KIOW, Iowa Radio Station, Fires Staffers Over Racist Remarks

DES MOINES, IA — Two employees of KIOW, an Iowa radio station, have been fired after making derogatory comments on air about some high school basketball players' race. One of the people fired was an elementary teacher who worked as a board operator for the station, and the other was a sports announcer.

KIMT-TV said that Orin Harris, the announcer, confirmed he was fired Monday from Forest City radio station KIOW. The station manager for KIOW, Karl Wooldridge, confirmed that two employees were fired Monday.

The Forest City School District says it placed teacher Holly Jane Kusserow-Smidt, who worked as a KIOW board operator, on administrative leave.

The Associated Press could not immediately reach Harris and Kusserow-Smidt for comment.

In a video of last Tuesday's game between Forest City and Eagle Grove, Harris refers to Eagle Grove boys he believes to be Hispanic because of their names as "foreigners" and says they should "go back where they came from." Kusserow-Smidt agrees and laughs.

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