SIOUX CITY – A fire broke out on a vehicle carrying an Iowa-based minor league baseball team to a game on Friday. KTIV reports that the Sioux City Explorers were heading to Illinois when their busy caught fire. Iowa lawmaker and Explorers pitcher J.D. Scholten was on the bus at the time, and says everyone is safe. The team boarded a new vehicle later that morning and continued east to compete. DES MOINES – It was a surprise for dozens of Des Moines North High School students that featured not only Iowa’s most famous native athlete, but a boost to their education. Reigning two-time unanimous women’s basketball college player of the year Caitlin Clark stopped by the school on Friday to distribute 350 backpacks full of supplies to 350 students living the Des Moines metro, regardless of the school they attend. The former Hawkeye is on break from the WBNA during the Olympics and is working to bolster her charitable work before returning to the Indiana Fever.    

HARDIN COUNTY – One person has died in the first fatal crash of August on Thursday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford Explorer was traveling south on Highway 65 in Hardin County at a high speed and lost control due to going fast and failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a rest on its top.  Thirty-year-old Pedro Daniel Limon of Texas was declared dead on scene due to injuries. IOWA – Today and tomorrow mark the annual tax-free holiday in Iowa. Any businesses selling eligible items are required to participate. Clothing is the primary group of items eligible for the savings for any item costing less than $100. DES MOINES –  The Iowa Department of Education has named several new leaders within its newly restored Division of Special Education, including two new division administrators and six new regional special education directors. Dr. Barbara Guy has been selected to serve as the Division Administrator of State Accountability and Student Supports and Dr. Angelisa Fynaardt will serve as Acting Division Administrator of Regional Continuous Improvement and Compliance, overseeing the Division’s regionally based teams across all nine Iowa Education and AEA Regions. The moves came after House File 2612 made several changes to the state’s AEA system. IOWA CITY – The longtime principal of Perry High School killed in a January shooting will be honored by the Iowa Hawkeyes this fall. The Athletic Department announced Dan Marburger will be recognized during the Pioneer Heroes Game against Nebraska on November 29th. Marburger died days after he attempted to save lives as a student fired at others in January of this year.

DES MOINES – A Nebraska man has been identified as the individual killed after police say he aimed a weapon at officers earlier this week. WHO-13 reports 45-year-old Weston Dean Derby is accused of starting a short pursuit after a call Tuesday morning. Police say Derby was attempting to contact someone who had a restraining order against him. A police officer hit by gunfire from a fellow officer is in recovery. IOWA – Yet another round of severe weather damaged several trees and power lines in the Des Moines metro and near Council Bluffs, continuing one of the most active years on record. Wind gusts up near 80 MPH entered the state Wednesday evening, and while weakening a bit as the system traveled east, storms still caused additional damage. This came after flash flooding occurred in south central Iowa. Many Iowa communities have received 6 to 8 inches of rain since Sunday evening. Much calmer conditions appear to be on the horizon, according to the National Weather Service. WILLIAMSBURG – Iowa Workforce Development has been notified by Williamsburg’s Kinze Manufacturing location that 193 workers have been laid off. KCRG-TV reports the individuals impacts were told Wednesday that they were no longer employed as of today. Kinze is a manufacturer of planters and grain carts.

IOWA – Another round of severe weather and rain pummeled much of the state Tuesday and in the early morning today. According to the National Weather Service, heavy rain in the range of 5-8″ was common since late Sunday in many communities in central Iowa following dozens of severe thunderstorm warnings. OTTUMWA – An Ottumwa man has been charged with murder after a stabbing early Tuesday. KCCI-TV reports 32-year-old Joshua Michaels faces a count of first degree murder following the alleged attack and killing of 40-year-old Jeffery Wayne Johns just after 1 a.m. GLIDDEN – A train derailed in Iowa on Monday. The Des Moines Register reports a pile up of a dozen train cars occurred east of Glidden, according to Union Pacific. Railroad crossings were able to reopen on Tuesday and an assessment of the tracks is underway.    

DES MOINES – A Des Moines officer was shot and a suspect is dead after an exchange this morning. KCCI-TV reports police were responding to a possible domestic incident. The department says they engaged in a chase and a suspect shot at pursuing officers. He was struck in the chest in the exchange. Neither person impacted has been idenfitied. IOWA – Yet another round of severe weather knocked out power to hundreds of residents this morning, one day after heavy rain soaked much of the state. The National Weather Service issued several warnings for winds in excess of 70 MPH. Overnight Sunday, a tornado warning impacted Polk and Jasper Counties and some communities in Iowa have seen over five inches of rain over the past few days. Extreme heat is expected through Wednesday, with heat index values approaching 110 to 115 degrees in the afternoon and evening. POLK COUNTY – An Iowa Hawkeyes football player is the second arrested for alleged driving while intoxicated this summer. KCRG-TV reports Pleasant Hill resident Cade Broud was arrested in Polk County early Saturday morning. Police say he was twice the legal limit after a traffic stop. Receiver Kaleb Brown was arrested in June for OWI charges.