Iowa Radio News

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people have been arrested after a Cedar Rapids police officer watched them attempt to break into a residence Friday morning.  KCRG-TV reports an officer observed a burglary in progress, and two suspects fled the scene in an SUV. The chase ended when the suspects lost control of the SUV and struck a parked vehicle. Both suspects fled on foot and were apprehended by police. There have been 29 burglaries reported in Cedar Rapids this week. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person is dead following a shooting in Des Moines Friday night, according to WHO-TV. The shooting was a approximately a dozen blocks north and east of downtown. When police arrived, they found the body of an adult male. The incident is under investigation. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – The cause has been found in a Cedar Falls motel explosion and death, according to KWWL-TV. 43-year-old Matthew Ferleman was killed in the explosion that happened at the Shady Rest Motel in October. Authorities say the explosion was caused when Ferleman blew out the pilot light on a gas appliance the previous night, in an attempt to commit suicide. But when Ferleman awoke the next day he attempted to light a cigarette, causing the explosion. SIOUX CENTER, IA (IRN) – An arsonist is at work in Sioux Center, according to KCAU-TV. Four fires over the span of four months have been determined to be no accident. The most recent act of arson was Friday, when a farmhouse on display at the Heritage Village on Sioux Center’s fairgrounds was almost completely destroyed, as well as the artifacts inside. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – The Target store in Ottumwa is one of 13 Target stores closing nationwide due to falling profits. WOI-TV reports customers immediately responded in an attempt to save the store. A Facebook page, Save Ottumwa Target, and a petition have been started. People in the area say they don’t have a lot to choose from. Despite the community’s efforts, the store will likely close indefinitely on January 31 after more than 40 years in business.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a bank robbery Friday morning at a Bankers Trust location. KCCI-TV reports the man, who was not wearing a mask or other covering on his face, handed a note to the teller demanding money. He left on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police said no weapon was displayed and no one was hurt. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced that all of the 72 commercial poultry farms that had a confirmed case of the avian flu have had the quarantines on their facilities lifted and they are eligible to restock birds.  All sites have completed the cleaning and disinfection process and had negative environmental tests.   CHEROKEE, IA (IRN) – A standoff in the northwestern town of Cherokee on Thursday ended peacefully when a man who barricaded himself inside a home surrendered to police. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the man was the only one in the house, and had been drinking heavily. Authorities say the man had been served divorce papers, and he was believed to be armed. PARKERSBURG, IA (IRN) – A service dog in training is missing from a Parkersburg home, according to KWWL.  A black lab named Latham was left outside for a few minutes, and when his foster mom went to retrieve him he was gone. Latham helps her with her Multiple Sclerosis. An anonymous donor is offering a $10,000 reward for Latham’s safe return. AMANA, IA (IRN) – Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire at the Amana Colonies Golf Club at approximately 4 AM today. KCRG-TV reports the clubhouse building was entirely engulfed when crews arrived, and the fire was so hot firefighters had difficulty approaching the building. The building is a total loss. No injuries were reported. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A domestic dispute created a spectacle at a Cedar Falls strip mall Thursday. KWWL-TV reports witnesses saw a man screaming at a woman in a motel parking lot. She started running, and he pulled out a baseball bat, ran after her, caught her, and then dragged her into a car. Police arrived, and interviewed separately, the man insisted he did nothing wrong, and the woman declined to press charges. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Kraft Heinz will get nearly $16 million in state and local incentives to keep a meat processing plant in Davenport — even though the company plans to employ 900 fewer workers. The Des Moines Register reports Kraft Heinz plans to close the current facility and replace it with a modernized plant. The current plant employs about 1,400, while the new one will employ about 475. Officials fear that without the incentives, the company will leave town. MACY, NE (IRN) – Omaha Tribe leaders have approved three referendums that will give the Tribal Council authority to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes, and to grow plants for industrial hemp on tribal land in western Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports the Nebraska-based tribe approved the referendums Tuesday.

CHICAGO (IRN) – The FBI says the dismembered toddler found in a lagoon in Chicago was 2-year-old Kyrian Knox of Rockford, Iowa, a small community in Floyd County. In September, the head, hands and feet of an African-American child were discovered at a park in Chicago. Detectives began culling missing person reports in their efforts to identify the victim. Investigators went to Rockford to collect DNA from the mother of a boy who went missing there. DES MOINES (IRN) – A nurse practitioner who runs a Des Moines pain-relief clinic faces criminal charges after being accused of defrauding public health-insurance programs. The Des Moines Register reports Louann Hart denies the allegations, which include that she falsified records and inappropriately drew $175,000 in payments from Medicaid and Medicare. Hart runs Partners In Healthcare, a clinic housed near the Iowa Methodist Medical Center. DES MOINES  (IRN) – Auditors say a top lawyer in Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration didn’t have the necessary experience and was overpaid $22,000. KCCI-TV reports State Auditor Mary Mosiman found numerous concerns with the employment of former Department of Administrative Services chief legal counsel Ryan Lamb. Lamb left the administration last year. He played a role in a scandal involving settlement agreements given to state employees. MASON CITY, IA – Six teenagers were arrested Wednesday morning at Mason City High School, according to KIMT-TV. The school resource officer handled reports of disorderly conduct and an assault. Five 14-year-olds and one 16-year-old were arrested.  No other details have been released. OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – Osceola police report that six people were arrested and charged Wednesday in a human trafficking sting. More than 20 officers operated the sting out of an Osceola hotel. Three men and two women face prostitution charges. Another woman was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers became aware of the operation when local ads for sex acts started popping up on Craigslist. SPILLVILLE, IA (IRN) – A Spillville man led police on a chase with a loaded handgun in his pickup Tuesday. KWWL-TV reports the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office responded to an ongoing disturbance at a home.  Multiple people were inside, including a child. Jeffery Kuennen took off in his pickup with a loaded handgun, leading law enforcement on a chase.  He eventually pulled over and was taken into custody without incident. He faces multiple charges. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A former University of Iowa associate athletics director demoted in 2014 after complaining about the firing of a field hockey coach, also her longtime partner, is suing the UI, Iowa Board of Regents and the state, alleging gender and sexual orientation discrimination. Jane Meyer claims the UI improperly paid her $70,000 less than a male counterpart and stripped her of her duties when she complained about the firing. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Senator Chuck Grassley made history Tuesday. The senator was honored by fellow senate members for casting his 12,000th vote last week. Only 17 other senators in history have cast more votes than Grassley.  He also holds the all-time record for the only senator to go as long as he has without missing a vote.  He’s cast 7,474 consecutive votes. Grassley was first elected in 1980.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly selling a deceased acquaintance’s car. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports 51-year-old Ruben Davis was arrested for second-degree theft. Davis had the vehicle in his possession when the owner died, and he told relatives he would return the car. The car was later found in the yard behind a home, and the resident told police he bought it from Davis for $1,000. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Part of a National Guard logistical support unit based in Cedar Rapids will soon be heading to Afghanistan, according to KCRG-TV. About 40 members of the 649th Regional Support Group will deploy as part of Operation Enduring Freedom later this month. While overseas, the 649th will be responsible for managing facilities and providing logistical and administrative support to soldiers at forward operating bases. DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines teen told police he was stabbed by a man with a screwdriver while walking home Tuesday, according to KCCI-TV. 15-year-old Sherrad Scales says that he was walking home with a friend when a teen in a hoodie approached them. The other teen pulled out a screwdriver and stabbed him in the stomach before running off. Scales injuries are not serious, and police are investigating. DES MOINES (IRN) – Police found two naked men lying in the dirt after a fight Tuesday morning in Des Moines after one apparently tried to steal gas from the other’s truck. The Des Moines Register reports an officer arrived at a home on a report of an assault, but found two naked men. The nude resident’s clothes had somehow come off during a fight with an already-naked Daniel David Mutchler, 35, of Paton, who was allegedly siphoning gas. Mutchler faces numerous charges. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed Tuesday after a stolen car was involved in rollover accident in Sioux City. KMEG-TV reports a Nissan Altima driven by a 34-year-old man was speeding when it hit a Dodge Durango that was backing out of a driveway. The two people in the Durango were not injured, but the driver of the Altima and a 28-year-old woman who was a passenger were killed. Witnesses say the Altima was travelling so fast as it went over a hill it went airborne before hitting the Durango. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo police officer is on leave after shooting a wanted drug suspect on Tuesday. WHO-TV reports 24-year-old Brandon Seeley refused to pull over his vehicle when officers tried to stop him. Instead, he turned his vehicle around and drove towards an officer who had exited their squad car. The officer fired and hit Seeley. Seeley was hospitalized with gunshot wounds and remains in custody. The DCI is investigating. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – It’s another 25 years behind bars for the man convicted in the 2010 murders of two gas station clerks in northern Iowa, according to KIMT-TV. 21-year-old Michael Richard Swanson pled guilty Monday in Iowa City to attempted murder for using a weapon to slash the neck of a fellow inmate at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Coralville. Swanson is already serving two life sentences for the 2010 killings of the convenience store clerks. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A 104-year-old woman voted in Cedar Falls Tuesday, according to KWWL-TV. Margaret Cundy has voted in almost every election since 1932, when she was 21 years old. She was born before women were allowed to vote, and says voting is a privilege.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Employees at an Urbandale business called authorities about 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon after opening a package containing white powder. The Des Moines Register reports one employee of WorldWide Logistics felt a “tingling sensation” after coming in contact with the powder. A hazmat team was called to the scene. CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – A Hiawatha man is accused of orchestrating the theft of a truck and welding equipment last month. KCRG-TV reports a burglary and theft occurred at Pickwick Manufacturing. A truck and welding equipment valued at approximately $60,000 were stolen from the business. 34-year-old Bret Wolf charges of first-degree theft and conspiracy to commit a felony. DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe will receive nearly $500,000 if he remains at the central Iowa utility through 2020, a decision that’s garnering some criticism in light of the utility’s plan to raise customer rates 10 percent. The Des Moines Register reports the utility’s board says Stowe deserves the bonus in part for his leadership during a controversial lawsuit against three northern Iowa counties for high nitrate levels entering the watershed. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City woman is accused of rear-ending her ex after he broke up with her. According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the victim broke up with 28-year-old Shawna Olsen-Zipse on Monday. Police said Olsen-Zipse responded by biting her ex on his arm. The victim left the residence in his pickup truck. Olsen-Zipse then followed him in her vehicle, and when he stopped she accelerated and intentionally rear-ended his truck. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man faces burglary and assault charges after assaulting two people at a home Sunday. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports police responded to a fight in progress, and found 33-year-old Ricardo Prosper outside of the home. Prosper had been inside and had punched a woman in the face. She threw him out of the residence and locked the door. Prosper then kicked open the door and assaulted a man inside. CORNING, IA (IRN) – The Iowa National Guard is permanently closing the armory in Corning and will move the unit to Camp Dodge. Approximately 80 Soldiers will be affected by the closure. The Iowa National Guard has a long history in Corning dating back to 1892. Soldiers from the Corning armory have fought in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and in Afghanistan. MONTICELLO, IA (IRN) – Over half of the students in the Monticello school district didn’t show up for school Monday, and it will be an excused absence. KWWL-TV reports police received a text shortly before school started that someone was bringing a weapon to school. Parents were notified of the potential threat, but school wasn’t called off. Police presence was increased, and will be increased today. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A teenager is facing multiple charges after leading police on a high-speed chase with a 12-year-old passenger in the car in Fort Dodge. KCCI-TV reports a routine traffic stop resulted in a high-speed chase on Monday. The 17-year-old driver crashed into the foundation of a home being built 1 mile into the pursuit. The driver left the vehicle after the crash and took off, leaving the car dangling over the foundation while an 18-year-old and 12-year-old passenger sat in the car.