Iowa Radio News

BUENA VISTA COUNTY – An Alta man died in a two-vehicle crash in Buena Vista County early Sunday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Chevy Traverse driven by 27-year-old Derren Mauricio of Alta was traveling on Highway 71 and crossed the center line, striking a Jeep Wrangler operated by 21-year-old Estevan Rodriguez, also of Alta. Mauricio was pronounced dead on scene and both occupants of the Jeep were transported with injuries to a nearby hospital. Dense fog was impacting visibility, according to the responding officer. IOWA CITY – An information technology worker who assumed the identity of another man was sentenced for 12 years in prison. KCCI-TV reports 59-year-old Matthew David Keirans, a Wisconsin resident, pled guilty to federal identify theft charges for living under the name of a man he met in the late 1980s. Keirans stole the wallet of William Woods and used his information to make a driver’s license. Keirans worked at the University of Iowa Hospital and used Woods’ ID to secure more than $200,000 in loans and married and had a child under the assumed name. The real Woods was arrested in 2019 for identity theft and false impersonation after trying to stop his name from being used for access to money. He was eventually committed after a California judge found him not mentally competent to stand trial, as he was given the identity by police of the man who stole his. IOWA CITY – The Iowa Hawkeye’s Women’s Basketball Team pulled off a stunner of a game with the program’s greatest player in the house on Sunday. Iowa upset No. 4 USC by a 76-69 in front of a packed Carver Hawkeye Arena, as Caitlin Clark was in attendance ahead of a jersey retirement ceremony that followed the competition. Several of Clark’s former teammates returned to Iowa City for the event.

HAMILTON COUNTY – A Hamilton County man was arrested on Thursday after police say he intentionally set fire to his home. WHO-13 reports 28-year-old Cody Christensen faces a charge of second-degree arson following a 911 call about a house fully engulfed near Stanhope. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office accuses Christensen of being intoxicated at the time and holding a gun when emergency crews arrived. Police and firefighters called for backup after standing by until a deputy was able to approach the man. The sheriff’s office claims Christensen resisted arrested after admitting to burning his own house down. CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Iowa Supreme Court has suspended the l aw license of South Dakota’s former attorney general. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the South Dakota Supreme Court did the same for six months to Jason Ravnsborg, who served as the state’s top prosecutor for three years until he was impeached in 2022 following his involvement in a fatal crash. Because he’s also licensed in Iowa, he was subject to suspension in the state following the removal in South Dakota. The Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board asked for a six-month suspension; the Iowa Supreme Court ruled it would last for two. IOWA CITY – The Hawkeyes women’s basketball team is set to host No. 4 USC on Sunday and to celebrate the program’s greatest player. The University of Iowa Athletics Department plans to retire Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey following the game. The WNBA’s Indiana Fever announced on Thursday the addition of a preseason game to have Clark back and playing at Carver Hawkeye Arena.

DES MOINES – The director of a Des Moines-based non-profit faces allegations of using money from donations and grants for herself over seven years, according to a report by the State Auditor’s Office. The Des Moines Register reports Jodi Spargur-Tate is formerly a leader at Children and Families of Iowa, and is accused of improperly spending more than $400,000 from the organization from 2015 to 2022. Most of those funds allegedly came from the U.S. Department of Labor, and they were used on clothes, auto repairs, bills, and her son’s rent. DES MOINES – The Iowa House of Representatives voted to pass a five-year ban on new casino licenses in the state. KTIV reports that lawmakers are moving quickly ahead of casino licensing meeting next week scheduled with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, who is considering approval of the Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids. Both the Iowa Senate Local Government Subcommittee and Committee also approved the text Thursday, meaning the full chamber can consider it next week. Opponents have argued a new casino in Cedar Rapids would take revenue from other nearby facilities, while supporters claim the state would gain millions more in revenue. IOWA CITY – Following a ceremony this weekend to retire her jersey number, and Iowa basketball icon is set to return to play at Carver Hawkeye Arena this year. KCRG-TV reports the Indiana Fever will play a preseason game against the Brazilian National Team in Iowa City on May 4th — meaning Caitlin Clark will return home to compete. The University of Iowa is handling tickets for the event. Clark, a two-time unanimous NCAA National Player of the Year, is having her #22 retired this Sunday.

DES MOINES – A federal court preliminarily approved a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit brought against the Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that children with mental health disabilities receive legally required and medically necessary care services. It Iowa HHS to develop and roll out a set of key services statewide, including care coordination, in-home mental health services, and mobile crisis services. It also requires a new screening and assessment process, to ensure children with mental health disabilities are screened for appropriate services.IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that tenants in the state no longer need to adhere to a Federal CARES Act mandate that had landlords provide 30 days notice before evictions. The Des Moines Register reports the state will be the first in the nation to break away from the requirement passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to prevent mass homelessness with several different parts of the law, but the 30-day eviction notice standard did not have a specific end date. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that it was meant to expire. DES MOINES – After twenty-two years of leadership, Rob Denson announced that he will retire as President and CEO of Des Moines Area Community College at the end of this year. Denson has served in that role since 2003 and helped DMACC form partnerships with the Transportation Security Administration, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, and Google. The DMACC Board of Trustees will hire a consultant and conduct a national search for Denson’s successor.

DEWITT – Democrats have flipped an Iowa Senate Seat in eastern Iowa following a special election on Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports Democrat Mike Zimmer defeated Republican Kate Whittington in District 35. The seat opened up following the appointment of Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer. Zimmer worked in public education and as a the Central DeWitt School Board President. He will serve in the set for the next two legislative sessions. IOWA – Non-profit groups around the state are struggling to determine the impact of a federal funding freeze issued by President Donald Trump. KCCI-TV reports a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget implied the halt on grants would allow for a review of how that money was being spent. A federal judge blocked the order, but several non-profits in central Iowa that rely on federal funding did not have access to those resources on Tuesday. IOWA – Multiple record temperatures were broken on Tuesday for warmth. The National Weather Service says highs in Mason City and Waterloo jumped into the mid-50s, the warmest on record for January 28th in both locations. Above average temperatures will continue for most of the week, until a possible winter storm system impacts the southern portions of the state late Thursday into Friday, although much of it is expected to fall as rain early.