Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Extreme heat is forecast to settle in over the state of Iowa beginning today and lasting through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The highest heat index reading in Des Moines since 1980 was 118º on July 26, 1997. We could come close to this on Thursday afternoon when heat index values are expected to reach 115º. Heat is the No. 1 weather killer in the United States. WAVERLY, IA (IRN) – Terex suddenly shut down its crane factory in Waverly Tuesday, leaving roughly 175 workers out of a job, according to KCRG-TV. The company announced it is expanding its crane production facility in Oklahoma City and, as a result, closing the Waverly operation effective immediately. ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A local group is working to save a Girl Scout camp in northeast Iowa that’s been around for nearly 50 years. KWWL-TV reports Camp Tahigwa, which sits nestled in the hills of Allamakee County, may be sold. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois will vote on a recommendation to sell the camp August 11. The recommendation to sell is based largely on money and poor attendance. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The signing of a sister city agreement between Herat, Afghanistan and Council Bluffs takes place today, according to KCCI-TV. Many Americans associate the country with war and terrorism, but three visitors from Afghanistan in Iowa this week are working to change both the perception and reality. They hope one of the first opportunities from this new relationship will be a cultural exchange of art.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A conflict over a broken window escalated to gunfire in Iowa City early Monday morning, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Officers responded to the scene, and their investigation revealed the shooting was the result of a month-long conflict. Police say 29-year-old D’Anthony D. Money, of Holland, Mich., was located outside of the residence attempting to flee the area. The residence belongs to Money’s sister. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two officers are on administrative leave after firing their guns at a suspect in Davenport. KWQC-TV reports officers were called to a residence Monday for shots fired. Police chased a suspect speeding from the scene, and two officers fired their service weapons. Later that day, officers were called to a hospital for a man with a gunshot wound. CLEVELAND, OH (IRN) – Representative Steve King sparked controversy Monday by stating Europe and the United States have contributed more to civilization than any other “subgroup.” KCCI-TV reports King took part in a panel discussion on MSNBC, discussing Donald Trump’s history of racially-loaded comments. King recently received criticism for keeping a Confederate flag on his desk at the U.S. Capitol. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One Des Moines resident is in critical condition and police are looking for a suspect in a shooting yesterday afternoon, according to WHO-TV. The victim suffered a severe head wound. Police have not released a description of the suspect or name of the victim involved in the assault. The victim remains in critical condition but they expect him to survive. Several children witnessed the incident. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police arrested a man in connection with a June 6 shooting, according to WQAD-TV. 24-year-old Jovonta Litt is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury causing serious injury. Litt approached a 25-year-old male victim who was standing next to a vehicle with other people and fired seven shots. Litt stood on the hood of the vehicle to shoot the victim, striking him in the arm. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeyes fans will be able to see hoops highlights on a new scoreboard inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, according to KCRG-TV. Workers are installing the LED scoreboard inside the arena. The four-sided display will hang over center court and will allow the Hawks to show a combination of live video, instant replays, statistics, and sponsor information. There will also be four smaller displays, two at each end of the arena.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says an EF2 tornado went through Vinton Sunday morning, with winds speeds up to 130 mph. KWWL-TV reports high winds hit several multi-family apartment buildings and one business. The buildings sustained serious structural damage, losing roofs and walls. Several residents suffered minor injuries. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Suspects accused of an armed robbery in Burlington tried to outrun police and ended up crashing into a garage, according to WQAD-TV. The victim was approached by three men shortly after midnight. One of the men held a handgun to the victim’s chest and demanded the items in his pockets. The victim followed orders, and the three suspects fled. A chase ensued followed by a crash and a short foot chase. Two are in custody. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Mason City Councilman has died at the age of 34. KIMT-TV reports Alex Kuhn died Friday. Kuhn has been a City Councilman for several years and has been active in the Mason City community. Law enforcement officials are investigating and not releasing any information regarding his death. CLEVELAND, OH (IRN) – The Republican National Convention begins today in Cleveland, and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst will be the focus on opening night. Ernst will deliver a prime-time speech on security. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating a crash where a young child was hit by a vehicle Sunday, according to KCCI-TV. The child was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. One person is in custody and charges are pending. CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A motorcycle crash has left one man dead near Charles City. KWWL-TV reports 23-year-old Thomas Houdek was driving on Highway 18 pulling on to Highway 218 northbound when he was hit by a semi, driven by Joshua Brood of Plainfield. Houdek was pronounced dead at the scene, and Brood was airlifted to Mason City for his injuries. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 21-year-old man and injured two other people in Waterloo yesterday, according to KCRG-TV. The two hospitalized have non-life-threatening injuries. Police have not announced any arrests. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Governor’s Association summer meeting in Des Moines ended yesterday, and state leaders spent the day giving back. WHO-TV reports they teamed up with the Outreach Program, an organization that packages meals for people in need. The organization’s mission is to end hunger across the world. However, on Sunday, the mission was focused on helping thousand of Iowans. The group packaged 50,000 meals for the Food Bank of Iowa.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – The trial for a Coralville man accused of knowingly spreading HIV has been pushed back to October. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the trial for 34-year-old Adam Musser had been set to begin Tuesday. It will now begin on Oct. 25. Musser was sentenced to a 50-year prison term in 2004 after being convicted of knowingly spreading HIV, but he was paroled in 2012. After he was paroled, he told two women he was disease-free. POLK CITY, IA (IRN) – A 20-year-old man died early Saturday in a single-vehicle rollover north of Saylorville Lake, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The victim, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, was the sole occupant of the vehicle when it rolled over. The cause of the accident is unknown. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 9-year-old boy from West Des Moines who went missing Saturday has been found safe, according to WHO-TV. Wyatt Morris was reported missing from his home Saturday morning after a disagreement with his parents. No further information has been released. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque is taking advantage of the growing popularity of the game Pokémon GO by incorporating it into one of its yearly events. KCRG-TV reports the museum is planning their annual Ding Darling Day event around the mobile game. Staff member Emily Graves says, “Our campus has exploded… it’s kind of taking over. So we thought we’d just embrace it and have a lot of fun with it.”

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – Police are warning businesses not to take checks from a southeast Iowa couple wanted on 18 felony warrants. WGEM-radio reports the Fort Madison Police Department is asking for help finding Ashley and Brandon Erb, of West Point. Police say they have 16 warrants for lottery fraud, one for second-degree theft and one for identity theft. ZEARING, IA (IRN) – A Zearing woman lost her husband in a semi accident near Iowa Falls a day before she delivered the couple’s third child. KCCI-TV reports the accident happened Monday as 34-year-old Luke Lodermeier was driving a semi on Highway 20 and as he was coming onto a curve, he struck another semi that was on its side after that driver lost control. Wife Kimberlee says, “I know Luke is shining down on his new baby–he’d be proud of little Edwin.” DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two homes and a vehicle were struck by bullets overnight in a Davenport neighborhood. WQAD-TV reports the incident was reported just after midnight on Friday. There were no injuries, and police haven’t identified any suspects. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Eastern Iowa Airport invites people to play “tug of war” with a FedEx 757 airplane, according to KCRG-TV. It’s part of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight’s fundraiser so more veterans to fly to Washington D.C. on honor flights. Teams of 15 to 25 people can sign up to see who can move the plane 20 yards the fastest. It costs $100 per person to participate, but free to watch. The event will be held August 6. GRANT COUNTY, WI – Authorities are blaming a kitten on the Iowa-Wisconsin Bridge for a multi-vehicle crash that snarled rush-hour traffic for more than an hour Thursday evening. KCRG-TV reports a woman began slowing after seeing a kitten on the bridge. Two cars behind the woman also slowed, but a fourth vehicle wasn’t able to stop. A chain reaction ensued, and all four vehicles were damaged. Everyone is OK, including the kitten.