Iowa Radio News

BLUE GRASS, IA (IRN) – Four people died Christmas morning in a fire in the eastern Iowa town of Blue Grass. The Quad Cities Times reports that one of the occupants was able to exit the residence and was transported to the hospital but died later. The victims haven’t been identified, but outside the home were children’s toys, including a little yellow car and a wheeled vehicle for a small child. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines police officer has been accused of drunken driving. KCCI-TV reports Brett Vanderpool is a probationary officer who is scheduled to join the regular force January 3. Vanderpool’s blood tested out at nearly twice the legal limit. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man who spent 48 years in prison for killing a 10-year-old girl has died in custody. The Iowa Department of Corrections says Robert Anthony Williams died Wednesday of natural causes at the State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Williams was convicted of killing Pamela Kay Powers, of Urbandale, on Dec. 24, 1968. The girl was abducted from the downtown Des Moines YMCA while attending her older brother’s wrestling tournament. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque firefighter was injured while responding to a fire on Christmas Day. KGAN-TV reports the fire was extinguished quickly, and the injured firefighter was treated at the hospital. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A parking lot altercation almost ended with someone in jail Saturday. WHO-TV reports a man was backing out of a parking spot and almost hit a woman with his car. When confronted by the woman and her husband, the man flashed a pistol at the couple. Police say if the new stand your ground law wasn’t in effect, charges likely would have been filed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There were special deliveries made at Mercy Children’s Hospital in Des Moines Sunday. KCCI-TV reports the Huebsch family from Ankeny made and delivered hundreds of fleece-tie blankets for children spending the holiday season at Mercy. In 2013 the family was at the hospital during Christmas because one of their daughters became sick and then died, and a nurse brought her two sisters blankets to comfort them. The sisters keep the program running through grant money and donations.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff Department responded to a serious two vehicle crash near Bondurant Sunday. The passenger in one of the vehicles died at the scene and the driver was taken to a local hospital. The four passengers, including a baby, in the other vehicle were also taken to the hospital. Snow and icy conditions may have been a contributing factor. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A member of the Des Moines Police Department died following a surgery. KCCI-TV reports on Sunday afternoon, the department confirmed Senior Police Officer Tori Aletheia died on Saturday after a procedure in Iowa City. Aletheia was a member of the DMPD since 2013 and was also a military veteran. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeye football team left for New York City Sunday afternoon, awaiting Wednesday’s match-up with Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. You can watch the game at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – For more than 15 years Davenport fire crews have been keeping up with a special Christmas tradition. Each year on Christmas Eve they bring presents to children spending time in the hospital. This year Santa Claus pulled into Genesis Hospital on a red fire truck. With the help of Santa, Mrs. Claus and some elves, the firefighters gave out onsies to newborn babies and presents to every boy and girl.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A southeast Iowa jury has found a former boarding school director guilty of abusing students. WGEM-TV reports on Friday jurors found Benjamin Trane guilty of intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child endangerment. Trane was the owner and director of Midwest Academy in Keokuk. The school was closed in January 2016 after being raided by federal, state and local officials. Earlier in the trial, Trane had at times tearfully rejected charges he sexually and physically abused children at the school. OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A plane hit a powerline north of Oskaloosa yesterday, killing the pilot. Authorities are investigating. BOONE, IA (IRN) – A Boone meat packaging facility has been operating without a license, according to WHO-TV. A consumer complaint led to an inspection at Lambert & Ewers Smoked Meats. It was also found that the company had also been storing products at unsafe temperatures and in unsanitary conditions. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A mom has given the ultimate gift to her daughter: the gift of life, again. Eva is just 20 months old. When she was born with kidney disease, her mom knew it would be a long road ahead, including almost 10 hours a day of dialysis for two years. When she was big enough to receive a kidney, her mom volunteered. After three weeks of recovery, the duo headed home — without the dialysis machine.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The fire that destroyed Plaza Lanes in Des Moines earlier this week was accidental in nature. The Des Moines Register reports the fire started on the north end of the building, where the restrooms were located. The loss is estimated to be $7.5 million. The building was insured, and the owners say they will rebuild. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former employee has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage resident at the Youth Emergency Services & Shelter in Des Moines. KIMT-TV reports 20-year-old Zachary Campbell, of Urbandale, is charged with sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. Shelter officials say Campbell no longer works there. IOWA (IRN) – The recent deaths of two teenage girls sparked an investigation of Iowa’s Department of Human Services. On Friday, a report released by the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group paints a picture of overworked, under-trained employees in a department with low morale. The report blames “recent legislative changes in collective bargaining, budget cuts, workload and a culture that seems heavily compliance focused” as the reasons for problems in the agency. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A nonpartisan group that reviews Iowa’s finances has estimated a shortfall of about $37 million in the current $7.2 billion state budget. The Legislative Services Agency provided the data in a report this week. The agency adds that the next state budget, set to go into effect in July, has an expected shortfall of about $65 million. MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Santa Claus paid a visit to the Muscatine City Council Chambers Thursday night, according to KWQC-TV. He interrupted the meeting grabbing presents out of his bag for Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson. Santa then attempted to give coal to the city council, but was escorted out.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has assessed $1.5 million in penalties against the three companies that managed the state’s Medicaid program for failing to meet performance standards, according to the Des Moines Register. More than $1 million of those penalties were assessed against AmeriHealth Caritas, which recently terminated its contract with the state because it said it was losing too much money. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person has died and four children were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out at a mobile home park in Davenport overnight, according to WQAD-TV. The cause of the fire isn’t known. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Federal drug charges have been filed against five men arrested in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports a search at a hotel after a traffic stop yielded $40,000 worth of methamphetamine and $25,000 worth of marijuana. Two of the men also face firearm charges. MARION, IA (IRN) – Police officers in Marion responded to a home Wednesday after getting a call for harassment, according to KCRG-TV. What they found instead was illegal drug activity. Six people are facing multiple charges, including two juveniles and a 61-year-old woman. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The new tax bill will likely hurt nonprofits. It’s estimated that yearly donations could drop by 16 percent to $22 billion per year, with most Americans switching to standard tax deductions. That impacts organizations who rely solely on charitable contributions. KCCI-TV reports Michelle Book, CEO of Food Bank of Iowa, says with fewer people itemizing, fewer people will be donating, and more Iowans will go hungry. Book calls the new tax law “catastrophic” for nonprofits. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It’s the end of an era at Des Moines’ Christ The King School. WHO-TV reports for nearly three decades lunchroom manager Eileen Miller has faithfully kept the students fed. As she served her last tray this week students and staff applauded. While Eileen will be hard to replace, she’s willing to share her secret–”just serve food they like and serve it with a smile.”