Iowa Radio News

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids has a plan in place to return life to a pre-flood normal. KCRG-TV reports Mayor Ron Corbett called it a “welcome home” message to those who heeded the call to evacuate and helped the city manage the second-highest crest ever on the Cedar River. At 7:00 a.m. Friday morning, the curfew restrictions in place will be lifted, and the recovery can begin. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating after the body of a woman was discovered inside a van parked at Broadlawns Medical Center. KCCI-TV reports the body was discovered after security staff were alerted to a van parked in the south lot of the clinic for at least 48 hours. Because it is suspicious, detectives are investigating as if it is a “worst case scenario.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old bicyclist was hospitalized in critical condition following an accident involving a garbage truck in Des Moines this morning. WHO-TV reports the bicyclist was run over by the rear tires of the truck. Police aren’t sure whether the bicyclist didn’t see the truck, or may have had a mechanical error that prevented him from stopping. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Three people have been charged, including 2 juveniles, in connection with the deadly shooting of a 13-year-old girl in Cedar Rapids. KGAN-TV reports 13-year-old Ireshia Parks was shot and killed Tuesday by a 13-year-old boy. Police say they believe the shooting was accidental, and that the youth stole weapons from unlocked vehicles. Police say people being irresponsible and not securing their weapons is a serious problem in the city. BOZEMAN, MT (IRN) – Authorities searching for a missing Iowa hunter in south-central Montana say they have found a man’s body. KCCI-TV reports authorities are not yet able to identify the body and an autopsy is scheduled for today. The body was found at the bottom of a cliff during the search for Mark Rollins of Decorah. Rollins’ wife reported him overdue from a hunting trip. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A detective helping with an arrest in Newton accidentally shot himself. The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force reports officers approached 25-year-old Chad Coady in a restaurant parking lot Monday. Coady drove toward the officers’ vehicles, causing two crashes. The handgun of one of the officers went off as he was putting it back into its holster, with the bullet striking him in the leg. The detective was hospitalized and then released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa Hawkeye football star, and Des Moines attorney, Randy Duncan has passed away at the age of 79. WHO-TV reports he had been battling brain cancer. Duncan led the Hawkeyes to their last Rose Bowl title in 1959. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting and was the first pick in the NFL Draft.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Clive police provided new information Wednesday in a double homicide at the 7 Flags Event Center three weeks ago. KCCI-TV reports police say the investigation into the shooting has been difficult due to a lack of cooperation from witnesses at the scene. Police said preliminary results of the investigation indicate that the victims, 29-year-old Johnny Lee Ollie Jackson and 45-year-old Kevin Lee Hall, shot and killed each other. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque Police are alerting the public about a skimmer device found on an ATM, according to KWWL-TV. Skimmers are placed over or in card readers on ATMs, gas pump card readers and card readers at stores or restaurants. A small camera is usually attached on or near the keypad so the PIN can be obtained. Police are encouraging users of ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale card readers to cover the keypad when entering PINs. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines pastor is behind bars after being sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for third-degree sexual abuse and harboring a runaway. KCCI-TV reports 37-year-old Damion Rutues had sexual relations with a 15-year-old runaway girl he hid in a small sleeping area inside the Learning of the Lord Revival Center. And this isn’t the first time. In 2004, Rutues was arrested for sexually abusing a 12-year-old and an 8-year-old he met at the church. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Des Moines last night, according to WHO-TV. The preliminary investigation shows that excessive speed may have played a role in the crash. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar River has crested in Cedar Rapids and much of eastern Iowa, according to KGAN-TV. Almost all of the 2008 flood records for area rivers are still in place, with one exception. That was in Shell Rock on the Shell Rock River. The river crested at 21.51 feet, over a foot higher than in 2008. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – Mary Orr is one of the oldest people living in Iowa. WQAD-TV reports the former telephone operator celebrated her 109th birthday Monday at the Bettendorf Health Care Center. Orr was born in Missouri in 1907 and lived in the Burlington area until 1994 when she moved to Bettendorf to be with her daughter. Orr’s family has thrown her a party every year since her 100th birthday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating an incident where a 13-year-old girl who was shot in the head and killed this morning, according to KCRG-TV. A call was received at 7:52 a.m. and within eight minutes, officers had three individuals in custody after a foot chase. Two are juveniles. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Newton man is being held in the Jasper County jail without bond, facing stalking charges. KCCI-TV reports 53-year-old Thomas Fitzgerald broke into a woman’s home and stole a computer. Fitzgerald also called and texted the victim more than 1,000 times, threatening to kill her, her boyfriend, her attorney and police. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A law enforcement officer was seriously injured and a Newton man was jailed after a task-force operation resulted in a vehicle collision Monday night. The Newton Daily News reports members of the Mid-Iowa East Narcotics Task Force were attempting to apprehend 25-year-old Chad Eugene Coady of Newton on a parole violation when a vehicle collision occurred and the law enforcement officer was injured. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – A former Burlington City Council member has been sentenced to 32 years in prison after his conviction for sexually abusing teenage girls. The Hawk Eye reports former councilman Chris King met the girls, aged 16 to 18, through his Burlington photo studio. King says the sex was consensual. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa National Guard arrived in Cedar Rapids yesterday to help with flood efforts. KCRG-TV reports they are playing a different role this time around. In 2008 they came during the flood to fill sandbags, and build barriers. This time they will help police patrol evacuated areas, and enforce curfew. The river is expected to crest this afternoon. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Con artists are already targeting flood victims in eastern Iowa. KGAN-TV reports one scam involves someone calling people in the evacuation zone and telling them to leave their doors unlocked when they leave. Another scam offers free hotel rooms in exchange for credit card information. DES MOINES, IA – The Parks Area Foundation will unveil plans today for a new Des Moines park with a familiar name–Riverview Park. KCCI-TV reports Riverview Park will be an entertainment venue that will focus on concerts, arts, recreation and family gatherings. Riverview has a rich history on the north side of Des Moines. It first opened as an amusement park in 1915 patterned after Coney Island in Brooklyn. The park operated for more than 65 years before closing in 1978.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police have arrested a man who threw a hammer at an officer’s head Saturday. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports 53-year-old Martin Reisen of Muscatine was throwing things into an intersection, and an officer told him to stop. Reisen became angry and ignored the officer’s commands. Reisen then picked up a hammer and threw it at the officer, narrowly missing him. He then punched the officer before being handcuffed. Reisen’s in jail facing felony charges. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating a weekend shooting that left a Waterloo man with a bullet wound in his arm. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports 26-year-old Todd Goodson told police he was driving when he heard gunfire and was struck in the arm by a bullet. Investigators found additional bullet holes in his vehicle. No arrests have been made in the shooting. WARREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two teenagers are in intensive care after a collision in Warren County on Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. A southbound vehicle driven by 17-year-old Austin Kartchner of Osceola was making a turn when it crossed the centerline and hit a northbound car, driven by 21-year old Adam Richman of Urbandale, head-on. Richman’s OK, but Kartchner and his passenger, 16-year-old Kodi Shuff of Osceola, are in critical condition. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A construction worker fell to his death at a construction site east of Ottumwa on Thursday, according to KTVO-TV. The incident is being investigated. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke with Iowans in Des Moines this weekend. KCCI-TV reports that Pence, the governor of Indiana, also told voters that Trump will emerge as a leader in tonight’s first presidential debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Flooding continues in northeastern Iowa. KCRG-TV reports the Cedar River is cresting in Vinton, emergency shelters have been opened in Cedar Rapids, and that evacuations have occurred in many cities, including Waverly, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Palo, and Cedar Rapids. On a lighter note, on Sunday the Iowa Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids offered free beer to those who had volunteered to fill sandbags downtown.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man and his mother are in the Polk County Jail after he led law enforcement on a chase Thursday night. WHO-TV reports 27-year-old Clarence Reed had warrants out for his arrest. Officers tried to stop Reed, but he fled to his mother’s apartment. They followed him and kicked in the door to arrest him. Reed’s mother, 42-year-old Keeonis Williams, fought with officers as they took her son into custody. Both were arrested. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The City of Cedar Rapids is asking anyone in the expected flood zone to evacuate by this morning. Businesses are also required to close. Police will have 73 checkpoints to help block access to flood areas. Parts of Waverly, Charles City, Vinton, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Palo and other communities have also been evacuated. The Cedar River is expected to crest Tuesday morning. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man from the Black Hawk County town of Evansdale jumped into the flooded Cedar River to save a baby deer. KWWL-TV reported the man jumped in with his life jacket, strapped the deer, and he and others were able to pull it to safety. It was later released out of town. AMES, IA (IRN) – Jacob Park threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns as Iowa State thumped San Jose State 44-10 on Saturday, giving coach Matt Campbell his first win with the Cyclones. The Hawkeyes also won, as they rebounded from their stunning loss to North Dakota State with a 14-7 victory over tougher-than-expected Rutgers. UNI had a bye weekend.