(Radio Iowa) – D-N-R staff are now going out after dark and driving back roads to conduct surveys of wildlife. State deer biologist, Jace Elliott, says it’s something they do every spring. “Every county has two different 25 mile transects that run from east to west across each county. And these routes are surveyed at night with a spotlight,” he says. Elliott says they are looking primarily for deer and raccoons, but also other furbearers, like skunks. to track their population.

“And and of course, that’s important because we need to understand the dynamics at play with the different species that we’re monitoring,” Elliott says. “So, for instance, the deer counts that the survey provides, then go into informing our management decisions for antlerless harvest quotas.” He says the numbers will help him learn about some of the impacts on the deer herd. “I’m personally going to be taking a close look at some of our southern Iowa counties in terms of their deer numbers, after the recent E-H-D outbreak may have impacted some county populations in the southern half of the state,” Elliott says. He says the same applies for those keeping an eye on other animals. “All of the furbearers species get examined for statewide and regional trends, but there hasn’t been any large swings in populations from a statewide scale for those species,” he says.

Elliott says the spotlight surveys will run through this month and the results will be released in early summer.

(Radio Iowa) – Firefighters from 12 north central Iowa departments battled the wind and rain early Sunday morning to fight the flames at a grain facility in rural Hamilton County. Blairsburg Fire Chief, Rod Harris says the call came in from the United Cooperative elevator in Stonega shortly before 1:30 a-m.

He says it looks like the annex caught on fire and then spread into another bin. Harris said there are plans to contact the State Fire Marshal to investigate the cause of the Sunday fire at Stonega. There were no injuries in the fire.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – While the jackpot for Saturday night’s $1.326 billion Powerball® drawing was won in Oregon, an Iowa ticket was just one number away from having a share of the grand prize. That Iowa ticket, purchased in Newton, won a $1 million prize.

The Powerball jackpot had climbed for more than 3 months and tied the game’s record for the longest string of consecutive drawings without a winner before it was won, Saturday. The jackpot had been won on New Year’s Day, then rolled for 41 drawings in a row without a winner. That had only occurred twice before, in 2021 and 2022.

Saturday night’s jackpot was the 4th-largest Powerball prize and the 8th-largest U.S. lottery prize. The jackpot now returns to $20 million annuity, $9.4 million lump-sum option, for Powerball’s next drawing tonight (April 8, 2024).

Iowa Sales and Total Prizes Won

Iowa Lottery players won a total of 45,721 Powerball prizes during Saturday night’s drawing,  ranging from $4 up to $1 million. A total of about $2.4 million in Powerball tickets were purchased in Iowa. One Iowa ticket was just 1 number away from having a share of last night’s jackpot, matching the first 5 numbers but missing the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. That winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee, 1501 First Ave. E. in Newton.

It was one of 7 tickets across the country to win a $1 million prize in the drawing. Saturday night’s winning Powerball numbers were: 22-27-44-52-69 and Powerball 9. The Power Play number was 3.

The $1 million prize must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. If the winner or winners have questions before claiming the prize, they’re welcome to call us at the Iowa Lottery at 515-725-7900 or email us at Wmaster@ialottery.com.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A vehicle crashed into a field Sunday evening near Red Oak, and caught fire, but no serious injuries were reported. According to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce, the accident happened at around 8:30-p.m., at 190th Street and L Avenue, east of Red Oak.

An initial investigation determined the vehicle had left the road and rolled into a field before catching fire. Persons who were in the vehicle got themselves out following the crash, and were evaluated by medics, but refused treatment at the scene. No names were immediately released.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was handling the investigation. Agencies assisting in handling the incident included Red Oak Police, Montgomery County Emergency Management, and the Montgomery County Communications Center.

(Iowa News Service) – Iowa is accepting bids from people who want an EV charging station on their land. It’s part of a nationwide network of infrastructure designed to meet the needs of electric vehicle owners. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, or NEVI, will provide funding to build charging stations every 50 miles along U.S. interstate highways – from coast to coast.  In Iowa, that includes I-80, 380, 29 and 35.

The Iowa Environmental Council’s Energy Policy Counsel Steve Geyer said businesses, electric utilities, nonprofits, towns – and even private landowners, such as farmers – can apply, as long as their land is within a mile of the freeway and meets other criteria. “Suppose you are that farmer and you are at one of those locations,” said Geyer. “Sure. If you have the availability to raise the capital, that’s one of the criteria. You have to be able to demonstrate that you either have ownership of the land or you have the rights to the land.”

charging station for electric cars on a deserted highway.

The deadline to apply for the grants is April 19. Each location will have four rapid-charging ports, but Geyer said they won’t just be bare-bones places to power up the EV. “Every location has to have some form of not only restroom facilities,” said Geyer, “but also – be it a convenience store or vending machines, et cetera – recognizing that it will take some time to charge your car so you need, presumably, something to do during that time.”

Applications go through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man for Domestic Abuse Assault. 46-year-old Dustin Dean French, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11-a.m., and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – On April 6, 2024, at approximately 6:37 pm, the Cedar Rapids Police Department (CRPD) received a 911 call in which a suspect requested an officer respond to his residence on 31st Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. A second 911 call was received where a second reporting party asked for officers to respond for a welfare check for the suspect.  It was reported the suspect was making homicidal and suicidal statements and was armed with a weapon.  CRPD Officers responded to the area and located the suspect and the male bystander who had requested assistance with the suspect’s erratic behavior.

Officers conducted a high risk approach and the suspect was observed with a weapon in his hands. The officers gave verbal commands to the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect raised the weapon in the direction of officers.  Three officers discharged their weapons at the suspect who immediately fell to the ground after being struck by gunfire.  Emergency responders were called and the male suspect died while at the scene. The male bystander was also struck by gunfire and was transported to the hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. No officers were injured during the incident.  There is no known threat to the public or community related to this incident.

The CRPD requested the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Major Crime Unit to conduct the officer involved shooting investigation.  The DCI Laboratory Crime Scene Team assisted with the scene examination.

The suspect’s name will not be released at this time, pending a death notification to next of kin and final autopsy.  The male bystander’s name will not be released at this time.

The three involved CRPD officers’ names and additional facts are not being released at this time and they have been placed on critical incident leave pending the completion of the investigation.

Upon completion of the investigation a report will be filed with the Linn County Attorney and Attorney General’s Office for review and use of force determination. No further information will be released at this time.

MASON CITY, Iowa (KTTC) – A Cerro Gordo County sheriff’s deputy has resigned after allegedly posting a photo from an accident scene on social media. In a press release issued Friday, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals said his office started an investigation Thursday into the alleged posting sent out to members of the public. According to Pals, the deputy being investigated resigned effective Friday.

This week, KTTC received an email from a family member of a Mason City man killed in a motorcycle crash on Sunday. The sheriff’s office confirmed the death of 22-year-old Allan Shafer. According to law enforcement, Shafer hit a deer while on his motorcycle early Sunday morning in Plymouth, which is about 15 minutes northeast of Mason City. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shafer’s uncle told KTTC a sheriff’s deputy took photos of his nephew’s body and posted them on his personal social media. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any additional information about its investigation at this time. Pals did not mention the deputy’s name.

DES MOINES, Iowa — (KCCI) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill aimed to keep teachers in the Perry School District. Under the new law, the school district would be able to use up to $700,000 to give bonuses. The funds could also offer teachers more if they decide to stay with the district. The bill is part of an effort to retain educators after the deadly shooting at the high school in January.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police arrested a man an on OWI charge early this (Sunday) morning. Authorities say 35-year-old Travis Lee Treat, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 2:25-a.m. in the 900 block of Inman Drive, for Operating While Intoxicated/1st offense – a Serious Misdemeanor. Treat was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.