United Group Insurance

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Aug. 13 2020

News

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers across much of Iowa are dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a rare wind storm that turned what was looking like a record corn crop into deep losses. The storm slammed the Midwest with straight line winds of up to 100 miles per hour on Monday, gaining strength as it plowed through Iowa farm fields, flattening corn and bursting grain bins still filled with tens of millions of bushels of last year’s harvest. Similar damage was reported in Indiana and Illinois. Before the storm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had forecast a record national corn crop this year, of which Iowa was expected to provide about 18%.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The impact of a powerful wind storm that tore through the Midwest on Monday is continuing to grow, as hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing power outages for a third straight day. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, residents emptied their refrigerators and freezers as their food spoiled, waited at gas stations for an hour or longer to fill up their cars and gas cans, and worked to clean up fallen trees that were everywhere. Many roads remained impassable and businesses closed. City council member Dale Todd says “it feels like we got kicked in the teeth pretty good,” and that recovery will be slow.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party’s signature annual fundraiser will see a major change next month in the wake of a global coronavirus pandemic. For the first time since it began in 1972, the party’s Steak Fry event will be held as a drive-in. The Steak Fry will be held at the Airplane Field at Des Moines Water Works Park. Attendees will be able to watch the program on a large screen and listen in through the radio. Steak, chicken, and vegan dinners will be delivered directly to attendees’ cars. Social distancing rules will be enforced and face masks will be required when attendees are outside of their vehicles. The event drew more than 12,000 people last year.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 14-year-old boy has died in a personal watercraft collision on Clear Lake in north-central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the collision of the two recreational watercraft happened around noon Tuesday. Officials did not give details on how the crash occurred, but say the teen killed was operating one of the watercraft involved. His name has not yet been released. Investigators say a 12-year-old child operating the second watercraft sustained minor injuries, and a passenger on the second watercraft was not injured.