Iowa Radio News

IOWA – A potential severe weather outbreak is brewing across most of the state early next week. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has a 30 percent chance for a strong storm system to impact the vast majority of Iowans on Monday. The weather service rarely issues that level of threat so far in advance, according to their outlooks, and while meteorologists stress the forecast could still change, most people in the state should prepare for major impacts related to possible severe weather Monday afternoon and evening.DES MOINES – Hy-Vee is closing two large-scale food production facilities it opened seven years ago. WHO-13 reports production will be returned back to stores and away from The Fresh Commissary in Ankeny. The move could impact 461 employees. The grocery store chain indicated there would still be work going on at the facility.DES MOINES – The world’s best athletes wasted little time making their presence known on the first day of the 115th running of the Drake Relays. It took only 20 minutes into Thursday’s opening session for American record holder Rudy Winkler to set both a Drake Relays and Drake Stadium record in the men’s hammer throw, the second-best mark in the world this spring. Nebraska junior Till Steinforth repeated his decathlon championship with a meet record that lifted him to the No. 1 spot in the world this year. Western Dubuque junior Quentin Nauman put the hammer down on the backstretch of the final lap and sped to a Relays record in the high school boys 3200 meters race.

DES MOINES – A Nevada, Iowa man made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge Thursday for alleged threats against a current student and the upcoming Iowa State University graduation. According to allegations in the criminal complaint, between January and April 2025, 28-year-old Tanner Dean Bandy engaged in a pattern of threatening conduct against a former romantic partner through text messages and voicemails. Two days prior to his arrest, Bandy left a voicemail message discussing his intention to conduct a mass shooting at an Iowa State University commencement ceremony. Law enforcement searched Bandy’s residence and vehicle and located two firearms and ammunition. Bandy will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings. INDIANOLA – The Indianola Police Department has charged a woman with murder for the death of an infant. Following a joint investigation with the department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Warren County Attorney’s Office, 51-year-old Melissa Hancock of Indianola has been accused of first-degree murder in connection with the October 12th, 2024, death of a four-month-old who was in her care. The investigation and medical examinations revealed both “new and healing” injuries consistent with a “pattern” of child abuse caused by Hancock.IOWA – The Iowa DNR is looking into multiple spills into waterways across the state this week. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports several hundred gallons of red dye were found in Prairie Creek and untreated wastewater flowed into Saylor Creek. A 330 gallon tote of red dye was punctured while on a truck in Maquoketa, according to the DNR. A broken main caused a spill of untreated water in Ankeny.

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.