IOWA – A large storm system swept through the state on Wednesday, bringing with it multiple rounds of rain and warnings. The National Weather Service reported five instances of wind gusts above severe limits and multiple tornado warnings were issued throughout the day for an unusual late October weather pattern. Many Iowa communities received more than two inches of rain. This comes as nearly the entire state has been in drought for several weeks after one of the driest Septembers and now Octobers on record.

IOWA – Iowa’s election chief is defending a decision to challenge nearly 2,000 voters and their citizenship status. The Des Moines Register reports Secretary of State Paul Pate accused that group due to previous reports to the Iowa DOT that they were noncitizens, and sent letter to all 99 county auditors to dispute their ability to vote. The county auditors have identified several of those individuals have become naturalized since. Pate claims those who were challenged were reviewed before taking them off of voter rolls, while civil rights groups allege the move is politically motivated.

SIOUX CENTER – An Iowa man has journeyed on a culinary journey that has brought him to buffets across the Midwest. KCAU reports Jason Halkias has spent the last ten years traveling in 14 states to take in every Pizza Ranch location in the U.S. Halkias finished that work Tuesday in Sioux Center, where he was greated by staff with a goodie bag and his favorite slice of pizza.