Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES (IRN) – A store clerk claims he was robbed at gunpoint at a Git-N-Go in Des Moines Tuesday, but the store manager is suspicious of the employee’s involvement. The Des Moines Register reports the clerk said a man displayed a shotgun and took $100 cash. Another employee thought the clerk was acting strange and seemed to know the robber. He also didn’t push the silent alarm, which is next to the register until after the robber had fled. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man who is accused of accelerating his car toward police following a short chase, and then was shot by the officers, will stand trial for drunken driving, assault and other charges Oct. 5 in Linn County District Court. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports Kyle Orth, 27, is charged with assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon, interference with official acts, drunken driving and two counts of eluding. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 55-year-old Des Moines man was stabbed in the neck Tuesday night after arguing with a neighbor, according to the Des Moines Register. Police say the two men were arguing over a woman. The suspect fled on his bicycle. CASS COUNTY, NE (IRN) – Two people have died in a rollover accident near Beaver Lake in Cass County, Nebraska. One of the victims is an Iowa woman.  KCCI-TV reports 22-year-old Jeremiah Ferguson of Omaha and 21-year-old Kelsey Leclaire of Council Bluffs died Tuesday. The vehicle went over a fence before it landed upside down in a bean field. Speed was likely a factor in the crash. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The trial for the security guard accused of shooting and killing his 20-year-old coworker at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville has been set. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the trial for Alexander Kozak, 22, will be Oct. 6 in Johnson County District Court. Kozak pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder of Andrea Farrington. 53 witnesses will testify. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The driver of a dump truck died after officials say he drove through a stop sign and collided with a car in Waterloo. KWWL-TV reports the unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene. Katherine Keister, 37, of Buckingham, as well as a 1-year-old boy in her vehicle, received multiple injuries. A 5-year-old boy, also in the same vehicle, received an arm injury. WEST AMANA, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man who led police on a high-speed chase in February, resulting in a multicar crash, was at it again on Tuesday. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports James Surrett, 46, is in custody after leading authorities on a pursuit that began in Norway and ended in West Amana.  Surrett has a lengthy criminal history including multiple drug charges, assault, and false imprisonment. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – About 116 prickly pear cactus plants on Iowa’s endangered species list are increasing the cost of the road construction project in Sioux City, according to KMEG-TV.  The plants were spotted during preliminary environmental work. The road project is being re-designed to mitigate or avoid any impact at a cost of $50,000. Impacts on final construction costs are unknown.

MARBLE ROCK, IA (IRN) – A 56-year-old Dougherty man died Sunday in a tractor accident east of Marble Rock in northeast Iowa, according to KCCI-TV. Gary Ewen was mowing ditches with a tractor and sickle mower when he struck a tree stump, causing the tractor to roll into the ditch and pinning him underneath. Ewen was pronounced dead at the scene. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley and the Black Hawk County YMCA say that individuals may be selling items such as cookies and candy bars outside of local Wal-Mart stores, stating that the proceeds will benefit the local organizations.  According to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, the clubs are not involved, and say others may be using their names to mislead people into giving them money. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A robbery suspect was captured hours after police say she held up a restaurant with a knife, according to KWQC-TV. On Monday the Fort Madison Police were called to the La Casa Salsa Restaurant by the manager who reported the robbery. Police located the suspect, 25-year-old Patricia LeAnn Martin, at a nearby apartment where she was hiding under a bed. DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa whiskey maker Templeton Rye has settled three class-action lawsuits accusing the company of intentionally misleading imbibers with claims about the homegrown origins of its spirit. The Des Moines Register reports the settlement agreement requires the company to change labeling on its bottles and the language on its website. The agreement needs approval from a judge. SIBLEY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the death of a man who was run over by a train near the northwest Iowa town of Sibley. Monday morning, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a call about some suspicious items on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Investigators found the remains of a man who had been run over by a train. His identity has not been released. DES MOINES (IRN) – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Iowa Council 61 and 20 legislators have filed suit in the Iowa District Court for Polk County regarding Governor Branstad’s closure of the Mt. Pleasant and Clarinda Mental Health Institutes. The lawsuit alleges Branstad’s closure violates Iowa law. DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines man is charged with kidnapping, robbery and drug charges after an incident Sunday.  KCCI-TV reports a woman was confronted by Dillen Roberts, 23, asking for money for meth. When she refused, Roberts pushed her inside of an SUV. At an intersection she jumped out of the car as Roberts grabbed her shirt, tearing it off.  She said Roberts then chased her and forced her back into the SUV. She was later able to escape. VAN METER, IA (IRN) – Three young men were honored in Van Meter for saving a child from drowning over the weekend.  WHO-TV reports Austin Rice, Thomas Rice and Austin Matter saved the 6-year-old after he was hung up on some debris while tubing with his family on the Raccoon River Sunday. Police say the three heard the child screaming for help and jumped into the water to save him.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A former Newton day care owner was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison in connection with a fatal dog attack on a 4-year-old girl.  KCCI-TV reports Jordyn Arndt, 4, died from injuries suffered in the dog attack in April 2013. Jena Wright, 26, was convicted of child endangerment causing serious injury, neglect of a dependent person, assault on a police officer and interference with official acts. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist had to be airlifted from the Cedar Valley to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Sunday night. According to KWWL-TV, Paul Brase, 42, was on Highway 218 heading towards Waterloo when he crashed. The 42-year-old from Shell Rock remains in the hospital. His condition is not known. DES MOINES (IRN) – Gov. Terry Branstad announced today that six communities are in the second round of sites to achieve certification through the Iowa Economic Development Authority certified site program. These six sites are located in the communities of Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Norwalk, Marion, Mason City and Perry.  Branstad says certified sites are better able to compete for large-scale economic development projects. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – Some residents in Sioux City may have gotten an early wake up call with a thunderstorm that went through the area Monday morning. KTIV-TV reports high winds took down trees in the community, and 600 people were without power. Much of the state faces either a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning through early evening. DICKINSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Women are closing the gap with men in binge drinking, according to the Des Moines Register. In 85 of 99 Iowa counties, the rate of increase in binge drinking from 2002 to 2012 was larger among females than males. The largest increase was in northwest Iowa’s Dickinson County, home to the Iowa Great Lakes. More than 1 in 4 women in the county are binge drinkers. DES MOINES (IRN) – Recent rainfall has resulted in 100 percent drought-free conditions for the first time in Iowa since November last year. The Iowa DNR reports streamflow remains normal to above normal for most of the state, while groundwater in one small area of northwest Iowa is slightly below normal. AMES, IA (IRN) – Researchers at the Critical Materials Institute in Ames have developed a new method for re-using rare-earth materials: by collecting the waste left over from creating magnets. The Ames Tribune reports by recovering some of the metal, researchers hope to decrease the high demand for rare-earth materials commonly used in high-tech products. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A mid-year tuition hike could be a reality for students attending Iowa’s three public universities. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa Board of Regents approved a freeze on tuition rates for the third consecutive year late in 2014. But according to Board of Regents staff, a state funding shortfall means the freeze could end in January.  

BLOOMFIELD, IA (IRN) – Five members of an Amish family were injured in a Friday afternoon crash near Bloomfield. KTVO-TV reports the driver of a pickup truck traveling westbound failed to see the buggy and hit it from behind. The four children and one adult in the buggy were transported to Davis County Hospital. Names and conditions have not been released. MARION, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Marion on Saturday. KCRG-TV reports the woman was driving east on Highway 100 when she lost control and crossed the median into the westbound lanes. A pickup then hit the car. The pickup driver suffered non-life threatening injuries. The woman’s name has not been released. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A fish kill taking place Saturday in a pond at a Mason City park was likely caused by low oxygen levels, says the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Officials investigated the kill at Black Pit, a 16-acre pond in Lester Milligan Park. Water samples indicated low oxygen levels were likely caused by an algae bloom in the lake. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – An excavating company claims the City of Dubuque owes it just shy of $1 million for work city officials requested it perform in 2010 on the Waste Pollution Control Plant. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Mark Fondell Excavating is suing the city. The city denies the claim.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police have identified the individuals involved in a motorcycle crash Thursday night in Waterloo. KXEL-radio reports the motorcycle hit two parked cars. Officers say 54-year-old Kari Scribner and 54-year-old Michael Kielty are in critical condition. Police used her fingerprints to identify her. Alcohol is suspected to have been involved in the crash. BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – An eight-month-old baby was hospitalized with a skull fracture after a domestic disturbance in Burlington, according to WQAD-TV. The baby was seated in a stroller when a woman and 25-year-old David Lee Miller were arguing on the front porch of a home. Miller kicked the stroller sending it down a flight of stairs. He is charged with one felony count of child endangerment. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Officials at Fort Hood in Texas say a soldier from Waterloo has died from an apparent gunshot wound.  KCCI-TV reports that 35-year-old Warrant Officer Sean Michael Young died July 5 from an apparent gunshot wound at his off-post home. The shooting is under investigation. DENISON, IA (IRN) – An Iowa company will be keeping a Confederate flag on its logo. The Des Moines Register reports Walmart recently asked the Crawford Ice Co. of Denison to change its packaging, which includes a rebel soldier holding the Confederate flag. The company is currently using plain blue bags for Walmart, but other customers will still be able to purchase ice with the old design. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospital after he was injured in a garage fire Friday afternoon, according to the Iowa City Press Citizen. Firefighters were dispatched after receiving a report of a man caught inside a burning garage. Crews were able to put out the fire quickly. The man’s name and condition have not been released.