OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – An Oskaloosa man is in jail accused of posing as a 16-year-old boy to get sexually explicit photos of young girls. Officials say minors sent the photos to a social media account owned by 30-year-old Andrew Richardson. Police say they also have evidence Richardson had sexual contact with a minor. He’s in jail.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The deaths of a family of four Saturday in West Des Moines was the result of a murder-suicide. WHO-TV reports Lavanya Sunkara and two boys, ages 10 and 15, were shot and killed in their family home on Saturday morning. Her husband, Chandrasekahr Sunkara, shot and killed his family and then himself.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old is accused of shooting and injuring two 12-year-old girls in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports on Monday evening Najari Dashawn Allen fired shots into a group of people. Two 12-year-old girls were struck in the gunfire. Both are expected to recover after surgery.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police say gun-related crime has dropped significantly in the metro despite recent violence. Police have responded to 518 gun-related calls so far in 2019. They say gun-related reports are at a four-year low and the decline could be due to the community’s intolerance for gang activity.

DECORAH, IA (IRN) – The city of Decorah has settled a debate over whether or not a political flag in support of President Donald Trump can fly on main street. KCRG-TV reports the Winneshiek County Republican Party asked the city council for approval to fly a flag with the words “President Trump” and “Make America Great Again” printed across it. The council denied the request because they saw the flag as divisive.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Iowa set a record for rain and snow over the past 12 months. The state saw nearly 51 inches of precipitation from June 2018 through May of this year. That’s about 16 inches more than the 34.42 inches the state averaged per year from 1981 to 2010. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the past 12 months have been the wettest since 1895, the year officials began keeping weather records.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Six people were shot overnight Sunday on the east side of Des Moines after the conclusion of a house party, according to KCCI-TV. The victims were standing in the street at the end of the party when someone in a vehicle fired shots into the crowd. Three males and three females between the ages of 16 and 20 were taken to the hospital. Police say the incident may be gang related.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol reports one person died in a wrong-way crash on I-80 in Johnson County Sunday. Two people were flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where one died from their injuries. Another person was taken by ambulance.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Sioux City police are investigating the death of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle before midnight Saturday night. KCAU-TV reports the victim died at the scene.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, the Red Oak Republican in her first term, launched her campaign for re-election in 2020 on Saturday and tied her race closely with the re-election of President Trump. Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley joined Ernst in Boone for the 5th Annual Roast and Ride event. The four hammered home the message of sending Republicans to Washington, but also keeping President Donald Trump in the White House.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Four people were found dead inside a West Des Moines home Saturday morning. KCCI reports they all died of apparent gunshot wounds.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating the death of a man taken into custody Saturday in Maquoketa. Drew Edwards died shortly after being arrested on assault-related charges. Iowa DPS said Edwards started having medical problems shortly after the arrest and was taken to the Jackson County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

NEVADA, IA (IRN) – Saturday’s heavy rains may have caused a crash that left one person dead and several others injured, according to WHO-TV. Two cars escorting a horse and rider were driving in Nevada, when a pick-up truck struck the rear escort vehicle. The impact forced both the car and truck into the ditch, and caused the escort vehicle to roll several times. The crash killed the driver of the car, and sent five of his passengers to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two people in the truck also had to be taken to the hospital.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The full moon of each month is named and this one for June is very sweet. It is called the “Strawberry Moon.” According to NASA, the moon will be completely full Monday morning around 3:31 a.m. central time. This full moon is named the Strawberry Moon is being it is the peak time for harvesting strawberries. In North America, the time to harvest strawberries is very short.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A man accused of killing a former ISU golfer pleaded guilty Friday. Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds tweeted that Collin Richards pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the September 17 death of Celia Barquín Arozamena. Richards’ plea carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – An innocent bystander was the victim of a deadly crash that happened when a suspect tried to run from police in eastern Iowa Thursday. An Iowa State Patrol crash report says police tried to pull over 19-year-old Angel Ochoa because of an active warrant. Ochoa fled and ran a red light slamming into a car driven by 48-year-old Lori Letts. Letts was pronounced dead at the scene.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A suspicious person tried to grab a 13-year-old boy on a trail in Altoona Thursday. KCCI-TV reports a juvenile was skateboarding with his friends when a man came off the trail and came behind him and grabbed him in a bear hug. The boy reported having a rubber-gloved hand placed over his mouth. He used his skateboard as a weapon and was able to get away.

TORONTO, IA (IRN) – The state of Iowa can lay claim to a pair of new NBA champions.
Two members of the Toronto Raptors’ coaching staff with Iowa ties were among those celebrating the franchise’s first championship Thursday night following a 114-110 Game 6 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Nate Bjorkgren, of Storm Lake and later Buena Vista University, is an assistant on the coaching staff of Carroll native and UNI graduate Nick Nurse. Go Raptors!