OSCEOLA (IRN) – A south central Iowa community is suffering water supply issues due to a worsening drought across the state. KCCI-TV reports Osceola’s main source for water is West Lake, and it stands five feet below normal — and the amount being used by customers is exceeding safe withdrawal limits. The Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees is encouraging residents to start conserving use now, especially with little rainfall in the short-term forecast. There are several restrictions imposed by the city in place as well. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Democrats will hold a caucus on January 15th, but nobody will know who wins the nomination from the Hawkeye State until Super Tuesday next March. WHO-13 reports the measure is an attempt to keep first in the nation status while also avoiding sanctions from the national party. Democratic voters will choose their nominee by mail between January 15th and March 4ht of 2024, with all down ballot candidates being chosen by the more traditional practice in the first month in person. Iowa Republicans will also have their caucus on January 15th, but they will release the results immediately. MINNEAPOLIS (IRN) – An Iowa woman was denied a unique material for jewelry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on her way back stateside. The Des Moines Register reports the unidentified woman was attempting to bring in a box containing the feces of a giraffe upon her arrival to Minneapolis from Kenya. The woman said she’d planned to use the feces to assemble a necklace, and had done so in the past with smaller samples from mice. Giraffe poop is allowed to be transported into the country with proper permits and inspections — and the woman won’t face sanctions because she declared the material to agents.

IOWA (IRN) – The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought at its worst in east central Iowa. The weekly report shows portions of Benton, Linn, and Tama counties are now in the exceptional category — the highest on the scale. More than 2/3rds of Iowans are experiencing severe drought or worse, with little rainfall in sight into mid-October, according to the National Weather Service. GRINNELL (IRN) – The Grinnell Police Department refutes a president candidate’s claim his car was struck intentionally. The Des Moines Register reports Vivek Ramaswamy posted Thursday that protesters intentionally hit his rented vehicle while at a campaign stop. An investigation by Grinnell police found no evidence to substantiate that information. The campaign for Ramaswamy doubled down, showing video of a confrontation with protesters prior to his event downtown. MALCOM (IRN) – A man has been charged with murder and abuse of a corpse in relation to a body found in a car along Interstate 80 earlier this week. An Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation press release indicated the Iowa State Patrol found 23 year old Jihad Abdul Malik Gasaway attempting to restart a stalled vehicle near Malcom. After Gasaway was detained and was found with a weapon, police conducted a subsequent search of the car. Troopers found the body of Kemp Savier Sherrod Harriel on the floor and slumped over the passenger seat, covered in clothing with apparent gunshot wound. Gasaway faces charges of first degree murder and abuse of corpse.

TOLEDO (IRN) – A mail carrier in Toledo is accused of lifting a woman’s skirt. KCCI-TV reports Terry Noe was allegedly caught making the action on camera and asking the victim what was underneath. Noe faces a charge for assault. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Des Moines International Airport broke ground on its new terminal Wednesday. The project is expected to cost $455 million, and could be funded by a bond referendum up for Polk County voters this November, according to WHO-13. The new terminal will expand the number of planes and passengers that the airport can serve and will be two stories tall. IOWA (IRN) – The upcoming fall colors show across the state of Iowa has kicked off in the northern tiers of counties, but due to ongoing drought, is expected to be shorter than normal in 2023. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says that the ongoing drought is diminishing the soil profile, which will make for a quicker viewing season. Generally, the most tree leaves have turned from green to reds, oranges, yellows, and purples in mid-October. The Iowa DNR releases a weekly fall color report every Tuesday. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Pork Producers Association announced five finalists for the 21st annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. KCRG-TV reports the finalists are Cliff’s Place in Manning, Spillway Supper Club in Harpers Ferry, Stumpy’s Bar and Grill in Duncombe, ToJo’s Bar and Grill in Jamaica, and The Roadhouse in Orange City. The Iowa Pork Producers received a record 9,000 nominations for nearly 800 restaurants across the state.

GRINNELL (IRN) – A person has died following a reported shooting along Interstate 80. WHO-13 reports the unidentified individual was killed as a result of a gunshot wound and found Tuesday morning near Grinnell. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, and Poweshiek County Sheriff’s office are investigating and a suspected shooter was in police custody. HAMPTON (IRN) – A Hampton man was killed while crossing a roadway in Franklin County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 84-year-old Robert Irwin failed to yield and attempted to cross Highway 65 Sunday afternoon while riding in a golf cart. A motorcycle driven by 54 year old Corey Spear of Hampton struck the cart. Irwin died and Spear was injured. NEWTON (IRN) – It’s official — NASCAR’s elite drivers are coming to the Iowa Speedway for a race next summer. Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement Tuesday after The Athletic reported the stock car series would converge in Newton. Three days of competition are scheduled from June 14th through 16th. IOWA CITY (IRN) An Iowa City hospital is heading to an auction today. The Gazette reports Mercy is up for sale after two offers were received, including $20 million from the University of Iowa.

NEWTON (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to announce today officially that NASCAR is bringing its top series to the Iowa Speedway. The Athletic reported first Monday that a race in Newton will replace a former competition at California Speedway. This will be the first time in 18 years that the track will host the top Cup drivers from NASCAR. IOWA (IRN) – Despite worsening drought across most of Iowa, the annual crop remains in decent shape and ahead of schedule. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed 92 percent of Iowa’s corn is mature — well ahead of the five-year average at this point in the season of 76 percent. Approximately 16 percent of the crop is out of the field, up from 10 percent in 2022. The soybean harvest is in line with the five year average, and one-fourth of the crop is out. Seventy-three percent of Iowa’s topsoil and 79% of the state’s subsoil is short on moisture or worse. DES MOINES (IRN) The State of Iowa agreed to an interim settlement in a lawsuit brought on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children with serious mental and behavioral health needs, which asserted that Iowa administers an inadequate mental health system that does not provide children and youth with legally required services. To address these decades long issues, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced it has launched major transformations through the Mental Health and Disability Regional structure to provide core services to children in Iowa and will continue to improve the state’s mental health system. IOWA (IRN) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts this week. The national test will consist of two portions, with both scheduled for 1:20 p.m. this Wednesday. The wireless portion will be directed to all consumer cell phones, and should display in either English or Spanish, depending on the device and its language settings. All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The emergency alert test will then go over the airwaves, including all FCC-regulated television and radio stations.