DES MOINES (IRN) – A temporary injunction has been placed on a newly-signed bill restricting abortion in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports the block on the fetal heartbeat law signed by Governor Kim Reynolds reverts the state back to the 20-week law in place after the Iowa Supreme Court split their decision on reviving the 2018 version of the legislation. The temporary block is in place as the litigation process plays out. The law bans nearly all abortions in Iowa, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies that threaten the life of the mother. DES MOINES (IRN) – Voters in a Des Moines City Council ward are threatening to sue their representative for not showing up to meetings. KCCI-TV reports that Indira Sheumaker has not made it to a meeting since March 6th. Voters say the council member has not communicated to anyone during that time, including a group that is demanding she return or resign. Sheumaker has been collecting a salary of $28,000 and health benefits. Her term continues until January 2026. WEST DES MOINES (IRN) – A driver killed in a single vehicle crash in West Des Moines has been identified. WHO-13 reports 37 year old Thomas Davis of Des Moines was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed on Interstate 80, when he left the road and hit the Jordan Creek Bridge Sunday morning. Davis was the only occupant of the vehicle and pronounced dead on scene, and no other vehicles were believed to be involved. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture’s weekly update showed more than half of Iowa’s corn, soybeans, and oats remain in good or excellent condition. As of Sunday, 64% of Iowa’s corn and 58% of the soybean crop is in the top two categories. Hay and pasture remain in the worst shape due to the ongoing drought that has all of Iowa rated abnormally dry or worse — 24% of pasture is in poor or very poor shape. The crop progress for nearly all crops is ahead of schedule when compared to the five year average with the exception of soybeans.

WEST DES MOINES (IRN) – A Sunday crash left one driver dead in West Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed left the roadway and hit the Jordan Creek Bridge over Interstate 80. The driver was the sole occupant and has not been identified publicly by police. CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – One person was injured in Cedar Rapids after a reported shooting. KCRG-TV reports the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded to possible gunshots near a home, and a person inside the house was hit by a single bullet. Police say that individual was in stable condition as of Sunday. SIOUX CITY (IRN) – In less than one week thousands of bike riders will be treking across the state in the 50th Anniversary of RAGBRAI. The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa starts on July 23rd in Sioux City, and this year, travels through Storm Lake, Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama, Coralville, and Davenport. This year, organizers are aiming to have close to 100,000 riders pass through the capital city, which would shatter the previous event record of 48,615. NEWTON (IRN) – An actor on many TV and movie screens in the 90s and 2000s has found a second career in racing. Frankie Muniz is participating in the 2023 Calypso Lemonade 150 on Saturday at the Iowa Speedway. The star of Malcolm in the Middle has found his footing on racetracks across the country, according to KCCI-TV in Des Moines.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed a fetal heartbeat abortion bill into law Friday at the Family Leader Summit. Reynolds signature immediately places a near total ban on all abortions in Iowa, with some exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. The measure has been challenged in court, and according to the Des Moines Register, a Polk County district judge will rule as soon as Monday whether the law will remain in effect. CASS COUNTY (IRN) – Three people died in a two vehicle crash in Cass County Friday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford F350 driven by 43 year old Michael Adam Warnaca of Exira was traveling northbound on Highway 71 and for unknown reasons crossed the center line and struck a Toyota Camry head-on driven by 46 year old Erick William Kerkman of North Liberty. The two drivers were killed, as was a teenage girl riding in the Camry. A male juvenile in each vehicle survived but were injured. There have been 188 people killed on Iowa’s roadways so far in 2023, an increase of 20% over the prior five-year average. NORWALK (IRN) – A man found guilty of first-degree murder in connection to a stabbing in Norwalk has been sentenced. The Des Moines Register reports 38 year old Antonio Lavell Lewis was found guilty for the killing of 31-year-old Karisa Shendelman last September. Lewis will be in prison for the rest of his life following a hearing held this past week. CARROLL (IRN) – While Iowa’s High School baseball players prepare to compete for state championships next week, fans not in Carroll for the festivities will have to pay to watch the games if they want to do so online or on their cellular device. While the Iowa High School Athletic Association has filed a lawsuit against broadcast partner Iowa High School Sports Network, the latter has not been prevented from charging a $9.99 pay per view or $18.99 tournament pass to view games via their app or website. The games remain fee on certain local and cable television channels across the state, but those without traditional satellite or cable will have to pay. No hearing has been scheduled in the lawsuit in Polk County District Court.

MILFORD (IRN) – A woman was found dead as firefighters worked to extinguish a house fire in Milford. KCAU reports crews arrived and saw smoke leaking from a two-story home in several locations. Upon entering the house, officials found the body of the deceased woman. A cause of death and identity has not been released. AMES (IRN) – A nurse practitioner in Ames has surrendered his license after being criminally charged. The Des Moines Register reports Carl Markley ran the Wellness Clinic in Ankeny and worked at several other businesses and recruited individuals to participate in sex acts and passed it off as research. The Iowa Board of Nursing alleged Markley wrote prescriptions for more than 14,000 tablets not intended for patient use. Markley faces charges of sexual exploitation, prostitution, pimping, and human trafficking. MARSHALLTOWN (IRN) – Five years after the Marshalltown community was devastated by a tornado, a business impacted by the storm opened a new museum and its rebuilt facility. KCCI reports Lennox celebrated completion of the $200 million rebuild with a ribbon cutting this week. The HVAC company kept its factory in Iowa and the museum celebrates the company’s history. DES MOINES (IRN) – Dry conditions now touch every border of Iowa. The latest national report shows rounds of rainfall in July have not been enough to improve drought. Approximately 43 percent of the state is in severe drought or worse, according to the U.S. Monitor.

DES MOINES (IRN) – A lawsuit has already been filed to block the enforcement of an abortion bill passed by the Iowa Legislature this week. Iowa Public Radio reports Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union are aiming block a six-week abortion ban that will be signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on Friday. A Polk County District Court Judge has scheduled a hearing following that signing to review a request for an injunction that would bar the state from enforcing the ban until a court date could be set. IOWA CITY (IRN) – The youngest son of University of Iowa Men’s Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery was cited in a car vs. pedestrian crash that killed a National Guard solider in May. KCRG-TV reports the Iowa City Police Department responded to a crash which left 45-year-old Corey Hite severely injured. He later died from his injuries in June. Sixteen-year-old Jonathan McCaffery was cited for failure to yield, a simple misdemeanor. The McCaffery family released a statement, claiming investigators told them it was an unavoidable accident and that Hite was waved into the crosswalk by another driver. ANKENY (IRN) – Federal prosecutors are asking for a seven year prison sentence after convicting an Ankeny man for an assault of police officers on January 6th, 2021 in Washington D.C. KCCI-TV reports Salvador Sandoval, Jr., was charged with 12 total counts related to the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors say Sandoval was in the Capitol for approximately 15 minutes and attempted to take riot shields from police. His mother was also charged in the incident, and is serving a five-month prison sentence. The hearing is scheduled for Salvador on August 7th. DES MOINES (IRN) – Three Iowa iconic athletes will be the subjects of the annual butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair. The Des Moines Register reports dairy-based statues of Jack Trice, Kurt Warner and Caitlin Clark will join the Iowa State Fair butter cow at the Ag Building and will unveiled on August 10th, the first day of this year’s fair. Expert sculptor Sarah Pratt will use up to 1,200 pounds of butter to create the works.