Iowa Radio News

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman charged with hitting two minors with her SUV because of their race has been ruled incompetent to stand trial. KGAN-TV reports Nicole Poole, 42, is charged with two counts of attempted murder. Police say she ran over two minors, a hispanic girl and a black boy on December 9th. She’s also accused of going on a racist rant at a convenience store the same day. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League of Iowa said it spent Tuesday rescuing dozens of cats and kittens from a “hoarding situation” in Des Moines. A total of 74 cats were removed from the property. Some of the rescued animals were found in critical condition. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Tuesday, people living across the state of Iowa gathered in Des Moines to advocate for right-to-die legislation, called the End-Of-Life-Options Act. The bill would allow terminally ill Iowans access to request medication to die peacefully in their sleep. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The NCAA is a billion-dollar industry and now student-athletes in Iowa are one step closer to taking their own cut of it. On Tuesday a Iowa Senate subcommittee unanimously approved Senate File 2058, which would prohibit the NCAA from penalizing college athletes from benefiting financially from their own name, image and likeness.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines International Airport Board said no to a proposed hotel and casino plan. The board met Tuesday to discuss a proposed $250,000,000 hotel and casino would have built on airport property and would have connected to the new terminal. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man is in “serious” condition Monday following an accident involving a vehicle and pedestrian in Des Moines. The 56-year-old man suffered injuries in the crash but is expected to survive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The public and state lawmakers went back and forth on Monday over a House bill that some are calling “anti-LGBTQ” legislation. WHO-TV reports the bill would require schools to notify parents about any curriculum related to sexual orientation or gender identity, in case parents want to excuse their child from class. Supporters say it’s a matter of parental rights. Those against the bill say it continues a legislative trend of marginalizing and attacking LGBTQ youth. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Iowans who tested for Wuhan coronavirus following recent travel to China do not have the virus, according to health department officials. They say the common flu is more of a concern, and cases are up this year, especially among children. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is the winner of a $150,000 Powerball prize. Vilsack says he will donate a portion of the money to his church, help out family, and pay against a mortgage, to help his retirement be “more comfortable.” Vilsack earns approximately a million dollars a year lobbying for the dairy industry.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Zearing man accused of stabbing his wife to death in November will undergo a mental evaluation. Seventy-year-old Gary Pillman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, 62-year-old Betty Pillman. Pillman admitted he killed his wife, who had moved out of the home and was living in an apartment on the property because she was having an affair and said she was leaving him. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – An inmate is facing multiple charges after he allegedly gave another resident at a work release facility a deadly dose of heroin. The Division of Criminal Investigation charged Adam Younis, 36, with involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police arrested a man after finding him unconscious in a vehicle, under the influence, with two children in the car. KCCI-TV reports on Sunday Des Moines police found a vehicle stopped in traffic. Driver Eric Rivera, 36, was in respiratory distress and his lips were turning blue. Medics were able to revive him. He told police he had been drinking and taken Xanax pills. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is facing an attempted murder charge after police responded to a shots fired call. WHO-TV reports when police arrived they say 21-year-old Missael Campos took off on foot and initially escaped. Evidence at the scene indicated multiple rounds were fired with a 19-year-old being the intended target. A dog was wounded. Witnesses said the incident began with an argument. LOS ANGELES, CA (IRN) – Actor Steve Martin poked fun at the Iowa caucus blunder during Sunday’s Academy Awards. While making opening remarks with comedian Chris Rock, Martin was speaking about mistakes the Oscars had made in the past. “It’s nobody’s fault,” Martin said. “But they’ve guaranteed that this will not happen this year because the Academy has switched to the new Iowa caucus app.”

ALGONA, IA (IRN) – A violent Iowa convict who was on parole when he shot a bank employee to death during a botched robbery last year has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 36-year-old Valentino Williams, of Coralville, was sentenced Friday in Kossuth County District Court for the Dec. 4 shooting death of 43-year-old Jessica Weishaar outside Security State Bank in Lu Verne. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – LGBTQ supporters in Iowa are outraged over a proposal that would allow certain people to deny services based on religious freedom. The bill introduced into the Iowa Senate would allow it for anyone whose job requires a license granted by the state, including doctors, lawyers and barbers. For example, a minister at a courthouse could refuse to marry a same-sex couple. ACKLEY, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services announced the Family Traditions Meat Company in Ackley, Iowa, is recalling 270 pounds of beef stick products. The ready-to-eat beef stick products were incorrectly branded and did not declare an allergenic element. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids brewing company is receiving social media backlash over a drag bingo event for kids. KGAN-TV reports on Saturday, Thew Brewing Company hosted drag bingo for kids to raise funds for the LGBTQ Youth Center at the Tanager Place. The owner says trolls have been leaving negative reviews on the brewery’s Facebook page, while other community members have shown their support.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Democratic Party’s Troy Price answered questions from media outlets Friday afternoon about the failure of the app the party used to report caucus results. Price admitted he never used the app. Campaigns have until noon Monday to file a request for a recount. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – On Thursday around 10 A.M., water started spewing from the ground at Waypoint Services. a nonprofit that provides services for domestic abuse victims, emergency shelter and affordable health care in Cedar Rapids. KGAN-TV reports the water main break caused over $1 million in damage. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – John Deere Dubuque Works announced Friday that it will be laying off 105 employees. The layoffs are in response to market conditions. In Dubuque, John Deere focuses on manufacturing forestry and construction equipment, not tractors. FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – One Iowan had his study abroad trip to China cut short due to the coronavirus. WHO-TV reports Fairfield resident Hunter Manz was supposed to be in Shanghai with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, until the school decided to bring its students back for safety reasons. Manz decided to put himself in quarantine when he got back. He’s not exhibiting any symptoms.