IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court narrowly decided to allow one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation to go into effect in July. A 4-3 decision was issued that would allow a 2023 bill signed by Governor Kim Reynolds to now govern the medical procedure, reducing the amount of weeks allowed from 20 down to approximately six, with very few exceptions. The case itself goes back to the district court where a nearly year-long injunction was placed on the legislation, but the standard for consideration will be much more difficult for the plaintiffs, Planned Parenthood, to prove the law is unconstitutional, according to the Des Moines Register. SPENCER – Many Iowa communities in northern Iowa received another one-to-three inches of rain on Friday, which may hamper continued flood recovery efforts. Governor Kim Reynolds extended a state proclamation for storm recovery to 28 Iowa Counties due to flooding on rivers statewide after heavy rain devastated several communities in the northern third of the state. NORTH LIBERTY – A North Liberty woman faces charges of second degree murder in Minnesota after a body was found in the backseat of a car this past weekend. KIMT reports 32-year-old Margot Lewis was charged with two counts for the death of 35-year-old Liara Tsai of Minneapolis. Court documents indicated the two had a challenging relationship. The victim was found dead in the backseat of Margot’s car wrapped in blood soaked sheets after a crash on Interstate 90 on June 20th. The Minnesota State Patrol reports the vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 MPH at the time of the collision.    

DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court ruled today on abortion access in Iowa. A 4-3 decision to uphold a six-week ban on the vast majority of abortions in Iowa comes nearly one year after it was during a special legislative session. Now nearly all abortions are illegal in Iowa. IOWA – Two more Iowa dairy farms are confirmed to have cases of bird flu detected in cattle. The Des Moines Register reports two additional facilities with the disease brings the total to 11 in the state with the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the state will begin requiring testing for the virus before they are transported to fairs or shows beginning July 1st. CENTERVILLE – A teen who drowned at Lake Rathbun this week has been identified. WHO-13 reports the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Class of 2024 Centerville graduate Adyen J. Beeson went underwater and didn’t resurface near the Buck Creek Swimming Area. The Appanoose Water Rescue Unit found Beeson just over an hour after disappearing. PERRY – A meat packing plant is set to close in Perry after today. Iowa Public Radio reports that Tyson will be shuttering the doors of its location. Iowa Workforce Development and a coalition of local businesses and community leaders called Perry Next are both trying to find work and opportunities for the displaced local workforce.

LENOX – The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a forensic autopsy on the male suspect involved in the robbery of the Iowa State Savings Bank in Lenox on June 24th. The suspect has been identified as Steven Trent Sapp, 45, of Hooper, Nebraska. Sapp died as a result of a single gunshot wound and his death has been ruled as a suicide. He led several police agencies on a pursuit after the alleged robbery. MARSHALLTOWN – Marshalltown Police have made an arrest in relation to a homicide investigation. The department announced a juvenile was charged was accessory after the fact and possession with intent to deliver for his alleged connection to murder suspect Victor Antonio Delgadillo. The 18-year-old is accused of First Degree Murder for the shooting death of 41-year-old Ramon Alexis Feliciano Nieves. A $5,000 reward has been announced for information that leads to the arrest of Degadillo. SPENCER – Governor Kim Reynolds will be joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in northwest Iowa to meet with local officials and survey damage in three communities impacted by severe flooding.  The two will visit Rock Valley, Cherokee, and Spencer today for ongoing historic flooding in northwest Iowa. According to the Des Moines Register, at least 11 river gauges have topped record flood levels over several days.    

IOWA – In the last few days, Iowa DNR conservation officers assisted in rescuing more than 250 people by boat from rising flood waters in several northwest Iowa communities, including Spencer and Rock Valley. Rescue efforts by law enforcement are ongoing as flood waters have been slow to recede. Additional chances for heavy rain return to northern Iowa Thursday night into Friday. Flood waters are starting to move downstream, including at Saylorville Lake and the Dam north of Des Moines. Several boat ramps have been closed due to debris and rising waters. Interstates 29 and 680 near Council Bluffs are also set to close today. Disaster unemployment assistance is now available to multiple northwest Iowa residents in northwest Iowa due to a declaration signed by President Joe Biden. IOWA – Iowa joins a list of several other states with individuals who have become sick, some in critical condition, after consuming Diamond Shruumz-brand products purchased through a retail store in eastern Iowa. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about these products, which includes any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should discard them. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services officials recommend individuals do not purchase or consume these products and if they have any of these products, that they dispose of them.  

SIOUX CITY – A railroad bridge crossing the Big Sioux River collapsed during a round of historic flash flooding in northwest Iowa. KELO reports raging waters ripped apart the structure connecting Sioux City and North Sioux City. While residents report the water wasn’t as high as the 2011 floods, it appears the speed of water flows led to the collapse. Dozens of Iowa towns have suffered extensive flooding damage from six to 12 inches of widespread rainfall that fell last week. Additional rounds of rainfall could impact the area this evening and again on Thursday. DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornados that occurred beginning on June 16th and continuing. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration are now authorized to provide assistance to Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The governor will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected. Residents in these counties can now apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services. LENOX – Several southeast Iowa sheriff’s departments assisted with a robbery and eventual apparent suicide Monday.  At approximately 1:30 p.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bank robbery call at the Iowa State Savings Bank in Lenox. Reports indicated that a male subject entered the bank demanding money and then left on a motorcycle. The subject was pursued into Adams County, but fled at a high rate of speed. The subject lost control and crashed into a farm field and then fled on foot. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol, converged on the area and attempted to locate the person in question As law enforcement narrowed in on the subject’s location, the male fired one round, causing a fatal self-inflicted wound. The body will be transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner’s Office where a forensic autopsy will be performed later this week.