Iowa Radio News

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A Burlington man convicted of manslaughter in the death of his 22-day-old son is asking for a new trial. The Hawk Eye reports 24-year-old Randall Payne says prosecutors failed to turn over key evidence until midway through his trial. Payne believes the evidence could exonerate him. Payne’s defense maintained the baby died of medical problems, while prosecutors say the baby died from severe head trauma caused by Payne. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa legislative committee is expected to discuss the Iowa State Fair’s ban on weapons today, according to KCCI-TV. Currently, all guns and weapons are banned from the fairgrounds unless approved by the fair board. Gun advocates want to carry guns at the fair. DIKE, IA (IRN) – A sheriff and a sheriff’s deputy from different Iowa counties helped deliver a baby on the side of an east-central Iowa highway. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the roadside delivery happened Wednesday along U.S. Highway 20 east of Dike. The Hardin County Sheriff and a Grundy County deputy were passing by and stopped to help the woman. Both mom and baby are fine. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man is struggling to find nursing care as Governor Branstad’s privatized Medicaid system has forced providers out of the in-home care business. KCRG-TV reports in 1991, a drunken driver struck 13-year-old Kurtis Jones as he rode his bicycle, paralyzing him. For 25 years, Kurtis relied on in-home nursing care. Under the new system, reimbursement rates are lower, and companies are being driven out of business. JEFFERSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa motorcyclist was hurt in a two-vehicle accident Thursday in Jefferson County. 56-year-old John Yakle of Mason City tried to stop his motorcycle and steered left to avoid hitting a stopped pickup truck. Yakle lost control and was thrown from his cycle. He was injured, but his condition has not been released. SHELL ROCK, IA (IRN) – A man tried to abduct an eight-year-old boy near the post office in Shell Rock yesterday, according to KWWL-TV. The man is described as white, six-feet-tall, wearing all black clothing and driving a white cargo van. The boy was able to fight off the man, and is doing OK. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa community has been ranked as the third-best small city for families in the Midwest and 11th nationwide, according to a report released this week by the personal finance company Nerdwallet. The city is Ankeny, which was recognized for its high quality schools, parks and playgrounds, trails, two aquatic centers, and open green spaces.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – An Oklahoma man faces rape charges after police say he had sex with a 14-year-old female runaway from Dubuque. KCRG-TV reports 20-year-old Mason Manning of Enid, Oklahoma is charged with three counts of second degree rape. The two met online, and Manning said the teen told him she had been abused by her family and had been bullied at school and wanted to runaway. He came to get her, and drove her back to Oklahoma. CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A northern Iowa pharmaceutical supply company plans to hire 100 more workers for its Clear Lake operation. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the McKesson Distribution Center opened in May and currently employs 120 workers. The center serves 2,500 pharmacies in the Midwest and north-central Plains. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Police in Clive have identified the body found Wednesday in a secluded area as 54-year-old Sandra Bland of Clive, according to WHO-TV. Evidence found at the scene was consistent with a suicide. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man died after falling out of a moving vehicle. WQAD-TV reports police responded to a call of a person who had fallen out of a moving car yesterday. Officials attempted to save the male passenger, but he was declared dead after arriving at the hospital. His name has not been released. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A man considered “armed and dangerous” and wanted on several arrest warrants has been taken into custody, according to KCCI-TV. 28-year-old Nicholas Hartgers, a suspect in numerous burglary cases, was arrested in Newton yesterday. Also arrested was 31-year-old Somer McAlister of Newton. She’s charged with aiding and abetting, unlawful use of a credit card, and interference with official acts. MOUNT VERNON, IA (IRN) – Cornell College is one of 25 Iowa schools participating in Iowa Private College Week this week. The week allows high school students to visit and tour up to 10 campuses across the state in five days. KCRG-TV reports one thing different this week at Cornell, is they are capitalizing on the popularity of Pokemon Go. School officials say the prizes offered to prospective students playing the game will help lighten the experience and make the visit more fun.

LE MARS, IA (IRN) – A December trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa man accused of stabbing his sister to death. KCRG-TV reports 33-year-old Thomas Bibler entered not guilty pleas Friday to murder and related charges. He was arrested June 11 after a short standoff at his Le Mars apartment. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 27-year-old Shannon Bogh at her Le Mars home. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man wanted as a material witness in a fatal shooting in Des Moines has been arrested in Kansas, according to KCCI-TV. Steven Asbury was arrested in Wichita, and will be charged with first-degree murder when he’s returned to Polk County. 41-year-old James Patton was shot and killed in a convenience store parking lot. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls Police say they are looking into an attempted child abduction that happened late Tuesday afternoon. KWWL-TV reports three children were playing at a park when a silver, four-door vehicle pulled up, and offered the children money to get into the car. The children told him no, and the man drove away. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – ISU students are upset with a plea deal reached with the driver of a CyRide bus involved in a hit and run that killed a student, according to WHO-TV. 24-year-old Benjamin Clague pled guilty to failure to report an accident, a simple misdemeanor that carries up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine after the crash claimed the life of Emmalee Jacobs. Students say he deserves a harsher punishment. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo police officer has been charged in connection with a road rage incident. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 45-year-old Corbin Payne faces a charge of assault causing bodily injury, a misdemeanor. Payne, a lieutenant with the Waterloo PD, accused the driver of another vehicle of cutting off the car he was riding in. Authorities say he struck the other vehicle and grabbed the driver. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Workers in Polk County may see an increase in the minimum wage to $10.75 by 2019. A task force formed by county supervisors is expected to recommend raising the minimum wage on Jan. 1. The three-stage increase would begin with a $1.50 increase April 1, followed by $1 increases in January 2018 and 2019. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – The Cerro Gordo County courtroom was filled with tears of joy along with applause and messages of congratulations – all because of a graduation from drug court. KIMT-TV reports the graduate, 31-year-old Bridget Stitt, was put on probation last year due to drug use and was facing prison time. She says drug court helped her get off meth, and has a new job helping Mason City families fight addiction.

DES MOINES, IA – An Ankeny man has been sentenced in U.S. District court to 12 years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release. 35-year-old Aaron Lawrence Storm was found guilty of possession of child pornography and attempted kidnapping. The kidnapping charge was based on threats he made that were directed toward the family of the prosecutor handling his child pornography case. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A trial date has been set for a Burlington man accused of using a machete and skateboard to attack his 16-year-old girlfriend. The Hawk Eye reports that 21-year-old Dakota Poland is charged with kidnapping with intent to torture and related crimes. He’s pled not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 16 in Des Moines County District Court. PRIMGHAR, IA (IRN) – An October trial has been scheduled for an Iowa home health care worker accused of stealing from an elderly client. KICD radio reports that 36-year-old Rebecca Rutledge, of Paullina, has pled not guilty to three counts of forgery, one count of theft and one of unauthorized use of a credit card. Rutledge obtained access to the client’s debit card and checking account, and allegedly took more than $7,500 from the client. LAKE OF OZARKS, MO (IRN) – Two Iowans drowned at the Lake of the Ozarks Monday, according to KCCI-TV. The men went into the water to get a boat that was drifting away. When the first man started struggling, the other tried to help. Both went under the water and did not resurface. The men were identified as 46-year-old Dennis Michel of Ankeny, and 40-year-old Jacob Seeman of Woodard. Their wives say they were best-friends. NEW SHARON, IA (IRN) – Fire ripped through three separate job site locations causing millions in damages along the Dakota Access` controversial Bakken oil pipeline early Sunday and Monday. WHO-TV reports the incidents were near the cities of New Sharon, Newton, and Reasnor. Authorities say the fires are arson. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Pokemon Go players are displacing the homeless in Cedar Rapids, according to KCRG-TV. One of the most popular places to play is downtown near the Greene Square area. Since the game was released, players are downtown 24/7, and the homeless who normally sleep in Greene Square on benches and under nearby bridges, are moving to get away from the ruckus. MARION, IA (IRN) – A Marion boy is working hard to help pay for the medical bills of Nikki Lynch, a Marion mother of three battling terminal breast cancer. KGAN-TV reports 7-year-old Max Drinkall learned of Lynch’s condition, and went to work. He’s done odd jobs for neighbors and friends in exchange for donations. He’s raised approximately $700. The two met for the first time Sunday night.

SHELDON, IA (IRN) – A woman has died after the crash of an all-terrain vehicle in northwest Iowa, according to KCCI-TV. The crash occurred Sunday north of Sheldon. 26-year-old Garrett Crowl, of Ashton, lost control of the ATV he was driving on a gravel road. It slid sideways, rolled and struck a tree. His passenger, 25-year-old Shaleah Donavon, of Sheldon, was killed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Between 100 and 150 people gathered outside a bar in downtown Des Moines Saturday night to watch several women fighting. After verbal commands to stop fighting, an officer sprayed a “one-second burst” of pepper spray into the face of one of the women, but she kept fighting. She was arrested. MONTICELLO, IA (IRN) – Monticello police have arrested a man suspected of the armed robbery of the F&M Bank just days ago, according to KCRG-TV. Officers took Brandon Brown, of Monticello, into custody Sunday on a first-degree robbery charge. They searched his home after receiving tips from the public. GRUNDY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo motorcyclist was injured after a crash in Grundy County yesterday. Iowa State Troopers say 47-year-old Derek Davis was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he lost control and left the roadway. Davis was thrown from the motorcycle and came to a rest in a ditch. Davis was flown to Covenant Hospital by Air Care II for serious injuries. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A dog was kicked by a worker at a veterinary clinic in Iowa City, causing serious injuries including broken ribs. According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen, 22-year-old Lucas Van Orden told investigators he kicked the dog during a grooming session at Creature Comfort Veterinary Center. The owners say that they knew their dog, a corgi named Jasper, was in pain as soon as they picked him up. Van Orden has been fired. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – The human remains found last week at a Council Bluffs construction site may offer more clues about the Mormon pioneers who crossed the region in the 1800s. The Daily Nonpareil reports the bones discovered Thursday and Friday will be examined at the University of Iowa. Experts say the location where the bones were found was part of the Mormon Trail that hundreds of pioneers followed west to Salt Lake City.