Iowa Radio News

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The trial of a man accused of killing a cab driver in Iowa City will be moved out of the county due to extensive media coverage. KGAN-TV reports court filings grant Curtis Jones’ request to move his trial out of Johnson County. Police believe Jones shot and killed Ricky Lillie on June 27 after a cab ride WEST BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A West Burlington man suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle crash Friday. A passer-by found 42-year-old Benjamin Meyer in the ditch. Investigators say he lost control of his motorcycle. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport woman has pled guilty to stealing more than $150,000 from the School Nutrition Association of Iowa. The Quad-City Times reports that 74-year-old Norma Jean Adams faces up to 25 years in prison. A state audit found that while working under an alias, she had misused at least $169,000 over a five-year period. Court records show she has previous felony convictions in Scott County from 1987 and Rock Island County in Illinois from 2003. NORMAN, OK (IRN) – Kyle Kempt passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns and Joel Lanning made plays on offense and defense leading the Cyclones to a stunning 38-31 upset of No. 3 Oklahoma Saturday. The loss snapped Oklahoma’s nation-leading 14-game win streak and the Sooners’ 18-game winning streak against the Cyclones that dated to 1990. It was just Iowa State’s second victory against Oklahoma since 1961.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – County development officers in northern Iowa are looking to recruit victims from recent hurricanes to come work and live in northern Iowa. KIMT-TV reports officials at POET Biorefining believe it’s a great idea. AKRON, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a shooting near the northwest Iowa town of Akron. KWWL-TV reports police have charged 33-year-old Becky Hebert with second-degree murder. Witnesses say Hebert and the victim had been arguing before the shooting. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have identified the armed student who was arrested Friday at Scavo High School in Des Moines after getting into scuffle with a school resource officer. KCCI-TV reports 17-year-old Taariq Moore was acting suspiciously before fleeing when confronted by the officer. Moore fought before being subdued. A loaded .45 caliber handgun was found in his backpack. After he was arrested, Moore threatened to return and kill the arresting officer. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating a stabbing that took place in Des Moines overnight, according to WHO-TV. 52-year-old Anthony Knapp says he was working on his car when he was approached by a man he didn’t know. Knapp said the man accused him of stealing property, and the men fought. Knapp was stabbed twice in the abdomen and was transported to Mercy Hospital. Police have a suspect. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An SUV crashed into a Hy-Vee store in Cedar Rapids Friday. KCRG-TV reports a 77-year-old woman told police her foot became wedged into the accelerator of the SUV she was driving. The woman and a 79-year-old male passenger are OK. Employees say the impact was hard enough to knock alcohol bottles off the shelves inside the store.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – County birth records show Las Vegas gunman Stephen Craig Paddock was born in Clinton, Iowa, according to KWQC-TV. Paddock, who killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 at a Las Vegas concert Sunday night, was born on April 9, 1953 at Jane Lamb Hospital. It’s not clear how long Stephen Paddock remained in Clinton after his birth as various media reports indicate he grew up largely in Tucson, Arizona and Sun Valley, California. WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – The Washington Community School District has cancelled classes today following a threat that was made on social media. KCII-radio reports the threat was made by a student on SnapChat Thursday night. Police and school officials have concluded that the threat was non-credible, and the investigation continues. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – The hacking group “The Dark Overlord” has claimed responsibility for the threatening text messages that targeted Johnston students and their parents, according to KCCI-TV. The disturbing messages forced the district to cancel classes Tuesday and cause a delay Wednesday. It’s unclear of the group’s motivation, but they have hacked a number of private companies — such as Netflix, Gorilla Glue, healthcare providers and private manufacturers — in an attempt to extort money. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Florida man was killed in a collision near Dyersville. The Iowa State Patrol reports 60-year-old David Jones was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a tractor that was turning into a driveway. BOONE, IA (IRN) – An Ames man is facing charges for carrying a gun on the DMACC Campus in Boone. WHO-TV reports Boone Police found 22-year-old Boyang Xu in a classroom with a semiautomatic handgun in the waistband of his pants. Xu has a permit to carry a handgun, but guns are prohibited on the DMACC campus. MARION, IA (IRN) – A viral Facebook post helped reunite a lost stuffed animal with the 4-year-old who left it behind at an I-80 rest stop. Marion mom Katie Hoeppner took to Facebook after finding the stuffed animal she nicknamed “George.” In just hours, the post was shared thousands of times and garnered national attention. “George” got a bath and is now in the mail to a four-year-old in Huxley whose family was able to identify the beloved stuffed animal.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man was shot in Ottumwa Wednesday, according to KTVO-TV. 34-year-old Leon Stewart was shot in the hand during a fight. The male who discharged the firearm was released after providing a statement to investigators. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Iowa Methodist pharmacy worker in Des Moines who is accused of stealing patients’ painkillers is facing federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 29-year-old Victor Van Cleave admitted to diverting fentanyl and hydromorphone from patients. Many of the painkillers were to be used for patients undergoing surgery or giving birth. Van Cleave says he’s sorry for the pain he caused 731 patients. ALGONA, IA (IRN) – The Superintendent of the Algona Community School District says a suspect is in custody after a threat caused the cancellation of school Wednesday. KIMT-TV reports the suspect is a 16-year-old male. He has been charged with a threat of terrorism, a Class D felony, for making a threat of violence in a social media post Tuesday evening. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The nurse shortage in Iowa is high but the University of Iowa and DMACC are attempting to fill the gap. The schools have signed an agreement allowing DMACC nursing students to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Iowa. Currently, many nurses are baby boomers who are reaching retirement age. 21% of nurses are eligible to retire right now. JONES COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A tree in Jones County has become a popular destination, according to KCRG-TV. The tree is covered in more than 50 hula hoops. Nearby residents say a storm came through, and two hula hoops ended up in the tree. Afterward, more seemed to “magically appear.” Neighbors say people drive by just to see the tree, and it makes everyone happy.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Classes have been canceled today at an Ankeny elementary school because the body of a deceased adult was found outside the school. WHO-TV reports Ankeny Police say the death was a suicide. A janitor arrived at school early this morning and found a woman who appeared to be in her early 20s had hung herself on the playground. The woman’s name has not been released. ALGONA, (IA) – Schools in Algona today are also closed. KIMT-TV reports the closure is because of an unspecified threat. SUTHERLAND, IA (IRN) – A woman from Iowa has been identified as one of the victims killed at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas. KTIV-TV reports Carly Kreibaum, from the northwest Iowa town of Sutherland, was killed in the attack at the country music festival Sunday night. Family say they knew she had been shot but did not know where she was. Her husband, Chris Kreibaum, flew to Las Vegas to try to find her. MARION, IA (IRN) – The boyfriend of a woman found dead from multiple stab wounds has been arrested for her murder. KWWL-TV reports the body of 29-year-old Carrie Davis was found Monday wrapped in blankets and carpet in a trailer. She had been stabbed eight times. Her boyfriend, 27-year-old Gregory Davis, has confessed. WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – The city of Windsor Heights is on track to generate roughly $1.8 million in revenue from its controversial speed cameras this fiscal year. KCCI-TV reports Windsor Heights Mayor Diana Willits said the city wants to use that money to fund street improvement projects and said the cameras are all about safety. Critics say it’s all about the money. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A 92-year-old Iowa City man has won the lottery, and he says a fortune cookie predicted it. KCRG-TV reports Charles Svatos won a prize of $25,000 per year for life. He opted instead for a cash option of $390,000. Svatos, a retired dairy production worker, says he got a fortune cookie with a message inside that read, “You will discover an unexpected treasure.” Svatos still carries the fortune from that cookie in his wallet.