Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A central Iowa nonprofit wants to convert a former Des Moines elementary school turned church into a homeless shelter. The Des Moines Register reports Hope Ministries, which has operated in the Des Moines area since 1915, wants to convert the former Douglas Elementary into a shelter capable of serving around 100 women and children. Neighbors don’t want it, fearing the homeless shelter could bring crime, panhandlers and lower property values. GARNER, IA (IRN) – A Hancock County man has been given decades behind bars for sexual abuse. KIMT-TV reports Paul Dean Dewitt, 74 of Britt, was accused of abusing a female victim multiple times. On Tuesday, Dewitt was sentenced to 30 years in prison. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person was injured following a car vs. bike accident in Dubuque yesterday, according to KWWL-TV. A 34-year-old woman was transported to the hospital. The driver of the pickup who hit her fled the scene. CARROLL, IA (IRN) – A destructive attempt to cancel classes at an Iowa school could end with a felony charge for a middle school student. WHO-TV reports officers were called to Carroll Middle School around 2:55 a.m. Monday when they were alerted by a delivery driver who couldn’t gain access to the school. All of the electronic access readers were broken and nearly a dozen doors with keyholes were covered with an epoxy. Video shows a current middle school student causing the damage. OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – Oskaloosa head basketball coach Ryan Parker will undergo a life-saving kidney transplant Thursday in Iowa City, according to KCCI-TV. Parker says he became sick two years ago. He found out a year ago he needed a kidney transplant and has been relying on dialysis to stay alive. Tuesday night was his last game of the season.

FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person died after a truck crashed into a skid loader in Fayette County Saturday night. KGAN-TV reports a 2002 Chevy truck driven by Urban Kriener, 76, of Waucoma, rear-ended the skid loader. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former bus driver for a Linn County school district has been charged with multiple crimes in regard to inappropriate behavior toward a student, according to KCRG-TV. Thomas Alan Williams, 57, was a bus driver for the College Community School District. The incident happened during his morning bus route. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A judge has approved a payment of $3.1 million for lawyers representing a former state official that a jury found was discriminated against by former Gov. Terry Branstad. KWWL-TV reports Branstad, now U.S. ambassador to China, was found to have discriminated and retaliated against Chris Godfrey in 2011 because he’s gay. Taxpayers have already paid a $1.5 million verdict to Godfrey, and $2.9 million to Branstad’s attorneys. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – As “Death to America” threats are hurled in Iran, another threat looms in America from within. WHO-TV reports nationally, only 30 percent of young adults between the ages of 17 to 24 can qualify for military service. One problem in Iowa is obesity. A recent report says over 35 percent of Iowa adults are obese. That number is tied for the fifth highest obesity rate in the country and above all bordering states.

KELLOGG, IA (IRN) – Jasper County authorities are working to identify a bicyclist killed in a crash with a semi-truck early this morning. The Jasper County Sheriff says the incident happened at 4:30 a.m. on Highway 6 near Kellogg. The rider was pronounced dead at the scene. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was seriously assaulted Saturday night in Cedar Rapids. Authorities say it appears to be a targeted assault and that the public should not be at any risk. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A traffic stop of a rental truck led to the seizure of 1,500 pounds of marijuana. WHO-TV reports the traffic stop occurred Wednesday on I-80 in Council Bluffs. After a traffic ticket was issued for speeding, a drug dog was deployed. The dog indicated the presence of drugs, and a search turned up 61 cardboard boxes packed with marijuana, worth about $4.5 million on the street. IOWA (IRN) – A group that insures local governments across Iowa is going to court to try to block the state auditor from reviewing its spending. The Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, which is owned by cities, counties and other governments, argues State Auditor Rob Sand has no authority to examine its finances. Sand’s office began reviewing the pool’s spending in October after learning that its directors have routinely held public meetings at vacation resorts in Florida every February and Michigan every August. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new CBS News poll ties Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Pete Buttigieg for the lead in Iowa. Sanders, Biden and Buttigieg are tied at 23%, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren comes fourth with 16% and Sen. Amy Klobuchar falls in fifth at 7%. The margin of error for the poll is 3.8 points.

DALLAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Slick conditions are being blamed for a crash that killed a woman in Dallas County on Saturday. It happened on Interstate 80 between Earlham and De Soto shortly after midnight. The Iowa State Patrol says 26-year-old Stephanie Galicia lost control of her car and struck the left guardrail. Her passenger, 51 year-old Carmen Benitez, got out of the vehicle and was hit by an SUV. Benitez died at the scene. Galicia was taken to the hospital for unknown injuries. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – People in Iowa City rallied Saturday afternoon against President Trump’s order to kill Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian General. KCRG-TV reports dozens holding signs asking for peace gathered in Ped Mall. One veteran said he worries the President’s actions could lead the US into war. Others supported the president’s actions. Similar rallies were held in large cities across the US. LECLAIRE, IA (IRN) – Officials in eastern Iowa say train traffic has resumed in downtown LeClaire a day after a derailment sent more than a dozen freight cars and tankers off the tracks just yards from the Mississippi River. The LeClaire Fire Department said Saturday that all derailed cars had been moved away from the main track and would be hauled away by tractor-trailers throughout the day. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Saturday morning, the Des Moines dispatch center received 26 fire calls in less than 30 minutes, all of which turned out to be false alarms. KCCI-TV reports the 26 calls were the result of a water power surge resulting in flow alarms going off at different businesses.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police will be heightening security in the skywalks after a 20-year-old man was attacked by a group of teenagers three months ago. Officials said there will be 20 new cameras installed to be monitored off site. The project will cost $175,000. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Human Services announced Friday it will be withholding $44 million from Iowa Total Care’s January payment. The DHS said that Iowa Total Care has failed to fix numerous payment and data issues experienced by Medicaid customers and providers. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines coffee shop is trying to be more sustainable in the new year by phasing out disposable cups. WHO-TV reports Andrea Cummings opened DreiBerge Coffee six months ago with sustainability in mind by selling their coffee in cups that don’t require a plastic lid. They are now phasing out disposable cups entirely and asking customers to bring their own cup, buy a DreiBerge cup or use a loaner cup. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Some Eastern Iowa high school cheerleaders represented their school in London, according to KCRG-TV. The students marched in the London New Year’s Day Parade on Wednesday. They’re all juniors and seniors at Waterloo West High School. The girls say they made a lot of new friends and great memories