CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A record number of passengers flew out of the Eastern Iowa Airport in 2024. Leaders with the airport said a record-setting 1.5 million total passengers flew out of CID in 2024. That number surpassed the previous record of 1.4 million, set in 2023. Airport director Marty Lenss cited airlines continued investment in the Eastern Iowa Airport because of strong economic growth and stability. In 2023, the airport added three new destinations, including Allegiant flights to Fort Lauderdale, and American Airlines flights to Washington, D.C. and Miami. “Along with the nonstop destinations, there are more than 400 one-stop destinations travelers can get to from CID,” Lenss said.
TIFFIN, Iowa (KCRG) – Fire officials say a fire Monday morning caused an estimated $80,000 in damage to a 6-plex that was under construction in Tiffin. Firefighters responded to the multi-story building in the 500 block of Bluestem Street at around 8:26 a.m. on Monday. Crews arrived to find fire burning in the walls between two of the units. No one was inside the building, and no one was injured while extinguishing the fire. Officials estimate the damage at $80,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
STORM LAKE, Iowa (KTIV/KCRG) – Authorities are still investigating after a pursuit Sunday morning in Storm Lake led to a standoff that ended Monday morning after the suspect died. Storm Lake Police and the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a pursuit with an individual Sunday that ended at a home on the corner of 3rd Street and Oneida in Storm Lake. Around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, police informed the community of an active and potentially dangerous situation. Police say the individual they were pursuing barricaded himself inside the home and law enforcement locked down the surrounding area, evacuating some residents and blocking off several streets. The standoff lasted throughout Sunday and into the early morning hours of Monday, Jan. 27. During the standoff, the individual inside the house was seen shooting at the officers outside. Authorities could be heard attempting to speak to the individual inside, encouraging them to come out. The Division of Criminal Investigation says shortly before 3 a.m. on Monday, the individual again fired at law enforcement and officers returned fire. The individual, identified as 45-year-old Daniel Palenik, was struck and died at the scene. According to the DCI, the officers involved in the shooting are being placed on administrative leave as per policy. Sometime before 5:30 a.m. Monday, police told the public they had secured the scene and declared the situation had been resolved. Later Monday morning, KTIV saw investigators, including personnel from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, at the Storm Lake home. It appears they were still investigating the scene. A top portion of the home has been destroyed and a hole can be seen in the roof. At one point in the morning, smoke was seen coming from the house.
CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – A retired public official, who was serving a 50-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend in 2011, has died. Thomas Lee Hansen died at 2:15 a.m. on Jan. 22 at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. He was 84 years old. Hansen, the former Johnson County Emergency Management Coordinator, was convicted for the murder of Sharon Gerot in 2013. Hansen shot her while she was mowing the lawn outside their home in May 2011. During his trial, Hansen said it was an accident and that he had been only been trying to scare her because they were fighting. Hansen asked for a new trial, arguing there wasn’t enough evidence to show malice and there was error in instructing the jury. He also argued evidence had been improperly handled. The Iowa Court of Appeals disagreed, upholding his conviction. His sentence began on Feb. 1, 2013. He was 72 years old at the time.