Iowa Radio News

MARION, IA (IRN) – A jury has convicted a Marion man in the death of his ex-girlfriend. KCRG-TV reports Greg Davis, 29, was found guilty of first degree murder. He stabbed Carrie Davis to death, rolled her body up in carpet and put it in a utility trailer in front of his parents’ home. Davis never denied killing his former girlfriend, but he was trying to use an insanity or diminished capacity defense. He said he killed Carrie Davis to “cut the devil out of her” and “wrapped her body like Jesus.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A federal agency has denied disaster assistance for residents and business owners of Marshall and Polk counties who endured tornadoes in July. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced Friday FEMA has denied the governor’s request for assistance for losses from the July 19 tornadoes. FEMA stated that the impact from the tornadoes wasn’t severe enough to warrant help. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is investigating 73 cases of West Nile Virus, and that’s the highest it’s been in about 15 years. Heavy rains and warm days create a perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed and grow to high numbers. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Seventy Iowans were taken prisoner during the Korean War, and unfortunately 31 of them never made it home. KWWL-TV reports the Sullivan Brothers Veterans Museum held a ceremony Friday to honor those men, including one who was present at the celebration, Cecil Phipps. Phipps says, “you don’t know how important freedom is until you lose it.”

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two pedestrians have been killed in Davenport. KCCI-TV reports the two men were struck by a pickup truck. It’s unclear whether they were trying to cross the roadway without going to a nearby traffic signal. They were pronounced dead at the scene. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 60-year-old pedestrian is recovering after being hit by a semi-truck on Interstate 80 in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports the man had gotten out of a vehicle parked on the side of I-80 when a passing semi hit him. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Clive police issued a warning Thursday about the discovery of three skimming devices found at two Casey’s General Store locations. KCCI-TV reports police found skimmer devices inside the gas pumps and that the devices are nearly impossible for customers to detect. The skimming device was likely there overnight, and customers should assume that their PIN number has been compromised. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s candidates for governor have already spent at least $5.4 million to put nearly 20,000 ads in front of Iowa television viewers in the closely contested race — and there are more on the way. The Des Moines Register reports Democrat Fred Hubbell and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds have aired roughly 19,500 ads between Jan. 1 and Sept. 9. It will be the most expensive Iowa Governor’s race in history. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hometown heavy-metal rockers Slipknot are lending their skills to a popular haunted attraction in Des Moines this Halloween. WHO-TV reports the Grammy-winning band announced it is partnering with “The Slaughterhouse.” The haunted attraction was already plenty scary, but Slipknot is looking to amp up the terror. Band members will be on site for a VIP weekend in mid-October to lead tours. It’s a match made in heaven – or perhaps – the *other* place.

IOWA (IRN) – A new survey report says the Iowa farmland average values have dropped 1.7 percent in the past six months. The report from the Iowa Chapter of the Realtors Land Institute says the decline over the past six months left values at a little over $6,800 an acre. The report blamed the decline in part on tariffs that affected crop prices and on rising interest rates. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Associated Press review has found that Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds received approval from a state regulator to fly for free to Iowa State’s bowl game on a jet owned by a company that is a longtime state vendor. That’s despite a law barring public officials and their relatives from accepting gifts. Reynolds flew to Tennessee to watch the Cyclones play in the Liberty Bowl on a plane owned by Sedgwick, which administers workers’ compensation claims filed by injured state employees. The trip was approved by a ethics board member because Reynolds claimed it as a “campaign expense.” NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Newton couple is accused of sexually abusing runaway children and teenagers. KCCI-TV reports Zachary Morecock, 21, and Ariel Utterback, 22, are each facing ten counts of third degree sexual abuse. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A former church treasurer in northwestern Iowa has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Bethel Lutheran Church in Graettinger of nearly $500,000 over 13 years. As part of a plea deal, 65-year-old Andrew Matheason admitted he wrote checks to himself and paid his credit card balances from church funds. He faces up to 20 years in prison. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque public schools are considering moving back start times for middle and high school students. Across the nation, 300 districts in 44 states have moved secondary school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says junior high and high school students should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines mother is facing child endangerment charges after police say she tied her three children up as a way to control them. WHO-TV reports Thirty-eight-year-old Jessica Henderson was arrested Saturday. The principal at the older children’s school told investigators someone provided pictures of Henderson’s three children – ages 9, 5, and 4 – tied up on the kitchen floor. DHS has the kids. SPIRIT LAKE, IA (IRN) – A man was hospitalized after an explosion rocked a plant in northwest Iowa, setting off a fire. KCRG-TV reports the blast was in the paint room of the Polaris Industries plant in Spirit Lake on Monday. Polaris employs about 500 people at the plant, producing motorcycles under the Indian Motorcycles brand. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Over the past 12 years, the city of Des Moines has helped at least three firefighters who faced termination for alcohol-related offenses instead retire with disability benefits — despite a state law prohibiting the practice, according to the Des Moines Register. In addition, other fire department personnel have remained on the job even after being disciplined for drunken driving or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and her Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell have agreed to three televised debates in October. The campaigns say the debates will be in Des Moines, Sioux City, and Davenport.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Two apparently independent shootings in Waterloo left a man injured and a woman dead Monday night, according to KWWL-TV. Police are investigating. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An employee at the University of Northern Iowa is dead after coming in contact with a major steam leak near a dining hall on campus. KGAN-TV reports 61-year-old Kevin Bley was working inside a steam distribution tunnel when he was exposed to the steam leak. No one else was hurt in the incident. Authorities are investigating. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man is facing a felony robbery charge after he allegedly asked a man and a woman if they wanted to get shot. KIMT-TV reports McKinley Dudley, 59, approached a male and female and threatened them with what appeared to be a gun. He demanded the two people empty their pockets and bags. Dudley allegedly took cigarettes and allowed the two victims to leave. IOWA (IRN) – The first public poll of Iowa voters ahead of the 2018 election shows Fred Hubbell is leading, but there are still enough undecided voters to swing the vote either way. Emerson College conducted the online poll last week. The poll shows Democrat Fred Hubbell with 36% of the vote compared to 31% for Governor Kim Reynolds. 26% said they were undecided and 7% said they would vote for someone else. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Twelve Iowans volunteering with the American Red Cross are already on their way to the Carolinas to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Florence. KCCI-TV reports an additional 30 volunteers will leave today, taking with them six emergency response vehicles. There are 300 to 400 Iowa volunteers ready to deploy, but it’s unclear how many will go until the path of the storm is clear.