DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hot air balloons filled the skies over Des Moines this morning ahead of the National Balloon Classic in Indianola this weekend. However, the planned flights did not go without a hitch. One balloon pilot made an emergency landing in a backyard. No one was injured.

CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A crash in Cerro Gordo County on Friday killed two people and injured another. The driver lost control of the vehicle and rolled. The driver and a passenger were killed. Another passenger was life-flighted to the hospital.

CENTRAL CITY, IA (IRN) – A Coralville man is behind bars after stabbing a man in the chest on Saturday in Central City. The victim is also on a police hold for a warrant for escape and violation of probation.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A road bucking due to extreme heat shut down a portion of Interstate 80 in West Des Moines on Saturday. The road buckle occurred westbound on I-80 near the Jordan Creek Parkway entrance ramp. The westbound lanes were shut down for several hours while law enforcement and Iowa DOT repaired the road.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Pato O’Ward is the winner of Sunday’s Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 race at the Iowa Speedway. O’Ward finished second in Saturday’s race, the Hy-Veedeals.com 250. Josef Newgarden, the winner of Saturday’s race, led for the majority of Sunday’s race and looked like he was headed for a weekend sweep until he spun out and crashed on lap 236.