CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says last week’s derecho was unprecedented. They now estimate peak wind gusts of 110 to 130 mph in parts of Tama, Benton, and Linn counties. They say this was an unprecedented event due to the extent of the damage and how long the winds lasted. There have been derechos of similar strength. One in 1998 had winds of 123 miles per hour in Washington, Iowa. Another in 2011 had winds up to 130 miles per hour in Vinton. Last week’s derecho topped them all because of how long the winds lasted. Winds in the Linn County and Cedar Rapids area were likely in excess of 100 mph for nearly an hour. NWS meteorologists say those strong winds usually only last 10 to 15 minutes

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It’s “game on” in Des Moines. Maybe. The Des Moines School Board made the decision Monday night to continue activities and athletics. That goes against the guidance released Friday by the Department of Education. That guidance states if a school goes to an all-virtual model, as Des Moines has done, then activities would be suspended. Des Moines schools are listening to their board — not the state — and continued to practice Tuesday to prepare for their seasons in all fall sports.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University reports 34 more students tested positive for the coronavirus during the final round of move-in testing over the weekend. In total, 175 students tested positive, which is 2.2% of all students tested. All students who tested positive will isolate for ten days.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says Gov. Kim Reynolds has blocked his request to join a lawsuit that seeks to prevent changes to the U.S. Postal Service that Democrats claim could threaten mail-in voting. Miller announced Tuesday that he wanted to join the lawsuit planned by more than 20 states that seek to stop budget cuts and operational changes that are disrupting mail deliveries.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released more statistics about the widespread crop damage across the state following a devastating derecho on August 10. The USDA reported that 57 counties were impacted by the damaging storms, with 8.2 million acres of corn and 5.6 million acres of soybeans being impacted.