Iowa Radio News

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The Burlington Police Department has identified multiple suspects in the murder of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson, according to WQAD-TV. Johnson was a Burlington High School student whose body was found March 2. After an extensive investigation, Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers is confident that charges will be filed. LE MARS, IA (IRN) – A western Iowa man faces operating while intoxicated charges after he crashed into a house in Le Mars. The Sioux City Journal reports that 22-year-old Travor Koontz of Remsen is accused of driving his car into a home around 1:40 a.m. Friday. Koontz lost control of his Chevy Impala and drove into the home, through the concrete basement wall, and broke a water line inside the house. No one was injured. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A proposed hog-processing plant in northern Iowa is drawing opposition from residents. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that more than 40 people met at a Mason City park Friday to gather petition signatures against the project. Mason City officials have scheduled a May 3 public hearing and vote for the proposed Prestage Foods Plant. Opponents say they’re concerned about the impact the plant might have on water quality. IOWA (IRN) – This year’s NFL draft was a quiet one for the state of Iowa. Chicago picked UNI defensive back Deiondre’ Hall in the fourth round. Indianapolis picked Iowa offensive lineman Austin Blythe in the seventh. Former Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock, who finished his career at Michigan, was picked in round six by the Lions.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Investigators are looking into an unusual claim of jury tampering in a medical malpractice trial in which University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics recently avoided millions in damages. KWQC-TV reports after the trial the court received a letter making allegations of jury tampering. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that three people have died in an apparent double murder-suicide in rural Des Moines County. WQAD-TV reports that deputies responded after receiving complaints from a fourth person who was able to get out of the house but reported hearing gunshots. All three people inside sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Names of the victims have not been released. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A popular Chinese restaurant in Cedar Falls has been destroyed by fire, according to KWWL-TV. Cedar Falls firefighters responded to the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant near UNI Friday morning. The fire started in a stove and quickly spread to the building’s roof. No one was injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Amber Alerts for two Iowa girls issued recently have been cancelled. Both girls have been found. There are now no active Amber Alerts in Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans participating in the second annual Nationwide Nurse-In rally at the Statehouse became an example of the discrimination they were there to protest yesterday, according to KCCI-TV. A Department of Administrative Services employee asked them to cover up, and the women refused. A spokesperson for the DAS later apologized. Both federal and state laws support breastfeeding in public.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man is facing multiple charges after police say he assaulted three officers. KCRG-TV reports 42-year-old Andrew Walker became violent Tuesday night when officers responded to a report of domestic abuse at his home. Walker allegedly resisted arrest and punched an officer in the head. Walker was pepper-sprayed and arrested. During the struggle, a second officer sustained a shoulder injury. Later on at the jail he head-butted a third officer in the face. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Des Moines on Thursday, according to KCCI-TV. He passed the teller a note that said, “I am going to rob Wells Fargo. Please cooperate put all money in a bag. I am armed, so please cooperate.” It was signed, “a loyal customer.” The money was placed on the counter and the man grabbed it and ran out the front entrance, leaving a wooden steak knife, a yellow notepad, and black pen behind. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa authorities have charged a Minnesota woman with counterfeiting prescriptions. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 27-year-old Jenna Fuhrmann, of Webster, Minnesota, faces three felony counts of prohibited acts. Court documents say Fuhrmann illegally filled a total of 22 counterfeit prescriptions in Mason City from August 2014 through this month. The documents say the prescriptions used the name of a Minnesota doctor. KALONA, IA (IRN) – Washington County authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a missing 17-year-old girl. Police are searching for Dominique Nicole Lloyd of Kalona. The alleged abductor is believed to be 24-year-old Micheal Brad Knuth. Lloyd was reported missing Saturday and was recently spotted in Georgia. Knuth is a registered sex offender, and has apparently violated a no-contact order with the victim. The two are believed to be in Georgia or Florida. FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A teenager is in the hospital after the driver of an ATV he was a passenger in crashed and rolled the vehicle into a ditch in rural Fayette County. KCRG-TV reports the two juveniles involved were ages 13 and 14 and are from Hawkeye. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Texas man accused of helping a lottery computer manager in Iowa collect jackpots from rigged lottery games has given up an extradition fight to face charges in Iowa. KCCI-TV reports Robert Rhodes, of Sugar Land, Texas, reported to the Polk County jail Thursday to face lottery fraud charges. Rhodes was booked and released on bond. He’s a friend of former Multi-State Lottery Association technology manager Eddie Tipton, convicted last year for manipulating Iowa Hot Lotto computers. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston has provided centralized training for city police, county deputies, and more since 1967. And nearly 50 years later, it needs an upgrade, according to director Judy Bradshaw. WHO-TV reports the building has black mold, leaks, and is too small. Bradshaw says it should be demolished and rebuilt. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One adult and two children were hospitalized after a crash led to a car fire in rural Linn County yesterday. KWWL-TV reports a semi driven by 52-year-old Randal Vanamburg, of Monticello, pulled out from a stop sign and was struck by a car driven by 22-year-old Kourtney Isaac, of Cedar Rapids. Isaac’s car started on fire as a result, but was quickly put out. All are expected to recover.

AMES, IA (IRN) – An armed robbery occurred at an apartment in the Campustown area of Ames Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports four people entered an unlocked door while holding a rifle and handguns. The robbers forced open several locked bedroom doors and took electronic devices and a wallet before running out. One of the men was wearing a red bandana over his face while the other males were wearing ski masks and hoodies. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man convicted of murder in an August 2014 shooting wants a new trial because he did not have an interpreter to explain testimony in Spanish. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports a Black Hawk County jury convicted 38-year-old Rodolfo Gonzalez of first-degree murder for shooting and killing Celio Posada outside El Senor Tequila Nightclub in Waterloo. CRESTON, IA (IRN) – Severe weather hit western Iowa yesterday. A confirmed tornado was seen near Creston just before 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Funnel clouds were reported near Clarinda and Riverton, and touchdowns were seen near Hepburn and Stanton. No injuries have been reported, and damage is being assessed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a homicide that happened in a Des Moines alley late Wednesday afternoon. WHO-TV reports several callers told police they heard multiple gunshots and saw a person on the ground. A 17-year-old victim was shot in the torso. He later died. Police believe there could have been as many as three shooters involved. Neighbors heard about nine gunshots. No arrests have been made. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have charged a high school student for carrying a concealed weapon at school, according to KCCI-TV. 18-year-old Malik Mandujano was arrested after authorities discovered he had the gun concealed while attending Scavo High School downtown. Police said they don’t believe students were in danger but consider it a serious offense. Mandujano is charged with possession of a firearm on school property. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A 9-year-old boy is alive and well after his mother allegedly attempted to take his life and hers, thanks to a Waterloo Police Officer. KWWL-TV reports officer Tim Everett came upon the struggle near the edge of the Cedar River just in time to save both their lives. The boy told police that his mom told him that ‘they were going down to river and then they were going to heaven.’ As the boy was being dragged to the river bank, he cried for help, and Everett heard him. Everett says he was just at the right place at the right time. To the family and the community, he’s a hero.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man gave an underage girl marijuana, then sexually assaulted her, according to KDTH-TV. 44-year-old Alfred Lucius has been charged with Distributing Drugs to an Underage Person and Third Degree Sexual Abuse. A woman called police after her 14-year-old daughter told her about an encounter with Lucius, who the girl knew as “Big Al.” The girl told police that Lucius invited her into his apartment to smoke marijuana, and then allegedly sexually assaulted her. He stopped when another person came to the door. WILLIAMSBURG, IA (IRN) – Williamsburg High School was under a lockdown Wednesday morning after the school’s principal received threats. The Iowa City Press-citizen reports the school received a call from a student saying that “he wanted to shoot up the school and cause a bus to crash.” The student was picked up and charged with threat of terrorism. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for strangling his wife, according to KWWL-TV. 45-year-old Shawn Crowley pled guilty after prosecutors lowered the charges. He was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, stalking, and for being a felon with a firearm. Authorities say he and 39-year-old Chantele Crowley got into an argument and he used his bare hands to kill her in their Cedar Rapids mobile home. OSAGE, IA (IRN) – A June trial has been scheduled for a man accused of kidnapping and injuring a woman last month. KCCI-TV reports 23-year-old Nicholas Lenz from the northern Iowa town of Mitchell has pled not guilty to charges of kidnapping, willful injury, theft and other crimes. His trial is set to begin June 22 in Osage. Authorities say Lenz confined the woman at a residence, using zip ties and packaging tape, and punched her several times. OSAGE, IA (IRN) – An Osage teen convicted of killing his mother will be sentenced later this year, according to KIMT-TV. Noah Crooks was found guilty of second-degree murder for the 2012 death of his mother. Crooks shot his mother 22 times. Because he was 14 years old when convicted, Crooks was not sentenced and was instead sent to the Eldora State Training School for Boys until he turned 18. That will happen this year. His attorneys say they will ask for his release. The DA wants Crooks to be treated as an adult and be given 50 years behind bars. JESUP, IA (IRN) – Jesup police say they received a report of an attempted child abduction Monday night. KCRG-TV reports a man tried to abduct a small girl, who was at a playground near the soccer complex. The suspect was driving a red “sporty-type” car with a yellow stripe. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man showed up for a job interview to be a taxicab driver drunk, according to KCCI-TV. Ryan Dickson hoped to leave Trans Iowa with a new job Monday. Instead, Dickson left in handcuffs. He arrived, struck two vehicles with his car, and when dispatchers called police, he blew a .273, more than three times the legal limit. Dickson drank a fifth of vodka prior to his interview. MURRAY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man may be the world’s longest living heart transplant recipient, according to WHO-TV. Ted Nowakowski of Murray didn’t think he’d see his 67th birthday, living about 33 years after receiving a heart transplant. After receiving it, Ted went on to work at the Murray high school for 30 years. He coached football, and taught art. After the transplant, he and his wife had two more children, and now have five grandchildren.