Iowa Radio News

BLOOMFIELD, IA (IRN) – A Cantril, Iowa man convicted of molesting a teenager will spend the next 10 years of his life behind bars. Glen Downing pleaded guilty in June to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Third-Degree Sexual Abuse. Prior to his arrest, Downing was employed as a substitute teacher in the Davis County Community School District. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was accidentally shot in the head Saturday night near Drake University, according to KCCI-TV. He is expected to recover. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The East Village has been a part of the Des Moines community for 165 years. Today, it’s one of Iowa’s most treasured historic districts. Four blocks and 40 buildings within the East Village are now a part of the National Register of Historic Places. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will finally be laid to rest. William Shanahan’s remains went unidentified until recently. Shanahan’s sister, Mary Lou Shanahan Pierce, donated DNA almost 20 years ago. Finally, in May, that DNA sample found a match and William’s remains were positively identified. A burial with full military honors is planned for Tuesday at the family plot in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly half-staff from sunrise to sunset to honor Shanahan.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are conducting a homicide investigation following a shooting Saturday afternoon. KCCI-TV reports a 45-year-old Des Moines resident is dead. It’s the city’s 10th homicide of 2019. CLINTON, IA (IRN) – Clinton is mourning the loss of Emiliano Barrios, who died after a hit and run, according to KWQC-TV. The driver of the car took off, eventually crashing. Police say they know who the car is registered to, but have not released if they were driving the vehicle when the crime occured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines received nearly $2 million in federal funding to help end youth homelessness in the city. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the city with a $1,900,000 grant. IOWA (IRN) – Number 20 Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) 38-14 in their season opener Saturday night. Number 21 ISU almost blew it, beating UNI 29-26 in triple overtime.

INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – A drunken women had to be rescued from the Wapsipinicon River last weekend according to WQAD-TV. She was in an argument, fled the vehicle she was riding in, and jumped into the river. Attempts to rescue her were unsuccessful, as she refused to grab a rope. The Independence Fire Department’s rescue boat was called in. As she continued to disobey commands, two officers went into the river and brought her to shore. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque police responded to an accident on Thursday evening involving a motorcycle at a highway entrance ramp. The driver lost control of the motorcycle, and he and his female passenger were thrown from the vehicle. The passenger was killed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday reported seven cases of severe lung disease associated with vaping. Fve of the seven cases involved vaping THC products. All seven cases involved young to middle-aged adults. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The former head of the Iowa Department of Human Services has filed a complaint with the state seeking $2 million for wrongful discharge. Jerry Foxhoven says in documents filed Thursday with the State Appeal Board that Gov. Kim Reynolds, her chief of staff and legal counsel fired Foxhoven on June 17 as he questioned whether it was legal for the DHS to pay the salary of a governor’s staffer who had moved from the agency to the governor’s office. Foxhoven’s seeks $1 million from the state and $1 million from the individuals involved but the final amount will depend on how long he’s unemployed and his future earnings. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Cubs beat the Memphis Redbirds to clinch the team’s first playoff berth in 11 years. The Cubs needed at least one win in the final series against the second-place Redbirds to secure the Pacific Coast League American Northern division championship. The team is 73-64 overall with three games left before the playoffs.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City teacher accused of sending critical letters to her superintendent and other district leaders has been fired. The Sioux City Journal reports the school board voted to fire middle school teacher Julie Fischer even though a judge cleared her of criminal charges last spring. In March, a judge dismissed six counts of harassment Fischer faced because the letters were deemed free speech, not harassment. She had taught in the district since 1991. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A former western Iowa pastor charged in Nebraska with sexually assaulting two children has, along with his wife, been charged with an additional count of witness tampering. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 44-year-old Emanuel Rodriguez and 42-year-old Veronica Rodriguez were arrested this week. Police say Emanuel Rodriguez called his wife from jail after his arrest earlier this month on the sexual assault counts and told her to contact the mothers of the two girls to tell them the children were ruining his ministry. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Democratic National Committee will recommend scrapping state plans to offer virtual caucuses in 2020 due to security concerns. Now two early voting states, Iowa and Nevada, and the national party have a short time to fashion an alternative before the February caucuses. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center confirmed it will be closing its kidney and pancreas transplant program as of Oct. 1. MercyOne is collaborating with Iowa Methodist Transplant Center of Des Moines to meet patient needs during this permanent closure. NORTHWOOD, IA – An NFL Hall of Famer has placed the first legal bet on a sports game in Iowa. Hall of Famer and Minnesota sports legend John Randle placed the first bet as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood. Randle placed a bet on the Minnesota Twins to win for $93 — his former jersey number.

WAUKON, IA (IRN) – A Waukon man is facing charges after investigators in Allamakee County say he climbed a water tower, got naked and refused to come down. KGAN-TV reports Ryan Daniel Peters, 34, was nowhere to be found when his truck caught on fire nearby. Peters was about 65 feet off the ground and refused to come down – then removing all of his clothes. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get Peters to come down from the tower, where he was arrested. IOWA (IRN) – This year continues to be a challenging one for Iowa’s farmers. Tariffs continue to impact the crop markets, and, this week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced 31 waivers for oil refineries exempting them from having to blend ethanol in its product. The Iowa Corn Growers Association made this statement: “Agriculture is in one hell of a bad situation right now. The government put us in this situation, and they need to help us get out of it … it’s beyond the breaking point.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Crews officially broke ground on the new federal courthouse in Des Moines on Wednesday. The roughly $137 million federal courthouse will sit where the Riverfront YMCA once stood. Even though crews have already started work, city officials and residents still aren’t happy that the prime real estate won’t be utilized for commercial development. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Madison County Board of Supervisors heard from supporters and critics of wind turbines during a meeting Tuesday in Winterset. Mid-American Energy says officials should let them build the turbines closer to homes, but the county board of health passed a resolution saying that wind turbines pose a health risk and shouldn’t be any closer than 1.5 miles away from someone’s home. Scientists say there is no health risk. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Developers are pitching a $100 million entertainment district in Waukee. KCCI-TV reports developers scouted an area of 27 acres for a concert venue, bars and restaurants. The conversation to build an entertainment district is in the early stages, but developers hope to have a site plan approved, possibly by October.