Iowa Radio News

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City father faces up to 25 years in prison for the death of his 2-month-old son, according to KCAU-TV. Michael Williams, 27, brought the infant to a hospital emergency room, but the baby was already dead. An autopsy showed the infant died of malnutrition and dehydration. Williams told police he was addicted to Adderall, marijuana and meth. He pled guilty. FLOYD, IA (IRN) – A North Carolina man was found dead in a semi that had been parked at a gas station in the northern Iowa town of Floyd for five days. KWWL-TV reports deputies found 57-year-old Danny Mosteller of Shelby, North Carolina dead inside the cab of the truck.  Authorities believe Mosteller died from a medical issue. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man has been sentenced to four years in prison for repeatedly hitting his 13-year-old stepson with a three-ring binder. The Sioux City Journal reports 48-year-old Michael Bardwell was sentenced on two counts of child endangerment. Bardwell struck the boy in the head several times while they were in a Sioux City hotel room. OLIN, IA (IRN) – A funnel cloud nearly touched the ground near Stanwood and Olin in eastern Iowa on Tuesday afternoon, causing minor damage, according to the Iowa Weather Network. Emergency management personnel reported tree limbs were down in Stanwood. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Sioux City Police are investigating a bank robbery on Saturday, according to KMEG-TV. The robbery took place at the Security National Bank branch located inside Hy–Vee. The suspect handed the teller a note demanding money and threatened to shoot employees if the teller did not comply. The suspect is white, short, has a slight build, wore a baseball cap with the number 87 on it, and has stretched out earring holes. DES MOINES (IRN) – A well-known Des Moines metro businessman was arrested on a prostitution charge Tuesday. KCCI-TV reports David Michael Greenspon, 58, was booked into the Polk County Jail. Greenspon is the president of Competitive Edge Advertising in Urbandale. He hosted multiple events for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A group of muggers are roaming the streets of Sioux City, according to KMEG-TV. Police say three to six men are involved in the assaults and robberies. The muggers are targeting people who are intoxicated and walking alone. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Dubuque barber Courtney Holmes is getting national attention for giving away free haircuts. KWWL-TV reports every first Tuesday of the month, boys and girls aged kindergarten to fifth grade can get free haircuts as long as they read to the stylist at the Spark Family Hair Salon. The purpose of the free haircuts is to help increase literacy.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The emerald ash borer, a destructive and invasive insect of ash trees has been discovered in rural Montgomery County. Iowa’s growing number of counties with confirmed detections has now reached twenty-seven. Native to Asia, the insect has spread to 25 states since first being identified in Michigan in 2002. The invasive pest is responsible for the death of tens of millions of ash trees. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Two juveniles were arrested and charged after being involved in a disturbance Monday evening in Dubuque, according to KWQC-TV. When a police officer responded to a disturbance involving several individuals, he saw several people enticing one another to fight. The officer ordered them to disperse, and most didn’t comply. A 12-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister were arrested. IOWA CITY, IA – A Coralville man arrested earlier this month for having sex with a woman and not telling her he has HIV faces an additional charge after a second victim came forward after hearing news reports. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports 34-year-old Adam D. Musser has been charged a second time with criminal transmission of an infectious disease to another person. Musser told both women he is disease free. He faces up to 30 years in prison. IOWA CITY, IA – Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration will turn over management of Iowa’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program to four companies beginning Jan. 1. KWWL-TV reports that the companies were selected after a bidding process. The state says patients will receive the same benefits but the new system should reduce unnecessary services. Critics worry the shift will hurt patients. LEHIGH, IA (IRN) – College divers on a training dip were surprised by their discovery of a pickup on the bottom of a lake in central Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports scuba divers from Iowa State University found the truck Sunday at Brushy Creek State Recreational Area near Lehigh. Divers got the truck’s license number, and authorities confirmed the pickup was stolen several years ago. ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 63-year-old Decorah man is dead after an accident on Hwy 76 in Allamakee County, according to KWWL-TV. Authorities say Mark Werner’s car left the roadway, entered a ditch, reentered the roadway, crossing the highway and entered the opposite ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – State officials say two former Sioux City employees tampered with samples at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The Sioux City Journal reports former plant superintendent Jay Niday and supervisor Pat Schwarte put consumers at risk for E. coli. They have lost their certification, and may face prison time and a $50,000 fine. DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police responding to complaints about a stench coming from a house found something unexpected: 55 chickens living in the vacant home. WHO-TV reports the chickens were seized by the Animal Rescue League. The couple who owns the house ran a business called “Sovereign Farmstead,” and sold chickens and pigs out of their home. They reportedly moved out two weeks ago, taking the pigs but leaving the chickens behind.

LINN COUNTY (IRN) – A motorcyclist had to be taken to the hospital after hitting a deer in rural Linn County. KWWL-TV reports Scott Minzenmeyer, 55 of Anamosa, hit the deer on Highway 1. It caused him to lay down his bike, but he is expected to survive. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A trial date of September 22 has been set for a Minnesota man accused of attacking a north Iowa police officer. KIMT-TV reports 25-year-old Teague Russell Miller of Albert Lea is charged with interference with official acts while inflicting a serious injury among other charges. Authorities say he injured Mason City Police Officer Brandon Niedermayer with an improvised weapon on May 10. Miller has pled not guilty. DES MOINES (IRN) – A fire heavily damaged a popular restaurant in Des Moines on Sunday. KCCI-TV reports flames were shooting from the roof when firefighters arrived at A Dong Vietnamese restaurant. No one was present at the time of the fire. Staff mistakenly left a pot on high, when it should have been set to simmer. Over $100,000 in damage occurred. CLINTON, IA (IRN) – A Fulton, Ill. man was injured Sunday afternoon in a tubing accident on the Mississippi River near Clinton. Kurt Parker, 31, was on a tube being pulled by a boat when the rope broke while making a turn causing the tube to crash into the rocky shoreline. Parker was thrown on shore and knocked unconscious. LE MARS, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old involved in a head-on collision with a semi truck Sunday near Le Mars has died. The Iowa State Patrol reports Damyen Mills was ejected from his vehicle after his car swerved into the southbound lane, and was struck by an oncoming semi truck. 10-year-old Daryen Mills was injured. The driver of the semi suffered minor injuries. DES MOINES (IRN) – The driver involved in a Sunday morning hit-and-run has been arrested after he seriously injured a bicyclist.  KCCI-TV reports 31-year-old Jonathan Rodriguez Leyva is facing multiple charges including second offense OWI, serious injury by vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident. The bicyclist, 41-year-old Gregary Frank, suffered serious head trauma in the crash. DES MOINES (IRN) – A homeless man has been charged after allegedly setting another man on fire Saturday night, according to WHO-TV. Charged with attempted murder is Mark Thomsen, who lives in a homeless camp near downtown Des Moines. A witness told police an intoxicated Thomsen started a fight with Kenneth Wise and set him on fire. Wise has serious burns over 50% of his body. Investigators found a bottle of lighter fluid near the scene. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A stolen car has been pulled from the bottom of Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls. KWWL-TV reports the car drove through a fence and into the lake early Sunday morning. Diving teams found the car 20 feet down. When pulled from the lake no victim was inside. Police confirmed the car was involved in a crime Saturday night.

HAMPTON, IA (IRN) – An eight year old was killed and five people were injured in an accident on Interstate 35 Saturday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened east of the Wright County community of Dows and southwest of Hampton. A 2003 Cadillac was struck from behind by a 2000 Toyota 4 Runner. The Cadillac was driving slow because of mechanical problems. Names are being withheld pending notification of family. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One man has been shot dead, another is in police custody after a family feud apparently went wrong in Waterloo. KWWL-TV reports Steve Fordyce, 37, has been charged with first degree murder. The victim’s name not been released. The heated dispute between two families has been going on for almost two years. What was the argument about this time? Trash. DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police are looking for two suspects following a stabbing near a McDonalds on the city’s east side, according to WHO-TV. Police say the victim told them a white man stabbed him in the back Friday night, before running away from the scene with another suspect. Officers found a large kitchen knife near the McDonalds. DES MOINES (IRN) – A group of organ transplant recipients are celebrating a milestone at the Iowa State Fair this weekend. KCCI-TV reports the University of Iowa Organ Transplant Center has marked its 5,000th organ transplant. Recipients shared their stories, and scars, from a booth at the fair. There’s still work left to be done. Hospital officials said there are still more than 600 patients in Iowa on transplant waiting lists.  

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A minivan driver died in a head-on-crash with a semi on Interstate 280 in Davenport on Friday. WQAD-TV reports the eastbound minivan crossed the center lane and struck a semi heading westbound. The minivan driver died in the crash and the semi driver was treated for non life-threatening injuries. Names have not been released. TAMA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A crash in Tama County has taken the lives of four people. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2014 Kenworth semi driven by Max Gauch, 54, of Baxter entered a controlled intersection just north of Belle Plaine without stopping, t-boning a 2004 Chevy Impala. A couple from Memphis, Missouri, and a couple from San Antonio, Texas in the Impala were killed. DES MOINES (IRN) – A man died in a car accident in Des Moines Friday morning.  WHO-TV reports the accident happened near Broadlawns Hospital when the driver of a van was trying to make a turn, while the other vehicle was trying to merge into traffic. 46-year-old Thomas Heckinger of Des Moines died as a result of his injuries. The other driver, 48-year-old Teresa Sagastume, was treated and released from a local hospital. DENISON, IA (IRN) – 400 employees arriving at the Tyson Fresh Meats beef slaughter plant in Denison on Friday learned the factory was closing for good that day, leaving them unemployed. The Sioux City Journal reports Tyson, the largest U.S. producer of beef, blamed the shutdown on too few cattle and too much slaughter capacity in the region. The plant opened in 1961. DES MOINES (IRN) – MidAmerican Energy has announced it will convert more than 100,000 street lights in Iowa to LED lights. MidAmerican hopes to increase energy efficiency while saving costs. KCCI-TV reports crews started replacing streetlights with LED lights last month, and full replacement will take 10 years. LED lights use 50% less energy.