Iowa Radio News

MARSHALLTOWN – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is reporting a second death associated with the Legionella outbreak in Marshalltown. The individual, an elderly adult with multiple underlying health conditions, passed away on September 18. To date, there have been 71 cases of legionellosis, including two deaths. All available evidence continues to indicate cooling towers are the most likely source of the outbreak, although laboratory testing has not confirmed a direct source. Each business center with a cooling tower in the affected area has completed disinfection. Individuals who live, work, or have spent time in north central Marshalltown with a cough, fever, or other symptoms of pneumonia should see their health care provider and ask about Legionella. NORWALK – A Norwalk woman was sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison at the Warren County Justice Center Monday afternoon, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the death of her baby. In 2023, Norwalk Police arrested 25-year-old Megan Staude of Norwalk and her 64-year-old father, Rodney Staude, after Megan gave birth, and after days of neglect the pair placed the baby in a trash bag and left it in a ditch. Rodney Staude also entered into a plea agreement for a second-degree murder charge, and has been sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison.KNOXVILLE – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has concluded that officers involved in a shooting in Knoxville in August acted with legal justification. The investigation was due to an incident that caused the fatal shooting of Steven Funk on August 21st. The Attorney General’s conclusion was based on a review and investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. It found that on August 21st, Sergeant Joseph Weppler and Officer Matthew Eagleton of the Knoxville Police Department responded to a 911 call and encountered Steven Funk allegedly attempting to murder a woman. Sergeant Weppler fired on Steven Funk, who died of his injuries. DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds announced that Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has resigned and will leave the agency next month after nearly six years of service. Governor Reynolds has appointed Larry Johnson, currently Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, to succeed Garcia at HHS.

MARSHALLTOWN – New cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in Marshalltown, although the number is slowing, according to WHO-13. The Iowa Department of Public Health has reported 70 people were impacted by the bacterial infection since August, including one fatality. While several area cooling towers have been tested and cleaned in Marshall County, the source of the outbreak has not been identified. WAYNE COUNTY – A Wayne County woman is accused of attempted murder. KCCI-TV reports 36-year-old Halie Spidle allegedly injected pool or break cleaner into someone’s medication, in an attempt to kill that individual. She’s been charged with attempted murder and administering harmful substances, both class B felonies. OSKALOOSA – The art teacher fired by the Oskaloosa Community School District for a social media post made shortly after the assassination of Charlie Kirk is suing his former employer. The Des Moines Register reports Matthew Kargol is claiming the district violated his First Amendment rights by terminating his contract over protected speech. The Oskaloosa School Board voted last week to fire Kargol after comparing Kirk to a Nazi.

ROCKWELL CITY – A state representative is accepting a role in the Trump Administration. KCCI-TV reports State Representative Mike Sexton of Rockwell City submitted his resignation on Friday. A special election will be announced at a later date. Sexton did not immediately disclose which role he’s been selected for by the Trump administration. TAMA – A Tama County woman received a life sentence for a first degree murder conviction. KCRG-TV reports Karina Cooper was found guilty in July for the murder of her husband Ryan. He was found dead in his home in Traer in 2021. Cooper was arrested in 2024. Karina received an automatic life sentence once she was convicted for first degree murder, which was made official on Friday. ANKENY – A former Ankeny Christian Academy teacher has been arrested for sexual contact with a child. WHO-13 reports 50-year-old Michael Scott Burrows was arrested by the Ankeny Police Department this week. Burrows faces several counts of lascivious acts with a child for alleged inappropriate touching of a child between August 2021 and May 2022.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Four Georgia men were sentenced for their role in a nationwide fraud conspiracy that impacted Iowa residents. According to public court documents, between March 2022 and April 2024, Russell Tafron Weatherspoon, Karl Andre Dieudonne, Demonte Tequis Brazil, and Gregory Lamar Scorza ran a multi-state fraud scam. The scammers led victims in Iowa to believe that an arrest warrant had been issued for them for failing to appear in court, using names of local law enforcement officers and spoofed phone numbers. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement, and several Iowa-based police departments assisted in the investigation. OSKALOOSA – The Oskaloosa School Board moved to terminate the contract of an art teacher accused of celebrating the assassination of Conservative Influencer Charlie Kirk. The board voted Wednesday to fire Matthew Kargol for a social media post that said “one Nazi down.” WHO-13 reports it took place after a closed session during a special meeting. DES MOINES – Iowa added 1,900 people to the labor force in August, led primarily by adults ages 20 to 24, increasing the state’s labor force participation rate to 67.5 percent. At the same time, Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8 percent, and the U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.3 percent. The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 65,800 in August from 64,900 in July.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has returned from an eight-day trade and investment mission to India, the second in the course of a year. She was joined by a 20-person Iowa delegation including Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, and groups representing Iowa’s agriculture, education, and business sectors. DAVENPORT – An Iowa City man and former City employee was sentenced this week to 168 months in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court documents, during a 2023 investigation, an account, later determined to be associated with 57-year-old Jeffrey Alan Guentert, downloaded files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized 87 electronic devices during a search of Guentert’s Iowa City residence and place of employment, which included more than 5000 images and 1500 videos between 2019 and 2023.WATERLOO – John Deere has announced 141 employees will be let go in October. KCRG-TV reports just over 100 workers in Waterloo have been notified that they will be terminated on October 17th, with 40 layoffs scheduled in Des Moines on Halloween. Leadership with John Deere indicated demand and sales are down. Those let go will receive unemployment compensation. Another 71 workers in Waterloo are about to lose their tenure with the company on September 22nd.