(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters say heavy showers are likely this (Friday) afternoon and evening for western and central Iowa, but it would take many more rains to make a dent in the long-running — and worsening — drought. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the new drought maps released late this week show drought conditions widening and getting more severe, especially across Iowa’s northern half.

“We’ve had drought expand across the state, especially the D-3 category, which is extreme drought,” Glisan says. “Looking at the previous maps, this is the largest extent that we’ve seen across northern Iowa since the early part of April in 2013.” The new climate outlook was issued for the region on Thursday and Glisan says it holds no obvious signs for what’s to come in the long-term.

“We have an equal chance of above, below or near-average temperature and precipitation behavior in the month of September,” Glisan says. “Then looking at meteorological fall — September, October, November — we do see elevated chances of warmer temperatures but again no clear signal for the precipitation side.” Fall will arrive in about a month, September 22nd, and Glisan says it’s a toss-up as to what the season ahead may hold.

“We do have a pretty good chance of moving back into a La Nina phase of the El Nino southern oscillation which impacts the jetstream over the United States,” Glisan says. “If we look at analog years in which La Nina has returned to the state, we don’t get a clear signal on precipitation behavior.”

The map shows at least parts of 22 Iowa counties are now in extreme drought, which covers more than ten percent of the state, up from around seven-percent last week. Fifty-five percent of the state is now in some level of drought, while almost 79-percent of Iowa ranges from abnormally dry to extreme drought. Only a few counties in southwest Iowa and most of the southern two tiers of counties are untouched by the dry weather.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – A western Iowa man was sentenced Thursday to 150 months in prison, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to Drug Trafficking. Authorities say the term of imprisonment for 36-year-old Dale Lee Waldroupe will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Waldroupe pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine and firearm offenses in March of 2021.

In November 2020, Waldroupe was involved in a car accident in Council Bluffs and prior to law enforcement’s arrival he fled the scene. Waldroupe was located by law enforcement a short distance from the accident and officers discovered Waldroupe possessed fifty grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and a stolen firearm.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case

Ames police said Friday (Today), a man has been charged with first-degree murder after a female was found dead in an apartment Thursday. According to police, officers conducted a welfare check at an apartment at 5308 Mortensen Road at 6:10 p.m. Thursday. Officers found the body of the woman inside.

“Based on the initial investigation, it appeared the deceased died as a result of a homicide. The deceased was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family,” police said in a news release.

Ames police investigators and officers with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation identified the suspect as 26-year-old Oscar Chavez, of Ames. Ames police said Chaves was stopped more than 80 miles away by Sac County Sheriff’s deputies near Auburn, Iowa at 11:55 p.m. Thursday. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5133 or the anonymous tip line at 515-239-5533. You may also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400. Online anonymous tips may be submitted to www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.co

Adair County Elections Deputy Joshua Nelson reminds area voters that Monday, August 23, 2021, is the first day to file nomination papers with the Adair County Auditor to run for Mayor, City Council, or School Board. Candidate filing deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, 2021. The City/School Election will be Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 18, 2021. You may file an absentee ballot request with the Adair County Auditor’s office at any time. The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 18, 2021. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, November 1, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Prosecutors say the Des Moines man facing charges over his participation in the January 6th U.S. Capitol riot has violated the terms of his pre-trial release and should be returned to jail.
Court documents say Doug Jensen agreed not to access the Internet, but was found in his garage on an iPhone, watching videos on Rumble. That’s an online platform some Trump backers use instead of YouTube. After first claiming it was his daughter’s phone, Jensen then admitted he’d been watching a two-day event organized to review claims that President Trump won the election. In July, Jensen told the court he’d been fed a pack of lies about the election and had been duped into believing Trump won. Prosecutors say his online viewing this month shows that was all an act.

Iowa’s unemployment rate rose slightly to four-point-one percent in July.
That rate is up from four percent in June and the increase is due in part to the number of people looking for work increasing. Iowa Workforce Development says the labor force participation rate increased to 66-point-nine percent compared to 66-point-six percent in June. A statement from the director of Iowa Workforce Development says “Iowans are re-entering the labor force in increasing numbers, and this shows that we continue to move in the right direction.” The unemployment rate was six-point-one-percent one year ago.

Monogram Food Solutions increases capacity in Denison
Starting from the purchase of two refrigerated processed meat brands from Sara Lee Corporation, Monogram Food Solutions has become one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of value-added snack meats and other foods. The company acquired the Quality Food Processors plant in Denison and plans to modify the facility to incorporate new manufacturing lines. The $13.9 million capital investment project was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 125 jobs at a qualifying wage of $18.51 per hour.

On August 14, 2021, Adams County deputies arrested Brandon Anthony Clayton, 35, of Corning, IA on charges of OWI 3rd, Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
No Bond- Held Pending Appearance Before Magistrate

On August 15, 2021, Adams County deputies recieved a call of a roll over accident with no injuries at approximately 10:30 pm. Upon further investigation, deputies arrested Stephen Waisner, 52, of Lawrence , KS on a charge of OWI. Waisner posted bond and was released.

On August 19, 2021 Adams County deputies arrested Dale Wayne Roberts, 30, of Corning, IA on a charge of Simple Assault
Bond was set at $300

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague (TEEG) has declared a civil emergency and is ordering face coverings be worn in public places, challenging the new state law that largely forbids the move. Teague says his mask mandate is necessary to protect citizens in a new phase in the pandemic.
“The Delta variant has reached our community,” Teague says, “and as the numbers of positive cases continue to grow, we are also faced with with an influx of students arriving in our community from around the world as well as the beginning of a new school year for our local youth.” The mayor says vaccines are the most effective measure one can take against the virus.
“We also know that masks are the next line of defense,” Teague says. Teague’s order includes the University of Iowa campus and Iowa City schools. A spokesperson for Governor Reynolds says the order violates the new state law that bans mask mandates in school settings. The law also bars local city and county officials from mask mandates in private businesses, but local officials can require masking on city or county property. Teague says as mayor, he has the power to act when a public danger exists.
“Positive cases of the virus continue at an alarming rate in Johnson County,” Teague says. “…August may bring the return to the city of thousands of students to attend the University of Iowa, further increasing the risk of spread of the virus.” Iowa is one of six states with bans on mask mandates in schools. Yesterday (Thursday), however, the Texas Department of Education announced that due to court challenges, it was dropping enforcement of Governor Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in Texas schools.