Saturday, June 3, 2017

CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A twelfth wanted person was picked up Friday afternoon as a result of ongoing drug investigations in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports 20-year-old Riley Gene Steven Willis of Pueblo West, Colorado was apprehended in Clear Lake. He was booked on possession of a controlled substance and failure to affix a tax stamp. Five other suspects remain at large.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – An early morning fire in Fort Dodge turned into an arson arrest.
WHO-TV reports firefighters and police responded to a tent on fire at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village just after 1 a.m. Officers chased and captured 29-year-old Timothy Wood, who was running away from the scene. The tent was a total loss, and the Fort Museum building suffered minor damages.

IOWA, IA (IRN) – A joint oversight hearing into the DHS will begin Monday, according to WHO-TV. The hearing follows the deaths of two 16-year-old girls from central Iowa. Both were adopted through the department, and police say both were severely abused in their adoptive homes. The hearing will focus on the adoptive process, how complaints of abuse are investigated, and staffing levels within DHS.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Both the driver and woman hit in a pedestrian crash on Wednesday in Cedar Rapids have been charged, according to KGAN-TV. 60-year-old Bonnie Schliemann was crossing a street when she was hit by a sedan driven by 21-year-old Jacqueline Kimm. Schliemann was seriously hurt but is expected to recover. She was cited with failing to yield the right of way when she walked in front of the oncoming car, which had a green light. She was panhandling. Kimm was charged for not having insurance.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For her first trip across Iowa as governor, Republican Kim Reynolds accepted the free use of a jet owned by a wealthy businessman who is lobbying for state approval to build a Cedar Rapids casino. KWQC-TV reports the arrangement, while allowed under ethics rules, is drawing criticism from Reynolds’ opponents.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny man went on a nine state journey to prove you can eat healthy anywhere. KCCI-TV reports for 30 days last summer, 31-year-old Frank Beard only ate at gas stations. Beard started his journey by changing his lifestyle and has now lost 80 pounds. In the morning, he has a low-calorie breakfast sandwich and a piece of fruit. For lunch, a salad, and for dinner, he chooses a made-to-order option. Beard now works as an analyst for convenience store and retail trends for GasBuddy.

Friday, June 2, 2017

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An investigation by agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation led to yesterday’s arrest of a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy. 30-year-old David Schmitt from Meriden was arrested in Polk County. Schmitt was arrested for alleged offenses including: aggravated battery, disorderly conduct, two counts of aggravated endangering a child, two counts of intimidation of a witness or victim, and two counts of aggravated assault. He is in Polk County Jail waiting extradition to Kansas.

BONAPARTE, IA (IRN) – A Bonaparte man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly smoking marijuana with a minor and filming someone while they were nude. KTVO-TV reports 47-year-old Justin Haynes was arrested and charged with distribution to a person under the age of 18, two counts of drug possession, invasion of privacy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The victim did not know they were being filmed naked.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering his grandmother. KCCI-TV reports 19-year-old Noah LaPrei was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison with no minimum. He was 17 when he beat 79-year-old Rachel Pray to death.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Purchasing fireworks is now legal in the state of Iowa but finding a place that sells them is difficult. WHO-TV reports the reason for the lack of sellers is that the Fire Marshal’s Office just released the applications for sale licences Thursday. Part of the problem is also the timeline state lawmakers provided. Jeff Quigle, State Fire Marshall says, “we took a program that normally takes 6-9 months, in a perfect world, to adopt administrative rules with no hiccups. We’ve put it together in 8 weeks.” He expects some stands to open this weekend.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Dozens of people are buried in unmarked graves in an Eldridge park, according WQAD-TV. Earlier this month, Eldridge leaders voted to hire an archaeologist to put some long-standing town rumors to rest. Using ground penetrating radar, archaeologists found the graves at what once was the site of a Presbyterian Church, until a tornado destroyed the building in 1918.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The graduates of Waterloo West High School will not be keeping the diplomas they received Tuesday night. KCRG-TV reports a proofing error added the letter “k” to the end of the word “Waterloo.” The school has apologized, and the diplomas will be reprinted.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The former executive director of an Iowa nonprofit that promotes healthy, affordable school meals allegedly embezzled at least $169,000 over a 5-year period.
A state audit report released today says Norma LaMantia admitted to depositing checks meant for the School Nutrition Association of Iowa in personal bank accounts. LaMantia says the money helped pay her personal expenses and support her addiction to casino gambling.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A woman who used her role at a Des Moines church to embezzle thousands of dollars will have to pay back the money. KCCI-TV reports Carol Padgett was accused of taking almost $60,000 from Unity Lutheran Church. The former church treasurer was sentenced Wednesday. In exchange for a suspended sentence Padgett received probation and community service. She will also have to pay back restitution to the church.

IOWA FALLS, IA (IRN) – A 6-year-old boy is in critical condition at a Des Moines hospital after a semitrailer hit him in Iowa Falls Wednesday. The Iowa State Patrol says the semi-truck was driving through town and the boy was struck near the rear tires.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A suspect in a stabbing in Mason City Tuesday is now wanted on an attempted murder warrant. Police are looking for 20-year-old Braedon Bowers. Officials say he stabbed a 23-year-old man in the chest.

MARION, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Fire Marshal’s office has posted an online application for retailers who want to sell consumer-grade fireworks to customers in Iowa. Sales of consumer fireworks starts today for retailers using permanent buildings and June 13 for retailers under tents or temporary structures. Rules regarding the actual use of fireworks vary by city or county.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque Special Olympian has been named the top female athlete in Iowa, according to KWWL-TV. 30-year-old Katie Stephan, who was born with spina bifida, has been competing in the Special Olympics since 7th grade. The multi-sport athlete competes in bocce ball, bowling, and track and field. When asked how she feels about winning the award, Stephan said, “It just feels out of this world awesome.”

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that she has received Chuck Palmer’s retirement as director of the Iowa Department of Human Services effective June 16, 2017. The retirement comes amid much controversy within the DHS, after two prominent abuse cases that ended in the starvation deaths of two Iowa teens.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A 23-year-old man was stabbed in the chest by another man Tuesday in Mason City. KIMT-TV reports the victim was treated at the scene by officers and medics before being transported to an area hospital. Police have towed a vehicle that may have been used by the suspect as he fled the scene.

MARION, IA (IRN) – The Marion Police Department is looking into newly reported allegations of child abuse at Starry Elementary School. A 16-year-old was previously convicted of three counts of sexual abuse that happened while he volunteered in a classroom in 2016. It’s unclear if the new allegations are related.

LANSING, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man died Tuesday when the roadway just east of the Lansing bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River. KWWL-TV reports 59-year-old James Walleser of Lansing was approaching the bridge that crosses the Mississippi and links Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin. A witness saw the roadway collapse and the vehicle plunge into the river.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s two Republican senators say full repeal of Obamacare is unlikely. KCCI-TV reports Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst say majority Republicans don’t agree on an alternative to Obamacare, and lack the votes to overcome Democratic opposition. A Congressional Budget Office analysis projects that the Republican plan would cause 23 million Americans to lose coverage by 2026 and create prohibitively expensive costs for some in poor health.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Two eastern Iowans are among the nearly 300 spellers competing to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, according to KCRG-TV. Haebin Han is an 8th grade student at Roosevelt Middle School in Dubuque. Lydia Bitterman of Cedar Rapids, is a 7th grader in the Marion Homeschool Association program. The preliminary rounds are on ESPN tonight, with the finals airing Thursday.