Iowa Radio News

KLEMME, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a car south of Klemme in Hancock County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a southbound car tried to pass another vehicle but collided with a northbound motorcycle. The motorcyclist, 31-year-old Nathan Wadsley of Belmond, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car, 33-year-old Shannon Gamble of Garner, was hospitalized. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque Police Officer on patrol heard multiple gunshots and responded to the scene Sunday. KCRG-TV reports the officer found 26-year-old Cortez Robinson of Dubuque on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Robinson was hospitalized with apparent non-life threatening injuries. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Six people were transported to the hospital after a car hit a semi and rolled on I-80 in Davenport yesterday. KWQC-TV reports the car cut in front of the semi to get onto the exit ramp and they collided. All six in the car suffered apparent non-life threatening injuries. AMES, IA (IRN) – A high number of deaths that require autopsies and an understaffed Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office have created delays of up to two weeks in returning the remains of loved ones to family members. KWWL-TV reports the State Medical Examiner’s office sent a message to the Iowa Funeral Director’s Association, notifying them that they no longer can say with certainty what day an autopsy will be performed or when the body will be released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans were told in January that their state tax refunds would be delayed several weeks in an effort to prevent identity theft and fraud. But the Des Moines Register reports there is another reason: Iowa simply doesn’t have enough cash on hand to pay people at the same pace as in previous years. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – After they groom the greens and fairways each morning at Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf, groundskeepers shift their focus to a new task–gardening. The Quad City Times reports a 2,400-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden now lies near the 7th and 8th holes. The produce will be used at the country club’s Palmer Grill, and the manager says the garden will reduce bills and boost the quality of dishes coming out of the kitchen.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating the city’s first double homicide this year, which stemmed from a dispute at a party. KCCI-TV reports it is unclear what started the dispute. Police say officers dealt with a “hostile crowd” and witnesses weren’t cooperating with detectives. No arrests have been made. The slayings mark the city’s 17th and 18th homicides this year, compared with 13 homicides in all of 2016. MOUNT VERNON, IA (IRN) – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man who drowned in the Cedar River near Mount Vernon Friday. Rescue workers were called for a report of a man falling into the river. First responders found 68-year-old Jeffery Fordyce, of Dike, unresponsive, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – Crews in Marshalltown responded to a report of a house fire early Saturday morning. WHO-TV reports upon arriving at the residence, fire officials found smoke coming from the basement and first floor windows; the fire was later found in a wall in the basement, caused by a faulty outlet. The homeowner said he and his wife had been sleeping when they were woken up by the home’s fire alarms. They made it out safely. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City landfill wants to ban corrugated cardboard. KCRG-TV reports corrugated cardboard is a lot thicker than regular cardboard. Some common examples include moving boxes and pizza boxes. The city estimates banning corrugated cardboard would divert 12,000 to 14,000 tons of materials from the landfill.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating a shooting that happened early Saturday morning. When officers arrived on scene they found two gunshot victims. These are the city’s 17th and 18th homicides of 2017. DEWITT, IA (IRN) – A man slit his father’s throat and stabbed his mother, according to KCRG-TV. 18-year-old Gavin Glasz of DeWitt is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Glasz’s father did not report to work, and deputies checked the home. They found Gavin Glasz with wounds on his hands. They also found his father’s body wrapped in blankets with his throat slit. His mother’s body was found in the basement, also wrapped in blankets. Both parents had been strangled and stabbed multiple times. BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – New details have been released regarding the deadly crash involving reality TV personality Chris Soules, according to WHO-TV. Soules rear-ended a tractor in Buchanan County in April, killing the driver. Soules called 9-1-1 at the time of the accident, but is charged with leaving the scene before police arrived. Tests show Soules was sober at the time of accident. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s unemployment rate for May remained at 3.1% for the third straight month. The Iowa Workforce Development agency reports the rate was 3.8% a year ago. The national rate for May was 4.3 percent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Patients at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines got a surprise visit Friday. KCCI-TV reports four window washers dressed as superheroes flew down the side of the hospital to say “Hi” to the kids in the playroom. The window washers came from Larry’s Window Cleaning Service. The kids got to meet Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and Captain America. One patient even got to play tic-tac-toe through the window with Batman.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police are looking for more information after a report of gunshots in Iowa City last night. KGAN-TV reports multiple vehicles fled the scene right after the shooting. Police found shell casings and a home and a vehicle with damage from gunshots. No injuries were reported. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A car crashed into a convenience store Friday morning in downtown Mason City, according to KIMT-TV. Reports are the vehicle involved was a Subaru and it’s estimated the collision caused at least $20,000 to the store, included a destroyed counter inside. The cause of the incident is under investigation. AMES, IA (IRN) – A jury has convicted an Ames woman of voluntary manslaughter for killing her husband. The Des Moines Register reports 36-year-old Candace Cummings was charged with first-degree murder for killing 36-year-old Harland Cummings. Prosecutors say she shot him as he slept. She says she killed her husband because of stress in their marriage and the years of abuse she’d suffered at his hands. BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The body of an adult woman was found in the Wapsipinicon River near Littleton in Buchanan County Thursday night. KCRG-TV reports authorities can’t confirm the identity of the victim at this time, but are investigating a missing person’s case for a Waterloo woman, Rhonda Apfel. 47-year-old Apfel went missing last month near the river. SHERRILL, IA (IRN) – Crews are working to clean up a train derailment in Dubuque County near Sherrill. KWWL-TV reports seven Canadian Pacific cars derailed. Nobody was hurt and there were no hazardous materials involved. They are currently working to get the cars back onto the track. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds informally announced she will run for Governor in 2018, and that acting Lt. Gov Adam Gregg will be her running mate. She also announced new staff hires and a campaign committee as part of her election team. A formal announcement will be made in the coming months.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police were busy at the Des Moines International Airport Wednesday after a loaded weapon was found in a carry-on bag. WHO-TV reports the gun was discovered at the security screening checkpoint. When police arrived, they took the Diamondback .380, which was loaded with seven rounds, and gave the owner of the bag a citation. The bag’s owner was then allowed to board their flight. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are searching for the driver of a car that crashed into a family burial site that sits in the middle of a West Des Moines roundabout. The Des Moines Register reports the driver abandoned the car in Huston Cemetery around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. The vehicle had damaged the fence, landscaping and some headstones before coming to rest. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police have arrested a North Texas man they say attended church services and scammed members by claiming his family was killed in Syria, and he needed money to fly home. KCRG-TV reports that 41-year-old Alan Michael Farha of Carrollton, Texas, allegedly scammed churches out of $5,000 to $6,000. He’s been charged in similar schemes in six other states. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating an alleged attempted kidnapping that happened Monday in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports a woman called police, saying she was being chased by three men in a white, rusty minivan. The men were yelling, “hey, hey you! Get into our car!” After she ignored them, they cut across three lanes of traffic, pulled in front of her, opened the passenger door, and tried to get her to get in. She fled to the safety of a coffee shop. BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Chris Soules and his defense has requested the former “Bachelor” star’s trial be pushed back. KGAN-TV reports they say they need more time to prepare for trial. Soules is charged with leaving the scene of an April 24 crash in which he rear-ended a tractor, killing 66-year-old Kenneth Mosher. He has pled not guilty. MAYNARD, IA (IRN) – Angelo Pizzo, screenwriter for the sports movies Hoosiers and Rudy, is now looking to Iowa for inspiration. KWWL-TV reports PIzzo is writing a script where an Iowa girls high school basketball team will be the stars. It is set in 1956, when the Maynard High School girls won the State Championship. The movie will be based on the 2013 book, Maynard 8 Miles, which features an Iowa farm family and the immense impact of six on six girls basketball in Iowa in the 1950’s.