DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that Iowa has been awarded funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The program is a federal initiative managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Iowa’s proposal, Healthy Hometowns, will receive $209 million for the first year of implementation. The program is Iowa’s plan to strengthen health care in rural communities, by making care more accessible, connected, and patient focused. DES MOINES— Several cases of avian flu in Central Iowa have been confirmed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. KCCI-TV reports dozens of dead birds were discovered at Maffitt Reservoir, south of Highway 5, while there have been more reports from Saylorville and Copper Creek. According to the Iowa DNR, Maffitt Reservoir has been closed to allow workers to remove the birds. The Iowa DNR adds that the birds pose no threat to Iowa’s water quality. MADISON COUNTY— Former Madison County Treasurer Amanda DeVos had a third felony charge added to the case against her, bringing the total number of criminal charges to six. WHO-TV reports that the 38-year-old former county treasurer was arrested in January for allegedly altering government records using her access as treasure to make it appear she had paid her vehicle registration plates in October of 2024 when she had not. DeVos was initially charged with a Class D felony for felonious misconduct and three aggravated misdemeanors for tampering with records, fraudulent practices in the third degree, and third-degree theft. Last week, an amended filing showed additional felony charges of fraudulent practices in the second degree and felonious misconduct related to her personal property taxes in May of 2024.

ANDERSON, Ind. — A single-engine airplane that departed from Fort Dodge on Friday morning crashed in Indiana. Four people were on board the Piper PA-46 aircraft that crashed around 9 am in Anderson, Indiana and there were no survivors according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The individuals were identified on Saturday as Joseph Scallon, 68, of Iowa Falls; Jesse Ostheimer, 41, of Alden; Braden Hicks, 36, of Manson; and Owen Renaud, 19, of Alden. The CBS-News affiliate in Indianapolis reported that the single-engine plane was reportedly told to reroute while attempting to land at the Anderson Municipal Airport due to coming in at too high an altitude. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. MILFORD — One person was injured after a motorcycle accident in Milford on Saturday. KTIV-TV reports that the Milford Police Department responded to the accident just after 6:15 Saturday night. Milford Police said an on-scene investigation revealed that a 2013 Harley Davidson Street Glide driven by 49-year-old Chad Banks had left the roadway and rolled. The police department said that Banks was found unresponsive when they arrived, and CPR efforts were performed. Banks was then transported by ambulance to Lakes Region Hospital for treatment, before being transferred to Avera Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with debilitating injuries. Officers said the accident is still under investigation. IOWA CITY — Redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy delivered in the clutch Saturday afternoon, nailing a 54 yard field with five seconds left to lift Iowa State past Iowa 20-19. Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht completed three of his four passes for 42 yards on the final drive to set up the game winning kick. The visiting team has now won each of the last five games in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

OSKALOOSA — A Pennsylvania man is facing charges after authorities say he made online threats toward an Iowa juvenile. The Oskaloosa Police Department says it received a report Wednesday of an online threat of bodily harm to a juvenile in the city. KCCI-TV reports that officers worked with the Oskaloosa Community School District to follow up on the threat and eventually found a person of interest in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The police department in Altoona, Pennsylvania verified the identity of the suspect and have charged 19-year-old Patrick McIntire with first-degree harassment and threat of arson, which is a felony. WATERLOO — Waterloo Police recovered a man’s body from the Cedar River Thursday night. KWWL-TV reports that officers responded to the Waterloo Boat House around 7:30 p.m. for a report that a man was fishing along the river before falling in. They believe he suffered a medical event prior to falling in. Upon pulling the man out of the river, he was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected and the victim’s identity has not been released.  AMES — A substantial makeover is underway for Iowa State University’s 66-year-old LeBaron Hall. The Des Moines Register reports that demolition started on Thursday to make way for the new home of Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences. Bundled with additional renovations of McKay Hall and the Human Nutritional Science Building, the estimated $51.5 million project will replace LeBaron Hall, complete with a three-story building with classrooms, a multipurpose courtyard and renovated lobbies. LeBaron Hall’s demolition and replacement will cost $39 million. The entire project was made possible through private donations and university funds.

SIOUX CENTER – A threat was reported on Thursday in Sioux County that caused multiple schools to go on lockdown. KTIV-TV reports that all Sioux Center School District buildings were put on lockdown after a threat was discovered at Sioux Center High School by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. According to the sheriff’s office, schools in Rock Valley, Hull and Orange City issued lockdowns as a precaution. As of Thursday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said there is no active threat and that the Sioux Center Police Department is investigating the situation. No details have been released on what the threat was. In response to the threat, area law enforcement has increased patrols and their presence at all schools. DUBUQUE — A Dubuque man was pronounced dead after a crash at a residence Wednesday night. KCRG-TV reports that Dubuque police were called to the scene just before 11:15 pm Wednesday, and an initial investigation determined that a Toyota Highlander had gone off the road and crashed into a garage. The driver, 41-year-old Timothy Morris, was found inside the vehicle with a head injury. Morris was transported to MercyOne Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation. CEDAR FALLS — A University of Northern Iowa swimmer earned her third Paralympic medal for Team USA on Thursday. The Des Moines Register reported that Olivia Chambers took second-place in the women’s 100m breaststroke, finishing with a time of 1:17.70. Competing in her first Paralympic Games in Paris, Chambers also won the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle on Saturday and a silver medal in the 200m individual medley on Tuesday. An Arkansas native, Chambers also won six medals at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships.

RED OAK — A Red Oak man was killed in an ATV crash on Monday evening. KCCI-TV reports that police were called to a trail just west of the levee off Oak Street, and first responders found an ATV in the creek bed with a person trapped underneath. Police say lifesaving measures were performed, but the man, later identified as Jay Woodward, died at the scene. DES MOINES — A state audit found a University of Iowa employee deposited more than $940,000 from the university into his personal bank account. KCCI-TV reports that the audit showed Brian Busch, who was the manager of the Department of Physics and Astronomy machine shop, allegedly used university property and funding to run a separate business he owned called D3signtech. The audit identified more than $940,000 in money deposited into Busch’s personal bank accounts or to a Stripe account in his name. Busch also improperly spent over $6,000 with a university-issued card and never disclosed any information to the university in a violation of their policies, according to the audit. Busch was placed on administrative leave in September 2021. DUBUQUE — A Dubuque man was arrested Tuesday after a school resource officer realized he was carrying a gun on school grounds. According to a press release, the officer was called to Audubon School just before 3:30 p.m. to assist with a paternal custody issue.  KCRG-TV reports that 39-year-old John McGee arrived at the school several minutes after dismissal and was allowed in by a staff member. The school resource officer noticed a bulge in McGee’s shirt just above his waistline and recognized the shape to be consistent with a handgun. The school resource officer disarmed McGee and took him into custody without incident. According to the press release, the weapon was determined to be an unloaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun. McGee was placed under arrest and charged with Carrying Weapons on School Grounds, a Class D felony.