Iowa Radio News

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A September 25 trial has been scheduled for a Dubuque man who set his apartment ablaze so he could get arrested and have a bed and three meals a day while in custody. KCCI-TV reports 33-year-old Matthew Voseberg has pleaded not guilty to arson. He told police he wanted “three hots and a cot” so he set the apartment on fire. Another building resident told authorities that Voseberg warned her he’d set the fire and told her to get out. GLENWOOD, IA – A Mills County mother learned her fate Monday after being charged in the death of her 8-year-old daughter. KCCI-TV reports Misty Frazier was convicted of child endangerment resulting in death Monday in the overdose death of Kathleen Tafta. Frazier faces up to 50 years in prison. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque Police Department is investigating a report of an attack on a jogger. According to KCRG-TV, a woman was running when a man started running next to her, asking her weird questions, and then gave her flowers. The victim asked the man what he wanted and then he grabbed her. She was able to kick and punch him and run away. The suspect is a white male in his 20’s with wavy, brown hair. IOWA (IRN) – UnityPoint Health is warning patients that hackers may have their personal information. About 1.4 million patients have been notified of the data breach. Officials are investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair doesn’t start for another nine days, but the lines to get in are already forming. WHO-TV reports the annual running of the campers will happen this week at the fairgrounds. Hundreds of camping sites are available on a first come, first served basis. Dozens of RV owners started lining up last week to be first in line for the big rush this Thursday. The 2018 Iowa State Fair begins on August 9th.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Five juveniles were taken into custody and two have been released to adults following an early morning police pursuit in Davenport. KWQC-TV reports police located a stolen car just before 4:30 a.m. When officers approached, the driver drove it into a fence. After hitting the fence, five suspects ran from the car on foot. A 12-year-old female and a 13-year-old male were both released to adults. One 13-year-old and two 14-year-olds have been placed in detention. BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – The reward for information into the disappearance of a University of Iowa student has doubled to $2,000, thanks to a pledge from the power utility in the woman’s hometown. KWWL-TV reports the FBI, state and local investigators have been searching for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts since she was last seen jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, the evening of July 18. Brooklyn-based TIP Rural Electric Cooperative announced Saturday that it will match a $1,000 standing reward for information that leads to the discovery of Tibbetts’ whereabouts or to an arrest and conviction in her disappearance. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A 67-year-old Iowa woman was killed in a car crash Sunday morning in Nebraska, according to KETV. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times killing the driver, Marsha Kay Moore of Riverton. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are looking for a man who tried to sexually assault a convenience store clerk early Sunday morning. WHO-TV reports the assault happened at a QuikTrip on the south side of town. The man grabbed the clerk as she was stocking shelves, forced her to the ground, and violently attempted to sexually assault her. When the woman fought back, the suspect fled. Since the victim resisted, the man will likely have noticeable facial injuries. WEST BRANCH, IA (IRN) – Police in West Branch are investigating an incident involving a child and a white van that attempted to lure two girls from their home. KGAN-TV reports a boy described as 8 to 9-years old approached the home, knocked on the door and asked two girls inside for help finding another boy. The girls said no, and the boy attempted to open the door. The girls screamed, and two men approached the door, took the boy, and returned to a white van that they parked outside and left. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A new health center in Mason City is expected to provide much-needed medical and dental care to low-income residents of the community. The Globe Gazette reports that the Community Health Center will charge patients on a sliding fee scale based on income and household size.

POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An accident at an Iowa wind farm has left one person dead. WHO-TV reports a crane operator died at a construction site in Poweshiek County. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny police are looking for a man who approached and chased a young girl Friday night. The Des Moines Register reports a white male with a mustache and beard was driving a black SUV, with black wheel rims, when he approached the girl. The girl took off running, and the man chased her for a short distance before she escaped. CEDAR RAPID, IA (IRN) – Crews in Cedar Rapids responded to a fire at Dental Prosthetic Services Saturday. First responders were cautious with the fire because of denatured alcohol located in the building that burns at a high temperature, as well as compressed oxygen that has an explosion risk. There were no injuries. FERTILE, IA (IRN) – A Forest City man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he was caught stealing fishing poles. KIMT-TV reports a homeowner saw 68-year-old Steven Strand stealing his fishing poles and when he asked why Strand was taking his stuff, Strand punched him in the face. The resident called 911, then says he went back to Strand and got punched again. The resident then forced Strand to the ground and took his car keys. When deputies arrived, Strand refused to obey commands and resisted arrest. He told deputies he was trying to take “his fishing poles back.”

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A missing Burlington woman who was reported missing along with her 10-month-old son on July 23, has been found alive and well in South Carolina. WQAD-TV reports Magen Clark and her son were with Daniel Cluney, a wanted felon, voluntarily. WEST DES MOINES, IA – A fire in West Des Moines early Friday morning caused major damage to a home and several vehicles, but residents were able to get out safely. WHO-TV reports when firefighters arrived flames had engulfed the garage and spread to the attached home. A travel trailer alongside the garage and vehicles in the driveway were also destroyed by fire. Firefighters were able to rescue a dog in a kennel from inside the home. ARNOLDS PARK, IA (IRN) – Leaders of a northwest Iowa county want to block the dumping of oil-contaminated soil in a landfill near Arnolds Park. The soil is being removed from fields near where railroad tankers cars derailed and around 160,000 gallons leaked near Doon into the flood waters of the Little Rock River, contaminating fields. The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors don’t want the contaminated soil in the landfill. APPANOOSE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Parts of southern Iowa are in serious drought conditions. KCCI-TV reports Appanoose County hasn’t seen rain in over a month, and only 11 inches of rain has fallen this year, compared to 25 inches last year. Some farmers are calling it the worst drought they’ve seen in more than 30 years.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public safety reports that the number of missing is holding steady. In light of the missing person investigation of Mollie Tibbits, concerns have come to light about the number of juveniles reported missing in Iowa in recent weeks. In FY 2017 4,311 juveniles were reported missing to The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. This is an average of approximately 12 juveniles a day. The vast majority are found or returned home within 24 hours. Typically these cases are runaway situations, and the number of missing juveniles reported in recent weeks is in line with historical numbers. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman has admitted to killing her 5-year-old daughter. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations reports 22-year-old Kelsie Thomas has been charged with murder in the first degree. First responders found the girl hanging in the closet. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo toddler passed away after falling from a carnival ride in Mexico on July 23. The 3-year-old was on vacation with her family when she was ejected from the seat of the carnival ride she was on. DECATUR COUNTY, IA (INN) – A Minnesota man died Thursday morning in a two-vehicle collision in southern Iowa, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Paul Charles Griebel, 62, of Savage, died after his semi, heading northbound on Highway 35 in Decatur County, hit a truck with a directional arrow that advised drivers to move into the left lane. Griebel’s vehicle did not move over, and when it struck the trailer, it entered a ditch and rolled. PEOSTA, IA (IRN) – President Trump made a stop in Iowa Thursday to talk tariffs, and touted a newly reached trade truce with the European Union, saying it opened up Europe for American farmers. Farm groups responded that EU countries are already the fourth largest buyer of U.S. agriculture exports. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – This weekend Des Moines will be the center of the competitive cup stacking world. WHO-TV reports the AAU Junior Olympic Games are being held Friday and Saturday in Des Moines. On of the marquee events is “Sport Stacking.” Competitors face off one-on-one or in teams to stack, un-unstack and re-stack cups in specific patterns as fast as they can. Sport stackers from 30 different states will be in Des Moines for the competition.