DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2.7 percent in July but remains down from 2.8 percent one year ago. The state’s labor force added 2,700 new workers in July, increasing Iowa’s labor force participation rate to 68.8 percent. That is up from 68.2 percent a year ago and equals the participation rate in March 2020. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 3.5 percent in July from 3.6 percent the month before. DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg has been elected Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). NLGA is the professional association supporting lieutenant governors in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The mission of NLGA is to assist these leaders, and the states and territories themselves, to be as effective and as efficient as possible for constituents. DES MOINES (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will survey producers in 32 states, including Iowa, for its 2023 County Agricultural Production Survey and September 1st Agricultural Survey. The agency is taking a comprehensive look into the 2023 production and supply of small grains, including wheat, oats, barley, and rye. Farmers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov

DES MOINES (IRN) – Attendance continues to outpace 2022 numbers at the Iowa State Fair. A total of 98,751 made their way to the fairgrounds Wednesday and just over 101,000 on Tuesday, according to KCCI-TV. This weekend’s heat may slow down numbers, and it will be hard to match the 2022 record on Saturday of 128,000. IOWA (IRN) – For the first time in several weeks, at least some pockets of Iowa are no longer considered dry. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report shows portions of Jasper and Story Counties without a measure on their scale. However, 99% of Iowa remains abnormally dry and 75% are in some kind of drought, according to the national update. A round of intense heat is expected starting this weekend into school beginning next week, which may intensify drought again. DES MOINES (IRN) – The King of Busoga, Uganda, spent a day at the Iowa State Fair. The Des Moines Register reports William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV were in attendance Monday to learn more about agriculture.

CRESTON (IRN) – A Creston man recently hired to be a teacher and football coach faces felony charges. WHO-13 reports 42-year-old Ryan Kissell was arrested Wednesday following an investigation and charged with 46 felonies, including 2nd degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child. Kissell was hired by Nodaway Valley ahead of the upcoming academic year. A victim came forward to police this summer, claiming Kissell’s abuse had been ongoing for more than a decade. MASON CITY (IRN) – An Iowa school district is using artificial intelligence to determine what books to ban under a new Iowa law. KCRG-TV reports the Mason City School District is using Chat GPT to remove materials following the law signed by Governor Reynolds bans certain types of books from school library shelves. The author of Friday Night Lights Buzz Bissinger criticized the district after the title was removed — he says the book contains no sexual content in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. DES MOINES (IRN) – The People’s Choice Award for Best New Food of the Iowa State Fair was announced. A deep-fried bacon brisket mac-n-cheese grilled cheese from What’s Your Cheez won the contest, according to the Des Moines Register.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Police have made an arrest in connection to a fire at a hotel in Des Moines. WHO-13 reports 33-year-old Richard Thompson has been charged with first degree arson. He’s accused of being involved in his second hotel-related fire over the past year, and allegedly started a fire at the Fleur Lodge on Monday. CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man is accused of abusing a young child. KCRG-TV reports Jeffrey Wayne Beaman has been charged with three counts of 2nd degree sexual abuse in connection to the case. Beaman turned himself into police this week. DES MOINES (IRN) – Sunday featured a record breaking crowd at the Iowa State Fair. KCCI-TV reports 114,937 is the most who have attended day four of the festivities — breaking the previous high mark set in 2017. On Monday, 100,214 people attended — nearly 12,000 more than in 2022. ANKENY (IRN) – Iowa-based Casey’s General Stores is continuing acquiring new locations. On Tuesday, the chain announced the intent to purchase 63 stores in Kentucky and Tennessee from EG America, according to the Des Moines Register.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Police have identified a man who they believe drowned at Saylorville Lake over the weekend. WHO-13 reports Rober Mayberry, Jr., died while swimming at the Party Cove of the southeast area of the lake Saturday. Witnesses told the Polk County Sheriff’s Office that Mayberry was last seen swimming before going missing. His body was found Sunday morning. OSCEOLA (IRN) – An Osceola man died in a high speed crash in Clarke County. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa State Patrol is investigating after 24-year-old Dignan Forry was driving at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed. A passenger was flown with injuries by helicopter to a Des Moines Hospital. BUCKINGHAN (IRN) – One person has died after an apparent explosion in Tama County. KCRG-TV reports several emergency crews responded to a residence near Buckingham on Monday morning. Neighbors told the TV station the explosion scattered debris in the area. A body was found near the residence as well. IOWA CITY (IRN) – The college football season is on the horizon, and the Iowa Hawkeyes will start 2023 in the AP Top 25 Poll. The Des Moines Register reports the football team is No. 25, as voted on by various members of the media. This is the fourth time in five years the Hawkeyes open in the AP Poll.