Iowa
Altoona massage therapist sanctioned for sexual contact with client – Iowa Capital Dispatch
The state of Iowa has suspended the license of a massage therapist accused of improper sexual contact with a customer.
The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy has suspended for three years the license of Junyong Smith of Hudson, owner of Altoona Health Massage. The board cited Smith for improper sexual contact with a client, and with knowingly aiding a person to unlawfully practice as a massage therapist.
According to the board, Smith removed a client’s undergarments and, without consent, touched his genitals during a massage appointment on Dec. 29, 2022. The board alleges Smith also admitted to employing an unlicensed individual to perform massage therapy.
According to a civil lawsuit filed by the customer, after Smith grabbed his penis she began to perform a sex act on him. The man alleges he ended the massage, ran from the business, and dialed 911. Smith is alleged to have apologized to the man and provided a refund. The customer’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for assault and battery. Smith has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
Before applying for reinstatement of her license, Smith must pay a $500 civil penalty and undergo a psychosexual evaluation.
In January 2023, Smith was criminally charged with interference with official acts. Police alleged detectives were investigating Altoona Health Massage after receiving several complaints that the staff was performing sex acts with clients.
While police were at the business, Smith allegedly entered one of the massage rooms and instructed a customer and client to use a secondary exit to leave the building so she would not get into trouble. The criminal charge was later dismissed at the request of prosecutors.
Board issued licenses by mistake
In unrelated matters, the Iowa Board of Massage Therapy recently rescinded the licenses of two individuals who had been mistakenly authorized to practice massage therapy in Iowa.
Board records indicate that in 2022 Ashlynn Kooima completed her massage therapy training at East Valley Institute of Technology – six years after the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork had revoked East Valley’s certification for failing to meet operational or educational requirements.
In 2022, Kooima applied for an Iowa massage license. An Iowa licensure specialist reviewed Kooima’s application but failed to verify East Valley’s standing with the national board. The Iowa board then issued Kooima a license.
Earlier this month, with Kooima employed at Sioux Center Chiropractic as a massage therapist, the board voted to rescind her license. The board noted there was no evidence Kooima applied for a license in bad faith or submitted any incorrect information to the board, but indicated the license should never have been granted.
In 2020, Chuntse Lin completed his massage therapy education at Daniels Institute of Massage and the Healing Arts. In 2021, the national certification board found that the school did not meet its standards or had been found to be operating illegitimately. In June 2022, the Iowa issued Lin a license in error and last week voted to rescind that license.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
Five people were shot and injured at an Iowa City pedestrian mall near the University of Iowa campus overnight, police said Sunday. Students from the university were among the injured, according to school officials.
The Iowa City Police Department responded to a report of a large fight in the 100 Block of East College Street at 1:46 a.m. early Sunday, the department said in a news release. Arriving officers heard gunfire.
Multiple victims were hospitalized, police said. Police confirmed to CBS News that one person was in critical condition, while the other four victims are stable.
University of Iowa President Barb Wilson said in a statement that three students were among those shot. None of the victims has been publicly identified.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Police said they are seeking information about five “persons of interest associated with this shooting.” The university also shared the request for information.
The pedestrian mall was closed for several hours and reopened Sunday afternoon.
Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for April 13-18. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.
Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 26. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:
Taylor Roose, Pella boys track and field
Roose competed in three events at the Norwalk Invitational, winning all three in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump.
Daxon Kiesau, Urbandale boys track and field
Kiesau swept the throwing events at the Norwalk Invitational, taking first place in the shot put and the discus.
Alex Burger, Southeast Valley boys track and field
Competing at home, Burger dominated, earning four gold medals. He won the 400-meter hurdles and the long jump while running on the winning 4×200-meter relay and shuttle hurdle relay.
Kolby Hodnefield, Clear Lake boys track and field
Hodenfield, a defending state champion, broke the meet, venue and school record in the 200 and the 400 at the Clear Lake Invitational. He added victories as part of the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Both relays also set meet records.
Easton Moon, North Polk boys tennis
Moon has started off his senior season on the courts unbeaten, winning all four matches while dropping just one game in 44 played.
Ava Lohrbach, Gilbert girls golf
One of the top golfers in the state, Lohrbach has had a hot start, firing a 35 in her nine-hole debut and a 72 for her 18-hole opener.
Nathan Manske, Algona boys golf
An elite quarterback and basketball player, Manske is showing his golfing skills this spring, coming out with a state-low 30 in a nine-hole event.
Ella Hein, Tipton girls track and field
Hein set school records in the 400-meter run and long jump at the Tiger/Tigerette Relays while also locking in the Blue Standard and qualifying for the Drake Relays. She won the long jump (18-6) and was second in the 400.
Maeve Bowen-Burt, Iowa City High girls track and field
The sophomore helped the Little Hawks land three Drake Relays events on the last night of qualifying, advancing in the 400 hurdles, along with the sprint medley and 4×400 relays.
About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
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