DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has confirmed the intensity of five tornadoes in Iowa during Wednesday’s storms. The tornado that stretched from Atlantic to Exira was an EF-2 tornado and stretched 26.1 miles. Near Harcourt and Duncombe was an EF-2 tornado that extended 26.7 miles. An EF-2 tornado from Bayard to Jefferson traveled 24 miles. The tornado between Fansler and Winkelmans was an EF-2 and traveled 17.4 mph. The tornado near Lakeview has not been identified yet, but traveled 18.8 miles. The tornadoes all had winds between 115 mph and 120 mph. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Wednesday night’s storm system that brought widespread damage and tornadoes to Iowa is officially being declared a derecho. The National Weather Service has confirmed 13 tornadoes hit Iowa. Six of them were considered strong, with winds of up to 120 mph. Behind the initial line, winds gusted up to 74 mph. That’s the highest non-thunderstorm wind gust ever recorded in Des Moines. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa schools are responding to nationwide, anonymous social media threats that are being shared on social media outlets–mostly on Tik Tok. The general threat toward all U.S. schools declares Dec. 17 as “American School Shooting Day.” WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – West Des Moines police on Friday announced five students will be charged in a series of threats made at Stilwell Junior High. Since Dec. 10, police have been investigating several social media and spoken threats of possible violence. According to police, two students have been charged with felony terrorism and three more have been charged with first-degree harassment. WARREN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Warren County man is in the hospital after accidentally rupturing an underground propane tank in his front yard. The Northern Warren Fire Department responded to an explosion in the Greenbrier subdivision west of Maffitt Lake just after 6 p.m. Thursday. The man was attempting to clear fallen trees from his yard with a skid loader when the machinery struck the propane line buried beneath the grass. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement in eastern Iowa arrested three people on Wednesday after they allegedly stole clothing from Old Navy in Evansdale and made a run for it. The driver refused to stop and a chase ensued, with speeds exceeding 100 mph. Stop sticks were deployed to stop the vehicle.

IOWA (IRN) – There is widespread tornado damage throughout Greene county, including major damage on the south side of Jefferson. Two tornadoes were reported. Buildings are flatted in Jefferson. No injuries have been confirmed. A tornado hit the town of Rudd in Floyd County. A tornado was also spotted in Atlantic. The driver of a semi was killed near the town of Walford in Benton and Linn counties. He was blown off Highway 151 and thrown from his semi. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Numerous semis were blown off of I-80. An open air classroom was destroyed in Johnston. Tornado and wind damage was extensive across west and central Iowa. IOWA (IRN) – Nearly 10,000 Iowans were still without power Thursday morning. Officials say it could take days for power is restored across the state. IOWA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for 43 counties in response to Iowa’s Dec. 15 severe weather. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. ELDORA, IA (IRN) – Iowa must pay $4.9 million in fees and expenses to lawyers who successfully sued the state over mistreatment of students at the Boys State Training School in Eldora. The judge said harsh discipline methods used at the school amounted to “torture.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is posting 823 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 130 more deaths as virus activity remains high throughout the state. The vast majority of those hospitalized are not vaccinated. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Many Iowans have contacted local authorities with concerns of smelling smoke. The National Weather Service says the smoke is coming from Kansas wildfires.

FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – Two teens accused of killing their Spanish teacher in Fairfield both want their trials in juvenile court. Jeremy Goodale’s attorney filed the request in Jefferson County Court. It comes after the lawyer for Willard Miller, the other teen charged in the case, filed the same motion last week. The two 16-year-olds are accused of killing Nohema Graber. Police found her body on Nov. 3 in Chautauqua Park in Fairfield after her family reported her missing earlier in the day. IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service is warning of severe winds and possible tornadoes across the state today. Many school districts have already issued closings and early dismissals ahead of the severe weather. Wind speeds could pick up to 70 mph Wednesday afternoon and evening. Tree damage and fallen power lines with outages will be possible. Travel will be especially difficult for high-profile vehicles on interstates and highways. LIBERTY CENTER, IA (IRN) – There’s a development in the ongoing investigation of a missing Liberty Center man. Andy Wadle, 37, has not been heard from since Nov. 16, when he reportedly left his family a bizarre phone call. Blood was found by his truck on a trail at Otter Creek Park. Court documents show Wadle has been accused of sexually abusing a child over a several-year period. The charges were filed Nov. 29, nearly two weeks after Wadle was last seen and heard from. IOWA (IRN) – It has been one year since COVID-19 vaccination shots have been available in Iowa. This week, 80% of Iowa’s COVID-19 patients in ICU’s are not vaccinated. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division released its annual financial report and showed that $415.8 million were made in liquor sales in the 2021 fiscal year – a massive 13.2% increase over the previous year. The top five selling brands? Black Velvet Canadian Whisky, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, and Hawkeye Vodka.

MALVERN, IA (IRN) – Fire destroyed the Mulholland Grocery on Main Street in Malvern, Iowa Monday evening destroying the familiar, popular and widely-used business. Mulholland Grocery served as a grocery store, catering business and butcher shop for residents throughout Mills County. It was the only grocery store in town. The business first opened in the 1870s as a dry goods store. POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Steven Alan Vogel, who was found guilty of Murder in the first degree and guilty of abuse of the corpse of Michael Williams, was sentenced to life in prison and an additional 5 years. Officials in Jasper County found Williams’ body burning in a roadside ditch on September 16th. Investigators say Vogel hit Williams multiple times in the head with a baseball bat before strangling and killing him. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A trio of Iowa state budget experts predicted Monday that state revenue will increase by about 3% for the current fiscal year and 1.7% next year, leaving billions of dollars in unspent money. Republican leaders say the money should be returned to Iowans in the form of tax cuts. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Five different books, labeled inappropriate by some parents, will stay on Urbandale school shelves. A committee held a meeting Monday to discuss pulling the books from the school library. The committee voted on each book individually, voting to keep all of them. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee is sending food and water to those devastated by tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky. Nearly 40 Hy-Vee employees and volunteers were in West Des Moines Saturday morning loading snacks and water into a fleet of disaster relief trucks. After a stop in Chariton to gain more food and water, the trucks traveled to Mayfield, Kentucky to distribute the food. In total, Hy-Vee is sending 328,000 bottles of water and 225 thousand snacks like granola bars and chips.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross is asking for blood donations after Friday night tornadoes destroyed entire communities and killed dozens in five states. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The murder trial for a 20-year-old Cedar Rapids man accused of killing his father, mother and sister will be pushed back to April 2022. The trial for Alexander Jackson was originally set for January 25, but is now set to start on April 5. Police found 61-year-old Jan Jackson, 68-year-old Melissa Jackson and 19-year-old Sabrina Jackson dead. Alexander Jackson has pleaded not guilty. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The search is underway for a 11-year-old boy from Des Moines who is missing. Fray Sanchez voluntarily left home riding a green BMX-style bike and hasn’t returned. He’s approximately 5’2” tall and weighs approximately 95 lbs. WEBSTER CITY, IA (IRN) – An inmate escaped Webster County jail around 11 p.m. Saturday. The inmate, 43-year-old Jordan Mefferd of Fort Dodge, escaped through a third story window using sheets tied together to climb down into an alley. After a car chase, he was apprehended. Mefferd is facing felony eluding and felony escape charges. Destiny Sumpter, 27, is charged with violation of probation and aiding and abetting felony escape. AMES, IA (IRN) – T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the 17th-ranked Cyclones past Jackson State 47-37 on Sunday. The Cyclones improved to 10-0 after ending last season with 18 straight losses.