Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – Libertarian candidate for governor Nicholas Gluba is asking the courts to return his name to the November ballot after the State Objection Panel voted to remove it earlier this month. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the appeal was filed in Polk County District Court. It challenges a decision that Libertarians would not appear in the governor’s race after Jules Carter, the candidate for Lt. Governor, did not submit an affidavit of candidacy by the June 2nd deadline.

DES MOINES – The Iowa State Fair is launching a new learning space with specialized workshops at the 2026 event. KIMT reports the All-Iowa Classroom runs August 13th through 23rd, offering hands-on experiences led by experts from across the state. The space will be located in the Maytag Family Theatres. Most classes held at the fair will be free, buts some required pre-registration and fees to cover supplies.

IOWA – An extended heat wave is set to bear down across the state into Independence Day. According to the National Weather Service, a ridge of high pressure will settle in, filtering in hot and humid air locally. Daytime temperatures will remain in the 90s starting Sunday through at least the 4th of July, with many communities reaching oppressive heat index values above 100 on many days next week.

MARSHALLTOWN – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Marshall County in response to severe weather that occurred on June 17th. According to the National Weather Service, wind speeds of nearly 100 MPH were reported in Marshalltown near the airport as a strong line of thunderstorms pushed through during the early morning hours. Governor Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of these storms and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program.

DES MOINES – A federal judge has blocked the state of Iowa’s restrictions on purchases made by those using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. KCCI-TV reports several leaders of food pantries in the state are unsure if immediate changes will come. The ruling overturns a USDA waiver that allowed the state of Iowa to restrict certain SNAP purchases.

IOWA – Extreme heat is on the way for Iowa. Warmer air and additional humidity will arrive by Sunday and Monday, and linger into next week toward the Independence Day holiday. Heat indices Sunday and Monday will likely be at or above 100 degrees for most of the week. Those with outdoor plans should take extra precautions, including staying hydrated and taking frequent breaks in air conditioning.

AMES – Two people injured in a shooting in Ames are now facing criminal charges. WHO-13 reports 40-year-old Karl J. Flagg and 31-year-old Quintin L. Evans exchanged gunfire on June 1st at a residence and as Evans tried to flee, Flagg gave chase and shot him three more times. Flagg is charged with attempted murder and control of a firearm by a felon and Evans faces a count of possession of a weapon by a felon.

MAHASKA COUNTY – A man facing a prior conviction on charges of enticing a child was found guilty on more counts in a different case while serving time. KTVO reports 43-year-old Adam Joseph McKinney was found guilty of two counts of second-degree sexual abuse late last week for incidents that occurred in 2003. McKinney has been in the Newton Correctional Facility for enticement of a child in Jefferson County.

DUBUQUE COUNTY – Nearly 300 people attended a public town hall in Dubuque County this week. County leaders are working on an ordinance related to data centers after a one-year hiatus on their development. The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors heard from people voicing concerns about water qualify, property value, and future economic development. The meeting comes a month after a development group purchased land south of Dubuque interesting in constructing a data center.

MADISON COUNTY – A Madison County man has been charged with first-degree murder after police say he admitted to shooting his mother. KCCI-TV reports 23-year-old Theodore Corkrean was arrested after the Madison County Sheriff’s Office found 6-year-old Tammy Corkrean dead with gunshot wounds during a welfare check.

AMES – In a letter to Iowa State University fans on Monday, Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced that Jack Trice Stadium will sell alcohol moving forward at football games. The move comes as Iowa State University aims to bolster revenue with several financial challenges anticipated due to changing rules. Alcohol sales will now prevent fans from leaving and returning to the stadium during a game.

DES MOINES – Gas prices have had a big drop over the past week. WHO-13 reports the average gallon of fuel in Des Moines dropped by 17 cents by Monday, 85 cents cheaper than it was in late May. Diesel prices also dropped. Experts with GasBuddy caution that steady peace in Iran is not a certainty and that oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz will be key in keeping prices lower.

BREMER COUNTY – The Iowa State Patrol responded to a pair of fatal crashes on Sunday. According to their latest reports, a single vehicle crash resulted in the death of 58-year-old Andrew Lincoln on Storm Lake in Buena Vista County at 9:10 a.m. The other collision involved multiple vehicles in Bremer County in the evening, with one person dying as a result of a head-on crash. That person was not identified.

IOWA – The Iowa Department of Transportation released its latest five year plan recently. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Gordon Drive Viaduct in Sioux City is scheduled to be replaced at just over $200 million — but is marked as underfunded in the document, noting there are other possible sources. The other is making an interchange for Highway 27/58 in Cedar Falls. The total plan outlines $4.2 billion in projects.

DES MOINES – An Iowa-based non-profit that helps reunite unclaimed cremated remains received a large donation over the weekend. KCCI-TV reports The Final Salute was presented $99,000 on Saturday at their annual convention. The organization reunites the remains of veterans and civilians with their families.