Iowa Radio News

STUART, IA (IRN) – A 9 year-old female remains in the hospital after a medical emergency at the Stuart Aquatic Center on Friday, according to Raccoon Valley Radio. When Stuart Rescue arrived, lifeguards at the pool were performing CPR. Officials believe some sort of medical emergency is to blame for the incident. According to witnesses, staff at the aquatic center immediately noticed there was a problem with the child as she was swimming and jumped in to save her. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man sentenced to 25 years in prison for possessing a gun during a drug trafficking crime will get out after serving less than half the sentence, according to KWWL-TV. 40-year-old Charrell Burrage went to prison in 2004 after throwing crack cocaine and firearms from a car during a police pursuit. President Obama commuted the sentence. SPENCER, IA (IRN) – A company that makes hydraulic pumps and motors says it will lay off 70 workers in Spencer over the next year. KGAN-TV reports the Eaton Corporation says 23 employees will be laid off within the next couple of months and the remainder will be let go within the next year. Eaton’s Spencer facility currently employs about 180 people who make pumps and motors for mobile and industrial use. Officials blame declining markets. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court says an employee fired because of missed work resulting from being thrown in jail may still be eligible for unemployment benefits. KCRG-TV reports the ruling means 28-year-old Sondra Irving of North Liberty qualifies for unemployment. She was jailed for 27 days for assault. Charges were later dropped but she was fired by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics because she missed too much work. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Iowa residents may fish without a license this weekend. Although purchasing a license won’t be required, all other fishing regulations will still be in place. DNR officials hope the initiative prompts anglers to purchase an annual fishing license.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – An Illinois man tried to set fires to kill someone in southeast Iowa in order to pay off a $300 debt, according to KCRG-TV. 38-year-old Timothy Brownlee, of Macomb, Illinois, is charged in Lee County, Iowa, with two counts of attempted murder and arson. No one was injured in the fires. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Another Iowan has contracted the Zika virus while traveling, according to KCCI-TV. The June 3 Iowa Department of Public Health report shows a man who is in the age category 18-40 was traveling in the Caribbean and contracted Zika. That brings the total to seven Iowans who have now been infected while traveling out of state. Three men and four women have been infected. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man received the maximum sentence today of 50 years in prison in the killing of his neighbor. KCCI-TV reports Patrick Kirwan was convicted of killing Mark Hruska in March of 2015. Kirwan shot Hruska because he suspected his girlfriend was having an affair with him. Kirwan’s attorney argued his 31-year-old client has mental disorders including PTSD. CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – One person was taken to the hospital after a motorcycle accident near Clear Lake Thursday, according to KIMT-TV. 58-year-old Eddie Bergman was riding his motorcycle when a car driven by 19-year-old Jackson Finn pulled into Bergman’s path. Bergman laid the motorcycle down before striking Finn’s vehicle. Bergman was transported to the hospital, and Finn was cited for failure to yield. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a recent van explosion as arson. WHO-TV reports a neighbor said prior to the explosion she saw a man walking around the van and throw a canister-like object at it. The neighbor watched as the man stood there, eyeing the vehicle until the van exploded. He then fled on foot. No one was injured. BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that multiple credit card skimmers have been found at metro gas stations. One was found in Bondurant, the other two in Grimes. They advise consumers to check the tamper-proof stickers on the gas pump panel to ensure they are unbroken and to check bank statements for unfamiliar charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A court-approved settlement says a New York City-based marketing company must stop sending mailings to Iowans that feature well-known psychics, including The Amazing Kreskin. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the letters are “predatory and manipulative,” while targeting elderly people. The order requires the company to refund over $13,000 to 500 Iowans. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It was a big night Thursday for some special kids and the Iowa Barnstormers at the Kiwanis Miracle League event in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports the annual event pairs football players with special needs children. Running back Robbie Rouse says the kids “just have certain things they were born with and they can’t control. And they don’t use it as an excuse, so that’s definitely motivation for us. How can we complain when they’re going through these kinds of disabilities and still manage to smile every day?”

CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man faces criminal charges after police found pornographic images involving children on his cell phone. 53-year-old Jeffrey Kirk of Charles City is charged with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department’s Bomb Squad had to be called in Tuesday night to assist Altoona police after a suspicious device was found in the truck of two men accused of breaking into vehicles. WHO-TV reports the bomb squad determined the device had gun powder in it and was loaded with shrapnel. The device was dismantled. The two face multiple drug, weapons, theft and unauthorized possession of an explosive device charges. They’re in jail. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of trying to flush her newborn down a toilet before abandoning the baby now faces an attempted murder charge. KCRG-TV reports 22-year-old Ashley Hautzenrader of Davenport delivered the baby in a restroom at University of Iowa Hospitals early May, then tried to flush the newborn, but then put the baby into a pillowcase and put it in a trash can. A nurse later found the baby alive. CENTRAL CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa woman has been charged with stealing her grandfather’s identity according to KCCI-TV. 40-year-old Jessica Lynn Roloson of Central City was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.­ Authorities say she obtained money and property by knowing her grandfather’s Social Security number, his date of birth, and living in his former home. She applied for numerous credit cards in his name and used them to purchase items online. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police responded early this morning to a report of gunfire, according to KCRG-TV. Arriving on scene, they found one female and one male who had been shot. No one has been arrested in the shootings. The victims suffered apparent non-life-threatening wounds. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police are familiar with the Valley West Inn. KCCI-TV reports in the past 12 months they have had 280 calls for service to the hotel for various problems. Police are now investigating the hotel for a potential financial crime after a complaint from a woman who had been forced to leave the hotel kept receiving credit card charges. Another former patron has come forward with the same story. The hotel says accusations of fraud are without merit. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s driving fatalities are up 30% this year. WQAD-TV reports this time last year, the Iowa DOT reported 108 deaths on the road. This year, there have been 143. Trooper Dan Loussaert says reducing fatalities is simple. Put down your phone, wear your seat belt, slow down, and focus on driving. SAN FRANCISCO, CA (IRN) – Waterloo Police Chief Dan Trelka’s badge went with him on vacation this year, according to KWWL-TV. Trelka was enjoying some time off in San Francisco with his family, when he saw a local police officer struggling to catch a suspect. The suspect was on the run and resisting a San Francisco police officer. Trelka ran across the street, assisted, and helped cuff the suspect. Trelka says it’s just part of the job.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new budget for Iowa’s courts has been approved that includes a statewide hiring freeze. The Supreme Court approved the fiscal year 2017 budget, which starts July 1. The freeze was required because of a more than $5 million shortfall in this year’s legislative appropriation. State Court Administrator David Boyd says “With this budget, the supreme court tried to minimize disruption of services to Iowans despite the significant shortfall in our appropriation.” ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A police officer was involved in a serious crash this morning in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. The officer, 34-year-old Jeffrey Davis, was heading to a call with lights and sirens on. He had a green light going through an intersection, but a truck driven by 61-year-old Peter Roeder turned in front of him. The police SUV and the truck collided. The man in the truck was taken from the scene in critical condition. The officer was treated and released. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A federal grand jury in Cedar Rapids has indicted five people in connection with thefts from multiple Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in five states, including Dubuque and Waterloo. The five were charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. The indictment lists 38 thefts between February and May at stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. VINTON, IA (IRN) – A Vinton man faces multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted multiple people, including two police officers. KWWL-TV reports police responded in Vinton Sunday night for a report of a person breaking windows. They found a 37-year-old woman with serious injuries to her head following an assault. Officers also found 38-year-old Roger Hartman with minor injuries. Ambulances took Hartman and the woman to the hospital, where he assaulted two officers. He’s in jail. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man is in the University of Iowa burn treatment center after a fire pit incident, according to KCCI-TV. Curt Carpenter suffered severe burns to his arms and legs after something went wrong with a decorative fire pit over the holiday weekend. The fire pit was a propane pit that was built into a bar in the home’s backyard. It had just been installed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman is recovering after her thumb was severed in a dog attack. WHO-TV reports a shepherd-mix named Denali was in his fenced-in backyard barking at the neighbor’s 10-pound Chihuahua-terrier mix named Jackie, who was in her own fenced in yard. Denali pushed its head through the fence and grabbed Jackie by her throat, killing her. Jackie’s owner ran out to separate the dogs, and she was bit. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – When drivers pull over to fuel up this summer, they’re paying less than they have in years past. KCRG-TV reports the national average gas price for regular unleaded is at $2.32 a gallon. That’s down 42 cents compared to the same date last year. The price is an 11-year-low for the start of the summer driving season. Among the lowest prices in Iowa are in Davenport, at $2.15 a gallon.

HAWARDEN, IA (IRN) – Nine fire departments responded to a hog confinement fire near Hawarden Saturday morning. Upon the first fire department’s arrival, the barn was completely engulfed in flames. The fire was so large at the first barn that a second barn caught fire. Several employees were present at the time of the fire but no injuries were reported. The two building were a total loss and approximately 5,000 hogs perished. MOUNT UNION, IA (IRN) – A small Henry County city has taken its first step toward ceasing to exist. The Hawk Eye reports that the Mount Union City Council voted 4-0 Monday to pass a resolution of intent to discontinue functioning as a city. A petition Mayor John Marek received several weeks ago had 12 signatures out of about 80 registered voters in the city. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A 43-year-old Mason City man has been accused of trying to kill his girlfriend. KWWL-TV reports Jason Clausen is charged with burglary, kidnapping and attempted murder. Mason City police say Clausen used a weapon to injure his girlfriend, and she was taken to a hospital. Police didn’t say what sort of weapon was used or provide other details about Sunday’s incident. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Mason City police have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of throwing a kitten against a wall, killing it. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Jerrick Rinnels was arrested Sunday on a warrant for misdemeanor animal abuse. Rinnels and another resident in a Mason City house were arguing Friday when Rinnels grabbed the kitten from the other person and threw it against the wall, killing it. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque police said a 2-year-old boy went to the hospital after a vehicle struck him Sunday night. KCRG-TV reports a vehicle was backing up when it hit Jaceyon Young, who was riding a small tricycle at the time. The driver of the vehicle told police he didn’t see the boy as he was backing up. The boy has a skull fracture. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman and two men from Nebraska were arrested over Memorial Day weekend at Gray’s Lake Park, according to WHO-TV. Officers responded to a call Saturday evening and found a car blocking the only exit of the parking lot. Other drivers were honking at the car and at a crowd of people nearby. The driver of the car refused to move it, and the crowd became angry at the officers. Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and make arrests. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A 29-year-old inmate has been listed as escaped from the work release facility in Marshalltown. The Iowa Corrections Department says Michael Compston didn’t return as required Sunday from a furlough. Compston had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery in Cerro Gordo County. THE QUAD CITIES, IA, IL (IRN) – A growing group of Quad Cities women have the goal to be healthy and have a good time. WQAD-TV reports they are part of “Moms RUN This Town” and dress in bright colors and bows when they run. One member explains, “We’re just a group of women who get together to run–it’s 100% girl power. We lift each other up.”