Saturday, May 27, 2017

CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – President Donald Trump has canceled a rally in Iowa next week, citing an unforeseen change in the president’s schedule. The rally was scheduled to take place Thursday in Cedar Rapids.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A fourth person has died of injuries received in a fire at the multiple story Eddy apartment building in Des Moines. One of the victims was a 57-year-old woman, the other a 71-year old-man, and the other two are still unknown. One of the other victims’ identities will not be known for some time because police must do DNA testing to identify who it is. The building had no sprinkler system.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A mobile home was destroyed by fire Friday night just south of the Des Moines Airport. KCCI-TV reports a woman in the home says she heard a pop, then saw flames. She was transported to a hospital with burns. A cat was also rescued.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, (IRN) – The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Mississippi man after complaints of door-to-door sales without permits. KWWL-TV reports 25-year-old Ricky Woodall was arrested Thursday for violation of the transient merchant act. Complaints said that Woodall was at first friendly, and started cleaning immediately when the door was answered. When people didn’t purchase the cleaning product, he became aggressive.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Walmart announced Friday it has hired more than 2,000 veterans in the state of Iowa since introducing its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in 2013. The commitment guarantees a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran. With a goal to hire 250,000 veterans nationwide by the end of 2020, Walmart has since hired more than 170,000, and more than 22,000 have been promoted.

Friday, May 26, 2017

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The trial of a Bondurant man charged with the murders of his family has been scheduled. 21-year-old Chase Nicholson will go to trial July 17 for the murders of his father, mother, and sister. Nicholson’s parents Mark and Charla, and sister Tawni, were found dead in their home on April 6th. He has admitted to using a shotgun to kill them.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa man has been accused of stealing from his employer, according to KIMT-TV. 31-year-old Joel Phillip Pals of Belmond was arrested Wednesday and charged with 2nd degree theft and two counts of forgery. Police say he created false sales contracts while working as a salesman for Advanced Systems Inc. in Mason City. He also allegedly forged customer signatures on two occasions, resulting in thefts of over $5,400.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A fire in a multiple story apartment building in Des Moines killed three people Thursday, and others suffered serious injuries. KCCI-TV reports it’s unclear what caused the fire, but officials say the blaze was strongest near the top of the apartments. Fire crews rescued ten people trapped in the building.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A teacher who’s worked with the Dubuque School District for nearly 20 years is now on paid leave following his arrest. KCRG-TV reports 46-year-old Douglas Spahn faces charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Spahn says he uses marijuana to treat his back pain. He’s a wellness teacher and football coach at Hempstead High School.

OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Iowa tight end Noah Fant, a Nebraska native, was threatened with a handgun in a park in Omaha, according to KETV. The 19-year-old Fant said someone pointed a gun at him and demanded he leave the area. Police later saw an intoxicated Matthew Trimble run into his garage when he saw a police cruiser. Trimble admitted confronting Fant, and has been charged with terroristic threats and having a gun in a prohibited place.

HAMBURG, IA (IRN) – On August 21 there will be a total solar eclipse in the midwest. The eclipse will be less than total across much of Iowa. However, WHO-TV reports the total eclipse can be viewed from a small triangle of southwest Iowa in Hamburg. In Nebraska and Missouri they are preparing to welcome lots of visitors who want to experience a total eclipse. That’s not the case in Hamburg, where residents say it will be business as usual.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has designated an “acting” Lt. Gov. with full scope and title to operate the office but, will not be in line of succession. KCCI-TV reports Public Defender Adam Gregg, of Johnston, is her choice.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – President Trump’s new budget calls for a 21%, $4.7 billion cut to USDA programs. Over ten years, it would cut the crop insurance program by nearly $29 billion. The budget is drawing criticism. Crop insurers say the cuts to insurance would make it more difficult for farmers to bounce back. Senator Chuck Grassley says “the President proposes, Congress disposes. And ultimately Congress will write the budget. Not the President.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A child was struck by a vehicle in Des Moines yesterday, according to KCCI-TV. The 8-year-old girl ran out into traffic and was struck by a truck. A nurse on scene attended to the injured child, who was later taken to Blank Children’s Hospital. She is being treated for serious injuries.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One person was killed in a motorcycle crash in Dubuque, according to KCRG-TV. The motorcyclist hit a parked car. An investigation is underway.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fake food inspectors are scamming ethnic restaurants in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals reports the scam involves people posing as food inspectors who promise restaurant owners a renewed license in exchange for a $5 payment by credit card. Their credit card information is then stolen.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump is coming to Iowa. The Trump-Pence Campaign committee announced yesterday that President Trump will hold a rally in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, June 1st. It’s Trump’s second trip to Iowa since winning the White House. He held a victory rally in Des Moines in December, one month after the election.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is now, officially, Ambassador Terry Branstad. On his 8,169th day in office, the longest-serving governor in American history formally resigned the office and was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to China. He is succeeded in Iowa by his lieutenant governor, Kim Reynolds.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque officials say a shots fired call led them to a man with “numerous guns and ammunition” Tuesday night. KWQC-TV reports during the investigation the suspect was identified as 40-year-old Nathan Wayne Schumacher of Dubuque. In a search of his home, officials located the weapons and ammunition. Schumacher was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and interference with official acts.

OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A man accused of killing an Iowa deputy pled not guilty to 12 counts Tuesday and asked for a speedy trial, according to KETV. 24-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty is accused of shooting and killing Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge during an attempted jailbreak. He’s scheduled to face a jury on July 25 in Pottawattamie County Court.

BUCHANAN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Three Amish juveniles were taken to the hospital after their horse-drawn buggy was hit by a pickup truck in Buchanan County. KGAN-TV reports the buggy crossed into the path of the pickup. The injured were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by ambulance or helicopter with multiple unknown injuries. One of the girls was thrown approximately 50 feet.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Security is tighter at entertainment venues after a deadly terror attack. At least 22 people died after a suicide bomber set off a blast Monday at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. KCCI-TV reports 11,000 people packed into Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines last night for a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. Officials would not say how they beefed up security, but there was a large police presence. The Des Moines bomb squad was also on scene with bomb-sniffing dogs.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A preschool teacher in Mason City is helping save the life of one of her students’ father. WHO-TV reports Darreld Petersen was born with renal kidney failure and is in need of a life-saving kidney transplant. After getting tests done, his son’s teacher Nancy Bleurer found out she was a match and agreed to go through with the donation. The transplant surgery will take place the first week of June.