Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Runnells woman was sentenced Thursday in a crash that happened while she was texting and driving, according to KCCI-TV. 20-year-old Lydia Ellen George was charged with texting while driving causing serious injury. On Oct. 9 George’s passengers had asked her to stop texting because she was scaring them, but she continued. The crash that happened next seriously injured one of her passengers. She was ordered to complete a driver’s safety course and 120 hours of public service. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – Fort Dodge police responded Thursday night to a report of a home invasion. KCCI-TV reports 57-year-old Orval Rasmussen of Fort Dodge allegedly kicked through a side door to get inside the home. Rasmussen was armed with a knife and assaulted a woman inside the home. The woman sustained a minor injury to her arm. Rasmussen faces multiple charges. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Police are scouring a small eastern Iowa lake looking for additional human remains, weeks after a decomposed human foot was found near a spillway. The Hawk Eye reports Burlington police searched Lake West by kayak on Tuesday looking for additional body parts. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – About 15 detasselers who came into contact with herbicide north of Conrad Thursday afternoon have been hospitalized, according to KCCI-TV. A Monsanto crew was contaminated when the wind carried an herbicide being applied by a ground sprayer into the area they were working. Workers started having trouble breathing, and complained of sore throats and itchy eyes. All workers are expected to be released today. SAC CITY, IA (IRN) – A human skull was found Monday afternoon near the Raccoon River in southern Sac County. KWWL-TV reports the state medical examiner concluded it was the skull of an adult white man. It has been forwarded to a forensic anthropologist in Kansas City for further examination. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – More than 20 governors of both parties are registered to be in Des Moines this week. For the second time in 10 years, Iowa is the host state for the National Governor’s Association Meeting. Governor Terry Branstad says the governors are there to learn from each other. AYSHIRE, SCOTLAND (IRN) – Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson is among the leaders in the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Troon golf course in Scotland. KCRG-TV reports Johnson is in a tie for 2nd at 5 under par through 14 holes, but he is three strokes behind the leader, Phil Mickelson, who is at eight under through 17 holes. Johnson won his first Open championship last year in dramatic fashion in a 3-hole playoff. Johnson won the Masters in 2007.

MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – A Manchester woman has been charged with child endangerment after she left her child in the car because the child was misbehaving at a restaurant. KWWL-TV reports Christin Pasker left the three-year-old in a locked car while Pasker went back into the restaurant to finish her supper. Witnesses say the child was left alone for 10 to 15 minutes. WAYLAND, IA (IRN) – Two people were hospitalized after a car vs. semi collision near Wayland Wednesday night according to KCII-Radio. A semi loaded with hogs and a car collided causing the semi to roll onto its side, with hogs getting loose. The driver of the semi, Randolph Keller of Albia, was cited for failure to obey a stop sign. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Two Davenport teens were arrested for assault and robbery after allegedly attacking a man and his girlfriend in the Walmart parking lot and stealing the man’s wallet. WQAD-TV reports one teen punched the robbery victim’s girlfriend in the face while the other took a wallet out of the man’s pocket. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a significant increase in reports of credit and debit card fraud. Over the past three days they have received numerous reports of fraudulent activity with most of those reports taking place in the City of Bondurant. They suggest everyone pay close attention to their credit and debit card statements. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A teen who was hit by a minivan while playing a game with friends has died. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 16-year-old J.C. Meardon and two friends were standing on a road Monday night when two of the boys were hit. The boys were playing a game called “hostage,” in which players are blindfolded and dropped in a random area. They then call friends, describing their surroundings, asking for a ride. The other boy wasn’t seriously injured. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo police responded to a home last night after a man was stabbed. KWWL-TV reports the man was stabbed in the leg and torso. He refused to be taken to the hospital. Police do not have a description of a suspect. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A marine struggling with PTSD and addiction reached out to the VA Medical Center in Iowa City but was not admitted, according to WHO-TV. 33-year-old Brandon Ketchum then committed suicide last Friday. His family now wants answers from VA officials about why he didn’t get the help he wanted. The VA won’t comment–citing privacy laws. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Demolition on the former Sears space at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville got underway yesterday, and a single-story building will go up in its place. KCRG-TV reports six retailers, many of them new to eastern Iowa, will occupy the new space. It’s expected to be open to shoppers in the fall of 2017.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people were arrested by Des Moines police in the city’s latest bank robbery Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the robbery happened at a U.S. Bank. Police took a juvenile in custody near the bank just after the robbery. Police could be seen pouring water on the teen’s face because he had been Maced. No money was taken during the robbery, but a man outside the bank was assaulted. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – State authorities say the fatal shooting of a suspected bank robber in Fort Madison was justified. KWQC-TV reports thirty-seven-year-old Lafayette Evans, of Nashville, Tennessee, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest on June 29. The Office of the Iowa Attorney General said Tuesday that the two Fort Madison police officers shot at Evans to protect a deputy, who was under fire from Evans. EVANSDALE, IA (IRN) – It’s Safety Awareness Day in Evansdale, according to KWWL-TV. Four years ago today someone kidnapped cousins Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook near Meyers Lake in Evansdale. Their bodies were found months later, and police are still working to find who killed them. HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – The trial of a Hampton man accused of killing his girlfriend won’t be held in Franklin County, according to KCCI-TV. On Monday a judge granted Ronald Rand’s request for a change of venue, citing media coverage that could affect potential jurors in Franklin County. The judge did not say where the trial will be held. Prosecutors say Rand shot and killed 51-year-old Michelle Key at his home. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating a deadly assault, according to WHO-TV. 32-year-old Ryan Thompson died Monday less than 24 hours after his fiancée says he was punched in the head. Thompson appeared fine, then a few minutes later, he looked like he was having a stroke and he was rushed to the hospital. Apparently the blow to his head ruptured a blood clot on his brain, killing him. Police have a suspect. CLAYTON, IA (IRN) – A boating accident on the Mississippi River took the life of a Dysart man, according to KCRG-TV. 60-year-old Charles Peterson lost his balance and fell from a boat his wife was operating near Clayton Monday evening. He was not wearing a life jacket. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa park ranger is being credited with saving two Council Bluffs men whose boat on Lake Manawa filled with water because of high winds. The Iowa DNR reports the two men were fishing on the western Iowa lake, when high winds swamped the boat. Lake Manawa State Park Ranger Aaron Johnson went to the men’s rescue. There were life jackets on board, but the men were not wearing them. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines International Airport is getting a new bathroom for our furry traveling companions, according to KCCI-TV. The bathroom area for service animals will cost anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000. Airport officials say the new bathrooms are required by law. Some seating in the airport will be replaced with an enclosed area with artificial turf for service animals to use.

RUNNELLS, IA (IRN) – A Runnells man and a Minnesota woman face charges in a human trafficking case. KCCI-TV reports 50-year-old Michael Lee Williams of Runnells and 48-year-old Cynthia Mitteness of Mayer, Minnesota have been charged. The abuse was discovered by the father of a 9-year-old female Minnesota resident after he saw alarming social media messages between his wife, Cynthia Mitteness and Michael Williams regarding abuse of the child. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is closing two driver’s license stations and seven maintenance garages because of reduced funding from the Iowa Legislature. KCRG-TV reports the changes do not include layoffs, but 67 open positions will be permanently removed. The driver’s license stations closings are in Spencer and Carroll. The maintenance garages are in Sabula, Akron, Soldier, Corning, Gowrie, Rock Valley, and Centerville. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A store clerk’s unexpected scream foiled a robber’s plans in Des Moines Monday, according to KCCI-TV. A man approached the walk-up window at the Southside Tobacco & Liquor and asked for two cigarette cartons. When the clerk came back with them, the man pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her demanding money. She screamed “he has a gun,” and the man ran away. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new gas station chain is coming to Iowa, according to the Des Moines Business Record. Brookwood Financial Partners announced that it will acquire 21 convenience stores in Iowa from Kum & Go. The new gas station brand will be called Yesway. The company plans to have 31 stores in Iowa and plans to grow to up to 1,000 stores in the Midwest. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The man who led Cedar Rapids police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash that killed a city employee and Palo firefighter will spend up to 40 years in prison. KCRG-TV reports on Monday, a judge sentenced 48-year-old Lawson Chadwick for homicide by vehicle while under the influence of meth, among other charges. WASHINGTON, D.C. – A small Confederate flag on Rep. Steve King’s desk at the U.S. Capitol is sparking criticism, according to KCCI-TV. Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, called King’s actions “anti-Iowa,” as “Iowa fought on the Union side,” and says that “the Confederate flag is a symbol of division and slavery.” Governor Branstad agrees. Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann says he’s “embarrassed,” and “disgusted,” by the display. INDIANAPOLIS, IN (IRN) – Former ISU basketball star Georges Niang has signed a three year contract worth $2.6 million dollars with the Indiana Pacers, according to KWWL-TV. The first year is fully guaranteed at $650,000. Niang has played in five summer league games so far with the Pacers, averaging more than ten points and six rebounds a game. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A 6-year-old boy from Waukee thought police officers in town might be sad because of the shootings of officers in Dallas, and decided to do something to make them happy. WHO-TV reports Brendan Bowman used the money the Tooth Fairy gave him to buy donuts for police officers because he wanted them to know he was thinking about them. Chief John Quinn says the entire department was “touched” by the boys gift.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Coralville police are looking for a black SUV after it crashed into the Spin City laundromat early this morning. KGAN-TV reports the driver of the vehicle fled the scene after the crash. The laundromat is still operating despite having a large hole in the front of the building. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A police officer was assaulted by a man inside a Des Moines Walmart Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. The officer was working off-duty at the Walmart when employees reported a man in the dairy department “acting crazy,” spraying air freshener at customers and breaking bottles. When confronted by the officer, 43-year-old John Phillip DelFranco, punched the officer and shoved him into the dairy case. 4-5 Walmart employees jumped on to help get the 220-pound man into handcuffs. LAKE RED ROCK, IA (IRN) -Two people died in separate drowning incidents at Lake Red Rock Sunday evening, according to KNIA/KRLS radio. 6-year-old Alexi Oquendo of Newton drowned while swimming, and 50-year-old Daniel Tutor of Des Moines drowned while kayaking. Both had life-jackets in their possession, but weren’t wearing them. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man has been charged after allegedly stabbing another man in the neck Saturday night, according to the Des Moines Register. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found a man lying in the street covered in blood. The victim was taken into surgery and is expected to survive. Police identified 33-year-old Thea Ngov of Des Moines as a suspect and arrested him. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person is in custody after Davenport police investigated a shots fired call Saturday night, according to WQAD-TV. 23-year-old Austin Young of Davenport is charged with assault on a peace officer and possession of marijuana. Young and the victim were together in the victim’s vehicle in front of a liquor store when an argument started. The victim is OK, but his vehicle was hit several times with bullets. LUCAS, IA (IRN) – A woman died after the horse she was riding fell and landed on top of her at an Iowa park. The incident happened Saturday afternoon near Lucas in south-central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the woman was airlifted from Stephens State Forest to a Des Moines hospital where she later died. AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames man is recovering from a gunshot wound after being shot early Sunday morning, according to WHO-TV. The victim and a witness say they were walking at approximately 3:30 a.m. when an unidentified person fired several gunshots at them. The victim was shot in the leg. HAMBURG, IA (IRN) – A Page County priest was arrested Saturday morning after he allegedly tried to persuade an undercover source to perform sexual acts in exchange for money. KJAN-radio reports that Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 40-year-old Rev. Dominic Yamoah, of Clarinda in the prostitution sting. CHEROKEE, IA (IRN) – Leaders in the northwest Iowa town of Cherokee want to see another company make use of the former Tyson Foods meat-processing plant just outside town, but they say the food company is making it hard to find a new tenant. The Des Moines Register reports that Tyson continues paying $130,000 annually in rent on the building and holds a clause in the lease allowing it to refuse bids from competitors. Cherokee City Councilman Chad Brown says Tyson is holding the town hostage.