Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – Two tornadoes were confirmed in severe storms that hit the state earlier this week. KCCI-TV reports an EF1 storm was recorded in Franklin County and another EF1 was reported in Butler County on Monday. There have been 74 tornadoes in Iowa in 2026. Extreme heat settles into the state this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

DES MOINES COUNTY – Two southeastern Iowa men have been indicted in an alleged Ponzi scheme. WHO-13 reports 58-year-old Chad Boal of Burlington and 52-year-old Cory Richards of West Burlington face 16 federal counts for forming several organizations that promised high returns on investments. The two allegedly used the funds received from friends and other investors on luxury purchases.

IOWA – The Democratic National Committee officially ended a more than five-decade tradition of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status in selecting the next presidential candidate from the party. Earlier this week, South Carolina was confirmed as the first primary location for Democrats in 2028. Iowa will remain first in the cycle for Republicans, according to party leadership.

IOWA – Another round of extreme summer heat is set to return to the state this weekend. According to the National Weather Service, daytime highs in the mid-to-upper 90s are possible Sunday and Monday, with heat index values likely to approach 110 in many locations in the afternoon hours. Overnight lows will remain warm as well, providing little in the way of relief.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal magistrate judge in Des Moines convicted a Huxley man for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to public court documents, on March 3rd, 19-year-old Wyatt Christian Greenfield knowingly and intentionally struck two Canada Geese with his truck in Ankeny. The Canada Goose is a migratory bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Greenfield faces a maximum sentence of up to six months imprisonment or a five-year term of probation, up to a one-year term of supervised release, and up to a $15,000 fine.

BONDURANT – An ethics case is proceeding against a former central Iowa principal that is accused of being drunk while on the job. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is investigating 49-year-old Carrie Ratliff. She allegedly blew twice the legal limit for alcohol on a breathalyzer while at school in March, while serving as a principal in the Bondurant-Farrar Schools. She reached a resignation agreement with the district before the end of the school year.

ANKENY – Nearly a foot-and-a-half of rainfall in northern Polk County has flooded several farming operations and caused crop loss. KCCI-TV reports several farmers are reporting extensive crop damage after some estimates show 16-18 inches of rain has fallen since the beginning of July. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings north of the Des Moines metro twice this month for extreme rainfall events.

ROCKWELL CITY – A Rockwell City man faces a murder charge following a fatal collision in April involving a truck and a UTV. WHO-13 reports the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Jaxyn Stone Blum and charged him with first degree murder and attempted murder. A pickup truck struck a UTV on April 12th, with 19-year-old Kyle Rath and 21-year-old Roger King occupying the smaller vehicle. Rath died from his injuries. Blum is accused of intentionally hitting the UTV with his Chevy Silverado.

LINN COUNTY – The son of former Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart received deferred judgement this week after pleading guilty to first degree theft. KWWL-TV reports Quenden Hart was sentenced on Tuesday, which includes probation, and a suspension of restitution as well in the case. Hart was accused of stealing $10,000 from a Marion man last December.

PALO – A city council in an Iowa community approved a data center ordinance this week, one that residents of that town say didn’t go far enough. KCRG-TV reports the Palo City Council approved an ordinance that sets guidelines for data centers, which have become a hot-button issue at several local meetings across the state. Google is considering a data center in Palo after Linn County added more restrictions to their policies. A development agreement would be the next step in the process.

IOWA – The National Weather Service issued a storm summary from Monday’s activity, which included flash flooding, wind damage, and large hail. Severe supercell-like thunderstorms formed across northern Iowa on July 20th and moved south across the state. These produced straight-line wind damage across portions of central Iowa. Large hail also fell in a swath from Hamilton County to northern Story County. When storms arrived to Des Moines, heavy rainfall led to flash flooding across the metro, with Huxley and Slater both recording more than seven inches of precipitation.

WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States Senate this week confirmed Kara Marie Westercamp, a Cedar Rapids native and University of Iowa graduate, to a lifetime appointment as a Judge on the United States Court of International Trade, by a vote of 50-48. The Senate Judiciary Committee – chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley – held a nominations hearing to consider Westercamp on March 25,, and advanced her nomination to the full Senate on April 30 by a vote of 12-10. Westercamp received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa and clerked for Judge John Jarvey on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa before transitioning into private practice and public service.

IOWA – Multiple rounds of severe weather caused tree and power line damage in the Des Moines metro and near Centerville on Monday night, also bringing heavy rain again to areas impacted by flash flooding earlier this month. Several locations received 3-5 inches of rain as part of the storms, especially in northern Polk County, which near the 4th of July recording nearly a foot of rainfall. Much cooler conditions settle into the region through the work week, according to the National Weather Service.

POLK COUNTY – A Florida man was found dead inside of a vehicle that crashed in to a pond in Polk County. KCCI-TV reports the Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified 69-year-old Timothy Rohde as the individual who died in the incident. Several emergency crews responded to the incident on Sunday afternoon in eastern Polk County.

IOWA – There were nearly seven days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 19, according to the USDA’s weekly update. The report released in coordination with the Iowa Department of Agriculture showed topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 26 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Eight percent of Iowa’s corn crop reached the dough stage, which is eight percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 80 percent good to excellent.