Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A police body camera captured the aftermath of a Johnston woman’s murder, according to KCCI-TV. Johnston police showed the footage Wednesday as testimony continued in the murder trial of Abraham Roberts — the man accused of shooting his girlfriend, Agnes Yarlee, in April. Police say her baby was in a bouncy rocking chair in between her mother’s legs, looking up at her. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – The trial has been delayed for a man accused of stabbing to death his grandparents in the Mason City home they shared. KIMT-TV reports the new trial starting date for Codie Matz is Feb. 20. Matz has pled not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court says the state court system is approaching a crisis point. Chief Justice Mark Cady said during his State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday that budget cuts have stripped the courts of 182 jobs, a 10 percent reduction in the workforce. MARION, IA (IRN) – The Linn Mar school district in eastern Iowa is defending a student’s First Amendment rights, according to KCRG-TV. This comes after a few parents complained about one artwork displayed in the school’s hallways. The artwork appears to depict an ibex and an disemboweled human body. Officials say they won’t take the painting down because of the student’s constitutional rights and because they want students to express themselves. The artist says the artwork was a way to heal after being involved in an abusive relationship. RED OAK, IA (IRN) – Cattle rustlers are on the prowl in western Iowa, according to KETV. Don Wolfe says he has had hay stolen before, but never cattle. Wolfe, who co-owns the Omaha/Red Oak Livestock Market with his son, Pat, believes 34 calves were swiped from his property early Sunday morning. Wolfe says it’s a $27,000 hit to his business, and that he should have locked them up. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa softball team traded the dirt for the ice to see what it takes to learn another sport–curling. KWWL-TV reports the team traveled to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena where they tried curling. The outing was meant to serve as a team bonding exercise. One player says it was “really fun,” and that she plans to watch it in the upcoming Olympic games.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have released the name of the man killed Tuesday night in Des Moines’ first homicide of 2018. WHO-TV reports 39-year-old Cory Channon died after being shot in the chest. Two arrests have been made. Des Moines residents William Edgar Burton III, 45, and Crystal Raye Purdy, 36, have both been charged with first-degree murder. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A body found inside a vehicle parked at the Flying J truck stop in Davenport on Monday has been identified as a 47-year-old man from Louisiana. WQAD-TV reports police are treating the death as a homicide. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Missouri man with a record of robberies has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a bank heist in eastern Iowa. KGAN-TV reports 60-year-old Peter Lundberg, of St. Ann, Missouri, was sentenced Monday. Lundberg has two prior federal convictions for bank robbery and one state robbery conviction. He got less than $1,100 from a bank in Coralville when he robbed it. MALCOLM, IA (IRN) – Police say a man intentionally chased down and hit another vehicle in Poweshiek County, killing the driver and injuring three others. KCRG-TV reports 21-year-old Kyle Sadler faces multiple charges, including second degree murder, for a crash that killed 20-year-old Riley Ely. Sadler got into a fight at a home in Malcolm, and then chased people who drove away in Ely’s car. Sadler rear-ended the car, causing it to flip into the ditch. Sadler then fled without calling police. He was high on meth. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The owner of an Iowa City automotive repair shop was arrested on a harassment charge after he repeatedly asked a customer if he was a terrorist. The Des Moines Register reports 47-year-old Cermak Automotive owner Chad Cermak asked the customer, “are you a Muslim?” “are you a terrorist?” “are you a suicide bomber?” and, “are you going to blow up my business?” The customer reported the incident and said they were “offended, in disbelief, and felt alarmed” about the comments. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After winning the lottery, a Des Moines man doesn’t plan on blowing the money. Instead, he’s going to invest it. WHO-TV reports Brian Spicer is now $20,000 richer after purchasing a lottery ticket this weekend. Spicer is going to use his winnings to start a food truck business.

MANLY, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating the death of a 7-month-old girl who was being cared for at an in-home daycare in northern Iowa. Manly police say that medics were sent to the home in Manly on December 28. They performed CPR on the baby, and she was taken to a Mason City hospital. The little girl was pronounced dead at the hospital. DELHI, IA (IRN) – A 23-year-old Delhi man is dead after his vehicle plunged through the ice on Lake Delhi. KCRG-TV reports crews arrived on scene and found a vehicle upside down in about 8 feet of water. An underwater camera sent into the lake showed one person in the vehicle. The vehicle was removed from the lake with the help of a diver and a crane. The man inside the vehicle has been identified as 23-year-old Alex Salow of Delhi. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Moviegoers were forced to evacuate an Urbandale movie theater Monday due to a fire. KCCI-TV reports multiple fire departments responded to a fire at the AMC Cobblestone 9 Theater just after 4:30 p.m. There was damage to the roof of the building, and no one was injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa legislators began the 2018 lawmaking season yesterday, and the Republican leadership says it’s working on “chapter two” after passing major reform last session. KCRG-TV reports the party’s control of both chambers and the governor’s office last year allowed Republicans to loosen gun laws, further restrict late-term abortions and rollback collective bargaining. The GOP goal this year? Cut tax rates and simplify the code. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN0 – The tax bill Congress passed last month will have an effect on the Iowa brewery scene. Part of the reform is the Craft Beverage and Tax Reform Act, which stands to cut federal taxes for small breweries, wineries, and distilleries by half. Breweries like Iowa Brewing Co. in Cedar Rapids say it’s a huge break for them. The company expects to save approximately $14,000 under the new law. GALENA, IL (IRN) – The Bridal Cottage in Ottumwa was destroyed by fire Saturday, according to WHO-TV. The damage has left dozens of brides without their wedding dresses that were stored there. While the business’ owner is working to find replacement dresses, a bridal store in Illinois is offering to help relieve some of the stress. Brandi Arensdorff, owner of I Do Bridal in Galena says if needed, she can provide a few dresses for free. Arensdorff was born in Ottumwa, and is most concerned about brides whose wedding day is coming soon.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Reported cases of gonorrhea are increasing quickly in Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Preliminary Iowa data indicate 3,600 cases of gonorrhea in 2017. This would be a 145 percent increase since 2013. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man was arrested Sunday when police responded to his home after a child called 911 and said his father was assaulting his mother with a saw. WHO-TV reports when police responded they found the female victim outside the home and the suspect, 35-year-old Fabian Valazquez-Montano, inside. He refused to come out. Police say he told his wife he would rather die than go to jail. Police took him into custody after a struggle. The victim suffered no serious injuries. CLAY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a fatal snowmobile crash that happened in northwest Iowa Friday. The DNR reports it happened around 8 pm on the Little Sioux River in Clay County. 39-year-old Justin Robert Stahly of Milford was riding his snowmobile on the frozen river when he struck a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that happened early Sunday morning. KGAN-TV reports the suspect was in the “adult-themed” store Romantix browsing merchandise when he then approached the cashier, showed a weapon, took an undisclosed amount of money and merchandise, and then fled the store. No one was hurt, and there’s no word on what merchandise was stolen. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Regents isn’t expected to make a final decision on tuition increases at the state’s three public universities until June. The Des Moines Register reports that will leave students with only a few weeks to make financial plans before the start of the next academic year. University presidents have proposed tuition hikes ranging from 1.75 to 11.7 percent over the next five years. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers return to the state Capitol today with a to-do list ranging from overhauling state taxes to possibly addressing issues with the state’s privatized Medicaid program. Republicans, entering a second year of complete statehouse control, will work amid another budget crunch and a looming election year.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Buildings damaged and destroyed in recent Des Moines Metro fires didn’t have sprinkler systems, according to KCCI-TV. Neither the Valley West Inn in West Des Moines or the Plumwood Terrace Condos in Urbandale had sprinkler systems. The buildings were built before fire codes mandated sprinkler systems in new construction. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Just minutes after the Bridal Cottage in downtown Ottumwa closed Saturday, crews arrived on scene to put out a fire. KTVO-TV reports the shop was fully engulfed within the hour and is now considered a total loss. No one was inside the shop when the fire began, and the cause has yet to be determined. FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – No children were hurt when a window of their moving school bus was shot out. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the incident happened in Forest City on Friday morning, when the window shattered after being hit by a shot from a pellet gun. Police say they know who is responsible and believe it was an isolated incident. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A car crashed through a fence and into the backyard of a Davenport woman early Saturday morning. KWQC-TV reports Jessica Cisneros woke when she heard the crash. She went to the vehicle and found a man drunk and asleep in the car. When she grabbed the keys he woke up and struggled with her for them before running away. Police are investigating.