DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped for the fifth consecutive month to 2.7 percent in May – down from 3.0 percent in April and from 4.5 percent one year ago. The U.S. May unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent. HAMBURG, IA (IRN) – A sheriff’s deputy has died in a head-on crash in the southwestern corner of Iowa. The crash happened Tuesday along Highway 275 north of Hamburg. Austin “Melvin” Richardson, 37, was in his patrol car traveling north when it collided with a southbound farm combine. The combine was wider than the width of the southbound lane, with one of its front tires operating over the highway’s center line. Richardson’s car collided with that front tire, then rolled several times. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man was arrested in Cedar Rapids after police say he punched an officer in the face repeatedly early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to a harassment call, and found 34-year-old Ryan Floerchinger there and a foot pursuit ensued. Police said it ended when Floerchinger charged at the officer, knocking them to the ground. Police said the suspect then repeatedly punched the officer in the face, causing serious injury. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person was injured in a panic after shots were fired during a carnival outside Valley West Mall on Wednesday. The shooting happened around 9:30 pm. Police say there was a disagreement in the crowd and a suspect pulled out a gun and fired into the air. No one was hit by gunfire, but police say one person suffered minor injuries after being trampled while people were running from the scene. OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – Osceola’s mayor has resigned. The city had been conducting an internal investigation into Matthew Stoll. It revolved around an incident from June 4 inside the clubhouse at the Osceola Golf Course. The city manager said it involved property damage and a physical fight. No criminal charges have been filed.

OSCEOLA, IA (IRN) – Osceola’s mayor is under investigation. The city manager says the city’s internal investigation into Mayor Matthew Stoll revolves around an incident earlier this month inside the clubhouse at the Osceola Golf Course. The manager says it involves property damage and a physical fight. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds held a news conference Tuesday to unveil a school safety plan. The plan includes a $100 million investment for both public and private schools, with $50,000 available for each individual school building in Iowa. The plan would also fund the Iowa School Safety Bureau, which will now provide assistance and tools, facilitate training, fund an emergency radio system and provide an app and website where Iowans can anonymously report concerns. FAIRFAX, Iowa (KCRG) – Neighbors in Fairfax took to the city council about a 3,200-square-foot American flag that was erected by Fairfax State Saving Bank in May. Neighbors say the flag makes too much noise when the wind blows, and the light display illuminates their homes. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The IHSAA announced that the boys’ high school wrestling state dual meets will not be taking place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Instead, the dual meets will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville for at least the next three years. The event will also be moved up two weeks from last year. It will now take place on Feb. 4 to coincide with the Iowa girls’ high school wrestling tournament, which will also take place in Coralville. The individual events will still take place at the Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. AMES, IA (IRN) – The purchase of the Renewable Energy Group in Ames by Chevron is complete. The transaction is valued at $3 billion. Chevron is part of the old guard of big oil companies now getting into renewables. Chevron is expanding biodiesel production plants here in this country, and around the world.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man was taken to the hospital after a crash on Interstate 380 Monday involving a mattress. The Linn County sheriff’s office said the driver was heading south when he hit a mattress lying in the road. He then lost control and went into the median before the truck rolled. First responders took the driver to the hospital for injuries. He is expected to survive. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police have found a drowning victim in the Cedar River. Waterloo Police and Fire Rescue responded to a report of a person in the Cedar River on Friday. Dispatchers had taken a report of a Hispanic man entering the river and leaving a shirt behind on the water’s edge. He was found Monday. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Monday morning, a bullet went through a 12th-floor break room window at the Ruan Building in Des Moines. No one was injured, but all Bankers Trust employees were evacuated as a precaution. Des Moines Police are trying to figure out if the gunshot was targeted, or if it was a stray bullet. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A man accused of robbing an Urbandale gas station on Monday morning was arrested after returning to the store while police were still in the area. Luis Cruz, 25, was arrested at the scene and charged with Robbery. ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – An Altoona woman keeps adding candles to her birthday cake. Hazel Young turned 112 years old Sunday. Family and friends were on hand to celebrate the day. Young says her faith is what helps her longevity. When Young was born, the President of the United States was William Howard Taft.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowans and other Midwestern residents could face rolling blackouts this summer if extreme heat and spiking demand coincide with insufficient power. Iowa and 14 other states are at high risk of “energy emergencies during peak summer conditions,” according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. VAN METER, IA (IRN) – A fatal crash occurred at 3 p.m. Sunday just southeast of Van Meter. The Iowa State Patrol says 16-year-old Judah Noble crossed the center line and hit a motorcycle. The man on the motorcycle, 39-year-old Jared Eklund, died. Noble was airlifted to Blank Children’s Hospital. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque Fire Department was dispatched on Sunday to where a resident found an unexploded WWII-era mortar round. All 25 residences in the neighborhood were evacuated. The State Fire Marshall removed the unexploded mortar and transported it to a separate location for detonation. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Mo Donegal, an Iowa-owned horse, finished first and filly Nest was second, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a 1-2 finish at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for his sixth victory in the Triple Crown race.

MONDAMIN, IA (IRN) – A West Harrison teacher is suspected of inappropriate contact with six students and has been charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. West Harrison is a rural district on the Missouri River, north of Council Bluffs. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Fire and Rescue searched the Cedar River Friday night and Saturday morning after a report that an unnamed person went into the river. According to police, the caller reported seeing the man floating in the river, and then he floated out of their line of sight. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man who promised to behead President Joe Biden and predicted “blood in the streets” has pleaded guilty to a single charge and faces up to six months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kenneth Rader, 54, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to a federal judge in Washington by video conference. Rader was allowed to remain free on bond. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Mo Donegal, an Iowa-owned horse, finished first and filly Nest was second, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a 1-2 finish at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for his sixth victory in the Triple Crown race.