Iowa Radio News

OSKALOOSA — A Pennsylvania man is facing charges after authorities say he made online threats toward an Iowa juvenile. The Oskaloosa Police Department says it received a report Wednesday of an online threat of bodily harm to a juvenile in the city. KCCI-TV reports that officers worked with the Oskaloosa Community School District to follow up on the threat and eventually found a person of interest in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The police department in Altoona, Pennsylvania verified the identity of the suspect and have charged 19-year-old Patrick McIntire with first-degree harassment and threat of arson, which is a felony. WATERLOO — Waterloo Police recovered a man’s body from the Cedar River Thursday night. KWWL-TV reports that officers responded to the Waterloo Boat House around 7:30 p.m. for a report that a man was fishing along the river before falling in. They believe he suffered a medical event prior to falling in. Upon pulling the man out of the river, he was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected and the victim’s identity has not been released.  AMES — A substantial makeover is underway for Iowa State University’s 66-year-old LeBaron Hall. The Des Moines Register reports that demolition started on Thursday to make way for the new home of Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences. Bundled with additional renovations of McKay Hall and the Human Nutritional Science Building, the estimated $51.5 million project will replace LeBaron Hall, complete with a three-story building with classrooms, a multipurpose courtyard and renovated lobbies. LeBaron Hall’s demolition and replacement will cost $39 million. The entire project was made possible through private donations and university funds.

SIOUX CENTER – A threat was reported on Thursday in Sioux County that caused multiple schools to go on lockdown. KTIV-TV reports that all Sioux Center School District buildings were put on lockdown after a threat was discovered at Sioux Center High School by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. According to the sheriff’s office, schools in Rock Valley, Hull and Orange City issued lockdowns as a precaution. As of Thursday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said there is no active threat and that the Sioux Center Police Department is investigating the situation. No details have been released on what the threat was. In response to the threat, area law enforcement has increased patrols and their presence at all schools. DUBUQUE — A Dubuque man was pronounced dead after a crash at a residence Wednesday night. KCRG-TV reports that Dubuque police were called to the scene just before 11:15 pm Wednesday, and an initial investigation determined that a Toyota Highlander had gone off the road and crashed into a garage. The driver, 41-year-old Timothy Morris, was found inside the vehicle with a head injury. Morris was transported to MercyOne Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation. CEDAR FALLS — A University of Northern Iowa swimmer earned her third Paralympic medal for Team USA on Thursday. The Des Moines Register reported that Olivia Chambers took second-place in the women’s 100m breaststroke, finishing with a time of 1:17.70. Competing in her first Paralympic Games in Paris, Chambers also won the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle on Saturday and a silver medal in the 200m individual medley on Tuesday. An Arkansas native, Chambers also won six medals at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships.

RED OAK — A Red Oak man was killed in an ATV crash on Monday evening. KCCI-TV reports that police were called to a trail just west of the levee off Oak Street, and first responders found an ATV in the creek bed with a person trapped underneath. Police say lifesaving measures were performed, but the man, later identified as Jay Woodward, died at the scene. DES MOINES — A state audit found a University of Iowa employee deposited more than $940,000 from the university into his personal bank account. KCCI-TV reports that the audit showed Brian Busch, who was the manager of the Department of Physics and Astronomy machine shop, allegedly used university property and funding to run a separate business he owned called D3signtech. The audit identified more than $940,000 in money deposited into Busch’s personal bank accounts or to a Stripe account in his name. Busch also improperly spent over $6,000 with a university-issued card and never disclosed any information to the university in a violation of their policies, according to the audit. Busch was placed on administrative leave in September 2021. DUBUQUE — A Dubuque man was arrested Tuesday after a school resource officer realized he was carrying a gun on school grounds. According to a press release, the officer was called to Audubon School just before 3:30 p.m. to assist with a paternal custody issue.  KCRG-TV reports that 39-year-old John McGee arrived at the school several minutes after dismissal and was allowed in by a staff member. The school resource officer noticed a bulge in McGee’s shirt just above his waistline and recognized the shape to be consistent with a handgun. The school resource officer disarmed McGee and took him into custody without incident. According to the press release, the weapon was determined to be an unloaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun. McGee was placed under arrest and charged with Carrying Weapons on School Grounds, a Class D felony.

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg is stepping down from his position to pursue a career opportunity that allows him to focus more on his family. Reynolds named Gregg as acting lieutenant governor in May 2017, when she succeeded Terry Branstad as Governor after Branstad was named U.S. Ambassador to China. Reynolds and Gregg have since been elected to two terms in office, in 2018 and 2022. Under Iowa Code, Reynolds will make an appointment to fill the vacancy of lieutenant governor and the appointee will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. Until Governor Reynolds makes an appointment later this fall, the president of the Senate Amy Sinclair will be next in line of succession. CEDAR RAPIDS – A Vinton woman is accused of backing her vehicle into a Cedar Rapids Police car and then leading police on a high-speed chase through Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. According to court documents, Stephanie Koob refused to exit her vehicle when a Cedar Rapids police officer made contact with her while investigating active warrants for her arrest. KCRG-TV reports that Koob then reportedly backed her car into the police car, causing between $1,500 and $10,000 in damages. She then led officers on a high-speed chase through Cedar Rapids, going 25 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the intent to award a Managed Care Organization contract to Iowa Total Care on Tuesday. The new Iowa Medicaid contract period begins July 1st, 2025, with no change in operations. Iowa Total Care has been serving Iowa Medicaid members as a Managed Care Organization since July 1st, 2019. Iowa Medicaid members will continue to receive their Medicaid benefits with the health plan they are currently enrolled in, with no changes resulting from this contract. Members will be able to make an enrollment selection change during the annual open choice enrollment period in Spring 2025. Iowa Medicaid contracts with three Managed Care Organizations in Iowa Total Care, Molina and Wellpoint Iowa, Inc. to provide health care services to Iowans.

DES MOINES — A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged with First Degree Murder after a fatal shooting over the weekend. WHO-13 reports that the shooting occurred Sunday afternoon on the south side of Des Moines. According to Des Moines Police, Martavius Green was involved in a physical altercation at a residence and a 21-year-old man, whose name hasn’t been released, intervened and was shot and killed. Green, an Atlanta, Georgia native, is being held in the Polk County Jail without bond. BUCHANAN COUNTY – A 26-year-old man died after a crash early Sunday in Buchanan County. According to KCRG-TV, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident just after 5:15 a.m., and found a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office reported that Kyle Decker was traveling south when he lost control of the vehicle, went into a ditch, and rolled onto its top. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Decker was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Decker was declared dead at the scene from his injuries.