Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids pool closed early Saturday following a near-drowning incident. KWWL-TV reports an investigation took place at the Cherry Hill Aquatic Center after an unresponsive 3-year-old boy was rescued from the water by a lifeguard. Police and Fire immediately responded, and the child became responsive upon transport to a local hospital. DES MOINES (IRN) – The latest report on the status of the Iowa hog industry shows the state with 21 million hogs on Iowa farms as of June 1. A ten percent increase over last year, it’s the second highest number since record keeping began in 1870.  Iowa is the leading pork producer in the nation, nearly tripling second place Minnesota’s production. NEWTON, IA (IRN) –  A 4-year-old Newton girl is improving after being burned over 20 percent of her body at her home on Monday. WHO-TV reports she was rushed to the burn unit in Iowa City for treatment where she has begun getting skin grafts. The little girl is expected to remain hospitalized for another six weeks. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Lights that were donated by an Oskaloosa company in 2008 helped illuminate the White House in rainbow colors following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage Friday. According to the Des Moines Register the company has worked on other major landmarks and events such as Mount Rushmore and several Olympic Games.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility is planning to convert the largest boiler and turbine unit at Prairie Creek Generating Station in Cedar Rapids from coal to natural gas in 2017. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the conversion is designed to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions at the power plant. DES MOINES (IRN) – A New York-based psychic outfit has agreed to refund thousands of dollars that Iowans paid to be rescued from a “lackluster, unnoticed existence.” The Des Moines Register reports that Joseph Meisels and his International Astrology Foundation bilked 78 Iowans with letters promising to help the lonesome and unlucky. The Iowa attorney general’s office sued, and the organization will refund nearly $14,000 to Iowans. DES MOINES (IRN) – A 44-year-old Iowa woman convicted of murdering a man when was she was 17 will have to stay in prison. KCCI-TV reports a Story County judge changed Yvette Louisell’s life sentence to a 25 year sentence, which would have allowed her to leave prison, but Friday the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that ruling was a mistake. Her supporters will continue to work for her release, saying she is no threat to society. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Two men have been arrested in Dubuque after a suspected road rage incident Thursday. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Jeremy S. Martin, 36, of Dubuque and Donald R. Sexton, 53, of Kentucky, were arrested for disorderly conduct. A charge is pending for another person who fled. The incident began when a “rolling disturbance” spilled out into the street and the men started fighting. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Marshalltown man who was found with meth hidden in his prosthetic leg will remain in jail until his trial for federal drug charges. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Jason Gauthier, 40, and six others were charged earlier this month for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

CLIVE, IA – A Clive business reports that 90 percent of the vehicles on their property were destroyed in flooding this week. KCCI-TV reports that Acheson Auto Works is located near the banks of Walnut Creek, which flooded. Workers are cleaning up today.  They said it’s the worst flooding they have seen in 26 years. CAMANCHE, IA (IRN) – The number of unemployed took a big leap in Camanche as two companies announced layoffs.  KWQC-TV reports that Stampede Auto has fired all but three employees. There have also been a number of layoffs at IPSCO, a pipe manufacturing company. Approximately 260-270 people lost their jobs in the layoffs. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo police are investigating the attempted abduction of a girl Thursday night. KXEL radio reports the incident happened in front of the family’s home. A car pulled up to the curb, and a man told the 8-year-old to get in the vehicle. The girl’s mother yelled for her to get in the house instead, and the car left. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Council Bluffs police are investigating a middle-of-the-night explosion as arson. The Daily Nonpareil reports that authorities believe an unknown suspect ignited an explosive device on the porch of the residence of a 39-year-old man, which detonated and damaged the porch and surrounding windows. No injuries were reported. WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports wastewater discharges from many cities in central Iowa following recent heavy rains. Cities reporting discharges include Chariton, Des Moines, Grinnell, Indianola, Melbourne, Redfield, Ogden, Waukee and West Des Moines. ARLINGTON, IA (IRN) – An Eastern Iowa man says he’s shocked after a hate-filled note was placed inside his car. KWWL-TV reports that Gilbert McBride, a minister from Arlington, says the note condemned him for marrying a same-sex couple. McBride’s wife recently died and in the note, the anonymous author claims she died because he performs same sex marriages. The person writes they hope McBride suffers, and says he should kill himself. Police are investigating. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A routine traffic stop turned into a pursuit Wednesday night that reached speeds of more than 85 miles an hour. KMEG-TV reports Sioux City police attempted to stop the vehicle driven by 44-year-old Bob Ray Schonrock due to a loud exhaust. Schonrock did not stop, and a pursuit ensued. When apprehended and searched at jail, officers found marijuana.  Schonrock faces eluding and drug charges. MARENGO, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is looking into the apparent suicide of an Iowa County jail inmate. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office reports that Ross Allan Emerson was found hanging in his cell on Wednesday. Emerson was being held on an assault charge.  

PRESTON, IA (IRN) – An apparent explosion destroyed a home in Jackson County early Thursday morning. The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports law enforcement officials are declining to release any information about the incident, but nearby residents say they believe at least one person was injured. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A former cleaning crew member has pleaded guilty to stealing cash from sympathy cards and other items from desks at Cedar Falls City Hall. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that shortly after 37-year-old Vikki Lee Laws was sentenced to two years of probation in the City Hall thefts, she was arrested for allegedly using another person’s ATM card. Laws was charged with second-degree theft and identity theft. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s time for Confederate flags to come down.  Calls to remove the flag from the South Carolina State House came after nine people were shot to death at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston last week.  KCII-radio reports that Grassley says the flag is a symbol of hatred and may be historical but it doesn’t lend itself to the future. UTE, IA (IRN) – Authorities say the pilot of an ultralight aircraft has been hospitalized after crashing into a western Iowa cornfield.  KCCI-TV reports the accident occurred early Wednesday, about five miles northeast of Ute in Crawford County. Authorities say it appears the aircraft was caught in a downdraft, and estimate that the pilot, 27-year-old Brian Borkowski, of Irwin, plummeted 50 to 60 feet as his aircraft went down. IOWA CITY, IA – Iowa City police have arrested an Iowa City man they say was attacking women in a park.  KCRG-TV reports the police department took five reports from women who described being accosted by a man. The victims reported the suspect would ride past them on a bicycle, then approach them from behind and grab them. The suspect, 44-year-old Anthony M. Long, was identified when police used a plain clothes female officer in the area. CENTRAL IOWA (IRN) – Severe thunderstorms hit central Iowa Wednesday night. West of the Des Moines metro, Raccoon Valley Radio reports golf ball sized hail, several tornadic funnel clouds, and winds in excess of 70 mph. WHO-TV reports in Clive, the city evacuated residents of an apartment complex, and in Indianola, officials prepared to evacuate a trailer park due to flooding. Flood warnings continue in much of central Iowa. DES MOINES (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a laser strike on a Delta aircraft flying into the Des Moines Airport on Tuesday night. KCCI-TV reports the pilot said a bright green laser light burst into the cockpit, possibly coming from the ground near the Iowa State Capitol building. The pilot was able to steer the craft away from the threat, which is intended to cause pilots eye damage. EVANSDALE, IA (IRN) – At least two people were hurt when part of a building under construction collapsed in Evansdale in Black Hawk County Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports it happened Wednesday afternoon as crews were working on building a new gas station. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and willful injury in Ottumwa. Earlier this month, the Ottumwa Police Department received a report that a male victim was assaulted and held against his will. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 38-year-old Fredrick Grace Jr. of Ottumwa, who is charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A man accused of killing his romantic partner during an argument early Tuesday has been arrested for assaulting people in the past. The Sioux City Journal reports that Isack Mahad Abdinur, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cornelia Ann Stead, 43, whose body was found with multiple stab wounds early Tuesday in her Sioux City apartment. Five children, ages 1-10, were present during the incident. WILLIAMSBURG, IA (IRN) – The sharp decline in corn and soybean prices has claimed additional manufacturing jobs in Eastern Iowa. KCRG-TV reports Kinze Manufacturing in Williamsburg laid off 215 people in its office and factory workforce Wednesday. Job cuts were a direct response to the slowdown in agricultural equipment sales. Kinze makes row crop planting equipment and grain auger carts. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A Pleasant Hill man’s defense team says he was “crazy” when he killed his ex-girlfriend’s fiance. The Des Moines Register reports that on Tuesday the defense said it was mental illness and the side effects of antidepressants that caused David Moffitt, 27, to shoot 30-year-old Justin Michael four times as he slept next to his fiancee. The prosecution says the murder was premeditated. ANKENY, Iowa, (IRN) – A former Ankeny teacher accused of being drunk in the classroom has pleaded guilty to child endangerment. Officers arrested Jennifer Rich in February at an elementary school after a parent reported seeing her with alcohol during a Valentine’s party. Officers found two empty cans of beer and four full cans. Rich has resigned. MONROE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The tornado that began in southwestern Marion County at approximately 5 PM Monday has been classified as an EF-3. The National Weather Service reports that the tornado continued into Lucas and Monroe Counties, and hit an estimated peak wind of 142 mph when it destroyed a home west of Lovilia. Monroe County officials estimate that it caused several million dollars worth of damage in Albia. The tornado was approximately 440 yards wide, and was on the ground for over 25 miles. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines woman was seriously hurt after an assault by her boyfriend that was captured on a 911 call Monday. KCCI-TV reports the woman dialed 911 and the dispatcher heard the attack unfold. Officers arrived on scene and came face to face with an armed man who shot himself in the head. He died later at a hospital. CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – A light plane crashed into a ditch east of the Charles City Airport early Tuesday evening. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that a Piper Comanche flown by David Priebe of Sumner, with his wife as a passenger, lost power at an altitude of 6,500 feet. Priebe attempted to land at the Charles City Airport but overshot the landing. No one was injured. DES MOINES (IRN) – The economic impact of the craft brewing industry in Iowa exceeded $100 million in 2014. The Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board says Iowa’s craft brewing industry generated 1,500 jobs. The number of breweries has doubled since 2009 to more than 50 in 29 counties. 95% of Iowa’s craft breweries are locally owned. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa retained its tops in the nation ranking for egg production in May, but the avian flu outbreak exacted a significant toll on the state’s poultry industry. The USDA reports that egg production is down nearly 28 percent from last year.