Iowa Child Advocates Benefit From Penn State Sandusky Woes

Child protection and advocacy services is Iowa will share over $188,000 as the result of the sexual abuse scandal involving former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The money's the first of 4-payments Big Ten universities will make. The money is Penn State’s share of the previous year’s Big Ten Conference bowl revenues,.

Arrest in Des Moines Pharmacy Robbery

Des Moines Police have made an arrest in last week's robbery at Richards Pharmacy. Police have arrested 17-year old Dut Makuet who's in the Polk County Jail KCCI reports investigators say they were called to a dispute Sunday and found about 1300 prescription pills similar to those taken from the pharmacy, as well as clothing worn and a hammer by the suspect.

Johnny Orr Dies

Former ISU basketball coach Johnny Orr is dead. Orr, who was 86 passed away today in a Des Moines hospital. KCCI reports a tribute's planned for him during tonight's game. Orr was with ISU from 1980 until 1994,. and had a school record of 218 wins and 200 losses. For his career, he was 466-346 during stints in Massachusetts, Michigan and Iowa State.

Infant Who Fell From Babysitter's Car Remarkably Uninjured

In the case of the 1 year-old boy who fell out of a moving car driven by his babysitter on Highway 141 west of Perry, the miracle is the child is relatively uninjured, with the exception of a fractured bone near his eye. Police believe the boy grabbed the door handle during a turn and the door opened and he tumbled out. The babysitter was unaware. She showed up distraught at the hospital where a good Samaritan had brought the child.

Best Des Moines Christmas Story of 2013

An amazing story of selfless charity is being told and retold. A man named Jonnie Wright went out Christmas Eve in the cold wearing a hooded sweatshirt and standing at intersections with a cardboard sign with the words, Please Help. He collected in Polk County before a cop told him it was illegal and then he went to Ames to finish his collecting. To each person who stopped to give him something, whether money or gloves or food, he gave them an envelope. Inside was either a 10 dollar or a 100 dollar bill and a letter explaining that all donations would be given to the Bethel Mission in Des Moines, a homeless shelter, and that the money they received could be spent any way they wished in gratitude for their generosity. He gave away 950 dollars and collected 363, and he donated that and a thousand more to the homeless shelter.

50 Degree Temp Drop is Rare

Des Moine natives are used to extreme winter conditions, but the weekend delivered an unusual event when the temperature dropped from Saturday to Sunday more than 50 degrees. The last time there was such an extreme temperature change was in 2008 when it dropped 54 degrees when a cold front moved through.

Porterhouse the Bulldog Dies

Drake University's beloved mascot Porterhouse the bulldog has died. Porterhouse died from congestive heart failure at the age of 8 and a half.

Des Moines Citizens Love Des Moines

People living in Des Moines love their city. A new survey by the Greater Des Moines Partnership asked three-thousand residents if they feel connected to their community. 92-percent of those surveyed say they're living healthy and productive lives. Eighty-eight-percent of respondents say they are proud of Des Moines, while 90 percent say they feel safe. The partnership is conducting another survey next summer.

Info on Iowa Doc Who Phonied AIDS research

We're learning more about an Iowa State University assistant professor who was forced out of his job in October after faking the results of an AIDS vaccine. The biomedical sciences expert resigned after admitting he spiked rabbit blood to falsely show the vaccine was working in research animals. James Bradac of the National Institutes of Health says human blood components were apparently added to the rabbit blood to skew the results of experiments. Bradac says the phony results helped an ISU research team gain millions of dollars in federal money.

A Call for Iowa and Illinois to Partner to Pitch Boeing Plant

A huge economic prize is the new jetliner plant Boeing is planning and which locations around the nation are pitching hard. Now The Bi-State Regional Commission is urging the governors of Iowa and Illinois to band together to convince Boeing to build its new Boeing 777x plant in the Quad Cities. They figure both states together can make Boeing an offer that can beat what a single state can afford. That's according to the "Moline Dispatch." Several other states are already in competition to be the home of the new plant.

IA appealing disaster decision

The state has appealed the denial of federal disaster aid to several rural electrical cooperatives.

This follows FEMA's refusal to help four cooperatives whose utility lines the spring ice storm damaged.

Woman killed in Christmas Eve shooting ID'ed

Des Moines police have identified a woman who died in a Christmas Eve shooting.

Police say they found 34-year-old Johnita Clemons in a home on Francis Avenue. Someone had reported gunshots in the area.

Police say they have questioned four witnesses, but they not released any additional information.

Pull-tab lottery sales drop again

Another drop in sales of pull-tab tickets has Iowa Lottery officials mulling options.

The Des Moines Register reports the lottery telling the legislature that pull-tab sales have dropped seven percent in the last year.

Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer callss the sales drop the fifth consecutive one. She says changes may include creating a new product, discontinuing games, or upgrading them.

Scratch games have grown seven percent in the last year.

Des Moines couple's presents stolen

Someone stole presents from a Des Moines couple on Christmas Eve.

The Des Moines Register reports someone broke open their front door on High Street with a pry bar.

It happened with the couple out at a family gathering.

Police say an iPad, a laptop, a gaming system, an electric guitar, family heirlooms and 600 dollars in Christmas presents disappeared.

No one has made any arrests.

Blood Donation Collection Sites

The Red Cross and Hudson Valley Blood Services say blood donations are needed and here are some collection locations where blood can be donated over the next few days. Today at ST Kateri Church on convent Avenue in Wappingers Falls from 2:30 to 8:30. Tomorrow at First United Presbyterian Church on Route 199 in Pine Plains from 2 to 7. Saturday at Adams Fairacre Farms on Old Post Road in Wappingers Falls, 11 to 5.

Caught Driving Drunk for Second Time

State police say a Hopewell Junction man with a prior drunk driving conviction was stopped driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit over the weekend. 27 year-old Michael Ogden was stopped hear Fishkill Bowl on Route 82 at 2 in the morning Sunday. He faces a felony charge because of the prior DUI within 10 years.

Poughkeepsie Budget Set for 2014

The City of Poughkeepsie has been finalized, and despite the mayor's proposal to increase trash pickup user fees, council elected to keep them at their current rates. Council projects added revenue of 1.3 million dollars from the newly installed parking meters.

Bank Holdup Suspect Barricades, Takes Own Life

A man police were looking to arrest for a bank robbery killed himself in a standoff at his house in Perry Friday night. Police spotted a car wanted in the holdup at the Raccoon Valley Bank in Minburn earlier in the day, and surrounded the house where the car was parked. A negotiator spoke with the suspect inside for hours, and then the suspect, 25 year-old Caleb Anderson , stopped answering his phone. When police finally went inside they found that he had killed himself.

4 Questioned in Des Moines Woman's Homicide

Four people taken into custody after a fatal shooting at a Des Moines home Christmas Eve were being questioned by police. 9:30pm Christmas Eve police got a call of shots fired on Francis Avenue and they found a woman shot dead inside. She is identified as 34 year-old Johnita Clemons. She was the mother of a son and daughter and family members say she got engaged last January. Police had been called to that same address 5 times on domestic dispute calls.

WDM Restaurant Cloising, Owner Blames Extended Grand Ave Bridge Shutdown

The reopening of the Grand Avenue Bridge's come too late to save West Des Moines Taqueria Sonora restaurant. Owner Hector Otanez tells KCCI he's closing his doors for good. He says the 9-month shutdown of the bridge cost him 40% of his business, and now 3-months behind on his rent, he can't afford stay open.

Woman Shot to Death in Des Moines Home

Des Moines Police say a woman was found shot to death last night in a home in the 1800 block of Francis Avenue. KCCI reports four witnesses were taken from the scene to police headquarters to be questioned by detectives. The victim's believed to have been in her 30's, and investigators will release her name after her family's been notified.

Deadline coming for health insurance enrollment

Iowans continue buying health insurance from a federal website before a looming coverage deadline.

Federal officials moved that deadline from yesterday through to today. Coverage would begin Jan. 1.

Iowa and 35 other states use this enrollement website.

DM city council supports saving bridge

Des Moines' city council has joined the fight to raise money to save a downtown bridge.

The council has voted to give $750,000 to repairs on the Southwest Fifth Street bridge. Officials believe it would take that amount to remove the bridge.

The bridge needs repairs that run anywhere from $1.75 million to $3.75 million.

The 1898 bridge spans the Raccoon River. Pedestrians and bicyclists have used it recently as part of the trail system along the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers.

An engineering report showing deterioration and safety concerns closed the bridge in March. Since then, people have circulated petitions and asked city leaders to save it.

Grassley gearing up for 99-county quest -- again

Why change now?

Charles Grassley plans on holding at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties next year.

The senator has done this annually for three decades.

Grassley begins his statewide tour a week from Friday in the northeastern part of the state. He makes stops in Nashua and Charles City.

Grassley has met with residents in all the state's counties each year since his election to the Senate in 1980. He calls representative government a two-way street that draws strength from discussions between officials and the people they represent.

DM man trades gunfire with invader

No one has made any arrests following an exchange of gunfire between a man and the person who broke into his home.

The Des Moines Register says it happened on Sunday morning on County Line Road.

The 56-year-old man says crashing sounds inside his trailer disrupted his sleeping. He claims he grabbed a shotgun he keeps near his bed and walked towawrds his living room.

The man tells police he saw someone standing there and challenged him. That person fired three or four handgun shots. The man blasted his shotgun once.

The intruder escaped through a door. No one reports any injuries.

Pizza Parlor Punching Perplexes Police

Des Moines police are investigating a fight at the Big Tomato Pizza restaurant early Saturday morning and the fighters are telling very different stories. Two men say a Big Tomato server refused to serve one of them because he is gay and called him a name and punched both patrons. But the server says the fight started because the gay man was drunk and refused to leave. The server, Matthew Donner was charged with refusing to provide his name to officers and it may be hard to come up with additional charges because it comes down to he said versus he said.

Pet Adoption Limits Worry Animal Rescuers

In Pleasant Hill, there's a new law limiting pet ownership to four dogs or cats or any mix of dogs and cats up to four total. That's to end pet hoarding which has become a growing problem. Worrying about the law is the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, which says there are plenty of pets to adopt and limits keep people from adopting.

Cold-Snow Top News

Des Moines Public Works trucks were out in force all weekend to try to keep up with snow. A snowstorm arrived on the first day of winter, and the Public Works plows are responsible for 225 miles of snow routes. Yesterday they dealt with blowing and drifting snow. After they did the snow routes they went into the neighborhood streets and hope owners move cars off the streets so the plows can do their work without burying cars. Brutally cold today with wind chills in some spots close to 20 below. Christmas Eve a chance of light flurries. Christmas Day it will warm up to near 30.

Iowa Incomes Not Keeping Up

Incomes in Iowa are not keeping up with inflation. That's according to newly released Census Bureau data. The new figures show median incomes in Iowa homes have dropped below inflation over the last dozen years.

Winter Trout Release

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release trout all around the state this winter for winter fishermen. These trout couldn't survive in these selected lakes in summertime and are strictly for catching by seasonal anglers. Some of the 11 thousand trout will be released in Fort Dodge's Moorland Park and Big Lake West in Council Bluffs, in Blue Pit in Mason City and Bacon Creek in Sioux City. Also Lake Petoka in Bondurant and Ada Hayden Pond in Ames. Fisherman must have paid their trout fee.

Chinese Nationals Allegedly Involved in Corn Espionage

The U.S. Attorney for Iowa's Southern District says one man's been arrested and they're looking for 5-other Chinese nationals they say conspired to steal trade secrets from seed corn companies Dupont Pioneer and Monsanto. WHO-TV reports the suspect in custody, Mo Hailong, allegedly stole plants from test plots and tried to get the corn to China.

Schulte Group Buys Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel

Schulte Hospitality Group is the new owner of the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel in downtown Des Moines. A company spokesperson tells KCCI they plan a major renovation of the hotel. That's expected to cost about $8 million and take about 6-months to finish, including adding a restaurant on the first floor.

Wellmark steps up its ad game in light of federal exchange problem

As the federal government continues working on fixing its insurance enrollment website, one Midwestern insurer keeps making fun of it.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has brought to light those technical problems as it tries luring away some potential customers.

New television ads from Wellmark in Iowa and South Dakota tell people that they can buy health insurance from other sources.

ARL takes birds from shootout suspect's home

Exotic birds and other animals have left the home of the suspect who died following Wednesday's shootout in Des Moines.

Josh Colvin from the ARL tells the Des Moines Register that 55 birds, four cats, and a ball python appear healthy.

The birds remain under care at the ARL's largest location in Ankeny.

Officials have not called this a hoarding situation.

Payton announces candidacy for Sen. Dist. 15

The former chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee has announced a state senate run.

The Des Moines Register reports Patrick Payton of Newton seeking the District 15 seat.

This district includes Altoona, Bondurant, Elkhart and Mitchellville.

Rich Nigerian cousin scam trips up attorney

The Iowa Supreme Court has suspended the law license of a Des Moines attorney for one year.

The court has sanctioned Robert Allan Wright, Jr. for soliciting loans to pay a fake Nigerian inheritance.

KCCI-TV reports Wright received documents two years ago saying a client had inhereted $19 million from a long-lost cousin. The client told Wright he had to pay $177,00 in taxes to get the bigger sum of money. The Supreme Court says Wright agreed to represent client for a fee of 10 percent of the inheritance.

Court documents say Wright solicited loans from other former clients to help pay the supposed taxes. Several of them offered $12,500 apiece. Another person gave $20,000.

The Supreme Court claims Wright did not reveal the risky nature of the transaction. He eventually raised $200,000 and sent it to Nigeria, but no one ever delivered an inheritance.

None of the people who loaned their money to Wright ever got their money back.

FBI raids Sorenson's home

The FBI continues investigating a former Michele Bachmann campaign aide.

The lawyer for former Iowa State Senator Kent Sorenson has confirmed to the Des Moines Register that authorities searched Sorenson's home two weeks ago.

Sorenson helped with Bachmann's run for the White House last year.

Federal agents seized computers and other items linked to Sorenson's work with both Bachmann and Ron Paul's campaigns.

Sorenson switched from Bachmann's camp to Paul's right before the Iowa caucuses. Authorities say they have evidence he received money to do so.

Dem Candidate for GOv. Getting Divorced

One of the Democrats who wants his party's nomination for Governor made some news on the marital front today. WHO TV reports State Rep. Tyler Olson told reporters today he and his wife are separating, and will be getting divorced. Olson says hes cutting back campaigning for the rest of the year but will resume after the holidays.

DM PD Arrest Rock Eating Man for Drug Paraphernalia

Des Moines Police pulled over a man some Lincoln High School students say they saw eating rocks. Police say the man told the kids he lost his meth. 36-year old Michael Sutton was in a car with two kids in the back seat. KCCI reports Sutton's been arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, child endangerment and minor traffic charges.