Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES (IRN) – Law enforcement and gun dealers say they are seeing a rise in gun sales and applications for carry permits in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System says Iowa had nearly 26,000 firearm background checks conducted in December 2015, more than in any other month last year. The Polk County Sheriff’s Department says it saw about 1,000 more gun carry permit applications than usual last month. WHITING, IA (IRN) – A Louisiana man has been killed in a snowmobile accident in western Iowa. KWWL-TV reports David Daigle, of Baton Rouge, struck an irrigation pivot as he tried to cut across a farm field near Whiting. Daigle was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A Mahaska County man is dead after he crashed into a stalled vehicle on Highway 92 west of Oskaloosa, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Saturday evening an SUV became disabled and stopped in the eastbound lane, where the occupants exited. Sixty-two-year-old Georgie Crews then struck the rear of the SUV with his pickup, pushing it into another vehicle. Crews was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating the first homicide of the year. On Sunday officers responded to a home on a welfare check and found the body of 71-year-old Norma Jean McNeeley inside the home. The investigation continues. JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead and another injured following a crash Sunday, according to Iowa State Patrol. A car was traveling eastbound in Johnson County in the third lane of I-80. A second car driven by 20-year-old Kaitlyn Richards of Coralville then rear ended the first car pushing it out of it’s lane into a semi. The name of the deceased, a 54-year-old from Swisher, has not been released. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque library officials have rejected a $6 million offer to buy one of their two paintings by renowned Iowa artist Grant Wood. KCRG-TV reports trustees of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library say they have no intention of selling either painting by Wood, who is best known for his “American Gothic” painting. Official say the paintings are a source of pride for the community. The paintings were acquired in the 1930s for a total of $1,150 with money left to the library for purchasing art.

RICEVILLE, IA (IRN) – A former northern Iowa vocal teacher and coach who pled guilty to possessing child pornography has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 27-year-old Adam Haacke, of Riceville, was sentenced Friday to 11 years and three months. He wasn’t a teacher in the district at the time of his arrest. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – An escaped inmate from the Newton Correctional Center has been apprehended, according to KCCI-TV. 28-year-old Edward Nathaniel Shorter failed to return to the minimum security release center Saturday. Shorter is serving a 20-year-sentence on drug charges. DES MOINES (IRN) – The RAGBRAI route for 2016 has been announced, and it will take riders through beautiful southern Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports this year’s ride begins July 23 in Glenwood and ends July 30 in Muscatine. Overnight towns are Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, and Washington. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – The Pleasant Hill Public Library is encouraging children younger than 5-years-old to read 1,000 books before they start kindergarten, according to WHO-TV. John Lerdal, director of the Library, said the goal isn’t as daunting as it might sound. He says if parents read just one book per night to a young child, they’ll make it.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Des Moines Public School employees were fired last month after a school bus aide allegedly physically abused a special-needs student. KCCI-TV reports the district alleges Ruby Taylor, a 20-year-veteran with the district, “made abusive physical contact with a student” and “used excessive force in dealing with the student.” The bus driver was fired for not stepping in and stopping Taylor. CRESTON (IA) (IRN) – A man accused of killing two people in Union County pled guilty to both first-degree murder charges and was sentenced Friday morning. WOI-TV reports 37-year-old Jerry Ray Dillinger was arrested in December and charged with two counts of murder. The body of his former sister-in-law and girlfriend, Loretta Dillinger, was found in a farm pond. Unidentified skeletal remains buried behind a home nearby were also found. He’ll serve two consecutive life sentences. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police have made an arrest in connection with a bomb threat at West High School in Iowa City earlier this week. KCRG-TV reports the threat led to the busing of more than 2,000 students from the high school. Around the same time, police were called to investigate an armed bank robbery across town. Officers arrested 30-year-old Clifton Brinkmeyer in connection to the robbery. After police looked at his phone records, he’s now also charged with calling in the bomb threat. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Authorities say about 50 to 100 people in the Mason City area have had their mail stolen over the past couple of months. KIMT-TV reports the thefts started around Christmas, including incoming and outgoing mail. Residents in Mason City, Clear Lake, Manly, Lake Mills and Northwood have all been victimized. AMES, IA (IRN) A tent caught fire early Friday morning as die-hard Cyclone fans are spending their weekend camping outside at Hilton Coliseum. KCCI-TV reports they’re already in line for Monday night’s big game against Kansas. A propane heater caused the fire. Everyone is OK, at least physically.

CASSODAY, KS (IRN) – An Ankeny woman died Tuesday after a crash on the Kansas Turnpike. KWCH-TV reports that 36-year-old Kristina Marie Masters was traveling south on the interstate when she lost control of her vehicle. Officials with the Kansas Turnpike Authority say Masters struck a work vehicle parked on the side of the road that was helping another vehicle that had slid into a ditch. Masters was taken to an area hospital, where she died. Authorities say weather was a factor in the crash. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Jury deliberations have resumed in the case of an 18-year-old accused of stabbing a fellow student in Davenport. KCCI-TV reports testimony began Jan. 12 in the trial of Drew Romkey, who’s charged with felony willful injury. Romkey stabbed another student four times in the stomach. The student survived, but required extended hospitalization. Romkey says he was defending himself. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa has received a nearly $97 million federal grant to tackle the state’s water quality and flood challenges. The Des Moines Register reports that Gov. Terry Branstad and state and local leaders are expected to meet Friday afternoon to discuss the grant. The money will help accelerate water quality efforts and flood reduction in key watersheds in Iowa. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina is accused of using a group of preschool day care kids as props during an anti-abortion speech. KCCI-TV reports during a 40-minute appearance, Fiorina discussed a wide range of topics, but parents are upset the children had a front row seat while Fiorina discussed abortion in front of a large picture of an unborn fetus. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dozens of people are urging the Iowa Utilities Board to reject the construction of the Bakken oil pipeline, according to KCRG-TV. Dakota Access wants to build the pipeline that would carry thousands of barrels of crude oil across the state. In Des Moines on Tuesday, about 40 people, including farmers and environmentalists, protested the proposed project. Next month, the Iowa Utilities Board will hold four meetings to discuss it and possibly make a decision. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While Iowa children are showing improvement in health and education, there is room for improvement. WHO-TV reports data released by the Child and Family Policy Center shows that 110,000 children across the state live in poverty. That’s roughly two times the population of West Des Moines. But there is some good news. Teen birth rates have decreased more than 42% and the mortality indicators for infants, children and teens have decreased between nearly 25% percent since 2000. SIOUX CITY, IA – Morningside College is helping some talented students from Sioux City’s three middle schools be better speakers and leaders. 8th graders from the Talented and Gifted programs took part in the annual Toastmasters speaking competition at Morningside College. Students gave their speeches in one of two categories: persuasive or extemporaneous speaking. Members of the community helped the kids prepare, and 75 students took part in the contest.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman has been charged with murder and child endangerment in the death of a 3-year-old, according to the Ottumwa Courier. Prosecutors said Kashenna Tucker killed the child “while committing child endangerment or assault.” An autopsy found the child died of blunt force injuries. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A Wisconsin man is behind bars in Polk County after leading Urbandale police on a high-speed chase that ended in someone’s front yard Wednesday night. WHO-TV reports twenty-three-year-old Zachary Senger faces charges of eluding, OWI, open container and several traffic violations. Police say he was also wanted on a probation violation out of Wisconsin, related to a sex abuse conviction. IOWA (IRN) – Three crashes around the state led to six deaths on Iowa highways Tuesday according to the Iowa State Patrol. The first fatal accident happened in Cass County where a volunteer for the Ben Carson presidential campaign was killed, followed by another crash in Cass County where two were killed in a head-on collision. In the final accident, three were killed in Chickasaw County when a sedan pulled in front of an oncoming semi. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man faces felony charges after police say he used a juvenile to help him sell marijuana to high school students. KCRG-TV reports 22-year-old Christopher Wells was selling edible marijuana for $15 a piece. Police searched his home and found almost 2 pounds of the drug. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Police say a 12-year-old was driving a stolen vehicle that struck a mailbox and was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Davenport Wednesday. WQAD-TV reports an officer in an unmarked police car spotted the vehicle and followed it to a gas station parking lot. Squad cars blocked the vehicle in, but the driver accelerated and drove into a police car. Nobody was hurt. The child faces multiple charges. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley returned to Washington in January with an all-time record. Grassley has gone longer than any other serving lawmaker without missing a vote. As of Tuesday evening, Grassley’s unbroken streak stood at 22 years, six months and six days. His last missed vote came on July 14, 1993, when he was in the Midwest touring flooding damage with President Bill Clinton.