IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – One person drowned and a would-be-rescuer went to the hospital after an incident at Terry Trueblood Recreation Center in Iowa City Friday. KCRG-TV reports a bystander reported a swimmer disappearing, and a dive team was called. Searchers found the body about an hour later. Another person who tried to rescue the swimmer was taken to the hospital, but that person’s condition has not been released.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A state-licensed therapist has voluntarily surrendered her license after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a client. KCCI-TV reports Valerie Huntley started seeing the victim in 2012. Her church had referred her to Huntley for counseling after she had been sexually abused. Huntley worked as a counselor out of churches throughout Central Iowa for Team Restoration Ministries.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A graduation party got out of control Thursday night in Clive, according to WHO-TV. Police were called to the home on a noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers found nearly 100 minors, scattered in and outside the home. Police say one juvenile was visibly drunk. He put up a fight and was arrested. The parents were both home when the party was happening. They face numerous charges.

NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – A couple is accused of getting drunk and leaving their young children at home to go have sex early Friday morning in North Liberty. KGAN-TV reports the two were seen having sex on a bike trail. Officers who responded found them naked.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A teenage girl suffered serious injuries Friday morning after falling from a moving car in the parking lot of East High School in Des Moines. WHO-TV reports the
fourteen-year-old female was car surfing on top of a vehicle when it slowed and she fell to the pavement. It’s the last day of school for East.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – An Illinois man turned himself in to police after getting caught trying to find a hitman to murder someone in Johnston. KCCI-TV reports Johnston police arrested 23-year-old Anna Esperanza Plank, who goes by A.J. Hernandez, after his attorney drove him to Iowa from Illinois. Hernandez wanted someone to kill his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A car dealer in Mason City was sentenced to over a year in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to money laundering in October of 2018. Jerry Flaherty, who worked at Wheel Man Auto at the time, sold a car for cash but didn’t report the sale under federal law. It’s believed that the money used to buy the car was related to drug activity.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the 35th time since it became law, Iowa has used its safe haven procedures on a newborn. The Iowa Department of Human Services reports the boy was born May 17 at an Iowa hospital and released to their custody. Through the law, parents can safely hand over custody of babies age 30 days or younger without fear of prosecution for abandonment. He’ll be placed with a foster or adoptive family.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – There’s a national nursing shortage, and on Thursday, Des Moines Area Community College reported a record number of students enrolled in nursing for their spring 2019 semester. Across all five DMACC campuses more than 450 students were enrolled in the nursing program.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man with autism who went missing on Saturday night has been found dead, according to the Des Moines Register. Nikolai Stielow’s body was found Wednesday. The 21-year-old was discovered with the assistance of the K-9 Alliance of Iowa in a heavily wooded area. Preliminary information shows no signs of foul play.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 4-year-old from Des Moines is recovering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder after playing with a gun inside a vehicle, according to KCCI-TV. The gun belonged to one of the boy’s parents.

AMES, IA (IRN) – A southeast Minnesota man is facing multiple harassment charges for a string of notes left around the city of Ames. KIMT-TV reports the man left the notes on vehicles at different businesses. The notes were apparently targeted at specific individuals as victims say they included physical descriptions and descriptions of clothing as well as explicit sexual content.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A state court judge has temporarily halted enforcement of a new Iowa law that would have blocked Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving federal grant money for sex education courses. The judge signed an order Wednesday prohibiting the state from implementing the bill that Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law on May 3 until the court can decide whether the law is constitutional.

POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Around 7:30pm Wednesday, many residents in Poweshiek County witnessed a tornado. One person was injured, and several buildings were damaged. Witnesses say watching the tornado was “eerie,” as it moved slowly and calmly across the landscape. The National Weather Service says at least 10 tornados touched down in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa could be headed toward a law eliminating the use of cellphones while driving. KCCI-TV reports a hands-free bill didn’t advance this year but could come back again next year, and Reynolds says she supports the idea if lawmakers send it to her. She signed a proclamation Tuesday declaring this “end distracted driving week” in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a shooting that sent one person to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. WHO-TV reports a 59-year-old man was robbed and shot in the abdomen near his home. A search is on for the suspect. Police immediately had a K-9 team searching, but it was soon called off due to the heavy rain which rendered the dogs useless.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two 16 year olds were injured after losing control of a UTV Sunday night in Winneshiek County. KWWL-TV reports the vehicle went off the road into a ditch, rolled and ended up on top of the driver. The driver was airlifted from the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Democratic lawmakers are calling for a special session at the Iowa Statehouse to override a veto by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds vetoed a bill Friday that would have expanded Iowa’s medical cannabis program. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support in the Iowa House and Senate, expanded the number of eligible ailments and increased the allowable dosage.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair has booked another big act for this summer.
Toby Keith will play the Grandstand on August 12th, the State Fair confirmed on Tuesday.
Tickets go on sale starting Friday. This is the last concert to be announced for the 2019 Iowa State Fair which runs from August 8th-18th.