Iowa Radio News

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The woman who pled guilty to leaving her newborn baby in a trash can at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics was sentenced to probation and avoided prison time at a sentencing hearing Friday in Iowa City. The Des Moines Register reports the judge ruled that the prison time should be suspended in favor of five years of probation for 24-year-old Ashley Hautzenrader. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A boy was injured in a shooting in Fort Dodge Thursday night, according to WHO-TV. Police received reports of shots fired, and as they were investigating, they stopped two kids who were running near the scene. A short time later, a third child was admitted to a nearby hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. Police charged one of the boys who had been running with carrying weapons. They believe a second gun was involved, and more charges could be filed. HOPKINTON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for polluting water and failing to pay employment taxes. Randy Less, of Hopkinton, was sentenced Wednesday. Less failed to pay nearly $655,000 in federal taxes for employees at his Permeate Refining Inc., in Hopkinton, Iowa, from 2009 through 2012. Less also admitted that he knowingly discharged ethanol into a tributary of the Maquoketa River in 2013 without a permit to do so. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has been nominated for a top position in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The White House said in a statement Friday that Northey, a third-term secretary of agriculture for the state of Iowa, has been nominated to be undersecretary for farm production and conservation, and if confirmed, will oversee the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – The Bondurant community is rallying in support of a sixth-grader who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. KCCI-TV reports Ava Hutchinson’s favorite colors are pink and purple. Those colors are now filling schools, streets, and stadiums in support of Ava.

INDIANOLA, IA (IRN) – An Indianola man was killed Thursday night in a crash south of Indianola. The Iowa State Patrol reports 56-year-old James Dugan of Indianola was southbound trying to turn east when a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Austin Beener of New Virginia struck Dugan’s vehicle from behind. Dugan died on scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Eleven soldiers and two Chinook helicopters from the Iowa Army National Guard will deploy today to the Houston area to support response operations for Hurricane Harvey. The soldiers are from Davenport, Boone, and Johnston. The state of Texas requested the help. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Winterset woman convicted of being drunk at a West Des Moines preschool where she worked appeared in court drunk, according to KCCI-TV. 43-year-old Angela Hircock was charged in March with child endangerment after co-workers reported to police that they suspected she was intoxicated when she came to work. She tested at five times the legal limit. After showing up drunk at her sentencing Thursday, she was jailed again. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A trail of blood led to the arrest of a Cedar Rapids man on gun charges, according to KCRG-TV. Following a shots fired call police followed the blood to a home where they found 23-year-old Jermaine Felts with a stolen handgun. About the same time a person showed up at a hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was booked into the Polk County Jail Thursday on domestic assault and false imprisonment charges. WHO-TV reports police found a woman running from a wrecked vehicle. The woman told officers she and her boyfriend, 19-year-old Jesse Hernandez, were arguing and he assaulted her in the vehicle. She says Hernandez drove all over town refusing to let her out and eventually lost control and crashed, allowing her to escape. IOWA (IRN) – If you’ve noticed hazy skies over the state the past few days, you now know why. The National Weather Service reports smoke from wildfires in Canada is causing a hazy blanket over Minnesota and parts of Iowa. You might even notice the smell of smoke in the air.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – At least 40,000 Iowans could be retroactively denied coverage if the state’s request to make cuts to Medicaid are approved by the federal government, according to the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Department of Human Services has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for permission to deny coverage for a three month period. The agency is also asking for Medicaid to only pay for care that’s completed from the first day of the month the patient is eligible. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee plans to build, own and operate 26 Wahlburgers restaurants, nearly doubling the brand’s current locations. Hy-Vee will also add select Wahlburgers menu items in all Market Grille restaurants. In addition, Hy-Vee will partner with Orangetheory Fitness to provide customers with convenient access to an intensive group fitness program in or adjacent to Hy-Vee stores. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man accused of intentionally setting his stepson on fire has been charged with his murder, according to KCCI-TV. 41-year-old Randy Miles Jr. of Des Moines has been charged with first-degree murder and arson in the death of 26-year-old Christopher Lenhart. An argument led to the arson that killed Lenhart. Neighbors say they aren’t surprised, as the two men had a violent relationship. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager was sent to the hospital Monday after being attacked after school. The 17-year-old had his arm broken with a compound fracture, and he says it was all over the color of his shirt. He was walking home from East High School, when his four assailants claimed his red shirt showed support for the “Bloods” street gang. Two teens assaulted him, while the other two filmed it on their phones. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A four-year-old got caught under a lawn mower in Cedar Falls yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. The child was hospitalized with severe injuries. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – 5-year-old A.J. Lopez of Davenport can’t read yet, but he doesn’t have to in order to know when someone needs help. WQAD-TV reports A.J. said he wanted to “help everybody in Texas because there are babies there in wet diapers.” A.J. has a six-month-old brother. So when he saw first responders helping babies on the news, he knew more diapers would be needed. A.J. has raised hundreds of dollars for the Red Cross efforts in Texas.

FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two women from Oelwein are facing charges tied to a prostitution sting in Fayette County, according KGAN-TV. 29-year-old Mistie Marie Schmidt was charged with pimping, and 28-year-old Sandra Louise McMurrin was charged with prostitution. They advertised escort services on Back Page, which was a cover up for prostitution. Both women would meet clients in surrounding cities and at their residence in Oelwein. The Sheriff says to expect more arrests. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a truck vs. bicycle accident Tuesday that killed a 13-year-old in Johnston. KCCI-TV reports a Ford truck hit Ali Hashim while he was riding his bike. Hashim suffered serious injuries to his head and later died. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man died after running out in front of an SUV and getting hit Tuesday in Waterloo. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports it appears Greg Freshwater, a 27-year-old Waterloo firefighter, did not see or hear a Subaru Forester when he crossed an intersection and was hit. DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) — Federal authorities have arrested 20 Dubuque-area residents of participating in a scheme to defraud people throughout the Unites States. KCRG-TV reports the scheme primarily targeted the elderly. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa ingredient manufacturer, Kemin Industries, has opened its global headquarters in Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. The company has 2,500 employees worldwide, and is looking to grow. Kemin works in biofuel, animal health and nutrition, and food technologies, and has offices in 90 countries. Over the next year, Kemin says it wants to grow by 200 employees in Des Moines.

JESUP, IA (IRN) – An Oelwein man suspected of several crimes in northeast Iowa has been accused of stealing more than $13,000 from Cub and Boy Scouts who operated a food booth during Jesup Farmers Days. KCCI-TV reports 21-year-old Jason Cole is charged with theft and burglary. He’s suspected of breaking into the food booth and taking money the Scouts had raised serving meals. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A school staff member was hit by a car outside Hoover Middle School in Waterloo, according to KWWL-TV. The Waterloo School District says the staff member was crossing the street at a crosswalk when the car slowly rolled into her. She’ll be OK. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces felony charges after he ran over a woman with his car in Newton. KCCI-TV reports 42-year-old Brian Boertje is charged with willful injury and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. Police found the woman lying bloody in the street crying for help. Police say Boertje and the woman knew each other and were arguing before Boertje used his car as a weapon. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement officials are warning women to use caution on rural roads following a series of sexual assaults. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office says several women have reported being assaulted on rural roads. The latest case is a woman who was attacked early Friday morning by a man who flagged her down. When she got out of her car to help, he pushed her against his car and sexually assaulted her. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A former Iowa State University football star has been charged in a pair of thefts in Ankeny. WHO-TV reports 26-year-old Jake Knott is accused of stealing nearly $800 in merchandise from Sportsman’s Warehouse on two different occasions. Knott graduated from Waukee High School and played in 33 games at Iowa State during his four-year All-Big 12 career. IOWA (IRN) – Iowans are responding to the destruction in Houston with donations and more. A total of 22 Red Cross volunteers left over the weekend. KCRG-TV reports that Iowans are also helping animals impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The Clinton County Humane Society is holding 18 dogs evacuated from Texas shelters.