Iowa Radio News

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa City men face a number of drug possession charges for selling drugs out of their apartment, according to KCRG-TV. One of the men tried to flush the drugs down the toilet as officers tried to enter the apartment. Lucas Froeschner and Jared Kuddes were arrested after a raid by the Iowa City Police Street Crimes Unit and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. FRANKFURT, GERMANY (IRN) – German drug and farm chemical company Bayer AG says it has signed a deal to acquire seed and weed-killer company Monsanto for $66 billion in cash. The deal is subject to approval by Monsanto shareholders and anti-trust regulators. Monsanto lists 21 offices in the state of Iowa. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Wapello County has become the third Iowa county to approve a higher minimum wage. KGAN-TV reports under the plan, on January 1 the county’s minimum wage will rise to $8.20 an hour from the current national minimum of $7.25. Two more incremental increases will bring it to $10.10 on January 1, 2019. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – A man tried to get a little girl into his truck in Bettendorf. WQAD-TV reports a 12-year-old girl was walking down a sidewalk when a man between 50 and 55 years old pulled up in a purple or plum-colored Ford pickup, pushed open the passenger-side door and said “get in the truck.” She didn’t. She called police instead. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of stealing money from a Mason City dental office has pled guilty. 58-year-old Pamela Harris was the office manager of the dental practice and had been employed there for 21 years. She stole nearly $500,000 from the practice by using the dentist’s rubber stamp on checks and by using office credit cards for personal use. She faces up to 20 years in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The number of State Troopers working Iowa’s roadways has fallen dramatically. KCRG-TV reports just 267 troopers are working Iowa’s roads, which is a historic low. In 1998 there were 369 troopers working Iowa’s roadways–over 100 more than now. The dip in troopers comes at a time when fatal crashes in Iowa are surging. Deaths are up 19% from this time last year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Planning is underway for a new $500 million terminal at the Des Moines International Airport, according to KCCI-TV. Airport general manager Kevin Foley says the airport, which was built in 1948, currently has too many passengers and not enough space. The new terminal would overlap the existing terminal and curve to the northeast. The plan includes 14 gates and a new parking garage.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court won’t take up the appeal of an Oskaloosa mother convicted of killing her daughter, according to KTVO-TV. Alicia Ritenour was convicted of First-Degree Murder in the January 2014 death of Ava Ritenour. Ava was just over a year old when she died from multiple fractures of the skull. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case likely means the end of the appeals process for Ritenour. She is serving a life sentence. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A motorcycle rider has died after a crash Monday afternoon in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports a southbound passenger car driven by 18-year-old Sergio Ancona III attempted to make an eastbound turn when a northbound motorcycle ridden by 52-year-old Michael Murrell crashed into the side of Ancona’s car. Murrell died as a result of the crash. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump narrowly leads Democrat Hillary Clinton in Iowa, according to a new poll by Simpson College. This statewide poll shows if the election were held today only among Trump and Clinton, 43 percent of Iowans would vote for Trump and 42 percent would vote for Clinton. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An officer-involved shooting in Cedar Rapids has left a suspect dead, according to KCRG-TV. Police were called to Valley High Apartments last night for a domestic disturbance. A 25-year-old man was shot and killed by police. Names of those involved have not been released. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City mother has been arrested for allegedly forcing her children to sleep in a room that had human feces on the walls and floor, according to KIMT-TV. Alexis Martinez is accused of making the children, all four years old or younger, sleep in the room for approximately one week. The children were placed in the room and the door was locked from the outside. CARROLL, IA (IRN) – The Carroll High School football team is under investigation after some players used gay slurs against another student. KCCI-TV reports the players were in a group chat and were upset that the gay student was voted to the homecoming court. One player’s text said the gay student should kill himself. Another said he would drop out if the gay student stayed on the homecoming court. The superintendent says the players regret what he calls a stupid mistake. The gay student says it’s a teachable moment. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Funding has been secured to finish work on a huge piece of stalled construction in downtown Des Moines. WHO-TV reports construction will start soon on the long-stalled aquatic center at the Wellmark YMCA. It will have an Olympic-size pool, and the total cost of the project comes in at roughly $10 million.

LECLAIRE, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed when their motorcycles collided with an SUV near the eastern Iowa town of LeClaire on Sunday. KCRG-TV reports the SUV crossed the centerline and struck two motorcycles. They were then struck by a third motorcycle traveling close behind. The drivers of the first two motorcycles were killed instantly. The third motorcycle driver was treated at the scene, and the SUV driver was taken to the hospital with apparent non-life threatening injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 12-year-old girl has died from injuries sustained in a crash that happened in Des Moines last week. KCCI-TV reports Lea Phann died as a result of injuries received in the three-vehicle crash. Lea Phann’s grandfather, Sos Phann, was last listed in critical condition at a Des Moines hospital. 18-year-old Fernando Lopez Aguilar was arrested and charged in the incident. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have identified the body of the man pulled from the Iowa River in Iowa City Saturday night. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports 20-year-old Nathan Twedt was a student at the University of Northern Iowa. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of death. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Iowa has moved about 800 sex offenders to the prison in Newton where they will now be housed. The Des Moines Register reports state officials decided to move the sex offender treatment program to the Newton prison because it is more secure than the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility it was based at before. The Newton facility uses prison cells while the Mount Pleasant facility has a dormitory-style environment. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines student’s jaw is broken and his mouth wired shut after a fight at Goodrell Middle School in Des Moines last week. WHO-TV reports it involved a lunch room argument with another boy. The injured boy is thirteen, and the other involved is fourteen years old. The school is uncertain which boy was the aggressor, but the injured boy’s mom is threatening a lawsuit. MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – A manufacturing company is planning to add 35 jobs at its plant in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Husco International will hire the new workers over the next few months. The company already employs 75 at its plant in Maquoketa. Husco makes hydraulic and electro-hydraulic controls for automotive and other industries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Today is September 11, and Iowa and our nation mourns those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half staff beginning at sunset Friday, Sept. 9, until sunrise on Monday, Sept. 12 in their honor. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a drowning after first responders pulled a body out of the Iowa River Saturday evening, according to KCRG-TV. The name of the victim has not been released. SIBLEY, IA (IRN) – A trailer-load of hogs were killed in a rollover crash near the northwest Iowa town of Sibley. The Sioux City Journal reports the crash happened Tuesday when the semi’s 26-year-old driver swerved to try to avoid a cow in the road. The semi tipped, landing partially in a ditch. The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries. The cow was also killed. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Cy-Hawk Trophy is staying in Iowa City as Iowa dominated Iowa State Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium. The No. 16 Hawkeyes crushed the Cyclones 42-3. UNI lost to the 15th ranked University of Montana Grizzlies in Cedar Falls, 20-14.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man is dead after being hit by a car in Cedar Rapids Friday night, according to KWWL-TV. A 71-year-old man was attempting to cross a street when he was struck by a 2002 Kia Sportage. He was not in a crosswalk when he was hit by the car, and his identity has not been released. The driver of the vehicle has been identified as 26-year-old Britney Marx of Marion. She was not injured, and no charges have been filed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A southern Iowa man has been sentenced to 120 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography involving girls younger than 10 years old. 31-year-old Timothy Ryan Zollman, of Van Wert sexually assaulted 10 girls and recorded the assaults. The U.S. Attorney’s office called Zollman “a dangerous predator.” WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Wolf Construction in West Des Moines confirmed Friday that its owner and founder died in a plane crash Wednesday while returning from Kansas City. KCCI-TV reports forty-two-year-old Scott Wolfswinkel, of West Des Moines, died when his Piper Malibu crashed in Lucas County as he was coming back to Des Moines after a business meeting in Kansas City. He was the only one on board. CUSTER, S.D. (IRN) – A Davenport man and Patriot Guard Rider died in a motorcycle accident near Custer, South Dakota. WQAD-TV reports two motorcycles that were traveling together failed to negotiate a curve and went in the ditch. Seventy-two-year-old Douglas Boemecke died at the scene. The other motorcycle was driven by his son, 52-year-old Timothy Boemecke of Fallon, Illinois. Timothy was hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One Des Moines girl is hoping to help the homeless by spreading some blessings. WHO-TV reports Niasha Wills is a 12-year-old girl who wants to help the homeless. Wills got the idea for “Blessings Bags” from Pinterest. They’re simply Ziploc bags full of essentials – like first-aid kits, lotion, chapstick, and toiletries – as well as some things meant to just brighten a person’s day, like cookies, juice, and a personalized card. She hopes to add toys for children around Christmas time.