IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for nine Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe weather that occurred on April 26. The governor requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Program and the activation of the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program for Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union Counties. In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

OSCEOLA – While rounds of rainfall in April have carried over into May, there’s still a long way to go for many to get out of a long-term drought. WHO-13 reports while West Lake near Osceola has risen two feet over the past week, it’s still well below normal. Osceola gets their water from the lake, and several conservation efforts have been implemented to try and get the reservoir to refill faster and to preserve what’s currently in the area.

HIAWATHA – Authorities have identified a 14-year-old in the suspect of a shooting at a Hiawatha gas station. KCRG-TV reports Christopher Troy McDaniel is charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, 3rd degree burglary, and weapons charges. Hiawatha police say they responded to a call of a young man in a store with a gun. Once police arrived, they claimed McDaniel fired at officers twice.

AMES – Emails show more details as to why investigators gathered evidence against student athletes and online sports betting. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation used geofencing to track cell phone activity at both Iowa and Iowa State. DCI agents believed Iowa Code allowed them to use the software, which is already used by the Racing and Gaming Commission. No warrant was ever issued. Multiple agents disclosed their use in a series of emails, but expressed their actions may not have been popular. A lawsuit is ongoing in Story County Court with several athletes seeking damages, believing their constitutional rights were violated.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill Wednesday at lowers all tax rates in Iowa to 3.8% on income. The Des Moines Register reports this accelerated previous legislation that would have established the flat tax by 2026. The law gives Iowa the sixth-lowest income tax rate among those that have them — nine states do not have one.

PERRY (NOT FOR RVR) – Members of the Perry Police Department received Iowa’s Medal of Merit for their actions on January 4th. KCCI-TV reports Representative Zach Nun presented four officers with the recognition for their response to the Perry High School shooting. That included Chief Eric Vaughn, Officer Micaela Zagar, Officer Cameron Martinez and School Resource Officer Josh Moore.

ANKENY – The Iowa Beef Industry announced JJ’s Tavern and Grill in Ankeny was the winner of Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. The annual award takes place via vote to get to ten different finalists. JJ’S Smash Burger was its highlight, featuring American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles

OWELEIN – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting the Oelwein Police Department with an unattended death investigation. Oelwein Police say they received a report of a possible dead body located in a wooded area. The body has been transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. Fayette County authorities are also assisting.

TAMA – An Iowa man has been charged with first degree murder for his alleged role in the killing of another woman’s husband in 2021. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa DCI’s Major Crime Unit arrested 26-year-old Huston Danker on Monday. He’s accused of conspiring to shoot and kill Ryan Cooper of Traer nearly three years ago. Cooper’s wife Karina has also been arrested and charged for her role in the death. Investigators described the death as violent. Police claim the two worked together to ultimately kill Ryan.

MILLERTON – Another round of severe weather brought large hail to several Iowa communities and a possible tornado near Millerton. Dozens of warnings were issued by the National Weather Service as a series of storms formed in western Iowa and dropped egg-sized hail in Malvern and Cass County and quarter-sized in half a dozen other locations. The active weather period will shift to widespread rainfall Thursday — most of the state should see up to 2″ of rain in a series of rain showers expected.

NOT FOR KNIA – PELLA – Thousands of visitors are expected to converge on the Tulip City for its annual heritage festival. The 89th Tulip Time will be held in Pella this Thursday through Saturday. Typically, 150,000 people attend the three-day celebration. Those attending will want to bring umbrellas, especially Thursday, as periodic rainfall is expected.

ANAMOSA – Police are investigating a car that was found occupied and on fire in Anamosa, and resulted in the death of a man from Ryan over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford Focus was found ablaze with 96 year old Maurice Vincent Hennessy inside, who was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation shows the vehicle was traveling westbound on the wrong side of the road before leaving and going into a ditch, striking a road sign, recrossing the road, and colliding with a tree.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – A Council Bluffs man was to 108 months in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Ivan Dean Joslin, 20, pled guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. In May 2023, Joslin met a thirteen-year-old minor in Council Bluffs and exchanged phone numbers. At his request, Joslin received over the internet sexually explicit images and videos of the minor. After completing his term of imprisonment, Joslin is required to serve six years of supervised release.

HARLAN – Several tornadoes in western Iowa have received their rating from Friday’s tornado outbreak. At least three tornadoes that passed through Pottawattamie were rated as EF-3 on the enhanced Fujita scale. Th worse was the storm that passed through Minden and Harlan, which resulted in three injuries and one death and was on the ground for close to an hour. Additional severe weather chances are in place, especially across central Iowa later today.