Iowa Radio News

BOONE, IA (IRN) – The Boone School District is suffering the impact of lawmakers’ less than inflation 1.1% funding increase for next year. According to the Boone News-Republican, the district approved a nearly $42 million budget for next year, which is more than $3 million less than this year’s budget. The district is reducing staff, reducing stipends for assistant coaches, and offering some employees early retirement. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A man is facing eluding and drug charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Des Moines County Tuesday. KBUR-Radio reports deputies began pursuing Gregory Baxter Jr. as part of an investigation. During the 80mph chase, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving, but weren’t injured. Police discovered a large amount of meth in Baxter’s vehicle, along with a digital scale and plastic baggies for packaging. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny man is facing multiple charges in three Iowa counties, for allegedly enticing and in one case, kidnapping a child. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports 57-year-old Jeff Lee Altmayer is charged with multiple counts of Enticing a Minor, Second Degree Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping, Impersonating a Public Official, and drug offenses. The crimes were committed in Monona, Jasper, and Grundy Counties. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa House has begun debate on a bill that would ban most abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Republican-controlled chamber started debating last night. Republicans are expected to easily pass the legislation, which would be a victory for conservatives seeking to restrict abortion. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would make major changes to the state’s gun laws, including adding a stand-your-ground provision. The stand-your-ground provision would allow people to use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety. Opponents say it’s a license to kill. Advocates say it’s a needed strengthening of Second Amendment rights. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – For the first time, an atheist will lead the invocation at the Iowa State Capitol. KCRG-TV reports Justin Scott, who’s president of the Eastern Iowa Atheists, will open a House chambers work session this morning. Scott wants to remind lawmakers of the separation of church and state, and that while everyone is free to believe what they wish to, legislators shouldn’t impose those religious beliefs on others through legislation.

IDA GROVE, IA (IRN) – A former substitute teacher and coach has pled guilty to having sexual relationships with students at two Iowa high schools. KCCI-TV reports 33-year-old John Tietsort, of Battle Creek, entered the pleas Monday to two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Tietsort had a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old female student at Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, and one with a 17-year-old female student from Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after an accident between a semi-truck and a pickup truck on Interstate 80 in Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. Police say a Hawkeye Paving pickup truck was doing maintenance work on the roadway. The driver was backing up onto a portion of I-80 when they were hit by the semi-truck. The driver of the pickup truck was killed, and the semi-truck driver was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old Dubuque man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after his conviction for first-degree murder in the killing of a man at a Dubuque trailer park. The Telegraph Herald reports Imere Hall and two other men broke into the trailer of 21-year-old Collin Brown last April, intending to rob him. Brown was shot trying to flee. BOONE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Officials in Boone County are investigating a string of fires that may be related. KCCI-TV reports five fires that took place at unoccupied rural homes in the past month are considered suspicious, including one reported Sunday morning. In one case, a family had recently purchased the home and had moved most of their belongings in just before the fire. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo family is homeless after the inside of their home was gutted by fire, according to KWWL-TV. Dennis De Vore lost his leg in a motorcycle accident six months ago, and says his family just can’t get a break. Devore says, “We lost everything. We don’t have clothing. I need a shoe. I only need one shoe.” IOWA (IRN) – Farmers in Iowa and across the country are betting on beans this year. The first planting report of the season predicts a national record for soybean acres. Corn growers are expecting to plant 90 million acres, which is a drop of four percent. Soybean growers plan to plant 89.5 million acres, which would be a seven percent increase and a national record. In Iowa, 600,000 acres of cropland will switch from corn to soybeans, largely because of low market prices for corn.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Terry Branstad says Iowa Utilities Board chairwoman Geri Huser has done nothing wrong in maintaining a busy outside law practice while earning a $128,900 state salary. KCCI-TV reports a Senate committee delayed Huser’s re-confirmation last week after they learned she’s handled scores of cases as an attorney during her two-year tenure, earning over $177,000. State law requires board members to devote their “whole time” to their duties. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One person was hospitalized after an overnight house fire in Waterloo, according to KCRG-TV. Crews found flames coming out both the front door and window. The fire was extinguished and the home suffered heavy fire and smoke damage. GENOA, WI (IRN) – An Iowa man’s drowning in the Mississippi River might have been avoided if the 52-year-old had been wearing a life jacket. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports James Freeman of the northeastern Iowa town of Lansing drowned Friday after his fishing boat capsized and went under the dam gates near Genoa, Wisconsin. Freeman had a life jacket hanging on his boat and was attempting to put it on when his boat capsized, and he was pulled under. ROCKWELL, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested for the November death of Griselda Castaneda Tello of Hampton. KIMT-TV reports 59-year-old Paul Wood of Manly was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide and other charges. Wood was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol when he crossed the centerline killing Castaneda Tello. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s problem with high nitrate levels in lakes and rivers is getting worse, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Iowa has 61 nitrate sensors and 40% showed an increasing average daily concentration of nitrates in 2016 above the federal standard of 10 milligrams per liter. This included the Raccoon River, which is the source of drinking water for the Des Moines Water Works. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A pilot project by Dubuque schools to install Wifi on school buses is a hit with students. The Telegraph Herald reports that Dubuque Community School District officials launched a pilot project last week on seven district buses. They say the goal is to give students an opportunity to continue their studies on long rides to and from home and to activities.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque woman has been stabbed to death, and her boyfriend has been charged. The Telegraph Herald reports that 21-year-old Samantha Link was killed in her apartment Friday. 25-year-old Fontae Buelow met officers at the door in a hysterical state. Buelow told officers he and Link had been arguing when Link became violent, assaulted him, then stabbed herself in the stomach with a butcher knife. But police say Link had been stabbed twice in the chest and had bruises on her nose and forehead. Buelow has been charged with first-degree murder. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man has been charged with stabbing four people in an argument that occurred in the Historic Fourth District. The Sioux City Journal reports when officers arrived on scene, they found four victims suffering from stab wounds. 33-year-old Jess Pinney later turned himself into authorities. The victims were trying to help a woman who was having an altercation with Pinney. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has joined 15 other states in opposing the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban. Attorneys General from 16 states and the District of Columbia filed a brief on Friday. The brief urges judges to reject a request by the Trump administration to let the ban take effect while the court considers its appeal. Earlier this week, a federal judge in Hawaii extended his previous decision to block the executive order. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – The eggs are hatching in northeastern Iowa. Two of three eagle eggs have hatched in a Decorah nest that people around the world watch online through a webcam. The first hatchling broke through its shell on Wednesday. The second followed the next day.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old boy has been convicted of fondling three kindergarten students while volunteering at an eastern Iowa elementary school. KCCI-TV reports it is unclear what punishment he could face at his April 28 disposition hearing. The parents of two of the children have sued the classroom teacher and the district, alleging they should not have let the boy have unsupervised contact with the students last fall. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two children in Des Moines escaped serious injury when a car crashed through their bedroom wall and landed on the bed where they were sleeping. The Des Moines Register reports that the crash into the ground-level apartment happened Friday. The driver says she went to back out of a parking spot, but put the car in drive instead of reverse, sending her into the building. One child suffered a scrape on the face, likely from debris. The other child wasn’t injured. Police say it was accidental, so charges aren’t expected. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A jury found Travis West of Norwalk guilty of involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance Friday in the overdose death of a West Des Moines woman. KCCI-TV reports West gave heroin to Bailey Brady, who died of a drug overdose in 2015. West was with Brady in her apartment when she died. MARION, IA (IRN) – A Linn County Co-Op employee has been charged for stealing thousands of dollars from his employer. KCRG-TV reports police were contacted in August after officials at the co-op suspected an employee was stealing money. 56-year-old Robert Ball has been arrested. He’s charged with first degree theft and ongoing criminal activity. Ball is accused of taking more than $10,000 since 2007. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa sisters met at the Dubuque airport this week after 75 years apart, according to KWWL-TV. Jan and Dee were separated when they were three and four years old. Jan never stopped searching, and finally tracked down her sister. Jan says, “When I first heard her voice on the phone, I just fell apart. I said, ‘I’ve loved you all my life, and I prayed for you.’”