Author: Iowa Radio News

MADISON COUNTY – Delayed property tax statements in Madison County have no timeline for resolution, according to an update provided at a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. KCCI-TV reports County Treasurer Kylee Barber is working to complete year-end tasks. However, delays in property tax notices have caused a downstream impact on local governments, with the City of Earlham preparing to take a loan to cover expenses because of the delays, as well as several school districts.

IOWA – Early voting begins today in the state of Iowa for the November 3rd midterm election. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports county auditors are able to send out absentee ballots, with the final day to request those coming this Monday. Several county auditors are hosting in-person early voting at their respective locations and some satellite facilities.

IOWA – Following several consecutive days of well-above average temperatures, including some records for heat over the weekend, more seasonal conditions return to the state. The first frost of the fall season is expected for many by this Friday, with widespread rainfall expected on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The Iowa DNR expects these conditions to shorten the fall color season for many, especially in the northern half of the state.

WOODWARD – In a community meeting Monday night, Microsoft unveiled plans to build a data center within the city limits of Woodward. KCCI-TV reports more than 200 residents learned about the proposal on Monday after the tech company purchased more than 600 acres of land from an independent seller. On the same night, another central Iowa community voted to halt plans for any data center projects through a moratorium. The Nevada City Council put a pause on proposals until next April.

MADISON COUNTY – Three Iowa school districts have not received revenue from property taxes from Madison County. The superintendents at Earlham, Interstate 35, and Winterset issued a joint statement on Monday, claiming they have not received funds from Madison County since June 12th, and that those districts are at risk of needed short-term financing to cover essential operating expenses. The county treasurer claims the delays are due to the arrest of former treasurer Amanda DeVos.

AMES – A long time athletics coach is retiring at the end of the winter season. The Iowa State Cyclones Athletics Department announced the retirement of Women’s Basketball Coach Bill Fennelly. He’s the winningest coach in the history of Ames, with 656 wins in 32 seasons at Hilton Coliseum.

IOWA – The Iowa State Patrol responded to an unusually busy weekend of vehicle crashes across the state. Several reports were produced this weekend for collisions in Winnesheik, Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, and Jones Counties, with one fatality reported and nearly a dozen people injured.

IOWA – A new record high temperature was recorded over the weekend in Des Moines as a round of summer-like heat impacted many across the state. KCCI-TV reports the 88 degree temperature on Sunday afternoon was the highest on record, breaking the 2024 mark of 2024 for October 11th. A gradual transition to more seasonal temperatures is expected, with today being the latest excessively warm day, according to the National Weather Service.

IOWA – Gas prices remain high in the state of Iowa, and the latest survey of the state showed an increase this past week at most pumps. KGRAN reports prices jumped 13.4 cents over the last seven days in the state, and costs an average of $4.25 per gallon. The average cost of a gallon is up 11.2 cents from this point one month ago and more than $1.47 since 2025.

AMES – A warm stretch in October, along with recent rounds of rainfall, are keeping pesky bugs alive longer into the season. KCCI-TV reports an Iowa State University research group is tracking mosquito populations and the diseases they carry. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s, along with several inches of precipitation in the last few weeks, are keeping insects around longer than usual in October. Relief will be on the way in the coming weeks as cooler temperatures arrive.

CLEGHORN – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a manure discharge from an open feedlot in north-central Cherokee County. On Friday morning, the DNR Spencer Field Office received a report of manure in Bear Creek, a tributary to Mill Creek. DNR field staff responded to the site and identified an open feedlot with an overflowing settled open feedlot effluent basin. The producer has taken measures to mitigate the impact of the discharge.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County in response to severe storms that occurred on September 29 and continuing.
Governor Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of these storms and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for affected residents. The proclamation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.

IOWA – Multiple strong thunderstorms dropped large hail on portions of western and central Iowa overnight, adding to what has been the 20th wettest year on record so far in the state of Iowa. The National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorms late Thursday night stretching from Sioux City to Albia. A warm weekend in the forecast has increased fire concerns in some locations due to the high heat, low humidity, and gusty winds in the forecast.

IOWA – The Iowa Utilities Commission denied a request to consolidate dockets related to ongoing efforts to build a carbon sequestration pipeline in Iowa. KCCI-TV reports the Commission issued hearing schedules for two sections of the pipeline, but denied a request to combine the two made by Summit Carbon Solutions. Summit’s initial permit was approved in 2024 for 600 miles of pipe through Iowa, which gave them the right to use eminent domain. That has been challenged by several landowners and has been the subject of several debates in the Iowa Legislature.

HENRY COUNTY – Two adults and an infant were injured in a vehicle crash in southeast Iowa on Tuesday. WHO-13 reports the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the collision on Old Highway 34 west of Mount Pleasant. Three individuals were treated for injuries by Henry County Ambulance.