Iowa meteorologist quits his job after receiving death threats over his climate change warning
A meteorologist in has said he is quitting his job after receiving a death threat and a series of harassing emails in response to his coverage. Chris Gloninger, the chief meteorologist for KCCI Channel 8 News in Des Moines, announced on Wednesday he would end his television career and 'embark on a new journey dedicated to helping solve the climate crisis'. Gloninger had received several threatening emails last summer, some of which asked for his home address. Others said he was a 'worthless Biden puppet' and should 'go east and drown from the ice cap melting'. After reporting the messages to authorities, police identified a man in Lenox, Iowa, who admitted to sending them. Danny Hancock, 63, was then charged with third-degree harassment. He pleaded guilty and was fined $105. He was also ordered to pay $76 in court costs. Glonginer used his position at KCCI to raise awareness of the impact of climate change and often shared clips to social media in which he discussed the negative ramifications. 'I take immense pride in having educated the public about the impacts of climate change during my career,' he wrote in a note announcing his departure on Twitter. Glonginer shared screenshots of some of the abusive emails last July and the reviewed court and police records to expose some of the others. The first message on June 21 at around 5.35pm read: 'Getting sick and tired of your liberal conspiracy theory on the weather, climate changes every day, always has, always will, your pushing nothing but a Biden hoax, go back to where you came from.' A few days later, Hancock wrote: 'You are worthless Biden puppet, a liar, a conspiracy theorist, and an idiot!!! You give Iowa a bad name, GO HOME B****.' Hours later came perhaps the most threatening message, in which Hancock referred to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. 'What's your address, we conservative Iowans would like to give you an Iowan welcome you will never forget, kinda like the lib**** gave JUDGE KAVANAUGH!!!!!!!' he wrote. Hancock was likely referring to an incident in which US deputy marshals intercepted an on abortion rights and planned to kill him. Police found on him a Glock-17 pistol, a tactical knife, two magazines, a speed loader, ammunition, pepper spray, zip ties and tools including a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch and crowbar. A week after the first message Hancock made reference to the fact that another KCCI meteorologist, Metinka Slater, had recently resigned. 'Evidently Metinka could see through your lies and conspiracy theory on climate change, evidently she knew you are full of did s**t cause it didn't take her long to leave when your lieing a** got there, pack your liberal conspiracy and go home!!!!!' he sent. The following month on July 12, Hancock wrote: 'I don't watch your worthless weather forecast because your an idiot but someone else texted me and said you are still an idiot, go the hell back where you came from DOUCHEBAG!!!' On July 15, he told Gloninger to 'go east and drown from the ice cap melting you dumbf**k!!!!!!!' Gloninger became interested in weather as a child and graduated in meteorology from Plymouth State University, after which he became a certified broadcast meteorologist with the American Meteorological Society. Before moving to Des Moines, Gloninger worked at a number of other TV stations in Wisconsin, Michigan and Massachusetts. With NBC10 in Boston he started his first series on climate change. He told this week that trauma caused by the threats caused him to fear for not only his safety but also that of his wife, who would often remain at home alone while he was working late shifts. 'I was not sleeping,' Gloninger said. 'I had bags under my eyes.' 'I'm trying to put it behind me,' he told the newspaper. 'But at the same point, I think it brings awareness to what journalists face day-to-day bringing the news.' He said he was sad to give up his role but also looked forward to the next chapter. 'Having a dream since you were in second grade of being a TV meteorologist?' Gloninger told The Post. 'Yeah. Im going to miss it. I just hope that this is even more fulfilling than the last 18 years, my next chapter.'