Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police believe the suspect involved in a deadly hit and run is hiding and investigators say their patience is running out. WHO-TV reports police are looking for 32-year-old Anthony McGilvery. Officers believe McGilvery hit and killed 56-year-old Darrell Ford while Ford was riding his bike last Saturday. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a Hawk Alert after a report of an armed robbery in downtown Iowa City Saturday night. KCRG-TV reports authorities issued the alert around 11:00 p.m. after someone reported being robbed by a man with a gun. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – Marshalltown’s largest employer has announced $1 million in aid to its employees and the community as they recover from the July 19 tornado that tore through the city. KGAN-TV reports JBS USA employs 2,300 people at its Marshalltown pork facility. The tornado that hit Marshalltown was among a flurry of twisters that swept through central Iowa. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Kids are beating the heat in Sioux City. KCAU-TV reports the Sioux City Fire Department hosted one of their “hydrant parties” at Pulaski Park Friday afternoon. It was a great way for kids to cool off for free, as well as fire crews getting to engage with the community. They say they’ll do one more event before school starts.

HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – A woman reported missing in January is now accused of setting fire to someone’s house. KIMT-TV reports Dawn Renae Debell, 50 of Hampton, was charged with 1st degree arson on Wednesday. Police say she started a fire at a home and there is video of her leaving the scene. 1st degree arson is a class “B” felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Debell was reported missing in North Iowa on January 24, and found by law enforcement on January 30. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – One man is dead and three have been arrested in an officer involved shooting in Ottumwa yesterday. A 911 caller reported shots fired, and that one subject had been shot. Officers responding were told that three men involved in the shooting were fleeing the area on foot. Officers then responded to Liberty Elementary School where they confronted three male subjects approaching the school. The officers came under fire, and returned it. One of the subjects was pronounced dead at the scene, another was wounded. Another subject was located later. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A chase ended in a crash Friday near Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports troopers were pursuing a car with four passengers when the vehicle drove up an embankment and crashed. Two people were taken into custody and two people were taken away by ambulance. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The leader of Iowa 4-H Youth Development was fired Thursday, just a week before the start of the Iowa State Fair, the focal point of the 4-H calendar. The Des Moines Register reports John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, the first Latino statewide youth leader in 4-H’s 115-year history, confirmed his departure. His termination comes after a suggested 4-H LGBTQ inclusion policy drew rebuke from conservative groups and praise from LGBTQ advocates. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Complaints about a girl selling cookies in Cedar Falls generated three different calls to police in the span of five days. WHO-TV reports 10-year-old Savannah Watters has been selling cookies to children in the neighborhood this summer. Savannah says her business was going really well until neighbors called police. She says it’s hard to believe they called police before talking with her mom. Savannah plans to spend her cookie money on school clothes. Her dream is to one day open up her own bakery.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A heavy police presence was reported on the south side of Ottumwa today after an armed robbery of a home ended in gunfire. KCCI-TV reports the armed robbery ended when one of the robbers was shot by a homeowner. Three subjects were involved. Two are in custody and one still on the loose. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced today the first reported 2018 Iowa death associated with West Nile virus. The victim was in an elderly adult, 81+ years of age, from central Iowa. A second case of human West Nile virus infection has also been reported in a Palo Alto County adult, 61 to 80 years of age, a male who has recovered. BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – The stakes in the search for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts were raised Thursday after her family announced a $172,000 reward for her safe return. The University of Iowa student was last seen July 18. KCCI-TV reports Laura Calderwood, Mollie’s mother, says “We believe Mollie is still alive, and if someone has abducted her, we are pleading with you to please release her.” SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A man assaulted last weekend in Sioux City has now died from his injuries. KCAU-TV reports 31-year-old Pete Johnson was attacked at the Blue Ribbon Tap. Police say an arrest will be made soon. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Several counties in southeast Iowa are eligible to receive assistance after a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s disaster declaration was announced. Davis, Appanoose, Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren and Wapello counties will be able to receive assistance due to extensive damage to crops and livestock from the ongoing drought. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair is one week away. That means it’s crunch time for Sarah Pratt. The Fair’s official butter sculptor has already finished work on the butter cow. Now comes the companion piece: a replica “Waterloo Boy” John Deere tractor. Pratt is sculpting the tractor as a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of John Deere and its Waterloo manufacturing plant. The Iowa State Fair runs August 9th-19th this year.

GRINNELL, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the death of a man in the custody of Grinnell police. The Des Moines Register reports that 54-year-old Ronald Shook died Monday after being in Grinnell police custody for less than a day. Why Shook was taken into custody near railroad tracks that run through Grinnell is unclear. BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – The reward for the safe return of Mollie Tibbetts has increased to $30,000, according to KCCI-TV. The 20-year-old University of Iowa student went missing two weeks ago in Brooklyn, Iowa. Investigators say they’ve followed over 200 leads in the search to find her. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University officials announced Wednesday a big name change for one of its most well-known landmarks. The field at Jack Trice Stadium will be known as MidAmerican Energy Field starting Sept. 1, when the Cyclones take on South Dakota State in the team’s first home game. The Des Moines-based power company will have its name on the field portion for at least 10 years for $1.5 million dollars annually. The stadium, which honors ISU’s first black athlete, will still be known as Jack Trice Stadium. MARCUS, IA (IRN) – Quick work by lifeguards at the Marcus swimming pool in northwest Iowa may have saved the life of an elderly women on Tuesday. KCAU-TV reports the woman slipped under the water and to the bottom of the pool. Pool staff managed to pull the unconscious women to the surface and onto the pool deck where she was treated and regained consciousness. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police made an unusual arrest this week outside of XO Liquor. KWWL-TV reports officers were called to the liquor store on a report of a man asking people to buy him alcoholic beverages, and asking for hugs. Ruben Davis was arrested for drunkeness and trespassing.

OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A Bloomfield drug suspect who eluded capture for months will face a jury later this fall. KTVO-TV reports Nathan Burk is scheduled to stand trial in Mahaska County on drug charges from Nov. 14. It was those charges resulting from an August 2017 truck wreck that caused Burk to go on the lam. Law enforcement says that they found Burk’s truck with a quarter pound of marijuana abandoned in a creek. Burk was arrested, posted bond and released. He was finally arrested in Bloomfield last month, where he had been hiding. LE MARS, IA (IRN) – The defense of a Le Mars man accused of stabbing his sister to death argues he may have been suffering from amnesia. KCAU-TV reports Thomas Bibler’s trial continued yesterday with a doctor who evaluated Bibler taking the stand. She testified that some medications prescribed to him may have caused him to suffer amnesia. Bibler says he does not remember the stabbing. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man was arrested after a trooper spotted him driving on I-235 with three children in the bed of his pickup. KCCI-TV reports after Jamie Cole was stopped, a plastic container of marijuana was found with the children. Cole told the trooper he was high on marijuana. He’s charged with first offense OWI, child endangerment and several drug charges. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested after being caught on video surveillance stealing packages from a residence. KIMT-TV reports the homeowner posted surveillance videos on Facebook, and several people were able to identify the man stealing packages as Nicholas Wilmarth, 29, of Mason City. He’s in jail. CHICAGO, IL (IRN) – An Iowa man was wearing a plastic bucket on his head when a large metal pin fell from Wrigley Field’s centerfield scoreboard and hit him on the head during a Chicago Cubs game. KGAN-TV reports 20-year-old Kyle McAleer began wearing the bucket as a “rally cap” a few years ago. McAleer said he put the bucket on his head about a half-inning before his injury. He said he feels “lucky to be alive.”