Iowa Radio News

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – The Ottumwa Police Department is investigating the death of a 5-year-old girl. KTVO-TV reports she was found hanging in a closet without a pulse. An autopsy will be performed Monday, and the investigation continues. BROOKLYN, IA (IRN) – Poweshiek County officials are searching for Mollie Tibbetts. The 20-year-old University of Iowa student was last seen Wednesday evening in Brooklyn, Iowa. She was last seen while jogging, wearing gym shorts, a black sports bra and running shoes. Tibbetts is described as a 5-foot-3 white woman, weighing 120 pounds. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager is recovering in the intensive care unit at Iowa Methodist Medical Center after diving into shallow waters. KCCI-TV reports 6-foot 7-inch Juan Rivera, 18, dove into the shallow end of his grandparents’ pool. Doctors say he is paralyzed from the chest down. FARLEY, IA (IRN) – A teen from the northeastern Iowa town of Farley is using his love of Wiffle Ball to raise money for a local charity. KCRG-TV reports Cade Messer is hosting a two day Wiffle Ball tournament in his parent’s backyard. He does this for his classmate Jackie Kluesner, who was diagnosed with spinal cord cancer in 2013. She’s now cancer-free. Messer started the tournament last year to raise money for Jackie’s charity, Jackie’s Cause. He raised $2,000 with 19 registered teams. He’s hoping to double that amount this year. All money goes to fund spinal cord cancer awareness and research.

MINNETONKA, MN (IRN) – A Minnesota hotel clerk says a southern Iowa county attorney who was temporarily removed from office for sexual harassment spent hours in March “intensely” pursuing her for sex and drugs while his wife and children were in their room. The clerk told the Des Moines Register that the incident involving Van Buren County Attorney Abraham Watkins occurred in March — the same time the Iowa Supreme Court was reviewing Watkins’ removal from office. She says Watkins asked her where he could find marijuana, suggested she would be a good stripper, talked about sex with his wife, among other comments. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A total of 27 tornados tore through Iowa on Thursday afternoon, hitting key landmarks such as the Marshall County Courthouse in Marshalltown and Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella. Heavy rain, damaging winds and hail were also part of the system. Seven people inside Vermeer Corporation were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. Funnel clouds or tornadoes were also seen near Bondurant, Ankeny, Altoona, Prairie City and Colfax. No other injuries were reported. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have identified the man pulled from the Iowa River in Iowa City on Monday. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Mohammad Albaghdadi of Iowa City was recovered after pedestrians noticed his floating body. An autopsy is being performed. SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A Sioux City man was arrested for robbing a Sioux City business Wednesday night. KCAU-TV reports the suspect, later identified as Derrick Henderson, 45 of Sioux City, went in and demanded cash, pointing a fake gun at the clerk. He fled on a bicycle before he was taken into custody. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A new report from the state auditor’s office accuses a former University of Iowa employee of making nearly $60,000 worth of improper purchases. KCRG-TV reports while an employee of the College of Dentistry, Amanda Shumaker allegedly spent over $40,000 at Amazon, $5,000 at Barnes and Noble, and $9,000 at other vendors. Among the items purchased include bath bombs, aromatherapy items, manicure and pedicure sets, and camera equipment. Shumaker has since passed away.

REMSEN, IA (IRN) – A person trapped inside a grain bin has died in northwest Iowa. KWWL-TV reports 65-year-old Lee Grage died in the bin before being reached by rescuers. ACKLEY, IA (IRN) – A concerned teacher potentially saved the life a 9-year-old north-central Iowa child from Ackley whose parents face accusations of abuse and torture, according to KCCI-TV. Traci Tyler, 39, and Alex Shadlow, 30, were arrested Wednesday. The child was locked under basement stairs and deprived of food, among other disturbing allegations. A teacher noticed the warning signs and contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services, which authorities and child advocates say saved the boy’s life. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport Police released the details of a robbery and theft that resulted in a vehicle pursuit Wednesday. KWQC-TV reports four juveniles were arrested and two will be charged as adults. The victim says she was pushed out of a vehicle and her cell phone was taken. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, strongly criticized two Presidents Wednesday–our own and Russia’s–following another confusing day of what President Donald Trump believes when it comes to Russia’s meddling with the 2016 election. Grassley said, “Russia’s our enemy. Putin is a liar.” SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City woman turned 101 years old Wednesday. KCAU-TV reports Lucille Burkett celebrated the milestone with cupcakes. Burkett was a stay-at-home mom, and says she likes azaleas, roses, and hot fudge sundaes. She says she likes to golf and paint in her free time.

TAMA, IA (IRN) – A Tama man has been granted probation for his offense of lascivious acts with a child. KCRG-TV reports 70-year-old William Purk II originally faced multiple charges for sexually abusing an 8-year-old family member. The daughter of the defendant, Amber Purk, Rev. Kenny Mervin of Tama Meskwaki Celebration Assembly of God Church, and Purk himself disputed the allegations and urged the court to give Purk probation so he could attend to the needs of the church and his family. The court agreed. FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ (IRN) – An Iowa couple and a Canadian woman died after being struck by an SUV on a sidewalk in Fountain Hills, Arizona. KCCI-TV reports 72-year-old Robert Bonta and his 71-year-old wife Karen were killed in the accident Tuesday along with 60-year-old Patti Doornbos from Canada. RHODES, IA (IRN) – Three family pets are dead and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office says an 11-year-old boy is to blame. KCRG-TV reports officials suspect the boy killed two dogs and one cat with lethal injections of his mother’s insulin. The Marshall County Sheriff expects charges to be filed against the boy this week. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids teacher has been fired after inappropriate use of an African-American baby doll in a classroom according to school officials. KWWL-TV reports school officials say Tammy Ryan was a poor role model who used inappropriate instructional methods and unprofessional conduct. There’s no word on what she did. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair has released a long list of new foods available at this year’s fair. Fairgoers can try over 50 new foods at the 2018 Iowa State Fair. Among the delights are: the All Iowa Belly Up Burger, Deep Fried Pecan Pie on a stick, and Rocky Mountain Oysters.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – An overnight pursuit ended in an officer-involved shooting in Altoona that left a man dead. Deputies say a pursuit in north Polk County started at around 3:45 a.m. when the driver was pulled over on a traffic stop and refused to stop. The pursuit ended in gunfire in an Altoona neighborhood when the driver grabbed a weapon. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst criticized President Trump’s acceptance of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial of interference in the U.S. elections. Trump’s comments yesterday follow the revelation Friday that the U.S. Justice Department had indicted 12 Russian agents for a hacking scheme intended to disrupt the 2016 U.S. election. Ernst said she has faith in the U.S. intelligence communities assessment that Russia interfered. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Nevada man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of his 2-month-old child. KCCI-TV reports 30-year-old Calvin White suffocated 2-month-old Selena on January 29 and threw himself in front of a train about 20 minutes later. He survived, and authorities found a video confession on his phone. In the video, White admits to placing a pillow over the child’s face so that he couldn’t hear her scream. In the video White said, “I’m like a monster, I can’t control myself. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later.” DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – An 80-year-old man died in an ATV accident in Dubuque County on Monday, according to KWWL-TV. The incident is under investigation. WARREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Warren County officials are seeking to build a new new courthouse and jail after the old one was condemned, according to WHO-TV. Citizens rejected a bond issue for the project in 2016.