DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers passed some of the most restrictive abortion regulations in the nation late Tuesday night during a special session. The Iowa Senate voted in favor 32-17 and the Iowa House 56-34 to enact legislation that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, or approximately six-to-eight weeks into pregnancy, with some exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. Governor Kim Reynolds announced following the votes, she intends to sign the legislation Friday. The bill largely mirrors a 2018 law that was ultimately defeated when the Iowa Supreme Court was split on its merits in June. Currently, abortions are allowed up until 20 weeks in Iowa, and the new legislation will likely return to court. IOWA COUNTY, PAGE COUNTY (IRN) – Two more fatal crashes occurred on Iowa roadways Tuesday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a single vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in Iowa County at 1:30 p.m. and two-car crash in Page County at 2:30 p.m. resulted in death for three people. Forty-three-year old Julisa Guerrero of Washington, Michigan, died when the Chevorlet 18 year old Vianet Leon was driving eastbound drifted across both lanes and struck a cement culvert and rolled. The other two occupants were injured. Both drivers in a pair of Nissans that collided on Highway 2 died in a head on collision, including 71 year old Denise James of Omaha and 78 year old Sandra Aparo of Clarinda. The Iowa State Patrol says James crossed the center line and struck Aparo’s car. There are now 183 people who have died on Iowa’s roadways so far this year. DES MOINES (IRN) – It was 30 years ago this week that Des Moines residents lost access to water during one of the worst floods in U.S. History. KCCI TV reports that 250,000 people lost running water on July 11th, 1993, after rounds of torrential rainfall along Raccoon River basin caused a levee breach at Des Moines Water Works. It took 19 days for safe water to return to Des Moines area taps. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair will feature 64 new dishes in 2023. The Des Moines Register reports the annual event is Des Moines from August 10th through the 20th highlights everything from a Vietnamese sandwich to bacon and sweet corn lobster rolls, to an Iowa Twinkie, which includes a jalapeno filled with pulled pork, corn and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon, smoked with sweet and sticky barbecue.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Lawmakers will be in a special session today in an attempt by Republicans to restrict abortions in the state. A bill submitted in both the Iowa House and Senate Study Bill 1223 and House Study Bill 255 would establish similar provisions to legislation passed in 2018 that would restrict all abortions after fetal heartbeat activity could be detected, or approximately six to eight weeks. Some exceptions would be in place for rape, incest, miscarriages, and if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother in certain cases. According to a Des Moines Register poll, 61% of Iowans support keeping abortion legal in most cases. DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa’s Governor has drawn the ire of the leading Republican candidate. The Des Moines Register reports former President Donald Trump criticized Kim Reynolds for her lack of endorsement in the 2024 run up to the Iowa Caucuses. Trump claims he no longer invites Reynolds to events after she took a neutral stance ahead of the January kick off to the nomination process. He takes credit for Reynolds political rise after naming former Governor Terry Branstad as an ambassador to China in 2016. Many of the other GOP presidential candidates have supported Reynolds for her neutral stance. DES MOINES (IRN) – An uptick in traffic fatalities has the Iowa State Patrol asking Iowans to buckle their seatbelts while driving. As of Monday, 179 people have died on the state’s roadways, and of those, 51.8% were not wearing a seatbelt. The Iowa State Patrol says they’ve seen an increase in seat belt violations from traffic enforcement periods conducted in 2023 as well. DES MOINES (IRN) – While recent rain fall has helped, the latest crop update from the USDA show more than have of Iowa’s soil remains short on both topsoil and subsoil moisture. However, more than 60 percent of the corn crop was in good to excellent condition, and soybeans and oats were at 52 percent in that category.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Republican Party has announced the date for the 2023 Iowa Caucuses. The GOP will select their nominee for president on January 15th, 2024. Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said the goal was to remain committed to Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation status, and was critical of state democrats and their plans to alter the caucus process. COLO (IRN) – Police spent five hours in a standoff for a domestic disturbance that ended peacefully. WHO-13 reports Story County authorities were called to a house near Colo after a man called 911. The Story County Sheriff’s Office dispatched its emergency response, negotiation, and drone teams. The man wanted to view divorce documents from his ex-wife, and surrendered without incident after police were able to find what he wanted. No charges have been filed. DUBUQUE (IRN) – Multiple people were shot in Dubuque early Sunday morning. KCRG-TV reports the Dubuque Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at 2:30 a.m., and found four adults with wounds. One of those individuals has died. An investigation is ongoing. DES MOINES (IRN) – Faith leaders in Iowa are opposed to a special session coming to the Iowa Capitol Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund and several others are critical of Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican lawmaker efforts to restrict abortion in Iowa. Bills filed in the house and senate would effectively result in a six-week ban. The faith leaders cited a Des Moines Register poll that showed 61% of Iowan voters favor keeping abortion legal in most cases.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers have unveiled an abortion restriction bill nearly identical to the one ultimately rejected by the Iowa Supreme Court. A bill submitted in both the Iowa House and Senate Study Bill 1223 and House Study Bill 255 would establish similar provisions to legislation passed in 2018 that would restrict all abortions after fetal heartbeat activity could be detected, or approximately six to eight weeks. Some exceptions would be in place for rape, incest, miscarriages, and if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother in certain cases. According to a Des Moines Register poll conducted in March of 2023, 61% of Iowans support keeping abortion legal in most cases. DES MOINES (IRN) – A Des Moines bicyclist died a day after he was hit by a truck. KCCI-tv reports 40 year old DeWayne Lee Cole was riding on Pioneer Road Wednesday afternoon when he was hit by a pickup. Des Moines Police say Cole failed to yield at a stop sign. The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced that as the 175th fatality on Iowa roadways this year, a ten percent increase from this time in 2022. IOWA CITY (IRN) – Following a trip to the National Championship Game, the Iowa Hawkeyes are locking in their longtime women’s basketball coach. The University of Iowa Athletics Department reports they’ve extended Lisa Bluder’s contract through 2029, bumping her pay to $1 million per season.

FAIRFIELD (IRN) – The first of two Fairfield teens admitting to killing their Spanish teacher was sentenced Thursday. Willard Miller received a life sentence with a possibility of parole in 35 years for the death of Nohema Graber. Miller and Jeremy Goodale both have pleaded guilty to the murder. DES MOINES (IRN) – Just over 29,000 K-12 students have applied for education savings accounts in the opening year of the program, with more than 17,000 approved. The first bill signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, the measure allows families to use publicly-funded scholarships to attend private schools. Approximately 40% of applicants in the this first wave are leaving a public school system, with an average household income of $128,000; the other 60% qualify at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. FORT DODGE (IRN) – Police have located the Ankeny teen accused of killing a 15 year old on the 4th of July in Fort Dodge. Jamarrion James “JJ” Davis, of Ankeny, was charged with first-degree murder, according to KCCI-TV in Des Moines. Davis was located at a home in Fort Dodge and tried to flee from officers. He’s accused of killed Jameel C. Redding-Pettigrew, who died from multiple gunshot wounds Tuesday. MUSCATINE (IRN) – A 4th of July parade entry in Muscatine have caused criticism when social media posts showed a woman on horseback pulling another dressed as a Native American with her hands tied. The Quad Cities Times reports The Great Plains Action Society, a collective of Indigenous organizers, were critical of the display, as were hundreds of commentors on the posts online. Megan Burton and Jenna Nicole both claim they are of Native American descent and were portraying history in support of the Cherokee National Treasure.