IOWA – For the first time in several months, drought has returned to the state of Iowa. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report shows the entire state is at least abnormally dry, with moderate drought conditions returning in far southwest and northeast Iowa. Short-term relief is on the way after strong thunderstorms brought rain to many communities Thursday; widespread rain showers are in the forecast through Monday morning, with the heaviest rainfall falling along and south of Highway 30, according to the National Weather Service.

WAPELLO COUNTY – Two people died in a crash in Wapello County on Friday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a motorcycle operated by 35-year-old Dustin West of Hedrick and a pickup driven by 75-year-old Billy Skinner of Ottumwa collided on a rural road. Both died from their injuries.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – A Shenandoah man was sentenced Friday to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. According to public court documents, Evaristo Hernandez Flores Carnes, 34, uploaded images and videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media application. Law enforcement executed search warrant at Carnes’s residence and seized a cell phone that was later found to contain images and videos. After completing his term of imprisonment, Carnes will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

MITCHELL COUNTY – A Georgia man was killed in a crash involving two semis in Mitchell County early Friday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports 60-year-old Eric Mitchell was in a Mack semi driven by Senika Range of McDonough, Georgia, who failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign to a Peterbilt truck operated by Christo Van Der Linde of Stacyville. Range and Van Der Linde were injured, but Mitchell, an Atlanta resident, was killed. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and was ejected.