Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A store owner fatally shot a suspected burglar Wednesday morning in Des Moines, according to KCCI-TV. Police were called to Kraft 5 Star Muffler on Army Post Road at 7:17 a.m. The store owner discovered the burglary in progress when he arrived at the store, finding a pickup truck loaded with his merchandise. There was a confrontation between the store owner and the suspect, and the store owner fatally shot him. DEWITT, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa factory plans to lay off workers, reduce production and delay expansion plans in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on steel imported from Canada. The Quad-City Times reports that the Black Cat Wear Parts factory in DeWitt has confirmed temporary layoffs of 10 of its 17 production employees this week. MARION, IA (IRN) – A Marion woman went to the hospital with significant injuries after losing control of her motorcycle and crashing yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. 61-year-old Valarie Biancalana was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Science Center of Iowa says flooding has closed its Blank IMAX Dome Theater until further notice, and also caused significant damage to its film collection. Rainwater fell from the ceiling of the theater and hit the large format films. WHO-TV reports the cost of replacing each damaged film is about $20,000. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa plans to cut staff, sell property in Des Moines and make other moves in response to state funding reductions, according to KWWL-TV. The university will close seven centers and permanently furlough 33 full-time staffers. The university says it will continue to offer classes in Des Moines but will close the former AIB College of Business campus and seek a buyer for the property. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The family of former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray released details Monday on plans for his funeral, according to KCCI-TV. Ray died Sunday at the age of 89. He served as Iowa’s 38th governor from 1969 until he voluntarily left office in 1983. For members of the public who wish to pay their respects to Ray, he will lay in repose at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon and evening. A brief ceremony will occur at 5 p.m. Iowans will be able to pass by Gov. Ray’s casket and pay their respects between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Des Moines hospital employee was sentenced to 30 months in prison in U.S. District Court today. Victor Van Cleave, 29, is accused of stealing opioid painkillers from Methodist Medical Center and replacing them with saline solution. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo woman called police to report her house was being hit by bullets on Monday. KWWL-TV reports police found several shell casings in front of the home, along with damage to the house. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Two people are charged in connection with the death of a Des Moines man. WHO-TV reports Jeremy McDonald, 38, was found dead last month in the back of a car in Newton. The driver, Jaycie Sheeder, called police saying McDonald had been assaulted and needed medical help. Witnesses told police 50-year-old Jeffrey Stendrup hit him multiple times with a baseball bat at a home in Colfax. Stendrup is now charged with first degree robbery, and Sheeder is charged with being an accessory to a felony. More charges are expected. BOULDER COUNTY, CO (IRN) – Police in Colorado are investigating the death of a 31-year-old Iowa City man, according to KCRG-TV. The body of James Napier, a law student at the University of Iowa, was found near Brainerd Lake on Saturday. Napier reportedly slipped and fell while hiking with his girlfriend. The woman, who is a doctor, says Napier hit his head several times during the fall and had no pulse when she climbed down to help him. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police are using surveillance video to identify people involved in a crowd that shut down a Casey’s General Store Tuesday. KWWL-TV reports between 25 and 40 people gathered in the parking lot and in the store. Several fights broke out, and people were also seen stealing from the store. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines announced Monday that it will bring high-speed broadband internet to Valley Junction. The project will expand Wi-Fi service with free access to students and residents in the Valley Junction neighborhood.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A police pursuit in Des Moines this morning ended with a surprise for officers. KCCI-TV reports the chase ended with a crash. Officers found a 10-year-old boy driving the car, with a 7-year-old passenger inside. There are no reports of serious injuries. The children will not be identified by police. No word so far on any charges. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Vice President Mike Pence will reportedly be in Cedar Rapids for an event this week. The Kansas City Star reports Pence will attend a political event with Rep. Rod Blum on Wednesday after he attends a campaign event in Kansas City earlier in the day. Blum, who has been a Congressman since 2014, is in the middle of a campaign where he is challenged by Democrat Abby Finkenauer, a 28-year-old state representative. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accidental shooting at the Animal Rescue League. A a 27-year-old man was pulling something out of his pocket when his handgun discharged. A single round hit the floor and fragmented into several pieces. A 62-year-old female and 9-year-old female were both hit in the leg by fragments and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. HARRISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A hazardous materials spill Sunday closed both directions of Interstate 29 in Harrison County in western Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation says a driver noticed liquid coming from the tanker, and flagged down the semi. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Robert Ray, a popular Republican Iowa governor who served five consecutive terms from 1969 to 1983, died of natural causes Sunday, according to the Des Moines Register. He was 89. Ray was quiet, humble and thoughtful, yet confident in his deeply held beliefs with the courage to act, especially in the service of others. Three times Ray opened Iowa’s borders to refugee populations of Southeast Asia displaced by conflict. To critics of his refugee program, Ray said, “Don’t tell me how Christian you are. Show me.” CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Did you have your eyes to the sky yesterday evening around 8:45? KCRG-TV reports a fireball was seen streaking across the southern sky about that time. Fireballs are meteors that burn much brighter than average meteors.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN0 – A teen was injured after a crash on Clear Lake Friday. According to the DNR, a personal watercraft being operated by a 15 year-old male with a 16 year-old male passenger struck the back of another personal watercraft with three 17 year-old females. One of the females that was struck fell into the water. She was rescued, and the 15 year old male is facing multiple charges. SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NE (IRN) – An Iowa man faces charges in Nebraska and Iowa after he led officers on a high-speed chase and rammed two law enforcement vehicles. KCRG-TV reports the incident happened Friday when a trooper tried to stop a pickup truck being pursued by South Sioux City police. 43-year-old Larry Johnson II, of Sioux City, is in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Adult film actress Stormy Daniels is in Des Moines this weekend, and she’s slated for a two-night engagement at an adult entertainment club. KCCI-TV reports Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, was paid $130,000 in hush money after she claimed to have had an affair with President Donald Trump before he took the Oval Office. She’s been traveling the country on her exotic dance tour. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After 18 seasons, the Iowa Barnstormers can finally hang a championship banner high in the rafters of Wells Fargo Arena. The Des Moines Register reports the ‘Stormers were firing on all cylinders most of Saturday night during the Indoor Football League title game, or the United Bowl, and took care of the Sioux Falls Storm with a thrilling 42-38 win in Des Moines. The Barnstormers finish the season with a 13-3 record.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A body was pulled from the Mississippi River in Keokuk on Wednesday, according to the Hawk Eye. The body was taken to Iowa City for an autopsy. MOUNT PLEASANT, IA (IRN) – 24 of the 32 men arrested in an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raid on a Mount Pleasant plant are now out on bond, according to KCRG-TV. The raid took place May 9th at the Midwest Precast Concrete Plant. The head of Iowa Welcomes its Immigrant Neighbors said it helped secure bond for 24 of the men. Four others have already been deported, and the remaining four are still in jails awaiting trials on criminal charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – New data from the Iowa State Patrol shows a huge jump in the number of Iowans stopped by authorities for texting while driving. KCCI-TV reports it has been one year since texting while driving became a primary offense in Iowa, which means state troopers can pull drivers over if they see offenders. The Iowa State Patrol has issued six times more citations for texting while driving in the past year than in the year before. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Work to repair a flood-damaged grocery store in Des Moines could take the rest of the summer. WHO-TV reports several feet of water poured into the Hy-Vee on MLK Parkway. To help store customers, Hy-Vee is offering free DART bus services to its East Euclid store. Starting on Monday, buses will go back and forth between the two stores from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.