Iowa Radio News

IOWA – In the last few days, Iowa DNR conservation officers assisted in rescuing more than 250 people by boat from rising flood waters in several northwest Iowa communities, including Spencer and Rock Valley. Rescue efforts by law enforcement are ongoing as flood waters have been slow to recede. Additional chances for heavy rain return to northern Iowa Thursday night into Friday. Flood waters are starting to move downstream, including at Saylorville Lake and the Dam north of Des Moines. Several boat ramps have been closed due to debris and rising waters. Interstates 29 and 680 near Council Bluffs are also set to close today. Disaster unemployment assistance is now available to multiple northwest Iowa residents in northwest Iowa due to a declaration signed by President Joe Biden. IOWA – Iowa joins a list of several other states with individuals who have become sick, some in critical condition, after consuming Diamond Shruumz-brand products purchased through a retail store in eastern Iowa. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about these products, which includes any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should discard them. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services officials recommend individuals do not purchase or consume these products and if they have any of these products, that they dispose of them.  

SIOUX CITY – A railroad bridge crossing the Big Sioux River collapsed during a round of historic flash flooding in northwest Iowa. KELO reports raging waters ripped apart the structure connecting Sioux City and North Sioux City. While residents report the water wasn’t as high as the 2011 floods, it appears the speed of water flows led to the collapse. Dozens of Iowa towns have suffered extensive flooding damage from six to 12 inches of widespread rainfall that fell last week. Additional rounds of rainfall could impact the area this evening and again on Thursday. DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornados that occurred beginning on June 16th and continuing. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration are now authorized to provide assistance to Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The governor will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected. Residents in these counties can now apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services. LENOX – Several southeast Iowa sheriff’s departments assisted with a robbery and eventual apparent suicide Monday.  At approximately 1:30 p.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bank robbery call at the Iowa State Savings Bank in Lenox. Reports indicated that a male subject entered the bank demanding money and then left on a motorcycle. The subject was pursued into Adams County, but fled at a high rate of speed. The subject lost control and crashed into a farm field and then fled on foot. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol, converged on the area and attempted to locate the person in question As law enforcement narrowed in on the subject’s location, the male fired one round, causing a fatal self-inflicted wound. The body will be transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner’s Office where a forensic autopsy will be performed later this week.    

ROCK VALLEY – Dozens of Iowa communities received the wrath of heavy rain that fell Thursday through Saturday across the northern tier of counties in the state. Governor Kim Reynolds and the State of Iowa mobilized state and federal resources over the weekend as the cities of Spencer and Rock Valley were mostly underwater. Those communities were among many that received more than six inches of rainfall, and a levee failure led to mass evacuations in Rock Valley. The Iowa State Patrol and Iowa DOT at one point issued a travel advisory for Lyon, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Emmet and Dickinson Counties. The storm also prompted evacuations and rescues, and damage is widespread. The National Weather Service reports many rivers in northwest Iowa exceeded record flood stages in 1993. Many streams downstream from the heaviest rain may rise rapidly in the coming days as the excessive precipitation begins to drain from the worst of the flooded area. ADAIR – An appeal made by the former Adair Police Chief found guilty of misusing his position to purchase machine guns was denied. KCCI-TV reports Brad Wendt will not get a new trial after he was found guilty for 11 federal charges. The judge in the case shared evidence that included texts and law letters Wendt made during his tenure. INDIANOLA – Simpson college students received a unique opportunity while studying abroad in India. The group received a personal blessing from the Dalai Lama, according to the Des Moines Register. The class they were attending was called “Tibetan Diaspora in India: Religion and Culture” and was part of an 18-day trip overseas.              

SAC COUNTY – The Sac County Sheriff’s Office has announced the conclusion of the investigation into the disappearance and death of David Schulte in November of last year. A release indicated that the State of Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Schultz died from hypothermia in the setting of acute methamphetamine intoxication and declared the death accidental. Schultz is believed to have died shortly after his semi-truck and trailer were found on November 21st. His body was found on April 24th. The investigation found that Schultz had been driving for nearly 30 consecutive hours. The Sheriff’s Office believes sleep deprivation and the use of meth caused a medical incident, which led to Schultz abandoning his truck and succumbing to the elements. The department said despite the widespread search effort, the large area and environmental conditions made it challenging to find Schultz, and that search teams largely focused on areas where he would seek refuge or become trapped. IOWA – Dozens of flood warnings were issued Friday across northern Iowa for what the National Weather Service called a “historic set-up” for heavy rain. Whether it was flash flooding or river warnings, nearly every Iowa county north of Highway 20 received  widespread amounts of 4-6″ of rain, with localized totals closer to eight inches since Thursday. Several roads were covered with water and high stage flooding was recorded on many northern Iowa rivers. HARRISON COUNTY – A western Iowa man is accused of damaging cars, fences, playground equipment, and even the city hall building in Pisgah. KCCI-TV reports 59-year-old Craig Hardy of Moorhead allegedly stole a tractor from a farm just outside of Magnolia. Police say Hardy went on a rampage, and caused more than $10,000 in damage to the community of Pisgah. Hardy faces charges of criminal mischief, theft, assault on law enforcement, and driving while barred.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8 percent in May, unchanged from April and the same as one year ago. The state’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.7 percent, down slightly from 66.8 percent last month. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent in May. The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 46,900 in May from 47,200 in April. SAC COUNTY – The USDA has found a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sac County. Governor Kim Reynolds has made a proclamation in response to the spread of bird flu. This comes as restrictions have been placed on dairy cows who have been infected by the virus. All related projects remain safe to consume, according to the USDA. CEDAR RAPIDS – Seven eastern Iowa residents were arrested for alleged use of social media to sexually entice minors. KCRG-TV reports the Cedar Rapids Police Department was using an undercover operation to target suspects using social networking applications to meet people under the age of 16. Criminal complaints indicate those arrested contacted a profile that was actually a police officer.