CHELSEA, IA (IRN) – A woman has died after walking in front of a train in the Tama County town of Chelsea, according to the Des Moines Register. The unidentified woman apparently crossed between trains and was struck by one Thursday morning. It’s unknown why the woman was on the tracks or how fast the train was going.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny released new numbers Thursday from its recent Special Census confirming its explosive growth.  KCCI-TV reports Ankeny’s new population total officially stands at over 54,000, which is nearly a 20 percent increase in population growth in less than five years. The city has doubled in population since the year 2000, adding nearly five people per day every day for the past five years.

SABULA, IA (IRN) – Emergency crews were on scene over the weekend to clear a bridge after mayflies took over in Sabula, Iowa’s only island city on the Mississippi. WQAD-TV reports the incident happened Saturday night. The Iowa DOT used a snow plow to remove the insects. Two motorcycles lost traction on the bridge, but no one was hurt.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A postal worker and his wife in Waterloo have been charged with concocting phony doctor’s excuses to get out of work. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports Joseph Herold, 34, and Nichole Herold, also 34, of Waterloo, were arrested June 30 for tampering with records. The charges stem from a February investigation by the Postal Service Inspector General.

MILO, IA (IRN) – Former State Senator Kent Sorenson, 43, a Republican from Warren County is in trouble with the law again. According to KCCI-TV he’s charged with domestic abuse assault and interference with official acts. Sorenson had previously pled guilty to federal charges of obstruction of justice and falsifying federal campaign expenditures. He had been an adviser to Michele Bachmann in 2011, but hid secret payments to switch to the Ron Paul campaign.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Terry Branstad is asking President Barack Obama to issue a presidential disaster declaration for 19 Iowa counties. The request states that winds, tornadoes, heavy rain, hail and thunderstorms from June 20 to 25 caused an estimated $5.1 million in damages.

BUENA VISTA COUNTY, IA (KTIV) – Two bars in Buena Vista County were broken into over the weekend. KTIV-TV reports money and liquor were stolen from the Rembrandt Bar and Grill and the Truesdale Bar and Grill. Someone forced their way into the both bars and stole the cash and booze.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa is the toughest state in the nation for speeding enforcement, according to a new study by WalletHub.com, a personal finance website. While Iowa is tough on speeding, it lags in targeting aggressive driving, such as road rage. Iowa is in the middle of the pack tied for 24th for reckless driving penalties.