ISU Student Found Near Sorority Died of Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Hypothermia
(Ames, IA) — The medical examiner says an Iowa State University student found in a sorority parking lot last month died of acute alcohol intoxication and hypothermia. Ames police say the death of 21-year-old Olivia Chutich (CHOO’-tich) was ruled accidental. Chutich was discovered dead in the parking lot of the Delta Delta Delta sorority on January 22nd. Investigators said there was no evidence of foul play. Chutich was the daughter of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chutich and Allina Health C-E-O Penny Wheeler. Chutitch was a 2017 graduate of Breck School in the Twin Cities and a junior majoring in communication studies at Iowa State.
19th State Prison Inmate Dies of COVID Complications in Iowa
(Newton, IA) — The Iowa Department of Corrections is reporting the COVID-related death of an inmate at the Newton Correctional Facility. Officials say 63-year-old Kevin McDonnell died Tuesday at U-I Hospitals and Clinics likely due to coronavirus complications and other underlying health conditions. McConnell was serving a 25-year sentence for second-degree sexual abuse in Muscatine County. He is the 19th state prison inmate to die from COVID-19 and the first from Newton.
Marion School District Picks New Mascot to Replace Indians
(Marion, IA) — The Marion Independent School District in eastern Iowa is changing its mascot next year. School board members voted to replace the Indians nickname with Mavericks at Monday night’s meeting. Just under three-thousand residents voted for the change in a survey. The other top choices were the Red Bulls and the Red Storm, but the Marion Mavericks received nearly half the vote total. Activities director Mike Manderscheid says school colors will remain red and gold and they’re working to develop the Maverick logo.
Trees Forever Offering $5K Grants to Derecho-Affected Communities
(Marion, IA) — Trees Forever is offering grants of up to five-thousand dollars for communities affected by the derecho last August. The money will be awarded through a program called Planting Hope and can be used for replanting areas that saw major canopy loss due to the derecho. Trees Forever C-E-O Shannon Ramsay said “we really hope and expect that people in these communities will rally together to plant and care for these new trees. These will not simply be one-time planting projects.” Applications for this round of grants are due by April 1st.
Man Shot After Cedar Rapids Stabbing Dies
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A man shot by a Cedar Rapids police officer as he left the scene of a fatal stabbing Saturday has died. Police responded to the Rodeway Inn in southwest Cedar Rapids and found two women with stab wounds. An officer chased 39-year-old Arnell States as he tried to run from the scene, and then shot him. One of the women, 34-year-old Katrina Latrese Brinson of Cedar Rapids, died from stab wounds. The other woman was treated and released.
