IOWA (IRN) – Dry conditions remain in place across 99.99% of Iowa, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. While the smallest sliver of Fremont County is considered in normal moisture conditions, the rest of the state remains dry, with 67.4 percent of residents going through severe drought or worse. Exceptional drought — the worst of the four categories on the national report, is currently impacting Benton and Tama Counties. DES MOINES (IRN) – Record high temperatures were broken across the state, according to the National Weather Service. The Johnston office of the federal agency reported all four major stations in Iowa broke long-standing high marks for heat on Saturday, including Des Moines, Waterloo, Ottumwa, and Mason City, and on Sunday, in Cedar Rapids. The upper 80s and low 90s reported since Friday are about 20 degrees warmer than typical for October 1st. This was the first time 90 degrees was recorded in October in many Iowa communities since 1997. Cooler conditions are on the horizon by the middle of this week. FREMONT COUNTY (IRN) – A Lexington, North Carolina woman was killed while walking by truck stops near Nebraska City. The Iowa State Patrol reports 65 year old Debora Lee Turbett was struck by a semi driven by Jeffery Hartley of Glenwood near the intersection of Highway 2 and 211th Avenue Friday morning. The semi was leaving a fueling area and turning on the road. The crash remains under investigation. GRUNDY CENTER (IRN) – A Grundy Center firefighter was arrested after he was accused of starting several fires he would later respond to with the Holland Fire Department. KCRG-TV reports 60 year old Kendall Rhoads was arrested by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office last week and faces 13 counts of second degree arson. Their investigation started in April after several ditch fires were reported, as were others at abandoned buildings. Rhoads has been with the Holland Fire Department for six years.

STORM LAKE (IRN) – An athletic trainer facing accusations of inappropriate interaction with female college students will keep his license in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that Richard Bingham was working at the College of Southern Idaho in 2021, when he was then placed on leave. Bingham was accused of several inappropriate actions with members of the school’s volleyball team. In June, the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licensure agreed to a disciplinary order that included educational coursework, but did not require Bingham to admit to wrongdoing. The Iowa Board of Athletic Training, citing that decision, allows Bingham to continue practicing in Storm Lake under probation for two years with supervision, but did not remove his license. GRIMES (IRN) – Two people are arrested after alleged involvement in a shooting Thursday. WHO-13 reports that court documents indicated 21-year-old Armstrong Kyne and 25-year-old Abednego Nyemah pointed and fired a handgun at four other victims. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says witnesses identified the pair. No injuries were reported. COUNCIL BLUFFS (IRN) – The Council Bluffs Police Department is partnering with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to find out more about a scam. The department received several reports of residents being targeted by a group of suspects spoofing phone numbers and were posing as law enforcement. Both agencies believe the same group is targeting people in Carroll, Sioux City, and Iowa City. Those with information should contact their respective police departments or the Iowa DCI. IOWA CITY (IRN) – NOT FOR KCII – A Washington County man has been charged in relation to a crash that resulted in the death of a Wellman woman in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports 24-year-old Drake Brezina has been charged with homicide by vehicle for an August 7th collision. Police say video showed the man was holding a cellular device when he ran a red light, broadsiding a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Kristina Pearson, who later died from injuries. Another passenger needed to be revived at a hospital as well. Court records indicate the light was red for 15 seconds and Brezina was traveling nearly 10 MPH over the posted speed limit.

POLK COUNTY (IRN) – A Polk County judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of a child who died in a ride malfunction at Adventureland. The Des Moines Register reports a motion made by the State of Iowa and by a ride inspector was rejected after they were added as defendants in April. The lawsuit filed by the family of 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo alleges that the state and inspector Bruno Burriola were negligent while inspecting the Raging River in the summer of 2021, less than a month before a malfunction resulted in the boy’s eventual death. A state report in 2022 showed the ride was in violation of 17 safety standards — Burriola gave the operation full clearance a year prior, according to court records. The then-owners of Adventureland are also named in the suit. DES MOINES (IRN) – Record highs are possible as the calendar turns to October this weekend. The National Weather Service anticipates high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s, and possibly near 90, starting today and continuing through Monday with little-to-no rain expected statewide during that time. The previous record in Des Moines is 90 degrees today, and 92 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This comes as the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday that 95% of the state remains in drought, and one-fourth of Iowa is in extreme conditions or worse. LAKE CITY (IRN) – The former city administrator of a northwest Iowa town faces fines but no additional jail time after pleading guilty to charges related to fraud. The Des Moines Register reports Eric Wood of Lake City was sentenced to probation and a suspended prison sentence, with more than $2,000 in fines. Wood was arrested in September 2022 and faced several accusations, including perjury, which would have been felonious misconduct while in office. Wood was involved in signing false documents related to the employment of two Lake City police officers, including Aaron Alspach, who pled guilty to tampering with records and was sentenced to a year in probation. (Not for KNIA/KRLS) WARREN COUNTY (IRN) – Two Warren County patrol cruisers were struck while assisting with a crash on Interstate 35 early Thursday morning. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office shared a post from Sheriff Joseph Carico about the collisions that occurred as emergency crews were responding to a two-vehicle incident near mile marker 53. Carico said two cruisers were hit by the truck traveling near normal interstate speeds at a scene that was blocked off and that closed the road due to a fire. He reported both officers involved were able to flee safely.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced the State of Iowa will end Fiscal Year 2023 with a balance of $1.83 billion in the General Fund, $902 million in reserve funds and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund. Reynolds promised additional tax cuts in the next session as a result of the surplus — Iowa Democrats criticized the news, saying the state is not spending enough to meet critical needs such as education and infrastructure. Last week, Gov. Reynolds announced that Iowa’s corporate tax rate will drop to 7.1 percent from 8.4 percent for Tax Year 2024 due to corporate tax receipts exceeding $700 million. ‘ ODGEN (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League says it needs help to care for dogs rescued an alleged puppy mill. KCCI TV reports a Boone County deputy found nearly 100 dogs during a welfare check at a house in Ogden. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is caring for 81 of the 93 canines found. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and no charges were filed as of Wednesday. VOLGA (IRN) – A Missouri man is facing charges after a fatal incident in Volga. KCRG-TV reports two people fell off the tailgate of a truck allegedly driven by Tucker Baker of St. Josephn, according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. He faces charges of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving and serious injury by vehicle.m Investigators said videos of the incident obtained from witnesses show three trucks rapidly accelerating in succession, with the last occupied by seven people near the Volga Campground. IOWA (IRN) – A agricultural businessman who has a significant role in a proposed carbon pipeline does not have to testify for permit hearings, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Bruce Rastetter is the co-founder of Summit Carbon Solutions, and those opposed to the pipeline wanted him to expand about potential conflicts of interest. The Iowa Utilities Board ruled that Rastetter will not need to testify. The project proposed to span five states has run into concerns in two of those — both North and South Dakota have put various blocks and holds on the idea.

POLK COUNTY (IRN) – Police have identified a man involved in a standoff in Polk County Tuesday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Scott Eugene Smith of Des Moines for an outstanding warrant and several other charges, including attempted murder. The department alleges Smith abandoned a vehicle during an attempted traffic stop, shot at a deputy, and fled into a nearby hotel. A perimeter was set up by several state and federal agencies, which led to a four hour standoff than ended without incident. DES MOINES (IRN) – One of two family members charged in the death of a newborn in Norwalk is planning to used diminished responsibility as a defense. Rodney Staude’s strategy was revealed in the Warren County Court House, according to WHO-13. His daughter Megan Staude is also charged with first degree murder for an incident that led to the discovery of a newborn’s body in March. BURLINGTON (IRN) – A Des Moines County jury ruled in favor of a Burlington man in his lawsuit related to a COVID-based unemployment claim. The Des Moines Register reports Jonathan Critser will receive $100,000 after a six-day trial. His former employer CNH Industrial fired Critser in 2020 after he filed for partial unemployment that summer after he had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and missed two days. While CNH claimed Critser failed to follow protocols, the jury disagreed.