Iowa Radio News

HANCOCK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 27-year-old man is facing a felony domestic abuse charge after allegedly beating a woman and threatening to kill her. KIMT-TV reports Christopher Moore, of Crystal Lake, was jailed after an incident Wednesday that left a woman in the hospital. A witness said she saw the woman being yelled at, thrown around and being hit. The woman suffered neck, head, and jaw injuries. UNDERWOOD, IA (IRN) – Two Omaha men face up to 24 charges for an alleged bank robbery in Underwood, Iowa. KETV reports 31-year-old Davon Williams and 24-year old Tyree Carney of Omaha spent about 20 minutes in the bank and allegedly used zip ties on nine people while they went through teller boxes, the vault, and the wallets and purses of customers. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old woman was assaulted and held at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon on the Greenbelt Trail in Clive. KCCI-TV reports police have arrested 20-year-old Robert Goodenough, of Clive, in connection with the assault. The woman says Goodenough tried to get her to accompany him off the trail. When she refused, he pointed what appeared to be a handgun toward her and attempted to force her into a wooded area. Goodenough struck the victim in the head multiple times before she was able to force the gun out of his hand and escape. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A car crash Wednesday evening in downtown Waterloo left at least five children injured, one with life-threatening injuries. KCRG-TV reports a pickup hit a minivan. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Three people were hospitalized after Council Bluffs police found them unconscious in a parking lot outside a gas station, suspected of overdosing on fentanyl. KETV reports shortly later, an ambulance responded to a house a few blocks away, where an unresponsive man was located. He is also suspected of overdosing on the synthetic opioid. Police think the incidents are related. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A big lottery “winner” is now a big loser. WHO-TV reports Christopher Breyfogle of Fort Dodge stole $20,000 dollars worth of lottery tickets from the convenience store where he worked, and cashed them in at other stores. He cashed in $11,000 worth before he was caught. He’s in jail.

FARRAGUT, IA (IRN) – A Thurman man has died after the skid loader he was operating overturned in southwest Iowa. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 56-year-old Timothy Shirley was using the machine to remove trees from a ditch Tuesday when it overturned and came to rest with the cab facing down. Shirley was pronounced dead at the scene. STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) -Tyson Foods has settled a 10-year-old class-action lawsuit and will disburse nearly $6 million to more than 3,900 current and former employees at a northwest Iowa pork plant. The Sioux City Journal reports that Storm Lake employees sued the Arkansas-based company in 2007 to collect back pay for the time they spent putting on and taking off protective work clothes and equipment before and after their work shifts. Each worker will receive about $1,700. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Prosecutors in Polk and Grundy counties have charged the former director of nursing at a Polk City facility with stealing opioid painkillers from patients. KCCI-TV reports 51-year-old Laura Townsend-Edler, of Gladbrook, allegedly stole hydrocodone from patients and falsified records. WALNUT, IA (IRN) – A man faces 18 charges, accused of stealing from antique stores and churches in the western Iowa town of Walnut, according to KETV. People come from all over to visit Iowa’s antique city, searching for hidden treasure. But it’s been a rough road for the antique shops this past month. Through tips, investigators arrested Walnut resident Jason Anderson and officers said he turned over some of the stolen loot. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The city of Fort Dodge has announced a winner in its competition to turn a grain bin into a work of art, but residents don’t like the winner. According to WHO-TV, the city held a vote to choose a project to wrap around a massive concrete bin. The final product is expected to feature photos of people and places around the Fort Dodge area. However, the artist behind the winning piece is Australian, and people are complaining on social media that a local artist wasn’t chosen. AMANA COLONIES, IA (IRN) – A small eastern Iowa town is about to get a lot busier, according to KCRG-TV. Whirlpool in Amana says it wants to hire at least 500 workers over the next three weeks. The company says this will help it keep up with demand for its refrigerators.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A man accused of killing another inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary plans to assert self-defense during his murder trial. The Hawk Eye reports Lha Southideth-Whiten has pled not guilty to second-degree murder in the slaying of Michael Whitworth during an Oct. 20 altercation in the Fort Madison prison’s cafeteria. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old is in critical condition after a near-drowning in Davenport yesterday. KWQC-TV reports the victim is in critical condition. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines Facebook page is getting backlash after some say its sole purpose is to cyberbully innocent people. KCCI-TV reports the Facebook page called “The People of Des Moines” has 37,000 members. Multiple posts a day consist of mocking innocent victims like homeless people. Someone posted a photo of Alexandria Horne shopping. She had no idea the photo was taken and was shocked to see hundreds of mean and violent comments making fun of her appearance. One person suggested she commit suicide. She wants people to know words hurt. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man says the rehabilitation center On With Life should be held partially responsible for the death of his dog. WHO-TV reports the dog fell 13 feet into a hole at a construction site. The rehab center says the man should have kept his dog on a leash. CLINTON, IA (IRN) – First responders rescued three people from a sinking houseboat on the Mississippi River near Clinton Sunday. The Clinton Herald reports two adults, a child and two dogs were taken to safety. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Police in Dubuque are going to be doing something a little different as they try to enforce a new state law. KCRG-TV reports starting this fall, plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles will patrol streets looking specifically for people who are texting while driving. The new law took effect July 1.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman is facing charges after police say she was driving drunk with five kids in the car. KCCI-TV reports 38-year-old Wanda Swanson is charged with five counts of child endangerment, driving while barred, open container, narcotics possession and operating while intoxicated. She admitted early Sunday morning to drinking and smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Saturday crash in Mason City totaled three vehicles and set two of them on fire. KIMT-TV reports 54-year-old Diane Rick lost control and left the roadway. She struck a parked Mini Cooper, and the Mini Cooper slammed into a light poll. Debris from the light pole fell on a parked Subaru. MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A Muscatine man is in jail after a shooting and a standoff, according to WQAD-TV. Muscatine police responded to a call of shots fired. They were able to enter the home, and pulled a man who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to safety. The alleged shooter, Mario Perales, wouldn’t come out of the home until chemical irritants were deployed. Perales has been charged with attempted murder. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo home was destroyed by a fire that started in the kitchen Saturday. KWWL-TV reports a man was sleeping on his couch when a smoke alarm went off and he smelled smoke. His girlfriend had been cooking. The couple and their child were able to escape safely. The man tried to go back into the home to rescue their cat, but neighbors persuaded him not to. It’s not clear if the cat escaped. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division is reminding bars and restaurants they cannot serve beverages in solid copper cups. WHO-TV reports Iowa has adopted the FDA’s code that prohibits copper from coming into direct contact with foods that have a pH below 6. This includes vinegar, fruit juice, and wine, and the popular Moscow mules, typically served in a copper mug. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A woman from a Cedar Rapids suburb had her dream come true, according to KCRG-TV. 93-year-old Lottie Sands has always wanted to go on a balloon ride, and Sunday she got her chance. Guaranty Bank and Trust and Buzzards Glory Balloon Company helped provide the hot air balloon trip to Lottie and her daughter. Her daughter says Lottie couldn’t stop smiling during the ride.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are investigating a shooting Saturday night, according to KCRG-TV. Police were originally called to a fight in progress. When officers arrived they found a male victim bleeding. He was knocking on a door for help. Police determined he was robbed and shot. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. MAHASKA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges in connection to a house and garage fire last week. WHO-TV reports a 13-year-old male has been charged. He faces one count of reckless use of fire or explosives. TAMPA BAY, FL (IRN) – Police arrested an Iowa man Saturday after he stalked actress Kate Beckinsale at the Tampa Bay Comic Con. KCCI-TV reports 45-year-old Terry Repp, of Moravia, has been charged with stalking. Repp appears to have an “irrational obsession” with the actress and has traveled across the United States to other events to harass her. LANSING, IA (IRN) – Riders dipped their bikes in the Mississippi River yesterday, signifying the end of RAGBRAI 2017 in Lansing. The journey started last Sunday in Orange City. KWWL-TV reports when Barbara Lloyd of Tempe AZ was asked how she felt after conquering the over 400 mile trek, she replied “relieved.” Former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong and NASCAR drivers Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson participated this year in the annual ride.