Category: State News

MARION – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office found an officer-involved shooting in Marion was justified. WHO-13 reports on February 4th, Marion Officer Spenser Hartman responded to a 911 call to assist with an issue with 18-year-old Saber Jonathan Bernard. Police attempted to speak with the teenager, and at one point, Bernard pulled out a machete. Despite deploying a taser after several commands to drop the weapon, Bernard was accused of advancing at police. He was shot once and later died from his injuries.

ATLANTIC – An Atlantic man who plead guilty to child endangerment resulting in death was sentenced on Monday. KJAN Radio reports that 26-year-old Corbin Loudermilk will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and was ordered to pay $150,000. The plea comes after Loudermilk was charged in relation to the death of a one-month-old child in 2025.

MITCHELLVILLE – The mayor of Mitchellville removed the community’s fire chief from his role following a months-long dispute. The Des Moines Register reports that Chief Mike Twohey was fired late last week, and a special city council meeting was held Monday to discuss the move. The move comes after several issues in Mitchellville in the last several months, which has included an overhaul of its city council and the resignation of it’s former police chief following criminal charges related to improper pay.

DES MOINES – Record high temperatures on Monday will soon give way to possible thunderstorms overnight tonight and colder air that follows. KCCI-TV reports the high of 76 in Des Moines on Monday afternoon broke the previous record of 72. This is the fourth record high broken so far in 2026 in the state’s capital. A risk for scattered severe thunderstorms exists early Wednesday morning, primarily between midnight and 6am. The primary threats are large hail and damaging wind gusts, especially in southeast Iowa.

DES MOINES – Lawmakers continue to debate a potential overhaul of property taxes. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa House Republicans are in favor of a strict, two-percent year-to-year cap with few exceptions, while Senate Republicans would tie increases close to inflation. Republicans have strong majorities in both chambers, largely leaving Democrats out of the process. Representatives from cities of all sizes testified at the Iowa Statehouse last week, arguing any restrictions to property taxes reduces essential services.

CORYDON – The Cordyon Fire Department battled a fire at a petroleum plant over the weekend. KCCI-TV reports that several explosions were reported, but no injuries were reported. Several city blocks were evacuated and it took crews approximately eight hours to fight the flames.

IOWA – Some thermometers in the state may break records today as temperatures climb into the 70s this afternoon, before another possible round of severe weather returns on Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service, some uncertainty remains with the severe threat, but regardless, cooler days will return by the middle of the week. The current best chance for intense thunderstorms is in the southeast portion of the state.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Iowa’s Congressional delegation and Governor Kim Reynolds will attend the dignified transfer of two Iowa soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict in Iran today. KCCI TV reports that Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien of Waukee and Sgt. Declan Coady of West Des Moines were among six U.S. service members killed in the line of duty this past week.

IOWA – A Blakesburg man accused of killing three women in Utah was out on criminal charges he allegedly committed in Iowa. The Associated Press reports 22 year old Ivan Miller was released without bail in January on burglary charges. He was arrested in Colorado after police searched across multiple states. Three women were found dead after attacks allegedly committed by Miller.

NORWALK – The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union sent a letter of apology to the Norwalk Warriors girls basketball team after their loss to Dallas Center-Grimes in the state semifinals Thursday. Several Central Iowa news outlets confirmed the letter. The union didn’t specify the mistake made by officials in the final minute of the contest. The highlights of the final minute of the game made it to several national outlets, as the Mustangs stormed back and scored seven points in a matter of 16 seconds.

DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff until sunset on the final day of interment in honor and remembrance of Major Jeffery O’Brien of Waukee and Sgt. Declan Coady of West Des Moines. Both are Army Reserve Soldiers with the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa, and were killed in action on March 1st in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. WHO-13 reports a Dignified Transfer will be held on Saturday at Dover Air Force Base.

WASHINGTON D.C. – All four of Iowa’s congressional representatives voted against a measure that would have forced President Donald Trump to seek authorization to continue combat operations in Iran. The U.S. House measure failed largely along party lines 212-219, with four Democrats joining opposition, according to the Des Moines Register. A similar measure was rejected strictly on party lines, with Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley voting in line with fellow Republicans.

IOWA – Severe weather will be possible today, mainly from the late afternoon into the night. Large hail and damaging wind gusts will be possible, and possibly a few tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. Beneficial rain is also in the forecast, with many locations in Iowa set to see 1-2″ of precipitation by Saturday morning.

DES MOINES – An Iowa soldier living in Waukee but listed as from Indianola by the U.S. Department of War was killed in the ongoing conflict in Iran. Major Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, is among the six Army Reserve soldiers killed when Iran struck Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1st. O’Brien was an Army Reserve soldier from Indianola assigned to Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command. He’s the second native Iowan killed in the ongoing conflict.

HANCOCK COUNTY – Two people died in a crash in Hancock County early Wednesday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports that the driver of a Chevy Silverado lost control on ice covered roads and struck a Kia Sorento in the opposite lanes of Highway 18. The driver of the Chevorlet, identified as 46-year-old Angel Ruiz-Tamayo of Clarion, and a passenger identified as 40-year-old Constantino Cruz Barradas of Goodell, were both killed in the collision. The driver of the Kia and another passenger in the truck were injured.

IOWA – Two rounds of thunderstorms are expected first tonight into Friday morning, then again Friday afternoon and evening. The strongest storms are expected on Friday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service, with the primary threats being large hail and damaging winds. Uncertainties remain regarding the northern extent of the strongest storms, the tornado potential in Iowa, and the impact of morning storms on the afternoon forecast on Friday.