WEBSTER COUNTY – A teenager died in Fort Dodge in a single vehicle crash Tuesday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Chevy Malibu driven by 16-year-old Leah Clare Lynch struck a tree. Lynch was declared dead on scene, and two other passengers, also teenagers, were inside the car. One of those teenagers was life flighted to a nearby hospital and another was unharmed. OTTUMWA – A juvenile riding a bike died when struck by a vehicle backing out of an alley in Ottumwa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Dodge Ram driven by Eric Pilcher was leaving a residence and had forgotten an item while stopped. A juvenile on a bicycle rode up to the rear bumper of the vehicle, and police say was out of sight of the passenger’s side rear mirror. The ram proceeded to back out, hitting the young man on the bike. SAYLORVILLE – Activities on two of Iowa’s biggest lakes during the 4th of July are being discouraged as flood waters from northern Iowa rush down the Des Moines River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had already closed several boat ramps and other areas of Saylorville Lake last week, and that this week, debris and rapidly rising waters are making it dangerous to boat. While the same advisory isn’t in place downstream, Lake Red Rock has closed its two recreational beaches as levels are expected to significantly increase in the coming days. PELLA – Several central Iowa communities were impacted by flash flooding as 4-6 inches of rain fall over portions of central Iowa Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings in Madison, Warren, Marion, and Mahaska Counties after two rounds of precipitation dumped heavy rain during a first round in the morning and severe thunderstorms in the evening. Multiple tornado warnings were prompted well into eastern Iowa. Street flooding was reported widespread in Pella, stalling nearly a dozen cars.    

FAYETTE COUNTY – One person died in a two vehicle crash in Rural Waucoma on Monday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Chevrolet S10 operated by 41-year-old Joshua Lee Quail was traveling on a gravel road and collided with a Ford Edge driven by 58-year-old Diana Lynn Mohls at an uncontrolled intersection. Quail, a resident of Waucoma, died from his injuries, and Mohlis received minor injuries. ADAIR – The former police chief in Adair will serve five years in prison for using his position in the department to purchase guns for personal use and sales in his gun store. Bradley Wendt knowingly lied on federal paperwork as it related to the use of the machine guns he purchased in 2022. He ended up selling most of the weapons he purchased under the guise of use for the three-man police department, including up to a week before he went on trial. Wendt will also have to pay a $50,000 fine. IOWA – John Deere is planning to lay off hundreds of Midwest employees, including those in Waterloo, Davenport, and Dubuque. WHO-13 reports the announcement comes after the company revealed plans to move Iowa-based operations to Mexico. Projections from John Deere show a forecasted downturn in ag industry profits.    

POLK COUNTY – Two Texas residents died in a single vehicle crash on Interstate 80 Sunday morning in Polk County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Honda CR-V was heading eastbound before running off the road and striking the guardrail and a pole. The vehicle subsequently fell down into a nearby creek, landing upside down in the water. The driver and passenger both died, identified as 65-year-old William Engel and 58-year-old Rose Engel or Roseville, Texas. Neither were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. WATERLOO – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is now reviewing an officer-involved shooting in Waterloo. On Sunday morning, Waterloo Police responded to a report of a male in the 200 block of Manson with a gun. The investigation into this incident resulted in an officer involved shooting, with one male being declared deceased. During the incident, two Waterloo Police Officers were shot and transported to a local hospital. MUSCATINE – One person was injured in a train derailment Saturday evening in Muscatine County. KCRG-TV reports multiple railway cars carrying steel and two locomotives left the tracks. One train crew member was flown to a nearby hospital.

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.