Category: State News

IOWA – Many Iowa communities are cleaning up flood damage after excessive rainfall fell before the Independence Day holiday. KCCI-TV reports residents in Polk, Story, and Jasper Counties received nearly a foot of rainfall over a short two-day period, and that has left a lot of cleanup. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation on Monday related to flood damage.

CLAY COUNTY – A western Iowa nursing home has been fined for refusing to summon an ambulance for a resident. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports it forced the family to take that person to the hospital in their car. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has cited the Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center in Clay County for a fine of $6,750. The facility is accused of forcing the family to take the resident to the hospital, claiming the situation was not urgent.

FREMONT COUNTY – An international soccer fan in the United States who led police on a chase on July 3rd may avoid charges in the matter. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Nestor Morantes Segura, a Colombian citizen who was visiting the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup. A press release detailed a high-speed chase in the southbound lanes of I-29. After receiving his Miranda warning, he told deputies he saw emergency lights but could not hear the siren and thought he could continue driving. The Fremont County Attorney’s Office filed a motion to dismiss on Monday.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa – A 14-year-old Dyersville girl has died from her injuries suffered when the personal watercraft she was riding on as a passenger was involved in a collision on Clear Lake, on July 4. Around 5:30 p.m., two personal watercraft collided near the boat ramp at MacIntosh Woods State Park, on a part of the lake known locally as Little Lake. Passengers on a nearby pontoon immediately rendered aid. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) water patrol and conservation officers, Ventura and Clear Lake fire departments, Iowa State Patrol, Clear Lake Police Department and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office were quickly on scene. Five individuals were on the two personal watercrafts and all five were transported to Mercy-One Medical Center in Mason City.

JOHNSON COUNTY – A person was killed after being struck by vehicles while standing on Interstate 80. KGAN reports 28-year-old Yanelli J. Camarena was standing on the highway was struck by a semi and another vehicle early Sunday morning. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating as to why the individual was in the highway.

WEST DES MOINES – Police are investigating the death of a person under the age of 18 at a West Des Moines party on Saturday. KCCI-TV reports officers responded to a report of a shooting, finding a large gathering and a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. Witnesses say an argument broke out an escalated until a gun was fired.

WASHINGTON D.C. – An extreme heat wave in the eastern United States has cancelled an opportunity to perform for an Iowa-based Marching Band. America’s 250th celebration parade was supposed to feature the Pella High School Marching Dutch, but has now been cancelled. Heat index values up to 115 degrees are in the forecast in the eastern United States.

NEWTON – Another round of heavy rain and thunderstorms prompted additional Flash Flood Warnings in central Iowa overnight Friday. Multiple communities in central Iowa reported over 10 inches of rain in the last few days due to the storms, according to National Weather Service radar estimates.

IOWA – Those with holiday travel plans are reminded that extra officers are on roadways patrolling for the 4th of July holiday. The Iowa State Patrol and Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau are partnering with local police agencies and county sheriff’s departments for the extra enforcement period, focusing on speeding, drinking while intoxicated, and while distracted.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office issued a statement on Thursday that three Polk County sheriff’s deputies were legally justified in a fatal shooting incident. KCCI-TV reports 44-year-old Austin Mark was killed during an armed confrontation with officers on June 1st. An investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation showed the deputies were lawfully acting when they after Mark opened fire on police during a felony arrest warrant attempt.

NEVADA – The City of Nevada has offered assistance to rebuild a drive-in restaurant destroy in a fire earlier this week. WHO-13 reports the Nevada Fire Department responded to a blaze at Starbuck’s Drive-In, which caused approximately $175,000 in damage. On Thursday, the City of Nevada and its mayor announced they would assist with the rebuilding.

WOODBURY COUNTY – A brief tornado touchdown in Woodbury County damaged a cemetery on Wednesday. KTIV reports the storm touched down near Smithland and the City of Oto’s cemetery, knocking over tombstones. It comes during an active late part of the week, with several storms prompting severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings, according to the National Weather Service.

WEBSTER CITY – A wrong way driver caused a fatal crash near Webster City on Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a truck heading east in the westbound lanes of Highway 20. Before they could stop the vehicle, it collied head-on with another, with the drivers of both killed in the crash.

ATLANTIC – The former Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Director has changed her plea to guilty in a felony theft case. WHO-13 reports 33-year-old Bailey Smith was charged with ongoing criminal conduct, fraudulent practice, first degree theft, and unauthorized use of a credit card for making more than 700 personal transactions from 2020 to 2025, totaling nearly $27,000. She pled guilty to two of the four original charges and faces up to 10 years in prison.

WEST DES MOINES – Residential customers of Central Iowa Water Works can resume watering lawns again, as a ban is reduced for those individuals. The water authority overseeing most of the Des Moines metro area announced a reduction in those restrictions on Wednesday after an increase in banning measures was re-introduced on June 8th due to high nitrates.