Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The temperature has climbed above 60 degrees at Des Moines yet again on Wednesday, marking the fifth day in a row, and sixth day this month to hit 60+. Forecasters with the National Weather Service anticipate it will happen again, which will be the seventh day this month (February 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). That has happened in only four other years in the month of February: 1930, 1981, and 2024 (7 days each) and 2017 (8 days). The only other years in which there were six or more consecutive days of 60+ in February were 1930 and 2017. With the warm air, strong winds, and low humidity expected today, an elevated burning risk is a cause for concern.

DES MOINES – State Auditor Rob Sand claims that delays from Governor Kim Reynolds administration prevented a full audit of education savings accounts. The Des Moines Register reports Sand held a news conference Tuesday to say the Iowa Department of Education delayed information related to the program before releasing the information in late November. The audit came up with no issues, but Sand was concerned something was potentially missed because of the six month delay. Governor Reynolds claimed there were no issues to find, and that Sand was politically motivated.

MITCHELVILLE – Voters filled three at-large vacancies on the Mitchellville City Council in a special election on Tuesday. ABC-5 reports Morgan Lunn won a four-year term and Steve Zook and Dean Brand won two year seats. Mitchellville has not had a city council meeting for several weeks because previous members of the council resigned and there was no quorum. The community also remains without police after its entire force resigned in late 2025.

DES MOINES – Iowa House Republicans have proposed a slightly higher increase to school funding than their counterparts in the Senate, although it remains well below what education advocates are requested. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that a 2.25% increase to state supplemental aid, as well as a few other offsets to reduce property taxes for districts on the budget guarantee, passed a House committee on Monday. The Iowa Senate proposed an increase of 1.75%, and the Governor requested 2% in her budget. Public school advocates and Democrats argue that’s not adequate and doesn’t meet current inflation rates.

CEDAR FALLS – A UNI Football player collapsed at practice two days before he died. KCCI-TV reports an official cause of death has not been released yet for 18-year-old Parker Sutherland, an Iowa City Native who was the subject of a press conference by his head coach Todd Stepsis on Monday. Sutherland collapsed during a warm-up at practice last Thursday. Iowa City High School is hosting a celebration of life later this week.

DES MOINES – Another series of record high temperatures were recorded on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Weather stations in Waterloo, Ottumwa, and Des Moines all hit high marks in the upper 60s, and even 70 at the home of the Bulldogs. Overnight low temperature records were also shattered by several degrees in those locations. Elevated fire risk continues with warm air through Wednesday, before a cool down heading into the weekend.

IOWA – A candidate for U.S. Senate has dropped out of the race. Former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director and Democrat Nathan Sage announced he has suspended his campaign as of Sunday, citing a lack of necessary resources to continue competing. He was the first Democrat to announce his intention to run for the seat Joni Ernst is leaving at the end of her current term. The Gazette reports State Representatives Zach Wahls and Josh Turek are the two remaining candidates in the field to challenge Republicans U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson or Former State Legislator Jim Carlin.

CEDAR FALLS – The University of Northern Iowa and the Iowa City High School community are mourning the loss of a Panthers freshman football player. WHO-13 reports 18-year-old Parker Sutherland died on Saturday. The cause of death was not immediately released. Sutherland was a tight end on the UNI Panthers football team this past fall after graduating from Iowa City High School in 2025. His death came just days after 19-year-old Carter Johnson of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team died in a crash that injured dozens of his teammates.

IOWA – Well above average temperatures will continue in a spring-like surge past mid-February. According to the National Weather Service, afternoon highs will remain 20 to 25 degrees above the normal for this time of year, when highs in the mid-to-upper 30s are typical. Some records may also be broken, as previous high marks for many Iowa communities are in the low-to-mid 60s. The extra warm stretch is expected to last through Wednesday evening, before a slight cool down arrives by Thursday morning.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction of an Iowa man this week. KCRG-TV reports the three-judge panel overturned a first-degree murder verdict against Duval Walker, Jr., ruling that one of the jurors was biased and should have been removed from the case. The appeals court has ordered a new trial, saying one of the jurors saw a new headline about Walker pleading guilty to one of the charges related to the same incident.

DES MOINES – A bill proposed in the Iowa House would require everyone riding in a vehicle to wear a seatbelt, including those in the backseat. WHO-13 reports House File 2179 has been proposed by Representative Megan Jones. The legislation would mandate seatbelts for everyone, as the current law only requires front seat drivers and passengers to do so.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a jury verdict of $2.8 million that was awarded to the family of the man who was crushed to death at an Iowa quarry. The Des Moines Register reports that Wendling Quarries and its employees could not be held liable for the death of Michael Griffith in January 2020. His family and estate sued several employees, accusing them of failing to properly train Griffith before sending him onto a machine lacking key safety equipment. The court ruled that the actions of the company fell short of gross negligence.

CALHOUN COUNTY – A college baseball player was identified as the person killed in a crash that injured several members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team on Wednesday. The Des Moines Register reports that 19-year-old Carter Johnson has been identified as the individual who lost his life in the bus crash. All 32 of the other occupants were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation. Johnson was pronounced dead on scene. The single-vehicle crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

ATLANTIC – The Atlantic Community School Board approved the termination of an employee on Wednesday. WHO-13 reports the matter remains under investigation by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the Atlantic Police Department. A special school board meeting had been scheduled on February 4th to accept the resignation of the same employee, but was cancelled last minute. That session was scheduled one day after Atlantic Police announced an active investigation of an incident involving a school staff member and students.

DES MOINES – A bill increasing year-to-year school funding passed the Iowa Senate earlier this week. WHO-13 reports Senate File 2201 increases per pupil spending by the state by 1.75%. It’s below the 2% passed last year and proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds. The 28-20 vote saw three Republicans join Democrats in opposition, who argue the percent falls well below what is needed to match increasing costs in public schools.