Iowa Radio News

MAPLETON, IA (IRN) A minor in western Iowa was found dead Friday night after a shooting in Mapleton, according to KGAN-TV. Investigators say the victim and witnesses are all minors. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – The Urbandale Police Department has arrested a resident after police say he kidnapped a 17-year-old from Urbandale High School after stalking her. KCCI-TV reports Raul Miguel Hernandez, 20, had previously dated the victim and the relationship had since ended. Police say Hernandez became “controlling, possessive and physically assaultive to the victim” during the relationship. He had restricted her from leaving his home, confined her to a room and assaulted her by strangling her until she was unconscious. VINTON, IA (IRN) – KCRG-TV reports the owner and editor of the website Vinton Today says a member of the Vinton Municipal Electric Utilities board threatened her. Valerie Close says one member said that if she didn’t stop giving Vinton bad coverage, he was going to shoot her. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The final Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll was not released as planned Saturday night. The Register reports It appears a candidate’s name was omitted in at least one interview in which the respondent was asked to name their preferred candidate. The Register is unsure if this happened only once, or if it was a larger problem.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are searching for a man they want to question in a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a 71-year-old woman Thursday night. First responders arrived to find Stephanie Markert in the roadway suffering from serious injuries. Witnesses told police Markert had been hit by an SUV that fled the scene and was abandoned a short distance down the street. Witnesses said a man got out of the SUV and into a minivan, then drove away. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have identified three people who were found deceased in a Des Moines home late Thursday night. Police said 19-year-old Devonte Swanks, 16-year-old Malachi Swanks and 15-year-old Thayne Wright appear to have died of gunshot wounds. Devonte Swanks and Malachi Swanks are brothers and lived in the home. Wright was a friend who was visiting. He’s also from Des Moines. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person was shot by a Des Moines police officer early Friday morning after police responded to a dispute between roommates at an apartment building near the State Capitol. WHO-TV reports a woman claimed a man threatened to kill her. The first officer on scene encountered an angry male, believed to be under the influence of some substance. The officer tried to de-escalate the situation and calm the man, but he continued to be aggressive and violent. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A national snowmobiling competition, Theisen’s Snocross National, welcomed thousands of people to eastern Iowa on Friday. The annual competition takes place at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds. People come from as far away as Canada and Europe. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – No. 1 Iowa took down No. 2 Penn State 19-17 Friday night in wrestling in a match that had been sold out for months. The meet wasn’t decided until the heavyweight bout, when Iowa’s Tony Cassioppi beat Penn State’s Seth Nevills 7-0.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three people were found dead in a Des Moines home Thursday night. KCCI-TV reports all three had gunshot wounds. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A house in Iowa City is estimated to have $140,000 in damages after a fire shortly before dawn Thursday. KCRG-TV reports all 12 people in the house were able to get out safely. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A former Waterloo teacher has been accused of stealing money from a teachers union. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Anthony Dehl is accused of taking more than $54,000 from the union’s accounts when he was treasurer. Dehl made unauthorized wire transfers and cash withdrawals from the accounts, debit card purchases and made out checks to cash. He spent some of it on gambling. Dehl retired last year after more than 30 years in the teaching profession. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Knapp Center at Drake University filled up just two hours after opening the doors to President Donald Trump’s Rally yesterday. WHO-TV reports round 7,200 people filled the Knapp Center hours before the event, and those who couldn’t get in gathered outside to watch on a jumbo-tron. Trump supporter Jodi Glover said she was excited to go to her first rally says she “likes what President Trump stands for.” Protester Sally Frank said, “He is lawless. He flaunts the law at every chance. He believes he should be king.”

BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed everything inside a Polk County mobile home Wednesday. Polk County’s Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene southwest of Bondurant, at around 9:30 p.m. Deputies say a mother and her four children were able to exit the home without injuries. The family lost everything in the blaze. It’s unclear what caused the fire. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – School will be back in session on Thursday for Waterloo schools after classes were cancelled on Wednesday because of a non-credible threat. KGAN-TV reports police investigated the social media threats Wednesday. Charges will be filed against an 11-year-old boy who’s accused of making the threats. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa farmers say having the USMCA trade agreement signed is a huge relief, according to WHO-TV. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said that agreement, as well as the phase one trade deal with China, are very important to the state and the country as a whole. Naig said this trade agreement increases access to both the Canadian and Mexican markets. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police began road closures Wednesday in preparation for President Donald Trump’s rally at Drake University today. KCCI-TV reports people are already lined up. One man who camped overnight in line will be attending his 61st Trump rally. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – While Sunday’s Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event of the year, it’s also one where people bet millions of dollars. This is the first Super Bowl game where Iowans can legally bet on the game. Iowa lawmakers legalized sports betting last August, and casinos are seeing a boost. KGRG-TV reports the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque have seen thousands of new customers.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Following a threat on social media, all Waterloo schools were closed Wednesday. According to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, the threat was first shown to officers at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday when a person in an emergency room showed it to a hospital security guard. The threat circulated on Facebook and was a screenshot of a Snapchat post that read, “I’m blowing up east west and Carver and central tomorrow.” Police and school officials are working together to identify those responsible for the post. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The murder trial of Cristhian Bahena Rivera is delayed, according to KCCI-TV. The trial was scheduled for Feb. 4. Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the 2018 death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts. Bahena Rivera’s attorneys asked for his trial to be delayed so the Iowa Supreme Court can review a judge’s decision to allow information he told investigators before being read his Miranda rights. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating after a gunshot victim walked into Unity Point-St. Luke’s Hospital. KCRG-TV reports officers responded to the hospital at midnight Wednesday for a victim who walked in with a minor graze wound to the head. Police said they believe the shooting happened outside of Cedar Rapids. AMES, IA (IRN) – Presidential candidate Andrew Yang joined comedian Dave Chappelle in Ames Tuesday for a show at Iowa State University. Chappelle endorsed Yang two weeks ago. Chappelle said he is intrigued by Yang’s platform and plans to do what he can to get Iowans to caucus for him. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Preparations are underway in the metro for President Donald Trump’s Des Moines rally. The rally is scheduled for Thursday and will be held in the Knapp Center at Drake University.