POLK COUNTY (IRN) – A Polk County judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of a child who died in a ride malfunction at Adventureland. The Des Moines Register reports a motion made by the State of Iowa and by a ride inspector was rejected after they were added as defendants in April. The lawsuit filed by the family of 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo alleges that the state and inspector Bruno Burriola were negligent while inspecting the Raging River in the summer of 2021, less than a month before a malfunction resulted in the boy’s eventual death. A state report in 2022 showed the ride was in violation of 17 safety standards — Burriola gave the operation full clearance a year prior, according to court records. The then-owners of Adventureland are also named in the suit.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Record highs are possible as the calendar turns to October this weekend. The National Weather Service anticipates high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s, and possibly near 90, starting today and continuing through Monday with little-to-no rain expected statewide during that time. The previous record in Des Moines is 90 degrees today, and 92 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This comes as the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday that 95% of the state remains in drought, and one-fourth of Iowa is in extreme conditions or worse.

LAKE CITY (IRN) – The former city administrator of a northwest Iowa town faces fines but no additional jail time after pleading guilty to charges related to fraud. The Des Moines Register reports Eric Wood of Lake City was sentenced to probation and a suspended prison sentence, with more than $2,000 in fines. Wood was arrested in September 2022 and faced several accusations, including perjury, which would have been felonious misconduct while in office. Wood was involved in signing false documents related to the employment of two Lake City police officers, including Aaron Alspach, who pled guilty to tampering with records and was sentenced to a year in probation.

(Not for KNIA/KRLS) WARREN COUNTY (IRN) – Two Warren County patrol cruisers were struck while assisting with a crash on Interstate 35 early Thursday morning. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office shared a post from Sheriff Joseph Carico about the collisions that occurred as emergency crews were responding to a two-vehicle incident near mile marker 53. Carico said two cruisers were hit by the truck traveling near normal interstate speeds at a scene that was blocked off and that closed the road due to a fire. He reported both officers involved were able to flee safely.