DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff and remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, July 3rd, in honor and remembrance of Iowa Senator Rocky De Witt. The Lawton resident was a career 22-year employee of MidAmerican Energy before he joined the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. De Witt was elected to the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors in 2016 where he served as board chair. In 2022, De Witt was elected to the Iowa Senate as the representative for District 1. Reynolds issued a proclamation setting Tuesday, August 26th, as the date for a special election for the seat.WASHINGTON D.C. – Both of Iowa’s Senators supported a reconciliation bill that narrowly passed on Wednesday, as it heads back to the U.S. House following several changes. The legislation supported by Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley and spearheaded by the Trump administration extends tax cuts passed by both Senators and Republicans in 2017, but also includes billions of dollars in budget cuts to Medicaid and SNAP programs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects the plan approved by the U.S. Senate would cause 12 million Americans to lose health insurance. The U.S. House will choose to vote on the changes by the Senate or get it back to a conference between the chambers. IOWA – Precipitation, heavy in some parts of Iowa, reduced days suitable for fieldwork to just 2.7 during the week ending June 29th, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. While beneficial, the wet conditions limited field activities throughout much of the state. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Reports of corn starting to silk were received, reaching 3 percent. Corn condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 63 percent good and 22 percent excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 22 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of normal.

MUSCATINE – A Letts woman was killed in a shooting at a Muscatine Hy-Vee store on Monday. KWQC reports 37-year-old Kalista Hallbery was found dead after reports of shots fired at the supermarket. The suspected shooter is Ian Hernandez of Davenport. He’s accused of fleeing the scene in a minivan, and police found him critically injured with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound near the intersection of Highway 61 and 38. CLARKE COUNTY – A Thayer man was killed and a juvenile was critically injured in a Clarke County UTV crash on Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 45-year-old Andrew James Neisemier was northbound on a rural road and lost control of a Polaris UTV, overturning the vehicle. The man was partially ejected and pronounced dead on scene. A juvenile passenger was transported by helicopter to a hospital with multiple injuries. IOWA – A new hands-free driving law goes into effect today. Iowa Public Radio reports the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa DOT are encouraging use of Bluetooth, auxiliary cables, and phone mounts to comply with the new moving violation rules related to having a device in hand. Through the end of this year, warnings will be issued to violating drivers, with $100 fines starting on January 1st, 2026. DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court narrowly upheld two laws restricting firearm access in the state among its final decisions for the 2024-25 term The Des Moines Register reports 4-3 rulings came to deny challenges to a law criminalizing carrying weapons while subject to a domestic violence protective order and the other while possessing illegal drugs. The dissenting justices believed the bills violated the rights of the defendants.

FAYETTE COUNTY – A bicyclist was killed when he was hit from behind on a rural road in Fayette County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country struck a bicyclist from behind. Several nearby agencies responded to assist, but the 76-year-old rider was pronounced dead on scene. The driver of the Chrysler has been identified as 72-year-old Steve Steinberg of Ossian. IOWA – The number of state-operated beaches not recommended for swimming is up to 10, all testing for excessive amounts of E. Coli. The Des Moines Register reports Backbone, Beeds Lake, Black Hawk, Blue Lake, Bobwhite, Lake Darling, Nine Eagles, North Twin Lake West, Pine Lake South, and Union Grove beaches are all on the updated list from the Iowa DNR as part of weekly testing. INDIANAPOLIS – Former Iowa Hawkeye and current Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been named one of the two WNBA All-Star game captains. This is her second appearance in as many seasons for Clark, according to KCCI-TV. Clark has averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game in her 2nd professional season.

LYNNVILLE – The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a claim that the water supply had been tampered with in Lynnville. According to a news release, the department was called at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday by the City of Lynnville. Preliminary details showed the water was safe to consume, but someone had tampered with equipment controlling availability of water. The sheriff’s office is looking for details about who may have done so. DAVENPORT – A Blue Grass man was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received CyberTips that an account, later determined to be associated with 58-year-old Christian Brew Allen, received, uploaded, and distributed files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Allen’s Blue Grass residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Allen used the devices to receive, upload, and distribute more than 2000 images and 175 videos. DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that Iowans can add drivers license and identifications to their Google wallet, adding to the types of devices available for the service. The Des Moines Register reports this comes to the addition of Apple and Samsung devices that allowed it. The Iowa DOT says the service works at 200 airport checkpoints, including in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

SIOUX CITY – Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement late Wednesday about the death of an Iowa State Senator. Rocky DeWitt of Woodbury County represented District 1 after he was elected in 2022. De Witt died from cancer. Reynolds called DeWitt dedicated to helping his neighbors in northwest Iowa. DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau are collaborating to educate the public on Iowa’s new Hands-Free Driving Law. Governor Kim Reynolds signed bill SF 22 into law on April 2nd, making Iowa the 31st state in the nation to enact hands-free legislation. The law will go into effect on July 1st with an initial warning period through December 31st. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes. A 2024 GTSB survey of over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county revealed that 90% of respondents considered using a cell phone while driving to be extremely dangerous, even though 50% admitted to driving with a phone in their hand. DAVENPORT – An Oxford man was sentenced on Wednesday to 13 years in federal prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activities and Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court document, 44-year-old Eric Gene Rundle communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a fifteen-year-old girl. Rundle made plans to meet and engage in sex acts, and was arrested at the meeting location. Rundle had a cell phone with him which was searched. Rundle used the device to receive, view, and possess images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.