Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department has made an arrest in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old early Saturday morning. An 18-year-old man was arrested. AMES, IA (IRN) – Police arrested an Iowa man Friday in connection to a series of incidents in Ames in which college women reported awakening to see a man watching them in their beds. 29-year-old Trenton Williams of Ames was charged with robbery, burglary, stalking, harassment, trespassing, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, among other counts. Police say between 12 and 15 cases of illegal entry were reported in the area. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police are investigating a stabbing that sent one man to the hospital on Saturday morning. A 43-year-old man told police he was involved in an altercation with a 36-year-old man who was stabbed and drove himself to the hospital before police arrived. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Sports betting is officially a billion-dollar business in Iowa – and the surge of wagers being placed outside of casinos and sportsbook is driving it. New data from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission released on Friday shows $143.6 million was bet on sports in the state in February – a third straight month with wagers hitting nine figures in Iowa.

RYAN, IA (IRN) – A woman from the Delaware county town of Ryan has pleaded not guilty to shooting and killing her boyfriend, Devon Hierrezuelo, 27 of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Investigators believe Danielle Weiner, 33, shot and killed him in the apartment’s bedroom, and then moved his body to the kitchen. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Multiple county officials shared their frustration with the Iowa Department of Public Health at being given little-to-no warning about the changes announced on Thursday, which open up vaccine eligibility to people 64 and younger with a medical condition. The Iowa Department of Public Health only alerted county health departments it was expanding eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations 8-minutes before the announcement was made. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting after an injured man drove himself to a hospital Friday afternoon. The 18-year-old man drove himself to MercyOne Medical Center with a gunshot wound. The man told police he was driving down the street when someone started shooting at him. ST. LOUIS, MO (IRN) – The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal between Northern Iowa and Drake was canceled Friday night because of a positive COVID-19 test and contract tracing within the Panthers program. Drake advanced to the semifinals. The Bulldogs are 24-3. Northern Iowa finished the season 10-5.

WASHINGTON D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is considering another six years in office. On Wednesday, the Republican senator filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. This doesn’t guarantee he will run for an eighth term. At 87, Grassley is currently the second oldest U.S. Senator. He was sworn into the Senate in 1981. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – 117 students at Northwest Junior High in Coralville are under COVID quarantine. As of 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, 315 students across the entire district were quarantined. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced Thursday that more people will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Starting Monday providers can begin administering vaccines to those 64 years old and younger who have medical conditions that put them at risk. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee’s is making an interesting addition to some of its grocery stores. The West Des Moines-based company announced it’s partnering with The W Nail Bar to provide in-store nail salons at some of its locations. Hy-Vee plans to open several of the nail bars in its eight-state region by the end of 2021, with the first in Bettendorf in April. IOWA CITY (IRN) – Hawkeye fans will be able to watch the #5 Iowa Hawkeyes for the very first time in person this season during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. The conference has had a policy of allowing no fans to sporting events since the pandemic started, outside of a limited number of family and friends of players and coaches. The Big Ten is now allowing a limited capacity of 8,000 fans for games during the tournament.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a bipartisan vote Wednesday, an Iowa Senate panel advanced a bill that lessens penalties for first-time, small-scale marijuana possession. The bill would reduce the crime of possessing five grams or less of marijuana from a serious misdemeanor to a simple misdemeanor. People convicted under the current law face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The bill would reduce the maximum jail sentence to 30 days and the maximum fine to $855. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent could lose his license due to the district’s decision to only offer remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners informed Thomas Ahart of its intent to strip his license. The Des Moines School Board responded by defending Ahart, saying “the actions taken by Des Moines Public Schools in the midst of a global pandemic were done so to keep our community healthy and to save lives…this complaint does nothing to benefit the children of our school district and move us past the pandemic.” IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A bill in the Iowa Senate would make injuries to first responders during protests a felony. The bill also grants civil immunity for certain drivers who strike protestors blocking traffic. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is endorsing the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 by rolling up her sleeve. Reynolds on Wednesday became one of the first Iowans to receive the one-shot vaccine. MARION, IA (IRN) – School leaders at Marion Independent School District will start with the work of building and upgrading — after voters easily passed a $31 million bond vote on Tuesday. Projects include a new elementary school, new auditorium at Marion High School, various facilities updates, safety and security upgrades, and a new outdoor sports complex.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man faces weapons charges after police say he carried a gun to an Ottumwa preschool and pretended to be an officer. Police say Jason Haut told staff members he was a member of law enforcement when he was asked about the gun. Police said the gun was in a holster, and he didn’t make any threats. Haut is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department on Tuesday announced five arrests in connection with an overnight shooting that sent a 2-year-old boy to the hospital in critical condition. Police say the boy was shot in the head at a Des Moines home late Monday night. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Ankeny Police Department confirmed Tuesday that a suspicious device found at the Lakeside Center was a pipe bomb. The discovery of the pipe bomb resulted in the evacuation of the Lakeside Center, which was being used as a polling place for the city’s special election. JESUP, IA (IRN) – A former state court employee is facing criminal charges after an audit found she made nearly $130,000 in personal or unauthorized purchases using a credit card meant to support needy juveniles. Nicole Foelske, 36, of Jesup was charged with first-degree theft, misconduct in office and ongoing criminal conduct. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The start of the Iowa Cubs baseball season has been delayed for a month because of the pandemic. The Iowa Cubs will now begin the season on May 4 instead of April 6. It’s hoped most fans and the players will have received a vaccination by then.