DES MOINES – Central Iowa Water Works has announced that commercial law watering can now resume, according to KCCI, as part of a phased return to the practice. A committee with the group voted to allow it again based on nitrate concentrations a low customer demand due to ongoing rainfall in the area. Residential bans related the first-of-its-kind move were lifted last week. IOWA – One year since the state was placed under one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation, showed a reduction of the number of in-state procedures, but that travel to other states increased. WHO-13 reports Iowa Department of Public Health number shows 378 abortions have been performed in Iowa in 2025, and 1792 were in 2024 — 1,200 of which happened before the July 2024 ban went into effect. There was a 182% percent increase in year-to-year traveling traffic out of state during that time. ROCK CREEK LAKE – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill at Rock Creek Lake. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports a swimming advisory is now in place until Thursday, as DNR staff was notified on Monday of concerns and have since observed dead fish several miles upstream in the lake’s watershed. Water testing showed conditions were acceptable for fish life. The advisory has been placed out of an abundance of caution.

OTTUMWA – The Mayor of Ottumwa reports that at least 200 employees at a meat processing plant will be deported. KCCI-TV reports that the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1149 confirms that up to 220 people at JBS were informed that visas have been revoked and employment terminated. Ottumwa Mayor Rick Johnson says JBS sent notices to employees from Haiti and Cuba. A Hormel plant in Algona is dismissing 12 employees for the same reason. WINTERSET – A special election for the Madison County Auditor could be held up by an objection from a single resident. WHO-13 reports a meeting today will be held by county leaders to vote on whether its valid or not. This comes after Auditor Teri Kaczinski resigned officially in early July. The Madison County Board of Supervisors appointed Matthew Schwarz to the role, before he was ordered to leave the office by the county attorney on July 16th. Assuming the election is held, candidates for the position have until August 1st to submit their candidacy for the August 26th voting day. INDIANAPOLIS – The man accused of stalking superstar basketball player Caitlin Clark has pled guilty. KCRG-TV reports 55-year-old Michael Lewis was arrested early this year for sending Clark explicit images and threats. Lewis faces 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking and harassment. He is also banned from attending any Indiana Fever or Pacers games.

INDIANOLA – A former West Des Moines teacher living in rural Indianola was arrested on Friday with six felony charges for the alleged abuse of a minor. According to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, 57-year-old Danny Allen Hoyt faces one count of kidnapping, a Class A Felony, three counts of 2nd degree sexual abuse, delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, and possession with intent to deliver. Court documents indicate Hoyt is accused of driving to Knoxville to pick up a juvenile female, refusing the let the girl out of the vehicle and blindfolding her upon arriving to his residence in rural Warren County. He then allegedly sexually assaulted the victim and forced her to drink a THC-infused beverage at the home,. The West Des Moines School district confirmed that Hoyt was suspended in April of this year. DELAWARE COUNTY – A motorcycle riding along the RAGBRAI route in Delaware County hit a cyclist in Delaware County on Saturday. KCCI-TV reports that a 59-year-old Manchester resident was riding a Harley-Davidson and accelerated up a hill, encountering a roadway filled with bike riders. Witnesses claim the motorcyclist was yelling and screaming at bicycle traffic before hitting a rider from behind. The 37-year-old from Texas sustained minor injuries. No criminal charges were detailed in the report. IOWA – More than half of the state is under an extreme heat warning today, with some communities potentially seeing heat index values as warm as 115 degrees this afternoon. Multiple rounds of heavy rain again pummeled many in Iowa last week, and that excess moisture, coupled with a healthy corn crop, as oppressive air in the forecast through Tuesday evening. Much cooler air is expected to arrive by Wednesday night.

INDIANOLA – An Indianola couple was sentenced to decades in prison for the kidnapping and attempted murder of a Des Moines woman. The Des Moines Register reports 42-year-old Jordan Mangum received 45 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 22 years, and his partner Jessica Wheeler was sentenced to 35 years, required to serve half. Both kidnapped Kitara Cox, who addressed a Polk County judge Thursday and Friday during sentencing hearings, despite being permanently scarred and with back injuries. She was the former partner of Mangum, and described a pattern of years of abuse. AMES – Iowa State University will increase ticket prices due to an anticipated budget deficit. WHO-13 reports the department is expecting nearly $150 million of impact over the next six years without additional funding. The State Board of Regents is looking at other cost-cutting measures at their meeting next week. IOWA – Heat and humidity values will increase across much of Iowa beginning today and continuing into early next week. Heat index values are expected to pick in the 90s today and into the triple digits in most places Sunday through Tuesday. An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued for western & central areas of the state. Relief appears to be on the way by Thursday, with much more mild conditions expected.

OTTUMWA – Two people were arrested on a warrant this week in Ottumwa for allegedly staging a robbery at a Des Moines Git N Go. Thirty-five year old Blake Allen Christy and 38-year-old Samantha Lynn Buchman communicated ahead of a call for an armed robbery on July 6th. Christy is accused of pointing a gun at Buchman at the Git N Go, and she emptied the cash register and safe and gave the cash over. Christy then fled on foot, threatened self harm, and left the cash behind. Both Christy and Buchman were seen on video the night before at the store. The man was charged with first degree robbery and felon in possession of a firearm, and Christy was also wanted in Dubuque County on the Iowa Sex Offender Most Wanted List. LE MARS – A northwest Iowa school district will no longer allow events held by religious organizations of any kind. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Le Mars Community School District will no longer allow those types of events after a complaint the district received about partnering with an organization for the national day of prayer. Le Mars partnered with a Side by Side Ministries and shared photos of adult employees with members of the group on social media. Adults not working for the school also advocated for students to participate in praying.