Iowa Radio News

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – The Bettendorf Police Department has responded to multiple car burglaries and a car theft this week. KWQC-TV reports the vehicles were left unlocked. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after he shot himself with his father’s gun Sunday morning, according to the Des Moines Register. The boy and his family were staying at a hotel in Clive and the boy’s father left a loaded .45-caliber handgun in a piece of luggage. The boy picked up the weapon and pulled the trigger. The bullet entered his upper chest, passing through his neck and into a wall. WEBSTER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 52-year-old man died after losing control of his motorcycle Sunday in Webster County. Monte Dilliner of Stanhope was riding his 2002 Kawasaki when he dropped off the right hand shoulder. His motorcycle rolled and Dilliner was thrown off. He was pronounced dead at the scene. ST. LUCAS, IA (IRN) – A man was killed after a tractor he was driving in northeastern Iowa rolled over on him. KWWL-TV reports 68-year-old Linus Joseph Kuennen, of Fort Atkinson, died after his tractor rolled and he was pinned underneath it. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Nine people, mostly juveniles as young as 14, have been charged in relation to a brawl at Cedar Valley Townhomes in Cedar Rapids last week. KCRG-TV reports all are charged with rioting, and one 17-year-old also faces a charge of interference with official acts. More arrests are expected. Cell phone video and witness accounts suggest as many as 50 people may have been involved. No word on what started the fight.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport woman accused of pouring rubbing alcohol on her 2-year-old disabled child and threatening to kill the toddler while live streaming the incident on social media will face charges in court next month. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Darshanda McNeal was charged after live streaming the incident on Facebook using her cellphone. The child didn’t suffer any physical injuries. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A suspect involved in a high-speed car chase with sheriff’s deputies was taken into custody Saturday. KCCI-TV reports the chase ended in a cornfield in rural Ankeny. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police have determined that an early morning fire at an apartment complex on Wednesday was intentionally set. KGAN-TV reports an ignitable liquid was poured in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the apartment complex and lit on fire. Three were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Police have no suspects. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The Davenport Community School District looking into outsourcing more services to save money. WQAD-TV reports Superintendent Art Tate sent a letter to department heads asking for ideas and proposals that could help the district cut costs. Tate says just about everything is on the table.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two firefighters were injured and a family of four was displaced after a house caught on fire in Cedar Rapids Friday. KGAN-TV reports the fire started on the sun porch of a home and extended into the kitchen area. No one was home at the time of the fire, but the family’s cat was found dead inside. The firefighters are expected to be OK. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former longtime Iowa congressman has died. Former U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Democrat who represented Iowa’s 3rd District, was found unresponsive in his Decatur County home Friday. The 84-year-old was flown to the hospital after suffering of complications from cancer. Boswell served in the US Army for 20 years, serving two tours in Vietnam as a commander of a helicopter battalion. He earned two distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier’s Medal. He served in Congress from 1997 to 2013. FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a tractor rollover in Fayette County Thursday, according to KCRG-TV. Deputies found the driver of the tractor pinned underneath it. 68-year-old Linus Joseph Kuennen from Fort Atkinson was pronounced dead at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent in July, tying with South Dakota for the second-lowest rate in the nation. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate was an 18-year low. Hawaii had the nation’s lowest rate last month at 2.1 percent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Attendance at the Iowa State Fair has once again topped one million people, although attendance is down slightly from last year. The Fair ends Sunday.

PLAINFIELD, IA (IRN) – One person died when his car left the roadway near Plainfield, rolled and caught fire late Thursday. The Courier reports the deceased is Arthur Penrod, 19, of rural Nashua. The crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday when Penrod was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix, entered a ditch, and struck a concrete box culvert. The Grand Prix went airborne, overturned and caught fire. Penrod died at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a stabbing that injured one person this morning, according to KCCI-TV. The victim is not cooperating with police. LA PORTE CITY, IA (IRN) – The months-long search for a missing La Porte City teenager may be over. 16-year-old Jake Wilson, who has autism, was last seen going out for a walk before he vanished April 7. Kayakers found the remains Tuesday near Wolf Creek, which was a focal point in the search. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said, “why we didn’t find him very early on, I don’t know.” OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A 61-year-old Ottumwa man was transported to a hospital after he was shot in the chest Thursday, according to KTVO-TV. Police have a suspect, and say the public isn’t in any danger. OXFORD JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – Six firefighters reported seeing a tornado touch down near Oxford Junction Thursday afternoon. KGAN-TV reports there was only minor damage. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died of pancreatic cancer Thursday at age 76. The Des Moines Register reports her last concert in Iowa was July 4, 2015 in Sioux City. She was backed by her band and a 28-piece orchestra of local players. Attendees report it was an “awesome” performance. It’s possible Franklin felt the same. A week later she sent a bouquet of flowers to the Sioux City Journal, attached with a note of gratitude. The note said, “Thank you for your great review…Sioux City and the concert audience are the greatest. All the best, Aretha Franklin.”

DAVIS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Farmers and ranchers in southern Iowa’s Davis County who’ve suffered losses and damages from recent drought may now be eligible for federal emergency loans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Davis County has been designated as a primary natural disaster area. Producers in the contiguous counties also are eligible to apply for emergency loans. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vice President Mike Pence returned to Iowa Wednesday to promote Trump administration policies. Pence told a crowd of about 250 in Des Moines, “America is back and we’re just getting started…it’s been a year and a half of action and it’s been a year of promises made and promises kept.” DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police are looking for a man who robbed a house after the victim’s girlfriend let it happen. The victim left his house, and his girlfriend, who was at the house, contacted 23-year-old Kody Brinkley. When Brinkley came to the house, the girlfriend told him he could “steal whatever he wanted.” She then left. Brinkley allegedly stole several firearms. FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – A Fairfield woman fired for insulting Mexicans at work cannot collect unemployment benefits. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Employment Appeals Board said Angela Diers’ statements clearly met the definition of misconduct, and disqualifies her from collecting unemployment. Diers lost her job at Dexter Laundry, a manufacturer of washers and dryers. She says she shouldn’t be singled out for termination because since President Trump’s election, it’s common for workers at the plant to talk of hating African Americans and foreigners. MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – Maquoketa is in need of 300 new homes in the next 10 years, according to KCRG-TV. The city plans to begin solving the housing shortage by building a “pocket neighborhood.” The neighborhood will have 10 to 12 homes, each about 1,000 square feet and costing around $150,000. The small homes will have porches that all face each other and will be built around a community green space with gardens and a gazebo.