Iowa Radio News

EAGLE GROVE, IA (IRN) – An employee was killed at the Prestage Foods pork production plant in Eagle Grove this morning. Jeffrey Leonardi, 57, was a mechanic and had been with Prestage Foods of Iowa since March of 2019 when the plant opened. He died performing routine maintenance tasks. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A stabbing sent two people to the hospital in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Both victims arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. Police said a 21-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries to the abdomen and a 17-year-old boy had life-threatening injuries to the chest. IOWA (IRN) – An Iowa district court judge is considering whether to halt enforcement of a state law that prohibits school boards from imposing mask requirements. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For Iowa Methodist Medical Center staff members, the latest COVID surge is even more exhausting than the original outbreak. They have the proper protective equipment now, and better treatments. But they lack the energy of the pandemic’s early months when they were leading an all-hands-on-deck struggle against a deadly threat. They say the finish line keeps moving and that it’s frustrating that this latest surge could have been prevented by more people getting vaccinated. IOWA (IRN) – President Joe Biden is requiring all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says Biden has overstepped his authority, and says, “I believe and trust in Iowans to make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. It’s time for President Biden to do the same. Enough is enough.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Des Moines School Public Schools employee is facing criminal charges. William Hinrichs, 49, was the subject of a state auditor’s report into misspent funds. He turned himself in to the police on Tuesday. In January, the auditor found Hinrichs used more than $124,000 in school money between 2013 and 2020 to buy tools, renovate his home, and purchase other personal items. He faces more than a dozen charges of theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A 34-year-old Iowa City man has been convicted of second-degree murder after he intentionally drove the wrong way on an interstate and collided with another car, killing a man from Texas. Stephen Lucore was found guilty Tuesday in the 2019 crash that led to the death of 64-year-old Robert Sawyer, of Nocona, Texas. Lucore told authorities he was driving east in the westbound lanes without lights in an effort to kill himself. KOSSUTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An investigation is underway at an open-pit hog manure lagoon near Algona after a man died when he was overcome by fumes. Emergency personnel in respirators removed the man from the area. He was taken to a Mason City hospital where he died Monday. IOWA (IRN) – $100 million from the American Rescue Plan Act will go toward addressing Iowa’s housing shortage. Gov. Kim Reynolds said $230 million in increased funding passed last legislative session will go towards current programs that support housing. Wednesday’s announcement of an additional $100 million dollars means a total of $330 million is being allocated to housing. AMES, IA (IRN) — The Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes are both ranked in the AP top 10 heading into the highly anticipated Cy-Hawk football game on Saturday. Iowa State is ranked No. 9 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll. Iowa is ranked one spot behind at No. 10.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Oct. 9. The former president’s return to the first-in-the-nation caucus state is likely to stoke speculation about whether he’ll again seek the White House in 2024. His potential Republican rivals aren’t waiting for Trump to announce his intentions. A host of possible presidential contenders have already begun visiting Iowa to hold fundraisers for local candidates and attend party dinners. AMES, IA (IRN) – Two people died on Interstate 35 Tuesday following a crash involving several vehicles south of Ames. A semi-truck crashed into the trailer of another semi before hitting a van and truck. The impact of the crash caused the truck to hit another semi. IOWA (IRN) Iowa hospitals and nursing homes report a decline in nurses as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. According to a study released by the Iowa Board of Nursing, demand for nurses across the state is high and the nursing shortage is widespread. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Regents on Tuesday approved a plan by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a $230 million hospital in North Liberty. The vote came a week after it was advanced by a state council over dozens of objections. Opponents say the planned 300,000-square-foot, four-story, 48-bed hospital will run community hospitals in the area out of business. DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – A manufacturing company from Wisconsin is expanding into Iowa and has chosen Dyersville for its new location. Zero Zone makes refrigeration and freezing units for grocery and convenience stores and plans on opening a new facility in Dyersville early next year. The company will create 50 new jobs.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A second arrest has been made in connection to a Mason City shooting last month Courtney Smith, 19, was arrested over the weekend and is facing a charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. Police said Smith assisted Jacob Patterson, who was previously arrested. Patterson is accused of firing a shot at an occupied vehicle. GUTTENBERG, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist was killed in the northeastern corner of Iowa when he was hit by a kayak. 75-year-old John Thein, of Guttenberg, was northbound on a gravel road and was approaching a southbound pickup truck pulling a trailer loaded with kayaks when one of the kayaks fell from the trailer. ​​HULL, IA (IRN) – A 27-year-old man has been arrested after a woman died in a bicycle collision with a truck in northwest Iowa. Seth De Jong, of Doon, is suspected of homicide by vehicle while intoxicated and homicide by vehicle caused by reckless driving. 69-year-old Lorna Moss of Sioux Center was riding her bike Friday near Hull when a truck driven by De Jong hit the bicycle from behind. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A parole officer who shot a suspect in a confrontation where the officer was also injured has been cleared of wrongdoing. Mike Brown and other officers were attempting to arrest Brandon Hines and a woman on warrants. Hines rammed an officer’s car and drove toward Brown as officers tried to arrest him. Brown fired his gun six times, hitting Hines in the shoulder and hand, before Hine’s car hit Brown. Hines was later arrested in Omaha where he was taken to a hospital. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An iconic sign on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids was damaged after a fire Monday night. Smoke and flames were reported coming from the front right wheel well of the car on top of the 30-foot sign at Rick’s Auto Sales. Crews were able to turn power off to the sign and extinguish the flames. There’s no word on the extent of the damages.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old Des Moines man has been charged with felony child neglect and theft after shooting his 14-year-old brother in the face Saturday. Titan Chaney, 19, allegedly shot his 14-year-old brother while handling one of two semi automatic handguns he recently stole from an acquaintance. His girlfriend, their one-month old son, and his 16-year-old brother were also in the room. SABULA, IA (IRN) – A boat crash on the Mississippi River near Sabula on Sunday left two people with serious injuries. One vessel failed to maintain proper following distance, hitting and ramping the vessel in front. One adult male and one adult female were transported by helicopter to local hospitals. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – An 81-year-old Iowa prison inmate serving a life sentence for murder in Fort Madison died Saturday from complications related to COVID-19. ​​ AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State will host ESPN’s College GameDay for the Cy-Hawk showdown next Saturday, September 11. This is the second time in three years that Iowa State has hosted College GameDay.