Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a shooting at an elementary school’s parking lot Tuesday. KCCI-TV reports it was reported at Park Avenue Elementary. The man shot, 18-year-old Darrius Colter Jr., told police he knocked on three different doors before someone came outside and called 911. About 3-4 shots were heard by nearby residents. Colter told police he and friends went to buy marijuana from an unknown individual at the school. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – A White House invitation for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to discuss the current U.S. Supreme Current vacancy with President Barack Obama has so far gone unanswered, according to The Des Moines Register. Grassley, a Republican, is Iowa’s senior senator and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He has vacillated in the past week over whether he would consider an Obama nominee to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia, but he issued a letter on Tuesday saying the committee would not hold confirmation hearings until after a new president take office in 2017. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A mental health patient in the psychiatric ward at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo stole an ambulance and left the facility Tuesday, according to KWWL-TV. He was found shortly after having abandoned the ambulance. When police located him he was walking down a street trying to find an unlocked car. He’s back in custody. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A 43-year-old woman has been given jail time and told to make restitution for helping to steal cattle in Nebraska’s York County and selling them in southwestern Iowa. The York News-Times reports that Amy Springer was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay nearly $1,800 to a feedlot owner in York County. Prosecutors say Springer and an accomplice stole two steers from the feedlot and sold them at a sale barn in Massena, Iowa. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Some Waukee students will soon start their day a little differently. WHO-TV reports Monday night the school board decided to require all high school students to begin their day with the Pledge of Allegiance. The issue was brought up by a parent who questioned why the requirement only applied to students through tenth grade. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Roosevelt High School is now the first Des Moines public school to have gender-neutral restrooms. KCCI-TV reports two gender-neutral restrooms are now open in support of the LGBT community. Officials at the school say the restrooms are a part of a widespread effort to make students and staff feel accepted. The idea was put forth by student Zoe Wagner, who said students at the school come from all walks of life. Principal Kevin Biggs says that if the change can make an impact on even one person, then it’s worth it.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers will debate a bill that would let children use handguns Tuesday. The bill would allow children of any age to use handguns WITH adult supervision. Current law prevents anyone under the age of 14 from using handguns. MARION, IA (IRN) – A group of Linn-Mar High School parents allege Assistant Football Coach Matt Casebolt emotionally and physically abused their kids at football practice. Monday, the families filed complaints with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners against Casebolt and his supervisors. Parents initially took their concerns to Linn Mar’s High School Principal Jeff Gustason. The district investigated and dismissed the abuse claims. Unsatisfied, the group decided to appeal to the state board. PAGE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 25-year-old inmate at the Page County Jail died in early December due to methamphetamine toxicity, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Jessica Lee was arrested Nov. 19 on multiple drug charges. She was found unresponsive in her cell on Dec. 1 and died the next day. Authorities determined she died because she had sneaked meth into the jail inside a body cavity, and the bag had deteriorated. CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A drug bust in southern Iowa on Monday resulted in two people being charged. WHO-TV reports 38-year-old Raymond Rhodeman of Des Moines and 43-year-old Melissa Zanders of Centerville were arrested. Authorities found meth, drug paraphernalia and an automatic weapon. Officers also located an unidentifiable white powder, which was later determined to be potassium cyanide, a deadly chemical used in gold mining. Both are charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person is in jail this morning for arson after a shed fire in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports the fire department put out the fire and police arrested Richard Alatalo for arson and public intoxication. Officers found him shortly after the fire started. Alatalo was arrested on an arson charge last October. NEVADA, IA (IRN) – The Sloan family bought an old theater in Nevada because they love its rich history. KCCI-TV reports they found an unanticipated piece of history while remodeling. An old child’s wallet was found lodged in floorboards. A pocket calendar in the wallet revealed it had been lost in 1944. It also held World War II ration stamps, a Boy Scout card, faded photos and an ID. It’s owner is alive and well. 85-year-old Clare McIntosh saw his wallet for the first time in 71 years Monday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Marshals Service says it has received a “lot of response” from the public after a media report about a murder suspect who may be in eastern Iowa, according to KWWL-TV. Authorities are looking for Kevin Edwards, who’s accused in the execution-style murder of a 9-year-old boy in Chicago. Investigators believe Edwards might be in eastern Iowa. They say they’ve received many tips and are going through a “ton of information” right now. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – At least one person was hurt in a fire that heavily damaged an apartment complex in Cedar Rapids Monday morning. KCRG-TV reports fire heavily damaged one building in the complex, affecting at least two apartments and possibly a third. Firefighters say one person was taken to the hospital with injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police released new information today in the murder case of a woman killed last month. The DCI Crime Lab made a DNA match with a suspect and blood evidence collected at the scene of Norma McNeeley’s murder. Ali Eisa Abdalla Yahia has been identified as the source of the blood at the scene. On Feb. 13 Yahia was shot and killed by Urbandale police officers at a hotel after firing upon them during an investigation unrelated to the McNeeley homicide. Yahia had more than 250 run-ins with law enforcement since 2006. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman is facing attempted murder charges after she allegedly set her boyfriend on fire Sunday, according to KCCI-TV. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim burned from head to toe, yelling that his girlfriend set him on fire. 47-year-old Amy Thornton faces charges of willful injury and attempted murder. She’s in jail. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old Decorah High School student is facing drug charges after police found drugs in his locker. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports police conducted the search Friday. John Jenkins was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Two juveniles have also been charged. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines’ decision to enforce a seldom-applied city ordinance limiting in-home day cares to six children has triggered a cascade of consequences that could lead to the elimination of 1,800 state-approved child care slots. The Des Moines Register reports that enforcement came after one complaint. Des Moines’ rule limiting in-home day cares to six children has been in place for more than 30 years, but it has rarely been enforced. Officials in the childcare industry say if enforcement continues, it will be a “total nightmare” for parents. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 4-year-old with a rare disease got a big boost in the form of a birthday party and cards Sunday. Olivia McCormick has a rare condition that causes her bones to break easily. WHO-TV reports Davenport police officers decided to do something special for her and surprise her with a birthday party. Police made Olivia a junior police officer and gave her a bag of over 500 handmade cards from other kids.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo, Nebraska woman has been charged in Iowa with stealing between $22,000 and $222,000. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 44-year-old Beth Beutler (BITE-ler) was arrested Friday and charged with 38 counts of forgery. Beutler used a checking machine to withdraw thousands of dollars. The machine allows truck drivers to access funds by giving a clerk at a truck stop an authorization code to pay for fuel, service or get cash. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A nationwide tax scam is sweeping through Iowa with phone calls from a fake IRS agent calling and threatening people to pay money. KCCI-TV reports a Des Moines woman who was targeted say she wants to get the word out so others don’t fall victim to the scam. Marlis Wagner says she’s older and retired, and thinks they are preying on older people because they tend to be more gullible. The IRS only communicates through mail and would never call or send an email. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Iowa has more structurally-deficient bridges than any other state. Nearly 60,000 bridges are structurally deficient in the U.S. and over 5,000 of them are in Iowa. A report published by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association says 21 percent of Iowa’s bridges have one or more key elements, such as the deck, superstructure or substructure, in poor condition or worse. .DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The smell of bacon filled the air in downtown Des Moines on Saturday. WHO-TV reports hundreds of people flocked to the Iowa Events Center for the 9th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. Bacon lovers could try all sorts of bacon, and attend bacon lectures, bacon competitions, and the annual Bacon Queen contest. This year’s theme was “Body by Bacon.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state of Iowa will spend nearly $250,000 on a consultant to help three Iowa cities find new tenants for empty, state-owned buildings. The Iowa Economic Development Board voted Friday to hire a national company, Matrix Design Group, to help seek new tenants for recently closed facilities in Toledo, Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. The Clarinda facility may be a particularly tough sell as the building is 128 years old with entire floors that have haven’t been used in decades. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man wanted for murder in Chicago may be in eastern Iowa, according to KCRG-TV. The U.S. Marshals Service is looking for 22-year-old Kevin Edwards, who is wanted for the execution-style murder of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee. Authorities believe Edwards fled Illinois after the murder and has connections throughout eastern Iowa. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Two people were taken to a hospital following a fire in Waterloo yesterday. One resident tried to get to his neighbor out of the burning building, but failed because there was so much smoke. First responders were able to rescue the neighbor. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is the last of four states to make a decision on the Bakken oil pipeline and it will remain that way until March. The Iowa Utilities Board decided Friday to delay action on the controversial pipeline. Supporters say it will create jobs and and help lead to energy independence, while critics say it will create few jobs and is a potential environmental disaster. The board plans to make their final decision on March 9 or March 10. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lost 500 farms last year, continuing a trend seen in recent years in which there are fewer farms operating and those that remain are becoming larger. The average farm size in Iowa rose to 349 acres. Nationally, the number of farms fell by 18,000.