IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A man has been charged with first-degree murder following an investigation into a fatal Iowa City shooting from December 2024. 20-year-old Denario Mobley is accused of fatally shooting a woman in a vehicle in the alley behind the 600 Block of South Lucas Street on December 30, 2024. The victim was later identified as 38-year-old Christine Blount of Iowa City. Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston says they were “confident” there was enough evidence to lead to an arrest. Liston said, “I am proud of the determination showed by our investigators to provide justice to Christine’s loved ones.” Mobley is currently in custody on an unrelated charge.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch/KCRG) – Iowa will host “America’s Harvest Festival” at the Iowa Capitol grounds Oct. 24 as part of national celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, Gov. Kim Reynolds, state officials and sponsors announced Wednesday. Reynolds said the event would be a highlight of Iowa’s celebrations for the 250th anniversary, focused on “showcasing how Iowa agriculture has helped build our nation.” Scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, the event will feature a variety of vendors, exhibits and more for Iowans of all ages. The event is led by the state’s America 250 Task Force. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, a co-chair of the task force, said while many of the events centered on celebrating the U.S. 250th anniversary have been focused around July 4, the Harvest Festival “really does allow us to gather again and maybe put a bookend on this year of celebration” in Iowa.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa City man who pleaded guilty to driving into five people at a homeless encampment last August has been sentenced to serve nearly two decades in prison. On August 15, 2025, Roman Aguilar Ventura drove his vehicle while under the influence through an encampment near Shelter House, an organization that assists homeless people. Ventura pleaded guilty to several charges in March, including Operating While Under the Influence, two counts of Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury, and three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. He also pleaded guilty to Driving While Barred and Driving While License Denied or Revoked. In addition to his sentence, Ventura will also be subject to a six-year suspension of his drivers license, in addition to substance abuse treatment.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the first measles case of 2026 in an Iowa resident, with potential exposure locations also being released. The case was confirmed in a vaccinated adult from central Iowa who was infected during overseas travel. This marks the first case reported in Iowa so far this year. Last year there were nine confirmed cases. Nationally, there have been 2,170 confirmed cases in the U.S. so far this year.
