DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly to 2.9 percent in August, ending a four-month stint at 2.8 percent. Driven primarily by retirements, the state’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.3 percent from 66.4 percent in July. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.2 percent. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 48,400 in August from 47,600 in July. DES MOINES – The Des Moines Police Department identified a woman whose death has been considered suspicious by law enforcement. WHO-13 reports 52-year-old Suzette Rae Gums was found in cardiac arrest by first responders Wednesday evening. Police have arrested 58-year-old Walter Bickham in connection to her death, claiming he stabbed gums during a domestic altercation. SIOUX CITY – An Iowa lawmaker who revived his professional baseball career at the age of 44 has delivered his game-worn jersey to Cooperstown. J.D. Scholten brought his Sioux City Explorers uniform to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after making an emergency start for the team on July 6th. On three hours notice, Scholten tossed 6 2/3 innings to win over the Milwaukee Milkmen.

PELLA – Four Iowa school districts have faced threats of violence from current or former students in the past week. Police departments and administrators in Pella, Centerville, Norwalk, and Perry have responded to incidents that have led to arrests. A similar uptick of violent threats were reported shortly after the shooting in Perry this past January and in eastern Iowa this current academic year, according to KCRG, including Cedar Rapids, Marion, Dubuque, and Independence. Police departments involved in these incidents are urging parents to monitor their children’s use on social media and to encourage their own kids to speak up if they notice something wrong. IOWA – Following a drier, warmer trend for most of September, an active system is set to bring rain and possible severe weather in the region over the next few days. The best chance for intense thunderstorms will be today largely along and north of Highway 30 this evening. The National Weather Service indicates several rounds of rain showers are set to impact most of the state through early next week, with some locations expecting up to 2″ of precipitation in that span. This comes as many pockets of the state were rated as abnormally dry in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report. IOWA – The Iowa DNR Reports millions of birds are set to migrate north tonight over the state as the official start to fall looms this weekend. The DNR says to turn off unnecessary lighting to allow the bird to more safely travel into Minnesota and the Dakotas. A similar pattern will form over the southeast part of the U.S. this evening as well.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines woman faces charged after being accused of setting a homeless tent on fire. KCCI-TV reports 49-year-old Tina Davidson allegedly started a blaze with people inside of a tent near Euclid Avenue. Davidson faces one count of first degree arson. No major injuries were reported. JOHNSTON – A Kentucky man was arrested this week for alleged attempts to extort a minor in Johnston. WHO-13 reports 18-year-old Ekokolemba Lusalang is accused of pretending to be a teenage girl while communicating with an underage girl. The victim shared explicit photos with Lusalang, believing him to be the other identity. Lusalang was arrested in Johnston after attempting to meet the girl and faces charges in Polk County Jail. AMES – For all of the recent success of the Iowa State Cyclones football program, there’s still milestones to get in program history for Head Coach Matt Campbell. Since 2016, the head coach has led the cardinal and gold to 55 wins, according to the Des Moines Register — two shy of Dan McCarney, who helped establish success in the program for the first time in decades back in the 1990s and 2000s. The undefeated and 20th-ranked Cyclones host Arkansas State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.

DES MOINES – Two officers landed in the hospital and a suspect is dead following a shooting in Des Moines. An attempted traffic stop by Des Moines Police turned into a pursuit, according to KCCI-TV. Officers claim the man didn’t comply with police after the chase ended in a crash, which included the use of a taser. The suspect then allegedly started firing at police, and three officers returned fire. The man who died has not been identified and both officers are expected to survive. DES MOINES – State Auditor Rob Sand released a report on Monday that showed the state is not meeting federal law for inspections in nursing homes that accepted Medicare. WHO-13 reports that the average number of months between site visits is close to 17, and the federal mandate is closer to 13, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Sand’s report also indicated that Iowa ranks 46th in nursing staff per capita. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing is disputing the findings. IOWA – Another round of hot and dry conditions settled into the state over the past week, and will likely continue until later this week. Soil moisture levels are starting to deteriorate, according to the weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report issued by the USDA. However, well over 90% of the state’s corn and soybeans remain in fair or better condition, with over 75% rated as good or excellent.

IOWA – A poll famous for its accuracy in predicting Iowa’s elections shows a much closer race to the White House than it reported in June. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted by J. Ann Seltzer shows that former President Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris 47 to 43%, with a margin of error of 3.8% percentage points. This is down from the June poll that showed Trump ahead of President Joe Biden by 18 points. The data shows a dramatic gender gap between the candidates — Harris is preferred by women on a 53-to-36 margin, while Trump wins over men 59-to-32. A total of 81% of Iowans say they will definitely vote in the upcoming election. Early voting across the state starts on October 16th. DES MOINES – Two men died in a shooting reported in downtown Des Moines Sunday morning. KCCI-TV reports officers heard gunfire near Court Avenue and found three people injured. One man was found dead on scene while another died at a nearby hospital. Des Moines Police are investigating. INDIANAPOLIS – As the WBNA postseason looms, a former Iowa Hawkeye standout continues to see her star rise in the pros. The AP reports Caitlin Clark scored a career-high 35 points in a victory for the Indiana Fever on Saturday. Last week, Clark set the WBNA single-season record for assists, and now owns the most-ever points scored for a rookie, now at 761. One regular season game remains before the postseason, and the Fever have clinched a spot.