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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., June 24th 2015

News

June 24th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for four Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather. Branstad issued the proclamation for Davis, Humboldt, Monroe and Wright counties. The areas were affected by severe weather Monday. The proclamation allows officials to use state resources to help affected people. It includes an assistance program that provides grants of up to $5,000 for certain households needing food, clothing and temporary housing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado damaged homes and a grocery store in southern Iowa. Meteorologist Craig Cogil says the tornado received an EF-3 rating after peak winds were estimated at 142 mph near a damaged house in Lovilia on Monday night. The tornado developed in Marion County and briefly moved through Lucas County before ending in Monroe County, where the house was located. The tornado had wind speeds of 103 mph when it later ripped into a grocery store in Albia. No injuries have been reported.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A food supplier has filed a lawsuit alleging an Iowa farm breached an egg supply contract after its parent company lost millions of chickens to bird flu. Michael Foods Egg Products Co. filed a complaint in federal court alleging Hawkeye Pride Egg Farms is violating a January 2014 contract. Hawkeye Pride is a division of Sioux Center-based Center Fresh Group, which owns egg farms that lost 5.5 million hens to bird flu.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A handful of Iowa lawmakers have reiterated their support for keeping open a state mental health facility in Mount Pleasant. The facility’s future became uncertain this year after Gov. Terry Branstad’s budget proposal removed funding for it and the state mental health facility in Clarinda. Lawmakers eventually approved legislation that would keep Mount Pleasant open and would seek a private provider to run Clarinda.