Iowa Radio News

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A former treasurer of the Webster County Democratic Central Committee is accused of stealing more than $10,000 from it. KCCI-TV reports 70-year-old Diana Petraline is charged with theft and fraudulent practices. A criminal complaint says Petraline made false entries in the committee’s financial records from 2010 through November 2015. DODGEVILLE, IA (IRN) – An man is dead after a car/tractor crash near the southeastern Iowa town of Dodgeville, according to KWWL-TV. 31-year-old Jeffrey Kirby of LeClaire stuck the rear of a tillage tool in the right lane while it was being pulled by a farm tractor. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A “Civil Emergency” alert message sent to many cell phone users Monday was sent by accident. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said its dispatch center in Des Moines received multiple calls regarding an emergency alert saying, ” Civil Emergency in this area until 8:45 PM. Take Shelter Now Polk-County.” The message was sent in error from a dispatch center in eastern Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa senator called for Chuck Palmer, the director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, to step down Monday after he failed to appear at an oversight hearing. KCCI-TV reports Senator Matt McCoy held the hearing Monday as part of an investigation into the starvation death of 16-year-old Natalie Finn, and no DHS officials showed up. McCoy says it’s a cover-up, and “I think Palmer is incompetent.” IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman missing from a mental health facility has been found alive in a Johnson County farm field, according to KCRG-TV. A farmer called 911 and reported he had found a female in one of his fields. Authorities responded and identified her as 35-year-old Vanessa Jones, a missing Chatham Oaks resident. She was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University President Steven Leath has been hired as the new president at Auburn University. The Auburn University Board of Trustees named Leath president this morning. Leath was hired as the 15th president of Iowa State in 2012. ISU officials have yet to comment on the announcement. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – A Bettendorf woman has died after being hit by a car. WQAD-TV reports 38-year-old Jessica Soteco was pronounced dead at the University of Iowa hospital. Police said Soteco was walking on the roadway about 9:00 p.m. when she was hit by a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was not hurt during the accident. Bettendorf Police are investigating. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Four people escaped a house fire late Sunday night in Mason City, thanks to the help of another person helping pull them out of the burning building. KIMT-TV reports one of the residents heard a popping sound which alerted them to the fire, and officials say another man helped pull them out of the house. All five were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A handwritten letter calling Muslims “vile” and “filthy” was delivered to the Islamic Center of Des Moines this weekend. KCCI-TV reports the letter was addressed to the “Children of Satan” and was signed by “Americans for a Better Way.” The note says that President Trump is “going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews,” and that it “would be wise to pack your bags” and leave. The letter and surveillance camera footage will be turned over to the FBI. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Hospital Association estimates a Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act could leave up to 250,000 Iowans without health insurance. Others are concerned the change could destabilize the entire Medicaid system that serves poor and disabled people. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 24 million Americans will lose health care coverage over the next decade under the proposal. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee’s in Cedar Rapids and Muscatine are honoring local “superheroes”–veterans, active duty military, and first responders in an unusual way. KCRG-TV reports the grocery stores have set aside two parking spots to those who work to keep their communities and our country safe.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Urbandale police have made an arrest in a pair of assaults involving fireworks. WHO-TV reports 19-year-old Nedzad Selimovic was charged with reckless use of explosives, assault, and assault causing injury. He is accused of driving by two different people in Urbandale and throwing fireworks at them. One of the victims required medical treatment. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – More than 60 soldiers returned to Iowa Saturday afternoon after nearly a year away from home. The Iowa National Guard unit flew into the Des Moines Airbase around 3 p.m. as hundreds of family members and friends eagerly awaited their arrival. The unit was away from home for 11 months. They started training in Fort Hood, Texas, before being deployed to Afghanistan. MILWAUKEE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State men’s basketball team was down by 19 in the 2nd half against Purdue, but the Cyclones rallied and almost pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA history. But it wasn’t to be, as the Boilermakers hung on to win 80-76. Iowa State finishes with a 24-11 record. Purdue advances to the Sweet 16. ST LOUIS, MO (IRN) – Iowa wrestler Cory Clark earned his first NCAA championship with a 4-3 victory against former teammate Seth Gross in the 133-pound finals of the NCAA Wrestling Tournament. The Penn State Nittany Lions ran away with the tournament, with five champions. As a team, Iowa placed fourth.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State officials have issued burn bans in four Iowa counties due to dry conditions. The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshal issued the bans this week for Decatur in southern Iowa and Lee, Wapello and Muscatine counties in southeastern Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after being shot in the chest in Des Moines Friday afternoon, according to WOI-TV. Another victim was shot in the foot. Police believe the victims and the potential suspect knew each other, and the suspect is still at large. This was the ninth homicide of 2017 in Des Moines. IOWA (IRN) – Hospitals across Iowa are scrambling to fill nursing positions, with hundreds of openings in the Des Moines area alone, according to WHO-TV. Unity Point in Des Moines has 170 nursing positions open and St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids has 71. To make matters worse, 21% of Iowa’s aging nurses are eligible to retire, and registered nurses in Iowa make the least amount of money of nurses across the entire United States. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican Sen. Joni Ernst met with confrontational crowds in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids where she was repeatedly shouted down and booed. KCCI-TV reports Ernst drew laughter and booing when speaking about the Republican replacement for Obamacare, and faced shouts for suggesting climate change is natural. She drew applause when she said President Donald Trump should release his tax returns. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Scott Community College student will be honored next month for winning a national award, according to WQAD-TV. At the age of 37 Megan Linzy found herself without a high school diploma, and holding several part-time jobs. Afraid her son Charles wouldn’t get his diploma, she challenged him that if he graduated, she’d go back to school to earn her GED. Both got their degrees at the same time. Megan is dyslexic, and has been named the National Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year. She wants to be a teacher.

PLANO, TX (IRN) – JC Penney has announced that it’s closing 138 stores nationwide. Iowa stores closing include those in Decorah, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, and Fort Dodge. The Texas-based company says approximately 5,000 jobs will be lost, and blame declining sales as a result of online purchases. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A Burlington man is accused of using eye drops to poison his wife, according to WKOW. 45-year-old Darin Tiedt squirted Visine into his wife’s soda, possibly for weeks, before she caught him doing it Sunday. She says she started noticing her health decline about a month ago, about the same time she told her husband she wanted a divorce. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops, even in small amounts, can cause serious breathing and blood pressure complications. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republicans in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would overhaul how workers are compensated for on-the-job injuries, according to KCCI-TV. The GOP-majority chamber voted Thursday to revamp standards for hurt workers in Iowa, including reducing benefits for shoulder injuries and decreasing coverage for injuries tied to pre-existing conditions. Democrats say the changes unfairly penalize injured workers. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – Two men have been arrested after a fight sent one of them to the hospital. KIMT-TV reports 20-year-old Jordan Nelson of West Union went to Lake Meyer to fight with another man. When Nelson arrived, 30-year-old Jacob Pambin of Calmar approached him with a steel pipe in his hand. Pambin dropped the pipe but continued to “go at” Nelson. Nelson then hit Pambin in the head with a baseball bat. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two Bettendorf pawn shop employees accused of buying $16,000 worth of stolen jewelry, and not giving it back to its rightful owner after she came into the store, will each pay a $625 fine and will spend one year on probation. KWQC-TV reports the Scott County Attorney’s office dropped a more serious theft charge in exchange for the pleas. MILWAUKEE, WI (IRN) – The Iowa State Cyclones are one win away from back-to-back trips to the Sweet Sixteen. WHO-TV reports the Cyclones knocked off the Nevada Wolf Pack last night in the first day of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, 84-73. The Cyclones play again Saturday against #4 seed Purdue. A win would send them back to the Sweet Sixteen in Kansas City, possibly in a matchup against the 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks.