(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines police made an arrest early this (Friday) morning after a live pipe bomb was found at a public golf course on Thursday afternoon. A golfer spotted something suspicious at Waveland Golf Course and called the police, who quickly evacuated the course. A police bomb squad responded and confirmed it was an improvised explosive device, which the team safely detonated. Just after midnight, a search warrant was served at the Des Moines home of 41-year-old Michael Valento. He wasn’t there but he was captured nearby.

Investigators say there’s evidence Valento detonated another IED at the golf course on July 3rd. He’s now facing multiple felony charges.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Adams County Engineer’s Office reports, beginning Monday, July 14th, a bridge on 150th St between Sycamore and Uban Avenues will be closed for construction. The closure will be in effect for about six months. A detour will be in place. Please plan to use alternate routes and allow for extra travel time.

(Glenwood, Iowa) –  The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday, of a Glenwood man. 30-year-old Austin Parker was taken into custody for Driving While Barred. Parker posted a $2,000 bond, and was released.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The downtown Atlantic City Park is a magical place to celebrate Christmas…in July! Event organizers invite your join them at the farmers market for Christmas in July, featuring festive fun for all ages: Christmas face painting, holiday-themed art with Your Forte, a special visit from Santa, and a performance of Christmas carols by the Cass County Choral Society. Don’t miss this jolly good time at the park!

25+ vendors with fresh produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh onions, local meats (chicken, beef, and lamb), farm-fresh eggs, honey, and  freeze-dried snack. Baked goods such as breads, cupcakes, brownies, and gluten-free desserts, as well as Christmas Cookies including sugar, ginger bread, peanut butter kiss, and hot chocolate cookies. Craft and art products including wood items such as charcuterie boards and cutting boards, upcycled clothing, rocks and crystals, paintings, leatherwork, soaps and other bath and body products, garden decorations, and compost.

Food Trucks: Noble Provisions Grilling Burgers, Zemog’s Mexican Kitchen, Louie’s Shaved Ice, Squeezing Lemons fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Details:

Event: Christmas in July Produce in the Park
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park, 10 W 7th St, Atlantic, IA 50022
Cost to enter: Free

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1VZGKY5Nip/

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says a bill she is working on in the Ag Committee would address some of the concerns with the recent flooding in Texas, and past floods in Iowa. “It’s the restoring America’s Flood Plains Act, and this will help communities proactively reduce the impacts of flooding using tools that already exist.” Ernst says. Ernst says it brings everyone together to work on the problem.

“It ensures farm owners or farmers, land owners and the U-S-D-A can all work together to restore and maintain floodplain easements in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. And that’s at no additional cost to taxpayers. The U-S-D-A would team up with the landowners in restoration activities like removing levees and replanting native species that are critical for reducing the flood risk and improving natural habitat.

“It’s not a mandatory program, it’s all voluntary, but through this bill, we can mitigate flood risk, you know, improve water quality, which is important to Iowans and protect our valuable land,” Ernst says. Ernst says Democrat Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado is co-sponsoring the bill with her.

(Statewide) – Iowa’s utility companies were reported more than 18,670 customers were without power as of 3:45-a.m. Friday, due to the intense storms that made their way across the state. Here’s a closer look at the local numbers:

Customers without power in…

Cass County: Alliant Energy 95; Farmers Electric Cooperative Inc 3.

Audubon County: 3 customers total (2 with MidAmerican, 1 with Western IA Power Coop)

Guthrie County:  Alliant Energy, 201; Guthrie County REC, 83.

Adair County: Alliant Energy, 7; Farmers Electric Coop, 3.

Montgomery County: Southwest REC, 1.

Pottawattamie County: MidAmerican Energy, 122.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she expects rancor from some fellow Republicans over her veto of carbon pipeline regulations will subside by the time the 2026 legislative session begins. Last month, a key G-O-P lawmaker said he no longer trusts the governor’s judgement and vowed to work against and kill every bill Reynolds proposes next year. “There’s just passionate feelings on both sides of this issue,” Reynolds says. “It’s a really difficult issue and how you move forward with it and, you know, time and separation does a lot of good.”

Reynolds says Iowans are tired of the kind of political stalemates they’ve seen in Washington. Reynolds predicts she and Republican legislators will unify around common objectives before the Iowa legislature convenes in January. “Most importantly I think all of us have the same goal and that really is serving Iowans,” Reynolds says, “and making sure we’re being impactful and we’re getting things done.”

After the 2025 legislative session ended, Reynolds indicated she plans to hold meetings around the state to solicit ideas about property tax reform. She’s formed a government efficiency task force to review recommendations. “We’re doing a lot of fact finding right now that will help us when we start to put that puzzle together so we know what that looks like,” Reynolds said. “I need to be a little bit further down the road before I actually get out and start meeting in communities, but that’s my goal next is to have some different options that I can go out and actually have those discussions.”

Reynolds says she hopes to have discussions with the Trump Administration about how to address immigrant labor on farms and food production facilities, but will wait and weigh in once the U-S-D-A releases a specific recommendation. “When you’re trying to talk about change, there are always moving variables and it’s kind of a moving target,” Reynolds says. “And I think they’re just taking input and we’d like to provide some of that input as well.”

U-S Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced this week there would be no amnesty for ag industry workers who entered the country illegally, but Rollins said deportation efforts would be strategic, so the U-S food supply isn’t compromised. Reynolds points to the ag secretary’s remark that it’s up to congress to come up with a permanent fix to the immigration system for industries like agriculture that depend on migrant labor.

“We had an open border for four years. There’s no way that you can bring two parties to the table to even talk about next steps and what that looks like. And the numbers speak for themselves, what we’ve seen since President Trump was sworn in…and made that a number one focus,” Reynolds said. “…As they continue to remove some of the criminals and bad people…it just creates a different environment where you can, I think, have some of those healthy discussions to see what that looks like.”

Reynolds spoke with reporters after the groundbreaking for the new location of the Italian-American Culture Center of Iowa.

(Cotter, Iowa) –  The driver of a vehicle that stopped but failed to yield at an intersection in southeast Iowa, late Thursday morning, died after their vehicle was struck by an oncoming semi tractor-trailer. The accident happened at around 11:50-a.m., about three-miles south of Cotter, in Louisa County.

The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash occurred at the intersection of County Roads G52 and W66.  According to an ISP crash report, a 2011 Chevrolet HHR was heading south on W66 when it stopped at the intersection. The driver pulled out in front of a 2019 Freightliner semi, which was heading west on G52.

The semi struck the driver’s side of the Chevrolet, which came to rest on the south shoulder of the road, west of the intersection. The semi came to rest partially in the southwest ditch of the intersection.

The name of crash victim was being withheld, pending notification of family. The accident remained under investigation.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest was made on July 2nd, in connection to an alleged road rage incident that authorities say took place near Percival on June 25th, at around 4-p.m. that day. According to a press release, the alleged road rage incident involved a commercial motor vehicle on 195th Avenue in rural Percival, that escalated onto Interstate 29 North.https://1drv.ms/v/c/0775cb8fc6ff5513/Ec0pE_WexdlNraZb1Xa26BcBwRct0dDLL3kmrAajkss9Ig?e=JpgaxS

An investigation determined the suspect, 42-year-old Cory Gene Behrens, of Percival, while driving a pickup truck, engaged in a series of escalating actions toward a semi-truck driver on 195th Avenue. Behrens allegedly performed multiple “brake checks,” drove erratically, and stopped his vehicle in the roadway to confront the semi-truck driver, kicking the side of the semi as it drove around him. The confrontation continued onto I-29 North, where authorities say Behrens reportedly swerved at the semi.

Cory Gene Behrens

As the incident progressed, Behrens stopped his vehicle, exited, and, while the semi was traveling at interstate speeds, threw a nearly two-inch steel pickup hitch ball, which penetrated the semi’s front windshield. Dash camera footage aided in identifying the Behrens as the suspect.

Cory Behrens was arrested on charges that include:

• Intimidation with Dangerous Weapon
• Going Armed with Intent
• Criminal Mischief 4th Degree ($300-$750)
• Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury

Behrens was released from custody July 3rd, after posting 10% of an $18,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of Atlantic Rising are inviting the community to light up the night at Glow BINGO, a new fundraising event set for Friday, July 18th at the Elks Lodge, 411 Walnut Street, Atlantic. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with games beginning at 6:30 PM.

The event, open to attendees 21 and older, aims to raise funds for Atlantic Rising’s Christmas Box Program, which provides a holiday meal to families in need throughout Cass County. Last year, the program helped over 140 households enjoy a warm and festive Christmas dinner.

Atlantic Rising’s Christmas Box Program assembly line workers

Atlantic Rising Social Chair Kelsey Beschorner says “For many in our community, the holidays can be a stressful time. This program ensures that everyone can experience the comfort and joy of a holiday meal, and this event is a fun way for people to help make that happen.”

Tickets are $30 per person, which includes bingo cards. Attendees can look forward to cash prizes, a cash bar, and an evening of glowing fun all while supporting a meaningful cause. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Atlantic Rising is a program of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce that connects young professionals and community members through leadership, service, and social events. The Christmas Box Program is one of its signature initiatives, helping ensure local families have a special holiday season.