IDA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced Thursday that testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus disease in Iowa in 2017. The department said a middle-aged Ida County man tested positive for the virus, but was not hospitalized and is recovering.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police will charge a man with the June murder of an Iowa City cab driver when he is extradited back to Johnson County. Police say on June 27, 41-year-old Curtis Jones took a cab ride and then shot the driver, Ricky Lillie in the head. He was then seen on surveillance video leaving the location of where Lillie was found. Several items belonging to Lillie were missing. Jones has been in and out of prison since 2001.
EASTERN IOWA (IRN) – Severe thunderstorms tracked across northeastern Iowa Wednesday evening. The storms began over southern Minnesota bringing widespread damaging winds to northern and northeast Iowa, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. Reports of downed trees and winds up to 70 mph were seen with these storms. KCRG-TV reports damage to homes and trees in McGregor, Winneshiek County, and Claremont.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Republican lawmaker in Iowa has called on one of his party’s statehouse leaders to resign following the conclusion of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former legislative aide. Sen. Rick Bertrand of Sioux City says Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock should resign after a jury awarded $2.2 million to Kirsten Anderson, a former caucus communications director. The jury determined she was fired in 2013 after she reported rampant sexual harassment in the caucus office.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – People across the country are patiently waiting for a rare flower to bloom at the Des Moines Botanical Garden. The titan arum, more commonly known as the corpse flower, emits a fragrance – similar to rotting flesh – when it blooms. There are only a few of them around the world. The flower is expected to bloom within the next 10 days and will only stay open for less than 24 hours.
DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Kids in Davenport looking to get away from the summer heat for the next two weeks can go to the park to find some relief. WQAD-TV reports the Davenport Fire Department started their “Beat the Heat” initiative at parks in the city. For one hour the department opens up a fire hydrant to let kids cool off.