Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds left the state on Tuesday for an official trade mission to India. The delegation joining her includes Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and agricultural and business leaders from Iowa. The purpose of the mission is to work toward strengthening Iowa’s trade and investment relationships with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The 10-day mission includes time in Delhi and Mumbai where she will meet with key Indian government officials and American business leaders. Reynolds will be a keynote speaker at the U.S.-India Business Council’s 49th India Ideas Summit.The trade mission was organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority with support from the U.S. Embassy in Delhi and U.S. Consulate in Mumbai.CINCINNATI – Hundreds of birds were seized by the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office for an alleged cockfighting operation. KCCI-TV reports a search warrant was issued at a residence just a few miles outside of Cincinnati in south central Iowa, and more than 400 roosters and hens were found. A press release indicates the investigation focused on the possession, breeding, transfer, and sale of the animals. HARDIN COUNTY – Two people died in a Monday crash in Hardin County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford Edge collided head-on along County Road D-15. Both Tevin Williams of Paris, Texas and Steven Kramer of Waterloo died in the crash.

DES MOINES – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment charging 18 individuals with offenses related to bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. As alleged in the Indictment, defendants orchestrated a nationwide scheme to defraud financial institutions and draw funds from stolen business checks. They first obtained the stolen checks from uncharged co-conspirators, registered sham entities with the IRS and state government agencies—including the Iowa Secretary of State, and after obtaining registration documents and IRS employer identification numbers, opened or attempted to open accounts at banks and credit unions. Defendants and their co-conspirators attempted to deposit at least $10 million worth of stolen checks into fraudulent accounts and were able to obtain at least $2.1 million in proceeds from their criminal conduct.IOWA – Dry conditions have settled into most of the state after one of the most active spring and summer seasons on record. This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows 94 percent or more of the state’s crops remain in good shape, even as roughly 70 percent of the state’s soil had adequate moisture. DES MOINES – Lost in the shuffle of the wild finish to CyHawk football this past Saturday Defendants and their co-conspirators attempted to deposit at least $10 million worth of stolen checks into fraudulent accounts and were able to obtain at least $2.1 million in proceeds from their criminal conduct.was another special moment for an Iowa-based football program. The Drake Bulldogs defeated FCS program Eastern Washington, the first win for the Des Moines non-scholarship program against a team that has scholarship athletes in nearly two decades.

ANDERSON, Ind. — A single-engine airplane that departed from Fort Dodge on Friday morning crashed in Indiana. Four people were on board the Piper PA-46 aircraft that crashed around 9 am in Anderson, Indiana and there were no survivors according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The individuals were identified on Saturday as Joseph Scallon, 68, of Iowa Falls; Jesse Ostheimer, 41, of Alden; Braden Hicks, 36, of Manson; and Owen Renaud, 19, of Alden. The CBS-News affiliate in Indianapolis reported that the single-engine plane was reportedly told to reroute while attempting to land at the Anderson Municipal Airport due to coming in at too high an altitude. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. MILFORD — One person was injured after a motorcycle accident in Milford on Saturday. KTIV-TV reports that the Milford Police Department responded to the accident just after 6:15 Saturday night. Milford Police said an on-scene investigation revealed that a 2013 Harley Davidson Street Glide driven by 49-year-old Chad Banks had left the roadway and rolled. The police department said that Banks was found unresponsive when they arrived, and CPR efforts were performed. Banks was then transported by ambulance to Lakes Region Hospital for treatment, before being transferred to Avera Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with debilitating injuries. Officers said the accident is still under investigation. IOWA CITY — Redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy delivered in the clutch Saturday afternoon, nailing a 54 yard field with five seconds left to lift Iowa State past Iowa 20-19. Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht completed three of his four passes for 42 yards on the final drive to set up the game winning kick. The visiting team has now won each of the last five games in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

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.