Iowa Radio News

COUNCIL BLUFFS – U.S. Marshals have taken custody of an Iowa man wanted on multiple federal child sexual exploitation charges. Trevor John Collison is being held on federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued in the Southern District of Iowa in October 2024. U.S. Marshals determined that Collison fled the United States following the execution of a search warrant at his Little Sioux residence in August 2024, which was conducted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office as part of a child sexual exploitation investigation. Marshals tracked his movements across several South Pacific countries. WINTERSET – Police are investigating the death of a farmer who they believe was killed by a bull. The Des Moines Register reports 76-year-old Mark Hollingsworth was found unresponsive in a cattle feeding area on Sunday. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office believe Hollingsworth was checking on possibly frozen water when a bull attacked the farmer. An investigation is underway to determine if the animal attacked Hollingsworth before or after a possible medical incident. IOWA – Multiple Iowans charged in the January 6th, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol have been pardoned by President Donald Trump. KCCI-TV reports Kyle Young and Salvador Sandoval are expected to be released from prison soon and have their convictions effectively erased by a sweeping executive order. At least nine Iowans were sentenced in connection to the attacks. Those who paid fines will not be reimbursed.

FORT DODGE – A Fort Dodge man accused of killing a co-worker has been deemed as unfit for trial, according to the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Lukouxs Brown faces charges for th murder of Wayne Smith in February 2021. Smith was found dead with a knife wound at an employee locker room at Prestage Foods in Eagle Grove. Brown has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The court ruled prosecutors were not entitled to a second medical opinion in the case and that there is no probably that Brown will be able to stand trial. Mental commitment proceedings will resume in district court. DES MOINES – Following the closure of nearly 30 pharmacies in Iowa in 2024, a group representing those facilities is calling for legislative action. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Pharmacy Association is blaming pharmacy benefit managers, which were created to mediate between pharmacies and healthcare companies. A bill did not pass in the 2024 session to address the issues.IOWA CITY – The Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union approved the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center as the new home of the Iowa Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet beginning in the fall of 2025 through the 2028 State Meet. The IGHSAU State Swimming and Diving Meet has been held at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA the last 21 years. The 2025 Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet will be held November 14 & 15.

DES MOINES – Through the Safe Haven Law, a baby boy, born December 3 is now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and will be placed with a foster family until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 74 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago. This brings the total to eight cases in 2024, including a baby girl born October 13 and a baby girl born on November 11. In 2023, ten infants were relinquished to HHS custody under the Safe Haven Act Iowa’s Safe Haven Act is an option for parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old.AMES – Ames police are investigating an incident Saturday evening in which they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. According to a release, the department was dispatched to an apartment with medical assistance. The department believes there is no ongoing threat to the public; however, they are investigating the incident as a homicide.DES MOINES – Hundreds of people received free gas on Sunday as part of a relatively new tradition in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports Rev. Rob Johnson started the Fueling Hope Giveaway three years ago, this year, donating $30,000 in fuel to those who made to a Kwik Star location at the event.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds directed leadership with the Iowa Department of Public Safety to adhere to any federal orders issued by President-Elect Donald Trump related to immigration. The memo was released by the governor’s office on Friday and is addressed to Commissioner Stephan K. Bayens and Department of Corrections Director Beth Skinner. The memo is an attempt to ensure Iowa law enforcement comply with any criminal investigative efforts related to potential detaining and deporting of immigrants not living in the country legally. LINN COUNTY – A judge will decide if the trial of a man accused of killing four people will be moved out of Linn County. KCRG-TV reports Luke Truesdell requested a change of venue for four counts of first degree murder, citing dozens of news reports about the alleged incident. Police claim Truesdell admitted to beating four people with a metal pipe and killing them in Marion. Jury selection has yet to begin, and Linn County prosecutors claim it’s too early to try and move the case. IOWA – The Iowa Department of Education released 2024 fall certified enrollment numbers for public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools as well as open enrollment numbers and participants in the Students First Education Savings Account program for the 2024-25 school year. Public school district certified enrollment was similar to last year at 480,665, with a drop of less than one percent. . A total of 27,866 participants used education savings accounts at an accredited nonpublic school as of the Oct. 1 certified enrollment date.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of a one-year child. According to court documents, Kenneth Leroy Quinn, also known as “Coach K,” distributed several pills containing fentanyl on April 29, 2023. Quinn’s customer used some of the pills and brought the remaining pills home. The customer’s one-year-old son ingested the fentanyl mixture and died of acute fentanyl toxicity. After completing his term of imprisonment, Quinn will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Quinn was also ordered to pay $1847 in restitution.ANKENY – The former leader of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce is accused of stealing $250,000 from the group. KCCI-TV reports Melisa Cox was arrested and accused of theft, money laundering, and unauthorized use of a credit card. An investigation that started in November concluded in Cox losing her role as CEO and President of the chamber and eventual criminal charges. IOWA – Two Iowa healthcare practitioners have entered into civil settlements to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false or fraudulent claims to Medicare as part of a telemedicine scheme. Cori Lempiainen has agreed to pay $150,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that between October 4, 2021 and November 11, 2022 she billed Medicare for over 650 claims for office visits and medical discussions she did not provide. Paul Baumert has agreed to pay $14,325.96 to the United States to resolve allegations that between May 16, 2022 and August 26, 2022 he billed Medicare for over 200 claims for office visits and medical discussions that he did not provide