DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Tuesday that provides additional funds for disaster recovery efforts related to last year’s severe weather. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate File 619 includes $13.6 million for the previous fiscal year to help offset losses from extreme flooding and tornadoes that occurred in 2024. The bill also expands use of disaster funds for emergency responders and extends tax exclusions for developers building in areas impacted by recent severe weather. INDEPENDENCE – A group of former employees at a mental health facility in eastern Iowa claim they were repeatedly assaulted by patients and they were ignored by investigators. KCRG-TV reports former nurses at the Independence Mental Health Institute are accusing those who operate the state-run space of negligence. Those nurses in the suit claim they were attacked and assaulted, with no response from administrators. DES MOINES – The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield returned for another installment of the men’s and women’s USATF 1 Mile Road Championships and the Grand Blue Mile recreation and competitive divisions. It kicks off Drake Relays week, with high school, college, and professional track and field athletes converging on Des Moines. Native Iowans and Olympians Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer had their eyes on the prize from the gun but could not hang on towards the finish. A late push from Krissy Gear, one of the premier American steeplechasers, earned her the top prize.

IOWA – Planters were rolling across much of the State before being slowed by precipitation late last week, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition to planting corn, soybeans and oats, fieldwork included tiling, building waterways and spraying when winds allowed. Topsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 22 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 30 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.DES MOINES – A bill passed in the Iowa House on Monday that allows the use of psilocybin to treat psychiatric patients in the state. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House File 978 passed with bipartisan support and establishes a licensing board within the state health department. The initial process restricts use of the mushrooms to those 21 and older and to 5,000 patients. According to supporters of the bill, psilocybin is effective in treating post traumatic stress disorder. MARSHALLTOWN – A teacher has been placed on leave in Marshalltown for allegedly taking money from her union. WHO-13 reports 48-year-old Rachel Nelson-Loupee has been charged with first degree theft. Court records indicate she embezzled more than $10,000 from the Marshalltown Education Association. The Marshalltown School District placed Nelson-Loupee on administrative leave.

ESSEX – The National Weather Service confirmed one of the biggest tornadoes ever on record hit southwest Iowa last week. A storm survey showed an EF-1 storm that passed near Essex reached nearly 2000 yards in width — or 1.1 miles wide. This came as many communities in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa received baseball sized hail Thursday night. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed into law a bill that lowers the minimum age of owning a handgun down to 18 years old. KCRG-TV reports the new standard starts on July 1st. Eighteen year olds were already able to purchase long-barreled guns, but unable to do so with smaller firearms. Critics of the bill argue this reduces safety, while proponents believe it makes the law more consistent. GREENFIELD – One person is in custody after someone was found dead inside of a home in Greenfield early Saturday morning. The Iowa Division of Criminal investigation reports Yudiel Vega-Blanco has been charged with first degree murder and willful injury causing injury. At 12:45 a.m. Saturday, the Adair County Communication Center received a 911 call for a stabbing that occurred in the 200 block of NE 4th St. in Greenfield.  A second victim was also identified in the residence and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.  The names of the victims are not being released pending notification of family. 

CEDAR COUNTY – Two people died in fatal crashes investigated by the Iowa State Patrol on Thursday. The first occurred in Cedar County and involved a tractor trailer. A semi driven by Adam Wiese of Lowden was attempting to turn off of Highway 30 and rear ended a Chevy Malibu driven by 59-year-old Loretta J. Frana, also of Lowden. She died from her injuries. Another crash on Thursday in Appanoose County involved Wesley Laverne Devore of Milo, who was traveling west on Highway T-30 and crossed the center line, hitting another vehicle. He died from his injuries at the scene. DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista, Fremont, Page, and Plymouth Counties in response to severe weather that occurred on April 17th. Governor Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of tornadoes and large hail, and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for those counties. The proclamation is effective immediately and expires on May 18.

DES MOINES, – The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in March, up slightly from 3.3 percent in February. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent in March. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,664,000 in March, up 400 from February and 2,400 higher than one year ago. The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 58,600 in March from 57,300 in February. CEDAR RAPIDS – A former Iowa commissioner of public safety and U.S. attorney will run against Ashley Hinson in northeast Iowa as a Democrat. The Des Moines Register reports Kevin Techau is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a nominee of former President Barack Obama in 2013 to become the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Iowa. INDIANOLA – The president of Simpson College was found dead Thursday morning during a wellness check. Iowa Capitol Dispatch reports 54-year-old Jay Byers did not make it to scheduled morning meetings. He was found unresponsive in the campus residence for the president shortly after. Byers also served as CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership before returning to his alma mater. AMES – Police in Ames have arrested a man they say threatened to commit a mass shooting at Iowa State University’s graduation ceremony. KCCI-TV reports the campus police arrested 28-year-old Tanner Bandy of Nevada, IA, who has been charged with five counts of harassment and stalking with possession of a dangerous weapon. The victim in the case came forward to police and accuses Bandy of targeting her and having a specific plan to kill her and several others at commencement.