Iowa Radio News

BENTON COUNTY (IRN) – Three people have been killed in a four-car crash in Benton County in eastern Iowa this morning. The crash happened near Keystone on Highway 30. KWWL-TV reports at least four other people were hurt in the crash and have been taken to the hospital. Investigators say road conditions might have been a factor. NEVADA, IA (IRN) – One person has died in a house fire in Nevada early Thursday, according to KCCI-TV. Several fire departments were called to the fire about 3 a.m. The identity of the victim killed has not been released. The fire is considered suspicious. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While the Iowa caucus season is over, its results continue to have impact among Republican candidates. Donald Trump has accused Senator Ted Cruz of stealing the vote through fraud, and has called for a redo or for the results to be nullified. Ben Carson is also accusing Cruz of wrongdoing, and Rand Paul and Rick Santorum have dropped out. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Four people from Newton have been charged with child endangerment after children in their care tested positive for meth, according to KCCI-TV. Four adults tested positive for methamphetamine or admitted use of meth in the presence of children. The children are safe, were not seriously injured, and are now with their grandparents. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – What began as a traffic stop became a pursuit that ended with a crash in Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. A state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, and a chase began Tuesday. A short time later, the suspect vehicle crashed into two vehicles. The driver and passenger ran from the wrecked car and were captured by police. There were no serious injuries, and charges are pending. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A Johnston man wants snow and more snow. WOI-TV reports 22-year-old Mason Rumpf has Cerebral Palsy. It limits his movements so he asked friends and neighbors to help get him the money for an ActionTrak wheelchair that would allow him to do more. The community raised the $15,000 in a few weeks, and Rumpf has his new chair–with a snowplow attachment. He’s now able to clean off sidewalks and driveways of his friends and neighbors in a few minutes on his own, and he says he’s “paying it forward.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is ending his campaign for president, according to KCRG-TV. Paul, who came in fifth in Monday’s Iowa Republican Caucus with 4.5 percent support, joins 2008 caucus winner Mike Huckabee and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as candidates to end campaigning since the caucuses. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Police in Waukee responded to reports of shots fired early Wednesday morning. KCCI-TV reports police were looking for suspects in the area. A resident says one suspect was found hiding under a grill cover and was taken into custody. Waukee schools were under lockdown briefly. There have been no reports of injuries. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man who failed to return to the Linn County Correctional Center after a furlough in December has been arrested. KGAN-TV reports 45-year-old Charles Hobert Jr. has been returned to jail. He had received a court ordered furlough on Christmas Eve, but never returned. He had been in the Linn County Jail for Stalking, Forgery and Harassment. Upon being arrested, Hobert was charged with violation of a no contact order and escape. LAMONT, IA (IRN) – The former St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in the northeastern Iowa town of Lamont has been destroyed by fire, according to KWWL-TV. The church had been closed for years, and was unoccupied. The cause of the fire is unknown. MASON CITY, IA – Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow kept the Mason City Council from voting on the final steps for a downtown revitalization project Tuesday night. KIMT-TV reports council members voted to approve the final application for the project which includes a multi-million dollar renovation of the downtown district. Features include a multi-purpose arena, a performing arts pavilion and a Marriott hotel. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – Bitter cold weather couldn’t stop 102-year-old Ruline Steininger from Pleasant Hill from caucusing Monday. WHO-TV reports Steninger, who was born seven years before women were granted the right to vote, has always supported Democrats. She caucused for Hillary Clinton, and says she plans to live long enough to help elect the first woman president. Steninger will turn 103 before the election, and says “I must live to do my part in November 2016. I can die later!”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson’s presidential campaign is calling out Iowa caucus winner Ted Cruz’s campaign after accusations that Cruz’s staff suggested Carson planned to drop out of the race after Monday’s caucuses. Iowa Rep. Steve King, who endorsed Cruz, tweeted Monday evening “Carson looks like he is out. Iowans need to know before they vote. Most will go to Cruz, I hope.” DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque police are investigating a reported armed robbery Sunday night. An 18-year-old woman says she went to meet a person to pay off a debt and was robbed at gunpoint by a man. The man reportedly took $471 and her cellphone. The investigation continues. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash near a caucus site Monday night. KCCI-TV reports the crash was reported at 6:57 p.m. — right before caucus doors were to close. Witnesses told police the man stepped right out in front of the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not yet been released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Ted Cruz defeated national front-runner Donald Trump in a fierce struggle to win the Iowa Republican caucuses Monday. Cruz had 28 percent of the vote, while Trump had 24 percent. A surging Marco Rubio placed third, with a 23 percent of the vote. The Iowa Democratic Party declared that Hillary Clinton won the Democratic caucuses in Iowa Monday night by a slim margin, 49.9% to Bernie Sanders’ 49.6%. Several precincts were still being counted as of 2 a.m., and by 3 a.m. there was just one precinct left to report. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Given the results of the Iowa Caucuses, two candidates have decided to leave the race. Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley has suspended his campaign, and Republican candidate Mike Huckabee dropped out. Despite winning the Iowa caucuses in 2008, Huckabee received less than 2% of the vote this year. DECATUR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two men have died after they fell through the ice at Little River Lake in Decatur County on Sunday. KCCI-TV reports rescue crews were called to the lake after a person was seen falling through the ice. Crews reported the ice on the lake was so thin they could not stand or crawl on it, which hampered the rescue. Divers recovered the body of 33-year-old Joe Adair, and 63-year-ol David Adair was hospitalized only to die later. Both men were from Missouri. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On the heels of the Iowa caucuses a blizzard warning is now in effect for west-central to northern Iowa. 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected with wind gusts to 40 mph. Lighter snow is expected to the south and east.

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – Two neighbors helped save a Bettendorf man who fell into a pond’s freezing water. The Quad-City Times reports that 72-year-old Ronald Simmering was trying to save his dog, which had fallen into the pond when he fell in too. Neighbor Ann Raymon heard his cries for help from her home. Her husband, Tim Raymon, tried to extend a branch to Simmering before realizing he was too weak to get a good grasp. He then got on his belly on the ice to hold Simmerling until police and medics arrived and both man and dog could be rescued. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A home was struck by gunfire during a reported home invasion Sunday in Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. Davenport police found shell casings at the scene. No one was injured, and no arrests have been made. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A major crash stalled eastbound traffic on I-235 near the Easton exit in Des Moines this morning. KCCI-TV reports there were approximately 15 vehicles involved in the crash, and numerous minor injuries reported. One woman was transported to a local hospital. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man is facing felony charges after he tried to grab a police officer’s gun during his arrest. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports police were arresting 40-year-old Roy Webster for going armed with a knife on Sunday when he grabbed an officer’s gun. Officers used a Taser on Webster and handcuffed him. They said he threatened to kill them while they were taking him to the Black Hawk County Jail. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Three men were stabbed during an overnight fight in the parking lot of Tuxedos adult entertainment club in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports the fight happened around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. All three men were taken to the hospital, but none of their injuries were life-threatening. Nobody has been charged. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested after assaulting a Dubuque police officer Saturday. KWWL-TV reports the officer was making a traffic stop and as he approached the car, he noticed the man and woman inside were switching seats. The driver, 33-year-old Dennis Hantelmann of Dubuque punched the officer. The officer wasn’t injured. Hantelmann is in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It’s Iowa Caucus day. In the latest Des Moines Register poll released Saturday, Donald Trump has overtaken U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for the lead in the Republican race. The poll shows Trump with 28 percent support, Cruz has 23 percent and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has 15 percent. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has 45 percent, holds a slim lead over rival, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has 42 percent support.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A standoff Saturday morning in Clear Lake left one man behind bars. KIMT-TV reports Andrew Koenigs of Grafton was attempting to break into a house after he had been wandering around the property shooting his weapon. Law enforcement arrived and took Koenigs into custody after a brief standoff. He’s in jail. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A new Waterloo restaurant was damaged after a kitchen fire early Saturday morning. KWWL-TV reports Waterloo firefighters responded to Tokyo Bay just after 3 a.m. Smoke could be seen coming from the roof of the building. Firefighters say no one was hurt but there is considerable smoke damage throughout the entire building. The restaurant has only been open a couple of months. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A former drainage district board member has been accused of altering meeting minutes to cover up the theft of dirt used to repair a levee near Fort Madison. KTVO-TV reports sixty-year-old Michael Pieper is charged with theft and felony misconduct in office. The dirt value was estimated at around $93,000. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – With one day to go before the Iowa caucuses, Donald Trump has overtaken U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in the Des Moines Register Iowa Poll released Saturday. The poll shows Trump with 28 percent support, Cruz has 23 percent and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has 15 percent. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has 45 percent, holds a slim lead over rival, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has 42 percent.