IOWA – Widespread severe weather is expected to impact the state today and for the first time in 2025. According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms capable of producing winds up to 75 MPH are increasingly likely across most of Iowa. Hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible. Breezy conditions are also in place outside of the storms, with wind gusts up to 50 MPH likely in many communities.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s Revenue Estimating Conference met again to revise projections for the state’s finances on Thursday. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports there were slight drops in the revised numbers for the incoming resources for both the current and next fiscal year, down to $8.7 billion in fiscal year 2026. The panel cited tax cuts passed over the past few years. The Governor’s proposed budget for the next few fiscal years shows a draw down of the state’s full reserve funds to make up for the losses.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines man was sentenced this week to 54 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges. According to court documents, Bryan David Sampica, 49, executed a scheme to defraud financial institutions responsible for issuing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between May 2020 and March 2021. Sampica fraudulently obtained two loans for a company that had no employees, no operations, and no payroll. Once Sampica received the funding, he uuse the money to pay off a car loan, transfer money to a family member and trust accounts, and to purchase a yacht.