Iowa Radio News

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s average farmland value declined for the third year in a row, down 5.9 percent to $7,183 an acre over the past year. It’s the first time since the 1980s farm crisis that land values have fallen three straight years, according to an Iowa State University report released Tuesday. Average Iowa farmland values are now 17.5 percent lower than the historic high set in 2013 at $8,716 an acre. KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A Keokuk man saved two after a fire erupted in a downtown building Monday night. WGEM-TV reports the building next to Ben Mill’s residence on Main Street in Keokuk caught fire and he acted quickly to rescue men who had been trapped on an awning. Mills grabbed his ladder and helped assist his neighbors to safety. Mills had previously fought fires in the Air Force. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two cats are recovering after being found in an ice-covered pet carrier in the trash outside a Davenport church. The Quad-City Times reports the cats were brought to a rescue organization on Tuesday. The temperature was approximately 9 degrees when the cats were found. They were put up for adoption after they warmed up. HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – A Hiawatha man has been charged with the murder of his mother and arson. KWWL-TV reports on December 2nd, Joseph Hubbard broke into a church where he stripped naked and poured gasoline inside. He then punched a man in the face before running away. When apprehended, he told police he had killed his 56-year-old mother by shoving a rotten apple down her throat. The apple was found during the autopsy. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman accused of murdering a toddler wants to avoid a Wapello County jury, according to KTVO-TV. Lawyers for Kashenna Tucker have filed a motion to waive her right to a jury trial, leaving her fate in the hands of a judge. She was the guardian of three-year-old Wysdom Evans when the death occurred in 2014. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – The Clive Fire Department is issuing bullet-proof vests to firefighters, according to WHO-TV. The action is a result of firefighters determining they needed the protection when responding to September’s double homicide outside the 7 Flags Event Center. Fire Chief Rick Roe says it’s a new era in the profession, it’s “a sad reality that we live in.” DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police are urging residents not to leave their cars running with the keys in the ignition during cold weather. WQAD-TV reports it takes approximately 12 seconds for a thief to get into a car that’s running, put it into drive, and speed away. 382 cars have been stolen in the city so this year. Police say don’t leave your gun in the car either. So far, 32 guns have been stolen from vehicles this year.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – Investigators are trying to determine what caused a major downtown fire in Keokuk Monday. KHQA-TV reports people were trapped on the roof of the building, but a neighbor helped them escape before firefighters arrived. One person suffered minor injuries. BOONE, IA (IRN) – An Ames man died Saturday after falling through the ice on the lake at Don Williams Recreation Area near Boone. KCCI-TV reports a witness driving by first saw a dog swimming in the water, then saw the man and called 911. Deputies believe 56-year-old Michael Carr was attempting to rescue his dog after it fell through the ice. They believe Carr then broke through and was unable to get out. WAPELLO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An accidental shooting in Wapello County sent a girl to the hospital Sunday. KTVO-TV reports a friend of the victim had returned from deer hunting and while taking the gun out of the case to hang it up, it discharged. Her injuries are considered non life-threatening. OSSIAN, IA (IRN) – Multiple crews responded to a fire last night that destroyed a building in the Winneshiek county town of Ossian. KCRG-TV reports the building housed a second-hand shop on the ground floor, and a residence for two people on the second floor. No one was injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Blank Park Zoo welcomed a new addition last week, according to WHO-TV. Uzuri the giraffe gave birth to a female calf on Tuesday, December 6th. The “little” girl came into the world weighing 136 pounds and standing six feet tall. The zoo has named her “Lizzie” after longtime zoo supporter Elizabeth Kruidenier. The pregnancy was “high risk” but Lizzie was born without complication and without human intervention.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A death investigation is underway in Des Moines after a woman was found dead early Monday. KCCI-TV reports that officers encountered a male fleeing the home, and a found a woman injured inside. She died at the home before she could be taken to a hospital. The man is in custody. FREMONT COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Deer hunters discovered a man’s body underneath a bridge in southwest Iowa over the weekend. KETV reports the hunters found the body under a U.S. Highway 2 bridge in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s office says the death appears suspicious. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man was arrested after running away from police with a stolen gun. The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports 18-year-old Vincent Williams Jr. faces a felony weapons trafficking charge. Williams was a passenger in a car that was pulled over on Saturday. He tried to run away and dump the gun. The gun was stolen in Indianapolis. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Just two days after a child died in a house fire near Perry, a Mason City child has died in another house fire. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports a neighbor saw the house on fire, and after calling authorities he pounded on the door to alert those inside. Firefighters found the house fully engulfed when they arrived. OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – Weather was a factor in a multi-vehicle crash that killed a Wisconsin woman Saturday morning near Osceola, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Troopers said the woman’s vehicle started slowing down when a semi truck struck her from behind, causing her vehicle to strike a cable barrier in the median. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 12-year-old girl was shot while she was inside her home in a drive-by shooting in north Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. Neighbors heard four or five gunshots. She is expected to recover. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are searching for a man who stole a car with two children inside. KCCI-TV reports the woman ran inside her home to get something and came outside within minutes to find her car stolen. Police say they believe the thief stole the car without realizing until later that two children were asleep in the back seat. The thief then ditched the car and left it running so the children wouldn’t get cold. The kids slept through the incident.

ANITA, IA (IRN) – Three people, including two children, were killed and eight others were injured in two related crashes on Interstate 80 near the Anita exit in Cass County. KETV reports the accidents happened Saturday morning, when a semi crossed the median and collided with an minivan. The semi landed on its side. Shortly after, a GMC Yukon collided with the back of the trailer. Road conditions were icy and slick. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – (AP) — A Burlington man injured earlier this week in an industrial accident at a snack food packaging plant has died. The Hawk Eye reports that 36-year-old Patrick Tisor was hurt Monday afternoon at Shearer’s Foods. It appears that Tisor’s clothing got caught in a roller system at the plant, and he was pulled into the machinery. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police officers in Iowa City are being called to a local discount store – not for a crime, but to help children get a few presents they wouldn’t otherwise this holiday season. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa City Police Department is taking local youth shopping today as part of the their Shop with a Cop program. The kids have been pre-selected and will shop with an officer for necessity items and gifts for themselves, as well as gifts for family members. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – In college wrestling, the-third ranked Hawkeyes topped rival Iowa State 26-9 in Iowa City last night. KWWL-TV reports the victory marked the 13th straight in the series for the undefeated Hawks.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Online retail giant Amazon announced Friday it will start charging Iowa state sales tax on purchases starting Jan. 1. KCCI-TV reports Iowa became the 31st state in which orders made on amazon.com must include a state sales tax. A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Revenue says the tax should drive online shoppers to local brick and mortar businesses, and generate $18-$24 million in state tax revenues. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The parents who allegedly kidnapped, starved and neglected a West Des Moines teen appeared for the first time in court Friday. KCCI-TV reports Nicole and Joseph Finn were arrested Thursday in the death of their 16-year-old daughter, Natalie. Among the charges are first-degree murder, child endangerment, kidnapping, and neglect of a dependent person. Three younger children have been placed in DHS custody. OAKLAND, CA (IRN) – A Fort Madison native was one of 36 people killed in a warehouse fire in Oakland, California. Authorities identified 35-year-old Jason McCarty as one of the victims. Childhood friends told KRON-TV in San Francisco that McCarty was an impressive artist. About 100 people were inside the building when the fire started. The cause is under investigation. TAMA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Tama County man has been charged in the cold-case file of the year 2000 disappearance and murder of Cora Okonski. The DCI has charged 50-year-old Tait Otis Purk with first degree murder. The 23-year-old Okonski was reported missing in Tama by her boyfriend in April of 2000. Purk is now in federal prison on unrelated drug and gun charges, and is scheduled to be released in April. CHICAGO, ILL (IRN) – The Chicago Cubs’ World Series trophy is hitting the road. The team announced the tour will make stops in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Among the Iowa cities the trophy will visit before opening day are Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Mason City, the Quad Cities, Sioux City, and Waterloo. It will arrive in Mesa, Arizona in time for spring training.