CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Fire Department said five people were displaced after a house fire on Saturday afternoon. Officials responded to a home in the 2200 block of O Ave. NW just before 2 p.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire, performed a search, and ventilated the home. CRFD said all occupants were accounted for and made it out of the home safely. There is major fire damage to the exterior of the home, and smoke, water and fire damage inside. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Duval Walker, the man who shot and killed Cameron Barnes, 32, at a bar in Marion has been sentenced to life in prison. Walker shot Barnes in the back of his neck on St. Patrick’s Day in 2023. Federal Marshals arrested Walker in Waterloo about two weeks later on charges of First Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon, and Going Armed with Intent. A jury found him guilty on all three counts. Walker’s defense team moved for a retrial at the sentencing but it was denied by the judge. The defense attorneys said they now have two witnesses that didn’t testify in the original trial that could help Walker’s case for self-defense. Walker addressed the courtroom before he received his sentence and said he plans to appeal his case to the Iowa Supreme Court. He also said he would not be phased by any victim impact statements that would be read. The courtroom also heard two impact statements from Cameron Barnes mother and siblings. Barnes’ siblings said Walker wasn’t respectful to them throughout the trial.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Friday, Cedar Rapids Animal Control announced that all of the shelter’s dogs and 23 of its cats have no adoption fees. Staff members say that a generous donation to the shelter gave them the ability to waive the fees for all of the dogs and some of the cats that have been there for several months. The other cats only have $25 fees for the month of July. The shelter says that its free pet food pantry is available to those who need help to keep pets in their homes.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A new clinic at University of Iowa Health Care is a first for the state of Iowa. The medical toxicology clinic at UIHC just opened up two days ago. From farm chemicals to household cleaners, we’re exposed to chemicals and other toxins constantly, sometimes making us sick. That’s why UIHC opened its new Toxicology clinic. Doctor Dan McCabe runs the clinic. He says most doctors typically see just one or two poisoning cases in their career. But with more chemicals in our lives, Doctor McCabe says the clinic is now a need. The clinic can quickly identify the toxin, where it’s coming from and how to treat it. He says lead and pesticides are the most common toxins in Iowa. It is a referral clinic, meaning if you think you’ve been exposed, you need to go to your doctor or the ER first. The clinic says it hopes to expand its hours and days of operation once it’s up and running.
