where human transmission is likely. Residents are encouraged to wear repellent and protective attire during outdoor activities and to eliminate standing water on their property. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is expected to receive 695 Afghan evacuees from the first group of arrivals to be resettled in the United States. Officials say they will be going to the major populated areas of the state where there are resources, jobs, and support systems for them. Those would include places such as the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metro areas.