IOWA – A tornado dropped down in Des Moines near Drake Stadium and widespread tree damage in eastern Iowa was the result of a derecho that stretched from central Iowa into the Great Lakes region on Monday. Several reports of wind gusts over 80 MPH were reported and multiple communities will be cleaning up following the widescale weather event that also caused brief flashing flooding in some locations too. Much more pleasant, calm weather is on the way in the near-term, according to the National Weather Service.

KNOXVILLE – One person died and another was injured when minivan crashed into a nursing home building in Knoxville. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Chrysler Town and Country driven by 86-year-old Doris McCombs was traveling through the parking lot at Accura Healthcare and struck the side of one of the buildings, crashing through the wall and into the room of a resident. Rebecca Richardson, 70, died from her injuries after being struck by the minivan. The building was evacuated during the peak heat of Monday afternoon.

IOWA – Governor Reynolds  announced that applications are now being accepted for state housing programs she launched during a press conference last week. The State Disaster Recovery New Housing Grant Program provides financial assistance for the development of new housing for sale or rent in counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance under a federal disaster declaration. It offers developers grant funding of up to $1 million per project to assist in the development of housing units for sale and rent, with a preference given to single-family detached units, duplex and townhouse style developments. The program will be administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.