Iowa Radio News

SAC COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Four children and a driver were on an East Sac County School bus during a crash Thursday afternoon, according to KCCI-TV. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office said the school bus was was hit by an oncoming pickup truck. The crash sent both vehicles into the ditch. The driver of the truck, his passenger, and the school bus driver were taken to the hospital. The four kids are OK. CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 48-year-old Des Moines man was hurt when his 2012 utility tractor/trailer went through a guardrail and into the Winnebago River in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports the vehicle was driver’s side down in the river. The driver, Jonathon Hildebrand was able to get out of the vehicle and walk to a convenience store. He suffered several injuries and hypothermia. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman accused of stealing from disabled residents when she worked at a Clear Lake facility has pled not guilty. KCCI-TV reports 41-year-old Amy Palmer allegedly took more than $8,000 from the residents at Opportunity Village while she worked there. She’s charged with ongoing criminal conduct and 15 counts of abusing dependent adults. No trial date has been set. Davenport, IA (IRN) – A body has been found in Davenport in a marsh by the Water Treatment Plant, according to WQAD-TV. The body was found Thursday afternoon when someone saw it in the ice. An investigation is underway. DUBUQUE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Five people were taken to the hospital following a crash in Dubuque County on Thursday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 29-year-old Marquita Robertson of Epworth was driving and failed to negotiate a turn. The car went into the ditch and over an embankment. Robertson and four passengers, ages 14-25, had to be taken to the hospital. Robertson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Driving While Suspended. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Johnston police issued a warning Thursday about scam phone calls about the Iowa Caucuses. KCCI-TV reports a woman was called by a man who claimed to be associated with the Iowa Caucuses. He asked her if she planned to attend the Caucuses on January 13, and if so, he would need to meet with her at her residence to fill out some paperwork. She declined. The Iowa Caucuses are February 1. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public schools are seeking increased aid from the state to help with at-risk students, especially those living in poverty. WHO-TV reports three-fourths of students in the district qualify for free and reduced lunch. Yet, the district receives little more in funding per pupil than nearby wealthier districts like West Des Moines, Waukee, and Ankeny. The district is seeking an increase in K-12 funding of $145 million. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – School districts in eastern Iowa are turning to propane to power their school buses. KCRG-TV reports the Cedar Rapids School District has purchased seven new propane buses to replace older diesel models. The Linn-Mar, Anamosa, and Vinton-Shellsburg districts have also bought propane buses. The buses cost roughly $5,000 more, but districts say they will save about $3,200 per year in fuel and maintenance. The busses are also better at starting in the bitter cold, and emit fewer greenhouse gases.

IOWA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A mother and son died Thursday morning in a crash in Iowa County about five miles west of Marengo. 18-year-old Bethany Clark’s car left the roadway when she lost control on the frost covered road and hit a creek embankment. Her car quickly caught on fire and both perished. SPIRIT LAKE, IA (IRN) – The use of any form of tobacco products, including smoking and electronic cigarettes or “vaping” devices, may soon be off limits at city parks and outdoor recreational facilities in Spirit Lake, according to KTIV-TV. The city’s recreational trails would also be affected along with associated restrooms and parking lots and shelter houses. The city is considering an ordinance banning the products. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Deputies have found a missing Sioux City woman lying in a snow-covered field in rural Woodbury County. KCCI-TV reports 24-year-old Shaniqwa Hayes was found conscious but unresponsive and taken to a hospital. She was last seen Sunday after leaving her job in Dakota City, Nebraska. Relatives reported her missing on Monday. Her cell phone location transmission led two deputies to a farmstead near Moville. The deputies found a faint footprint 15 yards in front of her car and followed footprints to Hayes, who was lying in snow near a grain bin. CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake home has suffered extensive damage after a fire early Thursday morning, according to KIMT-TV. Three people were inside at the time, but were able to get out unharmed. Their pets escaped safely as well. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A woman is now facing charges following a death at a Waterloo daycare center this past summer, according to KWWL-TV. Amy Hangartner has been charged with Child Endangerment Resulting in Death. The child had been placed in an infant car seat by Hangartner where it died. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A conservative eastern Iowa group is kicking off 2016 with a renewed focus on their right to openly carry weapons in public places. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Conservative Union is hosting an open carry night at Godfather’s Pizza in Cedar Rapids. At a recent meeting, most members had guns strapped to their side, but others brought rifles to display on tabletops next to pizza plates. The group’s chair, Jim Conklin says, “As you all know, crazy people with guns don’t show up on this night. This is now the safest restaurant in the country.” CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two Cedar Rapids Police Officers will not be charged for the shooting death of 21-year-old Jonathan Gossman this past October. KGAN-TV reports the two officers conducted a traffic stop as part of a meth investigation, and Gossman fled the scene. They gave chase with a K-9, and Gossman turned and pointed a gun at the officers. They fired 25 shots at the suspect, killing him. An autopsy on Gossman found he had meth and amphetamines in his system at the time of the shooting. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge woman is using her baking skills to try to fight hunger. WHO-TV reports Jodie Tietsort is a recovering alcoholic who wanted to do something to pay back the town that helped her recover. Tietsort is launching Southwest Circle Cafe, a place for people to pay what they can afford to eat. All she asks is that if you can’t afford to pay, you help out.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s daughter has ended in a mistrial. KCCI-TV reports the mistrial was declared by the judge due to comments made by the child’s mother, Nissa Alvarez, during testimony. Alvarez claimed 26-year-old Joe Lopez had forced her to have sexual relations. The judge said the statement was too prejudicial. Lopez is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. WASHINGTON COUNTY, IA – A Fairfield man has been charged with homicide by vehicle, operating under the influence and involuntary manslaughter. KCII-radio reports on Monday 33-year-old Jon Paul Jorge Noivo of Fairfield was arrested. On July 8th, 2015, Noivo lost control of his Cadillac Escalade on Highway 218 in Washington County. The vehicle entered the median and Noivo over-corrected, causing it to roll. 24-year-old Wendy Ann Lane Littrell of Fairfield, a passenger, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque woman is facing a second degree murder charge for beating her ex-husband to death. KCRG-TV reports police arrested 62-year-old Delores Flynn Monday. They said she killed 72-year-old Gary Breckenridge with a baseball bat. Neighbors say they heard a series of loud “booms” and heard Breckenridge yell “she’s killing me.” If convicted, Flynn would face up to 50 years in prison. AMES, IA (IRN) – A 20-year-old man is behind bars after sexually assaulting a woman while she was sleeping. WHO-TV reports officers with the Ames Police Department were called to an apartment about 2 a.m. Tuesday. A 23-year-old woman said she was sleeping when her neighbor, David Giera, entered through an unlocked door and sexually assaulted her. She was able to fight him off and push him out of the apartment. He’s in jail. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Falls man was arrested for strangling his cat and trying to drink its blood. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports police were called to an apartment and found the remains of the cat. Police noticed 36-year-old Justin Jacoby had blood on his face. Apparently upset over an upcoming eviction, Jacoby said he killed the cat to satisfy his blood craving and to keep the animal from having to go to an animal shelter after his eviction. Jacoby told police he had the cat for 11 years. DES MOINES (IRN) – The longest serving governor in U.S. history gave his condition of the state address for the 22nd time Tuesday. WOI-TV reports Governor Terry Branstad covered topics that ranged from the budget, to energy, to education. Branstad received bipartisan support on a number of issues, receiving a long standing ovation for his efforts to improve fairness and equality in Iowa’s criminal justice system.

MONTROSE, IA (IRN) – Three people were found dead and one was injured in a mobile home fire in the southeast Iowa city of Montrose. The Lee County Sheriff’s Department says firefighters on Monday afternoon found the mobile home engulfed in flames. 33-year-old Jacob Glen Russell escaped the fire with severe burns and wounds. Names have not been released. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Falls man was arrested after authorities found a pot-growing operation at his residence. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports while executing a search warrant at the home of 34-year-old Joseph Ackerson, investigators found a marijuana growing operation, including numerous unprocessed marijuana plants and growing equipment. Also located was processed marijuana bagged up and packaged for sale. Ackerson faces numerous drug charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines hospital had a brief shutdown Monday night, according to WHO-TV. Police were called to Broadlawns Medical Center around 8:00 p.m. because of what they describe as a threat. Officers swept the building for about an hour but didn’t find anything and workers were given an all clear. Police have not released what the threat involved. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Mason City fire crews responded to an explosion and fire at Charlie’s Auto Repair in Mason City Monday. KIMT-TV reports that while the cause of the fire has not been officially determined, workers were doing repairs on an industrial truck that contained LP gas. The workers noticed a gas smell and ran before the explosion. No one was injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines mother paid $4,000 to bail her daughter out of jail, but she said the bondsman took the money and left her loved one behind bars. KCCI-TV reports Lori Evans said Alpha Bail Bonds promised to help Evans get her daughter out of jail before Christmas. Police arrested daughter Airianna Evans for drug possession with intent to deliver on Dec. 18. Alpha Bail Bonds has no comment. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – Bettendorf police are searching for the person or people who killed several geese at Middle Park Lagoon. WQAD-TV reports a total of seven geese appear to have been shot several times with either a BB or pellet gun. Several of the geese also had wings that had been broken. State officials have been notified. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One of the last Holocaust survivors in Iowa died over the weekend. The Des Moines Register reports that 91-year-old Jennie Wolnerman died Saturday in her Des Moines home. Her family shared one anecdote that they say truly defined her. While on a Nazi death march she stole a loaf of bread from a Nazi guard. Another guard told her that if she had the ability to steal from a guard, that she would make it. She became known for sharing food with starving prisoners. Her motto was “if you have two, give one, and if you have one, give half.”

DAVIS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An arrest has been made in a Davis County Death investigation. 16-year-old Michael Thomas Goodwin, Jr. was charged with 1st Degree Murder, a Class A felony in the death of his father, Michael Thomas Goodwin, Sr. No other information has been released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Department of Public Health officials report Monday that flu cases are increasing in Iowa right now. Flu season in Iowa typically peaks in late January or February. All three flu viruses covered by this year’s vaccines are currently circulating in Iowa. It’s not too late to get a flu shot. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A woman in her 30’s found lying unresponsive outside a Mason City strip mall late Thursday night was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. The Mason City Globe-Gazette reports a passer-by reported the woman was lying on the sidewalk. The investigation is ongoing. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A local firefighter is in the hospital after being injured in a early morning fire. WOI-TV reports West Des Moines firefighters were called to the fire around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. When crews got there the house was engulfed in flames. The house collapsed and the firefighter was injured when an exterior wall fell and struck him. The house is a total loss and the cause of the fire is being investigated. DES MOINES (IRN) – It’s a new year and a new session for the Iowa State Legislature. KCCI-TV reports several Iowa lawmakers made stops Sunday afternoon at the Capitol as they prepared to start the 2016 legislative session today. Among the issues to be considered are K-12 public education, and the Governor’s move toward private management of the state Medicaid system. It’s expected to be a contentious and partisan session. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One man is dead following a fatal car crash late Saturday night. WHO-TV reports the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle accident near Winterset. Upon arrival, deputies found one vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the vehicle, 48-year-old John Eller of Winterset, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one in the second vehicle was injured. It appears the vehicle driven by Eller hit the back of the other one. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Five teenagers are facing felony charges after Waterloo police say they robbed a food delivery driver after calling in an order. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports officers responded to a robbery in progress at a vacant house. Police said when a driver from the China King restaurant delivered to the house, the five teens robbed him of money and food. The teens used a handgun in the incident. DES MOINES (IRN) – When Linda Upmeyer gavels in the Iowa House of Representatives today, it will be an historic day. Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, will become the first woman to serve as speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. And she will assume the same speaker’s seat from which her father, Del Stromer, governed 34 years ago. It’s believed Stromer and Upmeyer are the first father-daughter duo to serve as a state’s House speaker in the nation’s history.