(Iowa City, Iowa) – A storm system that formed tornadoes in north-central Missouri early Friday afternoon spread quickly into southern and eastern Iowa, where the twisters caused extensive damage in Wapello County and further north. The National Weather Service reports one tornado veered just west of Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa.

KCRG-TV says at least two tornadoes struck Johnson County Friday afternoon, according to preliminary reports from emergency management. A shelter was opened in Coralville for residents affected by the storm in the community where damage was reported along the Coralville Strip mall area and in nearby neighborhoods. Video showed downed power lines and roofs torn-off of an apartment building in Coralville.

Damage was also reported in Frytown, Hills and Solon. The damage in Hills was said to be significant. The National Weather Service said crews plan to work into the weekend assessing damage and assisting residents impacted by the storms in eastern Iowa.

At least two people were injured, no fatalities have been reported.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Police in Des Moines say the suspect in the killing of a woman in Fort Dodge Thursday night, shot and killed himself at a gas station in Des Moines, Friday, as police were closing-in.

Officers located 27-year-old Adarius Clayton at a Casey’s store Friday in Des Moines. When they approached him, he pulled out a gun and shot himself, according to Des Moines Police Dept, spokesman, Sgt. Paul Parizek.

No other injuries were reported.

Clayton was believed to have killed 26-year-old Nicole Reza, Thursday night.

(Radio Iowa) – A former southeast Iowa teacher was arrested based on accusations that she assaulted a preschool student.

The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office says 46-year-old Erin Aalfs was a preschool teacher at the Moravia Community School District when on March 10 she kicked and threw rocks at a student and later picked up the child and threw the victim towards a chain link fence causing the child to hit the ground and fence. The incident occurred at the elementary school’s playground during school hours. The child was not injured.

Erin Aalfs

Aalfs later resigned from her position and was arrested on March 29. She’s been charged with two counts of simple assault and interference with official acts after the sheriff’s office says Aalfs resisted arrest and a deputy suffered minor injuries.

CRESTON, Iowa – March 31, 2023 – Motorists who travel on Iowa 148 in the Corning city limits need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may slow down their trip. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 10 until Thursday, Aug. 31, weather permitting, construction crews will begin a project on Iowa 148 between U.S. 34 and Adams County Road N-28 that includes construction of a bridge approach, asphalt pavement resurfacing, and culvert and sidewalk work.

While construction work takes place weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., intermittent lane closures, flaggers, and pilot cars will be used to direct traffic through the work zone.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has denied the appeal of a Manchester man convicted in the cold case murder of a Cedar Rapids teen at a local Mall. Jerry Burns was found guilty in 2020 of first-degree murder in the 1979 stabbing death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. The case had been cold until police grabbed a straw Burns used at a restaurant and the D-N-A on it matched D-N-A found on Martinko’s dress and car.

Burns argued the evidence on the straw should have been suppressed as it violated his Fourth Amendment right against unlawful search. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled the Fourth Amendment does not apply as Burns made no effort to “preserve” the straw “as private,” and left it on the table at a Pizza Ranch. Two of the justices did write dissenting opinions with lengthy discussions about whether the Fourth Amendment applies to D-N-A.

(Clive, Iowa) March 31, 2023 – Pulled pork has gone from a rotating special to a menu favorite at The Flying Elbow in Marshalltown. Now, the classic sandwich has earned statewide attention as the winner of the sixth-annual Pulled Pork Madness, a social media contest sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). The restaurant won the title after advancing through a bracket-style narrowing process similar to the NCAA’s college basketball tournament. The bracket was based on public nominations submitted earlier this month, and The Flying Elbow took down The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill, Ogden, in the final matchup.

Hannah Spurr, IPPA’s consumer outreach director, said “This contest is a way to attract new pork fans and encourages everyone to road trip around Iowa to try different restaurants that are serving up some of the best pork in the nation.”  Nearly 160 pork fans nominated 63 Iowa restaurants for the top honor. The two restaurants with the most votes in each of IPPA’s eight districts made up the “Sweet 16” bracket. Voters then decided which moved on to the “Elite Eight,” “Final Four,” and championship round, which wrapped up March 30.

Garrett Goodman, owner of The Flying Elbow, said winning the contest was a “Cool Honor. ” He said also, “Barbecue was kind of a Sunday tradition when I was growing up, and I love serving people the best food I can.”  The Flying Elbow started in 2017 as a wrestling-themed food truck, selling hot dogs. Burgers were later added to the menu. When the restaurant opened in its current location in September 2021, Goodman purchased a residential-sized smoker and began offering limited barbecue specials. He recently upgraded to a 300-gallon wood-fired smoker, cooking pork shoulders “the traditional way, using old-school techniques” — low and slow over oak and cherry wood.

Prior to smoking, pork shoulders are rubbed heavily with salt, pepper, and garlic. Plus, a little brown sugar is sprinkled on to help ensure a good bark, the flavorful black crust that forms on the outside of the meat during the cooking process, which is about 11 hours. “Classic Pulled Pork” is served with pickles and homemade barbecue sauce on a Hawaiian-style sesame seed burger bun or Texas toast. The meat is topped with coleslaw by request. Pulled pork also is featured in “souped-up” versions of the Classic sandwich, Goodman noted.

At The Flying Elbow in Marshalltown, pork shoulders are smoked for about 11 hours over oak and cherry wood. The “Classic Pulled Pork” sandwich is served with pickles and house-made barbecue sauce, on a Hawaiian-style sesame seed bun or brioche toast. The meat is topped with coleslaw by request. (Photo courtesy IPPA_

“Pig Show” includes cheddar and Havarti cheeses, macaroni and cheese, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and green onion. “Razor’s Edge” is what Goodman calls “an upscale version of a Cuban,” with pulled pork, shaved pit ham, Havarti cheese, honey mustard barbecue sauce, dill pickles, and pickled red onion, served on cheddar jalapeño cornbread. “Pulled pork is a versatile product — you just get such a great flavor and a nice juicy meat,” Goodman said. “We try to offer the classic versions of things for customers, but then also, I like to take classic ingredients and give them new life and use them different ways.” The Flying Elbow is currently averaging about 120 pounds of pulled pork per week. Before starting the food truck business, Goodman spent 11 years in a corporate information technology position.

The Flying Elbow will receive $250 and a Pulled Pork Madness plaque.

See a full list of the 2023 Pulled Pork Madness restaurants that competed in the bracket, HERE. Past winners are Starbeck’s Smokehouse in Cedar Falls (2022); Smokin’ Butt Barbeque in Davenport (2021); Whatcha Smokin’? BBQ + Brew in Luther (2020); Warehouse Barbecue Co. + Brewhouse in Ottumwa (2019); and Moo’s BBQ in Newton (2018).

(Radio Iowa) – Beginng April 1^st (Saturday), state officials may begin terminating Medicaid health care coverage for thousands of Iowans who were enrolled in the program during the pandemic. Since the start of the federal public health emergency in March 2020, anyone who initially qualified stayed enrolled in Medicaid, even if their income later rose above eligibility limits. Elizabeth Matney, the State of Iowa’s Medicaid director, says over the next year, income reviews will lead to what she calls disenrollment in Medicaid. “We’re thinking about 17.6% of the current population will be disenrolled,” Matney says, “so like right around 150,000-160,000 individuals.”

Matney says the state has been sending notices to Medicaid members of the rule change that takes effect April 1st to avoid errors. “We want to avoid that at all costs possible and so that’s why we’re doing all of these additional efforts to make sure that we’re getting in touch with individuals to make sure that they keep coverage if they are eligible,” Matney says.

States have 14 months to review Medicaid eligibility and renew enrollment in the program, but can begin terminating coverage April 1st. More than 880-thousand Iowans are currently enrolled in Medicaid.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Natalie Krebs; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna reports the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will conduct a Public Hearing on the proposed Budget (see the pdf. link below), April 18th at 5:45-p.m., in the Montgomery County Courthouse’ Supervisor’s Meeting Room. During the hearing, any resident or taxpayer may present objections to, or arguments in favor of, any part of the proposed budget. The budget calls for proposed tax rates of 8.14979/$1,000 taxable valuation for Urban Areas, and 12.72979/$1,000 taxable valuation, for Rural Areas.

Proposed Budget Notice

(Radio Iowa) – We’re a dozen days into spring, but winter weather is possible later today (Friday) as a powerful system approaches, threatening to bring severe thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes — and yes, snow. Craig Bargfrede, the winter operations administrator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, says his crews are prepared for just about anything Mother Nature may toss at them. “This is quite unique seeing all the different types of weather — potential impacts — we can see over the next day or so,” Bargfrede says, “it is quite unusual.”

Temperatures may fall from the 70s this afternoon into the 20s and 30s tonight, switching the rain to ice, sleet and snow, but flash flooding is also possible, so D-O-T teams have barricades at the ready in cases roads are washed out. Add to the weather mix the potential for very strong straight-line winds, so some crews will have chainsaws gassed up in case their path is blocked by fallen trees.

“We’re going to be prepared to respond to whether or not we have snow, snowing, icy conditions or whether or not we have other types of conditions or damage out there as a result of the weather,” Bargfrede says. “The guys in the garages are prepared to respond and handle pretty much any situation that we have out there.” Last fall, the agency hired about 370 temporary workers for the winter, but are they still working for the D-O-T now, on March 31st? Absolutely, says Bargfrede, they’re on staff — and on stand-by — for another few weeks.

“They will be on board until April 15th, thereabouts,” Bargfrede says. “October 15th to April 15th is what we consider our winter season, and so those temporary seasonal folks are employed through that time period.” Weather forecasters say today’s storms may be moving at 50 to 60 miles an hour, leaving little time to take cover if a warning is issued. Bargfrede implores Iowans to stay on the ball throughout the day, keeping the radio on and their smartphone weather apps enabled.

“Today is going to be one of those ‘weather wise’ days with a couple of exclamation points behind it,” Bargfrede says. “So, really stress to the public that they need to be weather aware and be prepared for any kind of condition that we could see today.” A Winter Weather Advisory is posted for seven counties across northwest and north-central Iowa, where up to three inches of snow may fall tonight.

Monitor road conditions at 511-i-a-dot-org and keep up with the changing forecast at weather-dot-gov.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – As we turn the calendar from March into April, Griswold District 18 Republican Representative Thomas Moore, Friday, issued a summary of bills that passed this week, and other matters discussed in the Iowa House. Moore said week 12 of the legislative session was the second and final funnel week. Friday March 31st is the final day for bills to pass through committee in order to advance. His higlighted bill of the week was SF228, which as amended, caps the amount each individual plaintiff can recover for non-economic damages in a case of personal injury or death in a civil action at $5 million dollars. Caps shall not apply if the trial court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the negligent act involved the following which are a few of the exceptions:

It also clarifies when an employer can be held liable for negligent hiring. Economic damages (medical costs, loss of wages, etc.) and punitive damages still apply and are not capped. It’s only non-economic damages which are those that can’t be calculated such as: pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional pain, etc. The bill was approved in the Iowa House as written.

Moore said the health and human services committee met Wednesday morning and passed two bills through committee, SF219 and SF326. Moore served on the subcommittee for SF219.

He said SF326 adds Epi pens and contraceptives to the list of allowed pharmacist statewide protocols for those 18-years and older. Moore said also, the education committee met Thursday morning and passed four bills. SF250 changes the date to September 30 of the following year for a recipient of a Computer Science PD Fund grant. SF484 deals with the School Finance Review Committee being approved. SF252 requires the regent institutions to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant persons or those who recently gave birth.

Lastly, Moore said the Medicaid Public Health Emergency is finally set to end.

He said “The law requires states to publish monthly reports on those individuals disenrolled and if they were connected with alternative health insurance. Now, till the end of the year, Iowa will continue to receive some enhanced federal funding as those ineligible members are gradually taken off the program.” Moore reports Iowa Medicaid is prioritizing work on redeterminations for those who have not had a successful renewal completed in the past 12 months.

Also included in his weekly report, Representative Thomas Moore mentioned Adam Bierbaum of the Cass County Corn Growers Association visited the Capitol Wednesday afternoon. He said “We had a great discussion about the Grain Indemnity Fund and the bill from the Senate that scoops money from the Corn Growers Fund. We also discussed the CO2 pipeline bill which has died in the Senate and its effects on Iowa’s farmers.”

Adam Bierbaum & Rep. Moore (photo submitted by Tom Moore) – Click to enlarge