Iowa Radio News

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa is among the best places for teachers to work in the nation, according to a new ranking by WalletHub.com. The Hawkeye State ranked sixth when considering job opportunities and teacher salaries, plus academic and work environment. DENVER, IA (IRN) – Authorities say they don’t suspect foul play in the case of a man who was found dead inside a mobile home over the weekend in the northeastern Iowa town of Denver. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports the man hasn’t been positively identified, and the cause of death is unknown. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A Springville man faces numerous charges after being taken into custody for drugged driving and attempting to flee from custody in Iowa City. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports 22-year-old Alen Hokic was seen driving with no headlights or taillights on Friday. Police searched the vehicle and found a marijuana “shake” on the passenger seat. Hokic fled after being handcuffed, but was captured shortly afterward. BENTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Benton County sheriff’s office is investigating the vandalism of nearly 50 mailboxes near Vinton. KCRG-TV reports investigators suspect five juveniles are responsible for the damage, which ranged from a few dents to having the box separated from the post. One homeowner whose mailbox was vandalized said he saw people inside a pickup truck flying a Confederate flag hitting the mailbox while using racial slurs. JACKSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The rider of a motorcycle died after a crash with an SUV Sunday afternoon near Maquoketa Caves State Park. The Iowa State Patrol reports 51-year-old Marcia Atchison of Alpha, Illinois was traveling a county road when her motorcycle crossed the centerline and was hit head-on by a Ford Excursion. DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines man was arrested on drug charges after he was seen driving erratically on a downtown sidewalk Saturday afternoon, according to KCCI-TV. An officer observed 29-year-old Marcell Wiggins drive through stoplights and onto a downtown sidewalk. When the officer pulled Wiggins over, he ran from his vehicle. After a short foot chase, Wiggins was arrested. He was in possession of crack cocaine at the time of his arrest. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The state treasurer has blocked a proposal by Gov. Terry Branstad to finance Iowa’s $68 million communications system for emergency responders through a lease-purchase agreement with Motorola. KIMT-TV reports Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald refused to approve the deal because it adds $9 million in interest payments when the project could be paid for now with the state’s budget surplus or with a lower interest rate loan that would save $2 million. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – An Iowa couple got married in a hospital chapel this weekend after the bride broke her leg on their wedding day, according to KWWL-TV. Melissa Eisenbacher slipped on gravel after getting her hair done Saturday morning and fell. But Eisenbacher wasn’t about to let surgery and a wheelchair stop the wedding. The groom, Rex Grebner, says his wife wanted to get married Saturday, so they did. At the hospital.  

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls firefighters were able to rescue a young boy from a locked car Saturday afternoon.  KWWL-TV reports a woman put her son in the car seat and accidentally locked her keys in the car. Cedar Falls firefighters were able to unlock the vehicle without breaking any windows. CHARITON, Iowa — Kids in Chariton who want to continue an age-old homecoming tradition could face a hefty fine. WHO-TV reports the city is fining students $250 if they toilet paper residents’ yards without their permission. The city implemented the ordinance because officials say last year’s homecoming festivities got out of hand. GARNER, IA (IRN) – A northern Iowa woman from the town of Garner has painted nearly 40 blue stars on curbs – as well as some driveways and mailboxes – in a show of support for police. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Karla Juenger-Rudisill took on the project Friday after receiving permission from the Garner City Council and homeowners. She says her intent is for officers responding to emergency calls to see the star and “know that people are with them.” PLANET EARTH (IRN) – A rare astronomical event will take place tonight when the full moon is eclipsed by the earth. Called a “supermoon,” every 14 months the full moon reaches its closest orbital point to Earth. The moon appears bigger and brighter than usual. What makes this event rare is the coincidence of the supermoon with a full lunar eclipse. The last time there was a supermoon lunar eclipse was in 1982, and it won’t happen again until 2033. The eclipse should start shortly after 8:00 PM.

HUDSON, IA (IRN) – A woman died of head injuries in a two-vehicle accident near Hudson Friday according to KXEL-Radio. Black Hawk County Sheriff Deputies say a vehicle operated by 18-year-old Shye Johnston of Reinbeck was eastbound when he crossed the centerline and struck a vehicle driven by 34-year-old Holly Paradine of Lincoln. Paradine was transported to Covenant Medical Center, where she later died due to severe head injuries. EDDYVILLE, IA (IRN) – An Eddyville farmer had a near-death experience on Wednesday when a semi hit his tractor and wagon from behind on Highway 63, according to WOI-TV. When hit, Randal Maloy’s wagon detached from the hitch, and the tractor wound up on its side in a ditch. Nearly 500 bushels of soybeans spilled out covering the highway. Maloy suffered minor injuries, and the driver of the semi was cited for following too close. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reported Friday that an inmate serving a life sentence from Polk County has died. Donald Eugene Newman, 69, died at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. Newman died of natural causes from colon cancer. He was serving a life sentence from Polk County for first-degree kidnapping. His sentence began nearly 35 years ago in 1980. VINTON, IA (IRN) – Vinton-Shellsburg High School junior Hunter Gray says he was sent home for flying the Confederate flag on his truck on Thursday, according to KWWL-TV. A group of eastern Iowa high schoolers are defending their stance on the Confederate flag saying “heritage not hate.” Gray says his First Amendment right was violated. The school says flying the flag itself is not against any school rules, but it caused a distraction to the learning environment. DES MOINES (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the nation has reached a new record for the number of hogs and pigs on farms. The national inventory on Sept. 1 was over 68 million animals, up 4 percent from a year ago and the most since the USDA began keeping records 27 years ago. Iowa is the nation’s leading pork producer with over 21 million hogs and pigs, about 7 times our human population.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One man is dead and one man has been arrested for first degree murder after a shooting Thursday night in Davenport, according to KWQC-TV. The victim is identified as 29-year-old Brandon Smith. Police say 18-year-old Quantrell McDaniel was charged with shooting Smith after a confrontation outside a convenience store. INDEPENDENCE, MO (IRN) – A class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of anyone who bought diesel-engine Volkswagens in Iowa, according to KWWL-TV. A  Missouri law firm filed the lawsuit on behalf of a Missouri man who bought a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta from a dealership in Iowa City. It follows similar lawsuits filed in other states this week after Volkswagen acknowledged rigging emissions technology on its diesel vehicles to pass air-quality tests. ELKADER, IA (IRN) – A restructuring at Caterpillar raises worries that Iowa equipment manufacturers might be impacted. The Des Moines Register reports the Peoria, Ill.-based construction and mining equipment manufacturer plans to slash 10,000 workers from its payroll. It’s weighing closing 20 or more facilities. Caterpillar has one plant in Iowa, a facility in Elkader that manufactures excavator buckets and employs about 35 workers. COUNCIL BLUFF, IA (IRN) – Two greyhounds that compete at Bluffs Run Greyhound Park in Council Bluffs have tested positive for a potential performance-enhancing drug. The Daily Nonpareil reports two dogs tested positive for ractopamine, a drug usually administered to livestock that can increase muscle mass, open airways for oxygenation and decrease fat. MINGO, IA (IRN) – A Jasper County family is homeless after a morning fire on Thursday, according to WOI-TV. Firefighters were called out to Mingo for an apparent electrical fire. Only one person was inside the house when the fire started, although the family says they still can’t find a cat. The Red Cross is giving the family a place to stay. DES MOINES (IRN) – A teen has been charged with assaulting a police officer on a Des Moines street Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the 16-year-old boy had just run away from a mental health services center when he walked up to the officer and punched him in the head. The officer suffered a severe cut above his eye. After he was subdued, the teen said he wanted to shoot the officer and then planned to walk to a bridge to jump off and kill himself. SOLON, IA (IRN) – Tens of thousands of dollars were misused by an eastern Iowa fire department, according to a state audit. State Auditor Mary Mosiman released a report Tuesday, revealing over $67,000 worth of funds were improperly handled by the Solon Volunteer Fire Department. Among expenses were stag parties, alcohol, and gift cards. KWWL-TV reports that regardless of the findings people in Solon are saying they support their fire department. NEWTON, IA (IRN) –  Newton Police have located two suspects wanted in a string of burglaries. WHO-TV reports 16-year-old Adam Joe Halterman Jr. and 17-year-old Daniel Wallace have been identified as the burglars. Wallace says they were just hanging out one day when the idea came to them to break into people’s homes and steal what was inside. The plan was to sell the items to people on Facebook. Wallace says in retrospect it was a “stupid” idea.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man who conspired to distribute heroin and fentanyl that led to several overdoses and two deaths pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. 43-year-old DeShaun Anderson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death.  Anderson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment. WEVER, IA (IRN) – Officials are looking for the person responsible for a bomb threat at Iowa Fertilizer in southeastern Iowa last summer.  KWQC-TV reports the company is offering a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual, or individuals, responsible for the bomb threat at the facility. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Avionics technology company Rockwell Collins has sent retirement offers to some employees as part of its plans to cut about 500 jobs from its workforce. The Des Moines Register reports offers are a way for Rockwell Collins to trim its payroll without layoffs. The Cedar Rapids company announced Friday that revenues are down, citing weak demand for business and regional jets. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Faculty leaders in the University of Iowa’s largest college have censured incoming school president Bruce Harreld over inaccuracies on his resume, escalating their criticism of his hiring, according the the Iowa City Press Citizen. The Faculty Assembly of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences voted Wednesday for a motion chastising the former IBM executive for a “failure of professional ethics” for misrepresenting his record on his resume. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man arrested in connection with one death was released and investigators say he killed another person just hours after his release. KWWL-TV reports Travis Standlee, 44, is charged with two counts of first degree murder for killing Raymond Urisno and Sharon Mead earlier this month. At the time, there wasn’t enough evidence to hold Standlee for Urisno’s death, and hours later he allegedly killed Mead at a bus stop. Both were strangled. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Des Moines has been arrested in Colorado, according to KCCI-TV. Carl Allen West, 29, of Des Moines, is expected to be charged with first-degree murder. He’s awaiting extradition back to Iowa from Aurora, Colorado. Police say West was the man on a motorcycle who shot 28-year-old Matthew Cizek, of Des Moines. West and Cizek were “friends” who met in prison. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Sioux City Police still have no leads on a missing statue that used to sit downtown, according to KMEG-TV. All that’s left is a sign that says “stolen.” Missing is the “Goddess of the Grapes,” an 18 inch bronze statue. MAXWELL, IA (IRN) – A community is gathering to complete the husband of a widow’s to-do list, according to WHO-TV. The farm work is for the Myers’, a Maxwell family who lost a husband and father. Jacob died in mid-August after a car crash at an uncontrolled intersection. Among the work to be completed by friends and neighbors? Building a barn.