Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES – The Des Moines Police Department reports that false rumors are spreading about agents from U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement targeting immigrants in the metro. KCCI-TV reports that the recent shootings in Minneapolis appear to be contributing to these allegations in other communities across the country. The Des Moines Police Department says their staff was tied up with reports related to false ICE appearances, especially on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump was speaking in Clive. ATLANTIC – The Atlantic Police Department is investigating a dispute in southwest Iowa that resulted in a man being shot in the stomach on Thursday. WHO-13 reports the Cass County Communications Center received the report late Thursday evening. The man was transported to a Des Moines metro hospital with unknown injuries. One person had been brought to the Atlantic Police Department for questioning. DES MOINES – Iowa House lawmakers heard from lobbyists for local governments and advocacy groups about proposals to limit growth of revenue related to property taxes. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House Study Bills 596 and 563 were subject to subcommittee meetings on Thursday. The proposal from Iowa House Republican Leaders and Governor Kim Reynolds place a two-percent revenue cap for local governments, with some carve outs for schools and construction. A representative with the Iowa State Association of County Supervisors warned that a “one-sized-fits-all” tax limitation would not have equal impact on cities and counties, and would cause unfair competition for resources.

KOSSUTH COUNTY – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has identified a second outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kossuth County. The flock was found one week after another was reported, and included pheasants, quails, and chukars, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch. The previous detection included chickens and game-birds last Thursday. The is the second outbreak of the avian flu reported in the state this year so far. DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate has removed a ban of carbon pipeline companies from using eminent domain in a bill moving through the Iowa Statehouse. KCCI-TV reports the change was made in a committee following a bill that passed in the other chamber. Arguments center about how far the state should go in protecting landowners and allowing companies to use eminent domain for pipeline projects. DUBUQUE COUNTY – Water quality experts are cautioning those using wells about exposure to nitrates. A KCRG-TV report shows water from city systems are subject to more regulations, but roughly 300,000 Iowans get water from private wells. Excessive nitrates have shown to impact how blood transports oxygen in the body. More than half of Iowa’s water systems have some exposure to the chemical compound.

CLIVE – President Donald Trump spoke in Clive on Tuesday. The president first stopped at the Machine Shed restaurant and had press interaction. A group of protestors gathered outside of the Horizon Events Center, estimated at 2000 people, according to the Des Moines Register. Trump spoke about policies his administration believes are benefitting Iowans, and said that congress was close on a deal for year-round E-15. The speech was also, in part, a rally to support Republican Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks in districts that will likely be competitive this November. ANKENY – An Ankeny man was sentenced this week to a six-month term of probation for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to public court documents, 82-year-old Joseph Thomas Lamb drove his vehicle into a flock of Canada Geese on State Street in Ankeny around 6:30 am on June 10. Lamb stopped to let a flock of nine Canada Geese cross in front of his vehicle. When the geese were in the middle of his lane, he accelerated into the birds, killing one. In addition to a six-month term of probation, Lamb was ordered to pay a $2000 fine. DES MOINES – Work continues on legislation related to carbon sequestration pipelines. State senators passed a bill through a subcommittee that came from the Iowa House. The legislation is part of a package aimed to curb or eliminate the use of eminent domain for projects related to carbon pipelines. There are two conflicting versions that have been released this session after Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a last-ditch effort last year.

CLIVE – President Donald Trump is visiting Clive today to rally support for the Third U.S. Congressional District. KCCI-TV reports Trump is beginning a push of campaign stops for the upcoming 2026 Midterm elections. Representative Zach Nunn is expected to be in attendance. Several national election forecasters see both his seat and the one held by Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks as vulnerable to be flipped by the next congress in January. IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in December, level with November and up slightly from 3.3 percent one year ago. The labor force participation rate increased to 67.7 percent in December, as Iowa gained 4,600 workers in comparison to the previous month. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.4 percent. CLINTON – A Clinton man was sentenced last week to three years in federal prison for falsely using a social security number, aggravated identity theft, and firearms offenses. According to public court records, 46-year-old Rusty Todd Johnston was convicted of a felony drug offense in Texas in 2005 and violated that probation. By 2008, Johnston stopped using his real name, date of birth, and social security number and assumed the identity of Adam Preston Duriga of the state of Nevada, who died in 2013. In early 2020, Johnston moved to Clinton and obtained an Iowa Commercial Driver’s License using Duriga’s identifiers. In December 2024, law enforcement officers searched Johnston’s residence and found a handgun that Johnston had illegally purchased.

CEDAR COUNTY – The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a pedestrian found dead along Interstate 80 in Cedar County on Saturday morning. The individual was struck by multiple vehicles. That person is not being identified, and was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. FAIRFIELD – A Fairfield teenager was killed in a crash on Saturday night in Jefferson County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Lexus E350 driven by 18-year-old Emmelia Miller was driving a long a rural road before losing control due to weather conditions. That vehicle was side struck by another. Miller was not wearing a seatbelt and died from her injuries, and two other passengers were hurt in the collision. CLIVE – President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak in Iowa ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Des Moines Register reports Trump will be at the Horizon Events Center in Clive. The event has tickets for registration. Trump was last in Iowa last summer to kick off the America 250 celebration. DUBUQUE – The annual RAGBRAI route has been announced, and its the shortest in the event’s 53-year history. KCCI-TV reports the bike ride across the state held in July will start in Onawa on July 19th and end in Dubuque on July 25th, spanning 391 miles. Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, and Dyersville are the overnight stops.