Iowa Radio News

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man arrested following a standoff Friday had only recently been out of jail after shooting a Cedar Rapids police officer in the face in 1998. KWWL-TV reports Mitchell Langel was taken into custody Friday after police responded to a call from a woman reporting an assault. Langel was recently released from prison on probation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police charged a man Friday with attempted murder in connection with a shooting at an East Village bar. KCCI-TV reports 28-year-old Des Moines resident Mario Duprie Hutchinson is charged with attempted murder. He shot another man in the face. The victim is expected to recover. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Friday Last snow created headaches on Iowa roads. In a weather-related crash, an Iowa State Patrol car was struck by another vehicle on Interstate 80 east of Mitchellville. There were no injuries. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A Clinton firefighter, injured during an explosion at a Clinton ADM facility, is improving. Firefighter Adam Cain was seriously hurt when a blast rocked the property while he worked to knock down flames in an ADM silo, January 5. Another Clinton firefighter, Lt. Eric Hosette, was killed during the explosion. His body was laid to rest last week.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa man who tried to organize the killings of witnesses from behind bars so they couldn’t testify against him has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. The Muscatine Journal reports that 38-year-old old Justin Lee DeWitt was sentenced Friday for three counts of attempted murder. While he was incarcerated, Dewitt tried to coordinate the murders of three witnesses so they couldn’t testify. Dewitt spoke twice to someone he thought had a connection to a contract killer, but the contact was really an undercover officer. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A major winter storm battered much of the state Friday into this morning, causing road conditions to deteriorate and making travel nearly impossible. Officials with the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for almost all of Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Snow is going to take a back seat to the brutally cold temperatures moving in. The City of Des Moines has opened up several warming shelters. The designated areas include Southridge and Merle Hay malls, six public libraries, Central Iowa Shelter and Services, and the Bethel Mission. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa swore in Gov. Kim Reynolds Friday for her first elected term as Iowa governor — the first woman elected to that position. Sen. Charles Grassley and newly elected members of Congress Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne came from Washington to attend the inauguration. After Reynolds was sworn in, she delivered an inaugural address focused on the image of her beloved state as “one big small town.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One man is in critical condition in an overnight shooting at an East Village bar in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports police were called to the Lime Lounge on Grand Avenue just after midnight. Police say this is the second time this month they’ve been called to the bar for a shooting. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – It was a scary situation Thursday night as a private plane had to make an emergency landing at the Mason City Municipal Airport. KIMT-TV reports first responders arrived at the airport for a plane that was having engine trouble. The plane was able to land safely. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A monthly survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states says banks are growing increasingly concerned about farm loan defaults in 2019. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the economy is being threatened by tariffs, trade tensions, weak commodity prices and the partial federal government shutdown. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A proposal making its way through the Iowa statehouse would allow visitors to bring a loaded firearm on school grounds if they are dropping off or picking up their children. The weapon would have to stay in the vehicle. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa student is making the most of a traumatic experience by starting her own business. KCRG-TV reports Erica Cole lost one of her legs in a car crash. While insurance would only pay for a basic prosthetic leg, Erica got the idea to make something to go over it, constructing a stained-glass cover. She says, “it changed the conversation of what happened to me from, ‘Oh my gosh,’ to “That’s really cool and I love your style.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne will serve on the House Agriculture Committee, making her the lone Iowa representative to do so this year. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the committee appointments in a news release Wednesday night. Axne’s appointment comes after House Republicans removed Rep. Steve King from his House committees, including agriculture, on Monday over comments King made about white nationalism and white supremacy. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A girl was shot in Cedar Rapids Wednesday evening. KGAN-TV reports officers responded to a report of shots fired and found a juvenile female with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen in an alley. She was taken to the hospital and the extent of her injuries is unknown. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 40-year-old man constructed a potentially deadly device while dining at a downtown Des Moines sushi restaurant because he didn’t think bomb threats were being taken seriously. KCCI-TV reports Ivory Washington made a legitimate improvised explosive device that resembled a homemade hand grenade Tuesday evening at Akebono in Des Moines. When no one called police, he did. He’s in jail. ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is betting on sports betting. It’s not legal yet, but Prairie Meadows announced a deal with U.K.-based William Hill to be its sports book operator. Construction is underway on a facility to accommodate it. Now it’s up to the Iowa Legislature. LUBBOCK, TX (IRN) – After two disappointing losses, the Cyclones men’s basketball team rebounded with an impressive road win at #8 Texas Tech, 68-64. Marial Shayok led Iowa State with 20 points. Iowa State beat then #5 Kansas earlier this season.

COLFAX, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Lottery is waiting for someone to claim their $1 million prize. A winning $1 million Mega Millions ticket was purchased Tuesday at the Kum & Go convenience store in Colfax. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House nearly unanimously passed a resolution condemning Iowa Rep. Steve King on Tuesday over comments he made approving of white supremacy. The vote was 424-1. Many are calling for King to resign, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says it will be difficult for King to serve his district as he was stripped of all committee assignments. The White House condemned King’s comments this morning. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – No paychecks and sinking morale are causing a grim scene for 28 air traffic controllers at the Des Moines International Airport, according to KCCI-TV. They are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without pay as the government shutdown continues. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York has announced she is running for President, and she will be visiting Iowa this weekend. Among her stops will be Sioux City and Des Moines. Gillibrand is the sixth candidate in a growing list of Democrats who have announced they are running for the presidency in 2020. NORTH LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – A record number of Iowans are saying “yes” to organ, tissue and eye donations. This has resulted in hundreds of lives being saved in 2018, says the Iowa Donor Network. Iowa had the highest number of organ donors in the state’s history in 2018. In total, 74 deceased donors accounted for 248 organs transplanted. This is also the most organs ever transplanted in the state’s history.