Iowa Radio News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of an Iowa kosher meatpacking executive who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for money laundering. Sholom Rubashkin was convicted in 2009 of financial fraud for bilking the plant’s bank by submitting fake invoices that made the company’s finances appear healthier than they were so that it could borrow more. His prosecution came after federal authorities raided the plant and arrested 389 illegal immigrants in 2008. The commutation is Trump’s first in office. OAKLAND, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Medical Examiner says fire directly led to the deaths of a school bus driver and a teenage student outside Oakland on December 12th. The autopsy report says the deaths of 74-year-old Donnie Hendricks and 16-year-old Megan Klindt were accidental. Federal investigators say it will be months before it’s known what caused the Riverside school bus to catch fire. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A flagship store at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines is putting rumors to rest about its alleged departure. WHO-TV reports Von Maur officials say it has no plans of leaving the mall. Both the Gap and Baby Gap stores at the mall will soon be closed, and Younkers is at risk of closing. About a dozen of the mall’s 100 store spaces are already vacant. Retailers say online shopping is to blame. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s population grew last year, but it didn’t keep pace with the country’s growth, according to the United States Census Bureau. Iowa now sits at a population of near 3,146,000 people, an increase of only about .5%. Idaho is the fastest growing state, with a 2.2% increase. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Phase one of a $250 million project north of the Des Moines River and just south of downtown Des Moines will be called Linc at Gray’s Station, according to KCCI-TV. The first two buildings to be constructed will contain 195 units. Amenities include a dog park, swimming pool, yoga studio, bike storage and plenty of space for biking and walking. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Money will be a little less tight around the holidays for two bookshop employees in Iowa City after a gift from a best-selling author. KWWL-TV reports Terry Cain, an employee at Prairie Lights, and Wendy Jones, of Iowa Book, both received a “holiday bonus” from author James Patterson. A total of $350,000 was handed out this year to employees from more than 300 bookstores. Cain and Jones were the only two from Iowa. Patterson says, “these bonuses are my humble acknowledgment of booksellers’ commitment to putting books into the hands of readers.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Investigators will bring in special forensic equipment to look for the cause of the Plaza Lanes fire in Des Moines. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms has investigators at the scene, noting the fire conditions and surroundings. They are expecting that forensic equipment to aid them in their investigation. Monday’s fire destroyed the bowling alley but the owner says he’ll rebuild. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ staff has blocked a state agency’s move to regulate guns in child care centers. The Des Moines Register reports the Department of Human Services’ proposal required guns present in child care centers to be locked away and kept separate from ammunition. The regulations would instruct child care centers to notify parents if a gun is kept on the premises. Reynolds said Tuesday that lawmakers should debate the issue instead of permitting administrators to implement rules. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol released new information in a fatal car vs. pedestrian accident in Clive. 53-year-old Steven Rittel walked out in front of a Ford Expedition and was hit. Rittel was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. The Expedition, driven by 51-year-old Samuel Benjamin, was found on its side down an embankment. He and a passenger in the vehicle were not injured. MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – Serious financial discrepancies have been found after an audit of an FFA program in eastern Iowa, according to WQAD-TV. A special state audit report says more than $20,000 in revenue from fruit sale fundraisers either wasn’t collected or deposited for the FFA program in Maquoketa. The money raised each year helps cover Maquoketa district FFA travel and rooming costs for conventions. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Nearly two-thirds of Iowans don’t approve of how state leaders are handling mental health issues. A new Des Moines Register-Mediacom poll shows 50% of Republicans, 63% of Independents, and 75% of Democrats disapprove with the state’s approach to mental health services. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A little girl fighting a big illness wants to make it easier for other kids fighting medical battles of their own. WHO-TV reports a Facebook group, called “Team Elayna,” has collected over 700 give cards that have been given to the Courage Store at Blank Children’s Hospital. Children who are receiving treatment can collect Bravery Bucks for tough or difficult procedures, like scans or drawing blood. They can also trade them for small toys or gift cards in the store.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A 49-year-old Mason City man is facing felony charges of threats of terrorism. KIMT-TV reports Steven Williams went to the Mason City police station and told dispatch that he was homicidal and wanted to go to the hospital. Williams told hospital staff that he wanted to kill anybody that made him mad and looked at him. He said he was going to go to the hardware store and get a hatchet and kill people with it. He also said he wanted to hang people by their feet, burn their skin with acid and dissect them with a small knife. He’s in jail. DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An inmate at the Dubuque County Jail is facing additional charges after being accused of biting a sheriff’s deputy during an altercation. KDTH reports 20-year-old David Specht pled guilty to drunk driving and domestic violence charges last month, and was sentenced to serve 15 months in jail. On Friday, jailers say Specht began to argue with and curse at them, and bit an officer. He stopped biting when he was warned he was about to be Tasered. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police responded to a scene where a man was shot five times Monday evening. KCCI-TV reports shortly after that, a woman called authorities, claiming she was the shooter. She is in custody. SAC COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A western Iowa teenager died in a farming accident over the weekend. WHO-TV reports Sac County first responders were called to the scene northwest of Wall Lake on Saturday. They found Ethan Nissen, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Nissen was operating an end loader that rolled over. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – There will be more people working at the new Kraft-Heinz plant in Davenport than first thought, according to WQAD-TV. Originally said to employ around 475 people, it will employ closer to 700. The plant, which is now up and running, will eventually replace the old one, located west of downtown Davenport. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Loving your job is key. That’s according to Joe Scherbring, who retired Monday after 47 years as a semi-truck driver for CRST trucking in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports Scherbring drove more than 5.2 million miles throughout his career, and never had a wreck or traffic ticket. The company is retiring his driver number.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Plaza Lanes bowling alley in Des Moines burned to the ground this morning. KCCI-TV reports at first, firefighters at the scene said the flames appeared to be under control and that only smoke was observed coming from the roof. Not long after, the building became fully engulfed and the bowling alley’s signature dome roof and neon bowler collapsed. The bowling alley is an iconic landmark in the city. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City man accused of killing a 19-year-old woman is scheduled to go to trial today. KWWL-TV reports 61-year-old Larry Whaley is charged with second-degree murder in the December 2016 death of Samantha Teeter. Prosecutors say Whaley shot Teeter in the head through his apartment door. CLINTON, IA (IRN) – It’s the season of giving — and taking in Clinton. KWQC-TV reports thieves, sometimes called “porch pirates,” are stealing packages off of doorsteps. Police say it’s best to have packages delivered to someplace other than your front porch, or to request a signature for delivery. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines family is safe after a neighbor noticed flames coming from inside their garage. WHO-TV reports the 911 caller was able to safely help everyone exit the house. No one was injured. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Santa Claus has a new ride — a hot air balloon. KCRG-TV reports the jolly old elf has been seen tossing out gifts and candy to kids below in several Linn County towns.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three people were shot early Saturday in West Des Moines and police say the victims are not being cooperative. KCCI-TV reports the shooting happened around 1:40 a.m. after an argument broke out at Vision Night Club before it escalated into gunfire. Occupants of two cars were apparently firing toward each other, leaving shattered windows and bullet holes at a nearby Village Inn. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Police are looking for the two people responsible for cutting someone at the University of Northern Iowa. KWWL-TV reports UNI police were called to the Hillside Apartments Friday night for an aggravated assault. The victim says he was cut by two people with knives during a fight. He knew the people responsible. VERSAILLES, MO (IRN) – A Missouri state trooper convicted of a misdemeanor for the drowning death of a handcuffed Iowa man has been fired. The Kansas City Star reports Anthony Piercy was fired Friday, more than 3 1/2 years after 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks. Piercy had pulled Ellingson over on the lake in May 2014 for suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Ellingson drowned after being thrown from the boat by a wave while wearing an improperly secured life vest. VINTON, IA (IRN) – Two girls from the town of Vinton opened a Christmas present early and couldn’t be happier. WHO-TV reports Alex Ducharme told her daughters Michelle and Ariel they could open up a big Christmas present under the tree early. Their dad Matthew has been in the Navy for 9 1/2 years and was recently deployed for about eight months at sea–that is, until the girls unwrapped the present and he popped out of the box. With his last deployment complete, Matthew says he now plans on going to college.