Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES (IRN) – The population of Iowa is growing, although not as fast as the rest of the nation. According to estimates provided by the Iowa Data Center, Iowa’s population increased by nearly 15,000 people to over 3,107,000 in 2014. The growth rate is approximately half of one percent, slightly more than half the growth rate of the rest of the country. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – ConAgra Foods is expanding in Waterloo and adding 55 jobs. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Omaha-based ConAgra, which has produced Snack Pack and Swiss Miss products in Waterloo since 1997, announced today it will expand its manufacturing plant in Waterloo pending approval of state and local incentives. The project cost is estimated at $55 million. DES MOINES (IRN) – Mike Huckabee has announced that he will not be participating in the Republican Party Iowa Straw Poll this summer. The Des Moines Register reports that Huckabee stated that he “concluded this year’s Iowa Straw Poll will serve only to weaken conservative candidates and further empower the Washington ruling class and their hand-picked candidates.” Huckabee joins former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who announced last week he will not participate. AMES, IA (IRN) – A man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for robbing the Midwest Heritage Bank inside the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee store in Ames. The Ames Tribune reports that Kirk Priest Matlock, 55, of Burlington was charged with first-degree theft and second-degree burglary for the March 19 incident, in which police said he demanded money from a bank teller and left with an undisclosed amount of cash before driving off in a stolen pickup truck. DES MOINES, (IRN) – An investigation by the Iowa Auditor’s Office has found that over $130,000 worth of improper and unsupported reimbursements were made to an employee of the Center for Behavioral Health, an organization that receives state funding to provide treatment to those with addictions.  The audit was requested by the Center, in regards to payments made to its former Executive Director, Mindy Williams. DONNELLSON, IA, (IRN) – The police chief of the southeastern Iowa town of Donnellson has been charged with simple domestic abuse assault. WGEM TV reports that Chief William Sackett is accused of hitting his wife Monday morning at their home.  Court records indicate that after a night of drinking, he became angry and began breaking items, and then hit his wife.  He is currently on unpaid leave from the position. TAMA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old man from Chelsea was killed in a head-on crash in rural Tama County on Tuesday. Thor William Curtis Osterholt was northbound on V 18 when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, hitting an oncoming minivan.  The minivan was driven by Sally Marie Slaven, 44, of Chelsea.  Slaven was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in unknown condition. GEORGE, IA (IRN) – Eleven chicken farm employees were treated for exposure Wednesday afternoon near the Northwestern Iowa community of George.  KSFY TV reports that the workers were preparing to euthanize chickens with the avian flu virus. A pile of manure in the chicken barn was moved, releasing an ammonia cloud. In related news, two more cases of the avian flu were announced yesterday in Sac and Calhoun counties, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 62.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa’s rural bridges are poor shape, ranking third worst in the nation as structurally deficient. TRIP, a national transportation research group, reports that 22% of Iowa’s rural bridges are structurally deficient, with only bridges in  Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in worse shape. The states with the bridges in the best shape? Florida, Texas, and Nevada. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa teen smoking has fallen dramatically, but the rate is still higher than the U.S. average. The Iowa Hospital Association reports that just over 7% of Iowa teens smoke, down from over 14% a decade ago. DES MOINES, (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced four more probable cases of the avian flu in Buena Vista and Sioux counties, bringing the total to 60 cases. These include a turkey farm, a commercial laying operation, a pullet farm, and a backyard flock.  Approximately 275,000 birds are included in these four cases. JOHNSTON, (IRN) – The director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy has notified the governor he plans to retire at the end of June. Arlen Ciechanowski has been the academy’s director since 1996.  WHO TV reports that earlier this year the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Ciechanowski over some troubling issues at the academy, ultimately deciding to not recommend him for re-appointment. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man who was paroled from a life sentence in a 1976 murder is back behind bars for allegedly leaving the state of Iowa without permission. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Duane Eugene Brant, 58, was found in California last week with an estimated $220,000 in cash. He is being held in the Black Hawk County Jail. Brant was convicted of murder in a 1976 convenience store robbery that left the clerk dead. MODALE, IA (IRN) – Two Sioux City residents are in custody after a short pursuit led to gunfire on Interstate 29 Monday. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation reports that a Department of Transportation officer was checking on a car parked on the shoulder of the road, when the driver of the vehicle started acting suspicious and drove away.  During the pursuit, at least one round was fired, hitting the law enforcement vehicle. Chauncy Jewett, 17, has been charged with Attempted Murder, and Sydney Swanson, 20, has been charged with Identity Theft and Interference with Official Acts. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines will acquire the Skiff Medical Center in Newton. The Des Moines Business Record reports that the Newton City Council approved the agreement that transfers ownership of Skiff, all of its land, buildings, and assets to Mercy. Skiff is owned by the city of Newton, and has been in operation for over 90 years. The sale is effective July 1. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While wet weather slowed planting last week, the USDA reports that ninety-two percent of the Iowa corn crop has been planted, 6 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Southwest Iowa is still lagging behind with 75 percent planted, compared to northwest Iowa, where 98 percent of the corn was in the ground.  Soybean planting was at 51%  at the end of the week.

OTTER CREEK, IA (IRN) – Responders from four Jackson County fire departments freed a rural Otter Creek man from a grain bin Monday afternoon. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the man was engulfed in corn, and that it took approximately 90 minutes to free him with an aerial fire truck using rescue tubes. Grinnell IA, (IRN) – The Grinnell Regional Medical Center and the local community are working together to prevent head-injuries to young bicyclists. The Toledo Chronicle and Tama News-Herald report that the hospital is giving over 500 new bicycle helmets to third graders in the Grinnell area this year. The program has been ongoing since 1996. MODALE, IA (IRN) – Two people are in custody after a short pursuit led to gunfire on Interstate 29 in western Iowa yesterday. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation reports that a Department of Transportation officer was checking on a car parked on the shoulder of the road, when the driver of the vehicle started acting suspicious and drove away.  During the pursuit, at least one round was fired, hitting the law enforcement vehicle. The male driver and female passenger were apprehended when the driver lost control and hit a vehicle at a rest area. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced four new probable cases of avian influenza in Sac and Sioux counties.  Two are turkey farms, one is a backyard chicken flock, and the other a backyard duck flock. Iowa now has 56 cases of the disease. Over 25 million poultry have been impacted, with total economic losses nearing $1 billion in Iowa and Minnesota, the two states hit hardest by the disease. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Des Moines has been named one of the top “business-friendly” cities in the country.  MarketWatch, a Dow Jones and Co. financial reporting website, ranked 100 cities nationwide on business climate, economic outcome, and the performance of companies located in each city. Des Moines ranked fourth, behind Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced the formation of a Child Abduction Response Team yesterday. The purpose of the program is to have readily trained experts in the field of child abduction investigations able to respond immediately, assist local law enforcement agencies, and bring additional resources to aid in the recovery effort. DES  MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to urge Iowa landfill operators to take the carcasses of millions of chickens and turkeys that have been destroyed during the bird flu epidemic. Speaking at his weekly news conference, Branstad urged landfill operators to impose reasonable and fair fees for the disposal.  WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of West Des Moines and its Police Chief are facing a sexual discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Chief Shaun LaDue discriminated against female employees and despite their complaints, the city did not investigate. The women say LaDue reduced their duties, kept them from completing professional development their male co-workers were offered, and gave favorable treatment to male officers with less experience and training.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service reports patchy frost is possible tonight north of U.S. Highway 30. Very cool weather for mid to late May is expected through the middle of the week. Gusty northwest winds are bringing in cold air today with lows reaching the 30s to low 40s Tuesday morning. Warming is expected later in the week with thunderstorms a possibility for the weekend. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds have announced the debut of a website designed to make state government more transparent. The site—rules.iowa.gov—will give the public 20 days to comment on proposed administrative rules. The goal is to allow the public to assist the state in reforming burdensome rules and prevent overregulation that discourages efficiency, economic growth, and job creation. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The annual Memorial Day “Click-it or Ticket” campaign is underway. Over the past ten years, Iowa has averaged 5.3 traffic fatalities during the three-day Memorial Day weekend.  Research shows that nearly half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed on our nation’s roadways were not wearing seat belts. The national campaign runs through May 31. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Farmers around the world are being notified that we are now in an official El Nino weather event. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says this likely means moist, cool weather for the midwest. Meteorologists predict the event will continue through the autumn. EDDYVILLE, IA (IRN) – A driver and his passenger are dead after a two-vehicle accident north of Eddyville. The Iowa State Patrol reports that Eric David Hansen, 24, of Oskaloosa was driving a 2001 GMC pickup northbound on a rural road when he ran a stop sign at an intersection and was struck by an eastbound vehicle.  Hansen’s passenger, Megan Marie Moser, 24, of Winfield was also killed. MARENGO, IA (IRN) – An Ainsworth man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting at a man at a hotel in Williamsburg. KGAN reports that Roy L. Boughner, 48, is accused of shooting at an Iowa City man with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. Boughner missed, attempted to fire again, only to have his gun jam, allowing the man to escape. WASHINGTON, Iowa (IRN) – Law enforcement officers were responding to a two-vehicle accident on Highway 92 near Washington early Sunday morning, when a third vehicle hit a patrol car and rolled onto its top. One person was injured in the first accident. KCII radio reports that authorities arrested all three drivers for operating while intoxicated, among other charges. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Severe weather struck Iowa over the weekend. The National Weather Service reports that a tornado touched down near Ogden in the early morning hours on Sunday, and straight line winds and a possible tornado caused damage in Decatur, Clarke, Dallas and Boone counties.  Near Osceola, empty train cars were blown over by winds estimated at 80 mph.  No injuries were reported. AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames based research firm has developed a vaccine that could possibly protect poultry from the H5N2 avian influenza virus. The Des Moines Register reports that Harrisvaccines will start testing the vaccine next week, with trials lasting four to eight weeks. The bird flu has been reported in 14 Iowa counties, and nearly 25 million chickens and one million turkeys have been destroyed.