Iowa Radio News

KNOXVILLE – One person is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Knoxville. Police Chief Aaron Fuller released a statement about an incident that occurred Thursday night, in which officers encountered a man attacking a woman. During the interaction, a Knoxville Police Officer fired his weapon, striking the male. Police say they rendered immediate medical care and contacted Knoxville Fire and Rescue. The man who was hit by gunfire was transported to a Des Moines-area hospital, but was pronounced dead from his injuries. The names of those involved will not be immediately released. TAMA – An officer-involved shooting in Tama County was considered legally justified by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. KCRG-TV reports a welfare check was conducted on July 5th for Logan Kurth. He’s accused of pointing a handgun at responding officers, and he was fired upon after a warning to drop his weapon. The Attorney General released a detailed report, justifying the actions of the officers on scene. DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced on Friday the launch of its redesigned Sex Offender Registry website. The updated site improves functionality and aims to provide Iowans with critical tools and resources to access information on registered sex offenders. The site remains accessible at the same web address. Updates include homepage links to active registrants and a most-wanted list.

DES MOINES – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking to identify any potential victims of former West Des Moines gymnastics coach Sean Michael Gardner. According to allegations in the criminal complaint, between December 2017 and April 2018, the now 38-year-old placed a hidden camera in a bathroom at a gymnastics studio in Purvis, Mississippi. Gardner created multiple videos depicting minors in stages of undress. Gardner moved from Mississippi to Iowa in 2018 to coach at a gym in West Des Moines. Police searched Gardner’s apartment in late May 2025. Forensic examination of electronic devices seized from Gardner’s West Des Moines apartment uncovered the hidden camera recordings taken in the Mississippi gym bathroom. IOWA – Iowa Democrats are exploring the possibility of trying to maintain the state’s previous longstanding first-in-the-nation status among presidential nominators in 2028. Party Chair Rita Hart sent out a survey to determine options after the national party moved Iowa away from being the first stop for presidential candidates in 2024. The Des Moines Register reports the Democratic National Convention won’t likely decide on their national plan until after the 2026 Midterms, however, they are discussing the process about who will go first at their summer meeting on August 25th. Iowa law requires the major parties in the state to maintain an in-person caucus and to be the first in the country ahead of general elections. IOWA – Teenage drivers were responsible for just over 65,000 car crashes in Iowa over the last five years. The Iowa Department of Transportation released a data portal that allows anyone to view crashes involving 14-19 year olds. KCCI-TV reports the vast majority of those incidents occur after school during the 3 p.m. hour. Most of the collisions were rear-ending incidents, according to the Iowa DOT.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Chickasaw, Winnebago, and Winneshiek Counties in response to severe weather and flooding that occurred on August 17th. Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and flooding and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program. The proclamation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended. DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Education today released new spring 2025 assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress for students in grades 3-11. The numbers show gains in student performance over last year, with the state’s proficiency rates for English language arts ranged from 68 to 80 percent, while mathematics ranged between 64 and 76 percent. Science ranged between 64 and 70 percent. Students who were in third grade during the 2023-24 school year showed gains as fourth graders in 2024-25, with ELA proficiency increasing 11 percentage points. DUBLIN, IRELAND – The Iowa State Cyclones are gearing up for an early-season showdown with Farmaggedon — this time, multiple time zones away from the friendly confines of Jack Trice Stadium. The #22 ranked Cyclones are taking on long-time rival #17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, this Saturday. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. local time, and thousands of fans have made the trip overseas.

FAIRFIELD – A missing teen from Iowa was found in North Carolina, and a man has been arrested in connection to the disappearance. KCCI-TV reports the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office made a social media post about the arrest. Twenty-five year old John Michael Johnson was arrested in North Carolina for sexual exploitation of a minor and solicitation by computer. The missing girl was reported by the Fairfield, Iowa, police department. GRIMES – A two-month old baby who was beaten by her father has died, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was reported in Grimes earlier this month. WHO-13 reports Dylan Brown is accused of attacking the child and mother at their residence on August 7th. The child suffered numerous injuries, and succumbed to those on Tuesday. The Polk County Attorney’s Office is looking at enhancing the charges against Brown, who is accused of hitting the baby more than 40 times. IOWA – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the results of the unscientific Iowa State Fair Straw Poll. It allowed fairgoers to cast their preference for candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional races. More than 2,000 people participated. State Senator Eddie Andrews was the preferred choice of Republicans for governor with 38.9% of votes, as was incumbent Senator Joni Ernst at 61.3%. Zach Wahls (30.24%) and J.D. Scholten (29.74%) were preferred for Democrats at the Senate — Scholten withdrew from the race after the poll was completed.

IOWA – One of the Democratic lawmakers that was aiming to flip a U.S. Senate set in deep-red Iowa has dropped out of the race. The Associated Press reports State Representative J.D. Scholten is suspending his campaign and endorsing fellow lawmaker Josh Turek, who launched his bid last week. Senator Ernst did not commit to running again when asked at the Iowa State Fair. State Senator Zach Wahls, former Knoxville Chamber Director Nathan Sage, and Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris remain in the June 2026 primary field. IOWA – Officially drought free — that’s the latest from the U.S. Drought Monitor as more rounds of precipitation impacted an active summer around the state. Iowa officially has no areas in drought, with the previous update showing just .58% of the state in abnormally dry conditions. This is in stark contrast to the beginning of 2025, when 80% of Iowa was in dry conditions, with 57% in drought. An above-average summer for precipitation has been the driving force, and while several localized flooding events have been reported, widespread damage has been avoided, according to the National Weather Service. DES MOINES – Despite rain, heat and humidity, the 2025 Iowa State Fair welcomed a total of 1.16 million fairgoers. While shy of the records set in 2024, this year’s turnout was the third-highest in history despite the weather challenges. Along with multiple days of rain, the average daily temperature at the 2025 Fair was eight degrees warmer than the record-setting 2024 event.