Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman shot in Des Moines Friday night has died, according to police, and the man suspected of killing her was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque woman is charged with child endangerment after she’s accused of failing to protect her 2-year-old niece from consuming a bag of marijuana gummies inside the apartment where she was caring for the child. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties have declined or partially declined COVID-19 vaccine allocations for the week of May 10. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District will provide Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at Kennedy, Jefferson, Washington, and Metro high schools for students who want the shot. Those students must be at least 16 and have written permission from a parent.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A measure to remove the statute of limitations for filing child sex abuse charges in Iowa is on its way to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk for signature. The Iowa House approved the measure in an 84-2 vote. Under current Iowa law, child sex abuse victims have until age 33 to press criminal charges. GUTHRIE CENTER, IA (IRN) – A crack in a muffler allowed engine exhaust gases into the aircraft cabin, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning that eventually led to a crash killing four people in Guthrie Center, federal safety officials have found. The Piper PA28 took off from Le Mars Municipal Airport Nov. 9, 2018, en route to Osceola for a hunting trip. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The man police say was driving a speeding vehicle that crashed into three motorcyclists in Des Moines Tuesday night, killing two of them, has turned himself in and has been booked into the Polk County Jail. Quntonio Herron turned himself in Friday morning. Herron was driving a 2016 Mercedes Benz when he hit two motorcycles. Witnesses told police it appeared the car was speeding. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health said the state of Iowa ordered 28% of the COVID vaccine doses it was allocated for the week of May 10th. A total of 97 counties either declined part or all of their allocated doses.

MADRID, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced charges in an April crash that killed a 30-year-old Madrid woman. A 2006 Nissan Titan crew cab truck was found on its side in the field adjacent to the road. Deputies found the body of 30-year-old Alicia Kus outside of the truck, from which she had been ejected. Deputies believe the driver of the truck, 36-year-old Cameron Alan Kennedy, of Madrid, failed to negotiate the curve and left the roadway. He then left the scene. Kennedy has been charged with serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. GRINNELL, IA (IRN) – The Grinnell Police Department and Grinnell-Newberg Community School District are investigating racist comments made by a group of middle school students via TikTok. A parent reported the TikTok video, titled “Hitler Gang,” because they believe it was sent directly to their transgender son because of his faith. The 10-second video showed several male students walking through a school hallway in a goose-step style manner with their arms extended and palms down. The video also included racist and derogatory hashtags. MARION, IA (IRN) – Marion Independent School District students were let out early Thursday and class is canceled today because of a gastrointestinal virus outbreak at Longfellow Elementary. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids, along with leaders from other cities around Linn County, announced on Wednesday that they plan to ask voters to expand a one-cent local option sales tax on November 2nd. The tax is set to expire in 2024 and a vote to approve the tax again would expand it for another ten years. The extension could create $310 million in revenue to create road repairs and fund other improvements to places like libraries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The newest addition to the Des Moines riverwalk will officially open on Friday – less than two weeks before it becomes an Olympic qualifying venue. The Lauridsen Skatepark, along the west bank of the Des Moines River north of downtown, will open to skaters following a ribbon-cutting ceremony today.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids authorities are investigating an early Thursday morning fire. When firefighters arrived, they found flames coming from the exterior of a three-story apartment complex. Firefighters went into the apartment through the patio door and found an unconscious person on the floor. They were taken to a local hospital by ambulance. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A weekend apartment fire in West Des Moines became even more devastating for some residents when a neighbor threatened them with violence and racial slurs. Attorney Adam Kehrwald offered legal aid to a group of evacuated residents outside the apartment complex during the fire. When the group declined, Kehrwald allegedly threatened the people he offered to help. He used racial slurs, and then said he was going to get a gun. Officers intervened, and he struck two male and one female officer before he was detained. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill banning the use of vaccine passports in certain circumstances is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk for signature. Vaccine passports provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – Students and staff were evacuated after a bomb threat at North Central Junior High in North Liberty Wednesday. Police didn’t find a bomb. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Police Department needs more officers. A combination of people retiring or choosing to leave the profession altogether have left the Iowa City Police Department short-staffed. Officers are working overtime, and Captain Denise Brotherton says it is wearing them down.

SCOTT COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement has charged Henry Dinkins in the death of Breasia Terrell. Dinkins allegedly shot and killed 10-year-old Breasia in Scott County around July 10, 2020. Dinkins is the father of Breasia’s half-brother. He was named a person of interest earlier in the investigation. In March, fishermen found her remains north of DeWitt. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a crash Tuesday involving two motorcycles and another vehicle that resulted in two fatalities. A witness said a car was traveling fast before colliding head-on with the motorcycles. The driver left the scene of the crash. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Emergency responders were able to revive a man who was electrocuted while working on the roof of a Cedar Rapids Theisens. The first to arrive at the scene located the man, in his 20s, who was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. He was brought back to consciousness using a defibrillator. The man was working on the roof and was electrocuted when a piece of sheet metal hit a power line. LeCLAIRE, IA (IRN) – A Pleasant Valley man has been charged in a deadly boat crash on the Mississippi River near LeClaire that killed two people in August. James Thiel, 44, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless use of a watercraft, and other charges. Thiel turned himself in Tuesday morning. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A polluted former industrial eyesore in Des Moines is about to be cleaned up. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan joined state and city officials Tuesday to announce future plans for the 43-acre site on the edge of downtown. Plans for development include a 6,300-seat multi-use outdoor stadium for a professional soccer team, a hotel, and other mixed-use developments.