Iowa Radio News

IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court reselected Justice Susan Larson Christensen as chief justice. Christensen’s new term started on January 1st. A chief justice serves for two years. The Harlan resident was first selected in 2020. She succeeded Chief Justice Mark Cady, who passed away suddenly in 2019. Christensen is the second woman to serve as chief justice of Iowa’s highest court.FLORIDA – Governor Kim Reynolds announced she returned to Mar-a-Lago for the second time since the November election. Reynolds told the Gray Media Capitol Report that she had dinner with several other Republican governors just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to reassume office for a second term. The previous visit was alongside Senator Joni Ernst at the election victory party held in November. CLIVE – The Iowa Supreme Court made a recent ruling that could shift liability of sidewalk defects from property owners to municipalities. KCCI-TV reports the court holds homeowners responsible for clearing snow and ice from walkways, but any structural issues with the pavement itself could fall on the cities if they don’t notify about potential repairs. Some cities in Iowa have updated their code to better reflect the change in liability.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child and for possessing child pornography. According to court documents, in 2005 and again from at least 2013 to 2015, 62-year-old Jeffrey Walter Gray, exploited and attempted to exploit dozens of minors to produce child pornography on more than one hundred occasions. Gray did so through the photography business he owned and operated in the Des Moines area. Unbeknownst to clients, Gray placed hidden cameras in the dressing areas at Wicked Imagery’s photography studios to capture videos of minor children undressing. To date, investigators have identified over 20 children impacted. TAMA COUNTY – A Dysart teenager was killed in a collision Wednesday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Volkwagen GTI driven by 19-year-old Jason Thomas Payne was southbound on Highway 21 when it collided with a towing trailer in the northbound lane. Payne died from his injuries and Mark and Jeanne Bagenstos, who were both in a Ford F-150 carrying the trailer, were both injured.DES MOINES – In an ongoing dispute among Polk County leadership, Supervisor Tom Hockensmith is accused of trying to fight with fellow supervisors after County Administrator John Norris was placed on administrative leave. The Des Moines Register reports the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has a report on file related to a confrontation and attempted firing of Norris. There are several ongoing legal disputes as part of what is described as a power struggle in Iowa’s largest county. Norris claims newly-elected Republican supervisors Jill Altringer and Mark Holm asked Norris to resign from the role. Supervisor Chair Matt McCoy says the board has decided to fire the administrator.

DUBUQUE COUNTY – One person died and three others were injured in a three-vehicle collision in Dubuque County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a head-on collision occurred on U.S. Highway 52 on Tuesday afternoon, which prompted a third car to get involved. The driver who died was 36 years old, according to the report. The crash is the first fatal accident reported the Iowa DOT of 2025, according to their daily tracker. IOWA CITY – Police identified a woman considered a suspicious death by the Iowa City Police Department. Thirty-three year old Victoria Skarda was found dead on Camden Road Monday morning. The Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an investigation. Police are asking citizens for any possible leads. IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved the State’s extension of postpartum coverage for new mothers. The current coverage for mothers is just 60 days, but the new law expands coverage for twelve months post-birth for families within the 215% federal poverty level. Implementation of the postpartum coverage was set to begin this month, but due to delays in approval from the federal government, the implementation date is still forthcoming.

OTTUMWA – An Ottumwa man faces a human traffic charge following an investigation. A press release by the Ottumwa Police Department indicates 57-year-old Jean-Baptiste Stinfort also faces a count of 2nd degree sexual abuse after his arrest on Monday. Police alleged that Stinfort paid the juvenile victim to engage in sex acts with him for approximately three years on several occasions. DES MOINES – The Polk County Administrator has been placed on leave and says he was asked to resign with a new Board of Supervisors in charge. The Des Moines Register reports John Norris is a former head of the Iowa Democratic Party, and was asked to step down by two new Republican board members, Jill Altringer and Mark Holm. He cannot be terminated without a majority vote by the board. This comes after several years of legal woes for Polk County and accusations of political-based hires.DAVENPORT – A fire in Davenport resulted in three deaths Monday morning. KWQC reports two others were injured following the blaze that started at a house just after 3 a.m. The Davenport Fire Department learned several people were inside as they were fighting the fire. Heavy smoke and fire were coming from the building upon arrival.

DAVENPORT – A Bettendorf man was arrested for an attempted murder charge following an alleged stabbing Saturday. KWQC reports 58-yearold Wesley E. Spotts is accused of attacking a 24-year-old man found with multiple stab wounds at a Walmart. Police say the two were arguing prior to the stabbing. WAUKEE – A report released recently details how a young Waukee boy was killed by a statue in Arizona over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Des Moines Register reports eight-year-old Luke Linnett died on November 28th after a piece of concrete from a statue struck him the day before. Police say no foul play was suspected and the death was officially ruled an accident. Video footage showed the boy attempted to climb an unsecured statue, and it toppled on him. IOWA – Dry air prevented heavy snow from impacting southern Iowa as a major winter storm blistered through Kansas and Missouri over the weekend. While winter storm warnings were issued for the southern tier of counties, those were cancelled by Sunday morning. However, the heavy snow still impacted travel at the Des Moines International Airport to the south and on roads to the south.