(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters say most of Iowa faces the risk of severe weather late this afternoon and tonight, with hail, high winds, heavy rain and tornadoes all possible, especially for western, northwestern and north-central Iowa. Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service, says after a weekend where parts of Iowa saw more than two inches of rainfall, much more moisture is on the way through tomorrow.

“Isolated pockets across the state could see four inches or more, depending on how some of these storms set up, so we are monitoring the potential with these repeated heavy rain events kind of on back-to-back days,” Hagenhoff says. “There may be some potential for flash flooding as well as maybe some rises on area rivers as well.”

These are the final days of spring, with summer arriving this weekend, and Hagenhoff says the weather is shifting right on schedule. “We’re looking at a return to the 90s as we get towards next week and it’s going to remain muggy,” she says, “so it’s definitely going to feel much more summerlike as we get towards the end of the week.”

Summer officially arrives on Friday at 9:42 pm/Central.

(Radio Iowa) – A new state law will require private insurance policies to cover a range of medically necessary services for Iowans with autism. Representative David Young of Van Meter says private insurers may no longer limit coverage to children, for example. “It prohibits a plan from imposing an aggregate annual or lifetime limit on coverage benefits for autism spectrum disorders,” Young says.

Some policies have limited the number of outpatient visits to medical professionals who diagnose autism in children and adults. That’s now prohibited and there are to be no limits on appointments for treatment with an autism service provider. Representative Adam Zabner of Iowa City says getting rid of these restrictions is a big step. “It’s very important that we ensure that folks with autism receive the care they need all the way through their life,” Zabner said.

HF330 cleared the Iowa legislature unanimously this year. A similar bil won unanimous approval in the Iowa House last year. (RI file photo of Iowa House Chamber)

The bill passed the legislature unanimously and Governor Reynolds signed it last week. The changes go into effect July 1st. Federal officials estimate about eight-thousand Iowa children and 53-thousand adults in Iowa have been diagnosed or are living with an autism spectrum disorder.

(Creston, Iowa) – An incident involving a water bottled resulted in a collision this (Monday) morning, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2016 Ford Mustang driven by a 16-year-old male from Creston, was driving away from a 2008 Chysler PT Cruiser driven by 52-year-old Roberto Mares, of Creston, that was following the Mustang, because a person inside the Ford had tossed a water bottle out the window and struck the Chrysler.

As the Ford entered the Creston Hardees parking lot, the PT Cruiser was following too closely and struck the Mustang on the rear driver’s side, causing minor damage. The accident happened at around 10:40-a.m.

Mares told police there was loose rock where the collision occurred. That was confirmed by Officers at the scene, and by the individuals in the Mustang. A person in the Ford admitted to throwing a water bottle out of the car and hitting Mares’ vehicle, but he said it was accidentally thrown.

Creston Police cited Mares for Careless Driving and Following too close. There were no injuries reported. Damage to the vehicles amounted to a police-estimated $3,000 altogether.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday, of 19-year-old Angelo Palmero, from Bellevue, NE. Palmero was arrested for OWI 1^st offense. He posted a $1,000 bond and was released. 

OMAHA, Neb. — VA Police will conduct an Active Shooter Response Training Exercise at the Shenandoah VA Clinic on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The training exercise will take place between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The exercise is designed to provide the VA’s law enforcement team, and supporting law enforcement and emergency response agencies, an opportunity to train in a safe yet realistic environment.

“Exercises like these ensure that our officers are always ready in case an emergency happens,” said Eileen Kingston, Director of the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. “We’re appreciative of our emergency response partners in the community who help keep our clinic save, and we’re happy to come together with them on this exercise to improve response coordination in case of an active threat.”

During the training exercise, the public may see an increased uniformed law enforcement and emergency response presence at the clinic. This presence is part of the planned training exercise.

Note: Due to the nature of the training, the exercise will not be open to the public.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and former Ag Secretary Patty Judge opened a time capsule last week that was put inside the base of a display of replica steel plow in 2000. The plow display was inside the Wallace Building and the capsule was supposed to be opened in 25 years and they did so during good-bye event for the building. Current and former staff members from the Ag Department and D-N-R who worked in the building for many years were on hand watching as Judge and Naig showed off the contents.

A time capsule inside the base of this plow display was opened by Iowa’s AG Secretary. (RI photo)

“Grain market news, this is markets. Corn in northwest Iowa, Monday, October 16th, 2000. Buck-59, to a buck 66, who likes those prices?,” Naig asked. There were many pamphlets and newspapers from 25 years ago in the capsule. There were some photos and Naig pulled out small tubes containing samples of corn, soybeans and oats.

Naig challenged the audience when he pulled a floppy disc out of the capsule.

Naig said he didn’t know what was on the disc and would have to check with I-T to see if the wanted to open it. Judge said she hadn’t remembered all the things that were put in the capsule 25 years ago. She says she does remember when they opened up the capsule back then to put in new things, that one of the items inside was a half pack of cigarettes. Naig said the Ag Department will come up with some things to put into the capsule to seal it for another 25 years.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests that took place between June 6th and the 15th. On Sunday (June 15), 58-year-old Paula Lucille Hunter, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and False Report to a Public Entity Her bond was set at $300.

Saturday afternoon, 23-year-old Alexis Rose Hoffman, of Independence, MO, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County. She was charged with Possession of Marijuana/1st offense (Bond $1,00).

Just before 1-a.m., Saturday, 44-year-old Tonweya Willow Langille, of Malvern, was arrested by Mills County Deputies in Malvern, for Public Intoxication, Trespass/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts (Bond $600).

Early Thursday morning (June 12), 30-year-old Dakota John Allen, of Hastings, was arrested in Glenwood, for Failure To Appear (Bond $5,000). And, at around 7:40-p.m. on June 9th, 19-year-old Jasmine Ameliana Cadena, of Glenwood, was arrested by Mills County Deputies, for Contempt of Court for Violation of Probation. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says it’s time to change Medicare billing rules so the work of registered nurses in rural Iowa clinics is reimbursed when they help conduct annual “wellness visits.”  “We’ve got kind of a disparity in ‘Rural Health Clinics’ being able to use nurses to help with these annual ‘wellness visits’ that are covered under Medicare,” Hinson says, “and so what we’re just trying to do is allow them to get reimbursed for that.” Hinson says Medicare is paying clinics connected to hospitals for the work of R-Ns do for Medicare patients during yearly wellness check-ups, but not in health care clinics in rural areas where there’s often a shortage of primary care options.

“When you look at these rural clinics, they don’t have the ability to bill in that same way,” Hinson says, “so this will allow them to be a lot more efficient and allow the nurses to utilize their full skills, but also the doctors.” Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is co-sponsoring a bill on the topic with a Democrat from Michigan.

Hinson says their “R-Ns for Rural Health Act” is a commonsense solution that will expand healthcare access, reduce costs, and enhance care in rural areas.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Starting tomorrow (Tuesday), June 17th, and continuing through Thursday, June 19th, law enforcement agencies across Iowa will conduct a statewide Slow Down or Move Over project, with an extra enforcement effort placed on spreading awareness about the Move Over or Slow Down law.

Iowa State Patrol Public Information Officer Ryan Devault says moving into another lane or at the very least slowing down when approaching a vehicle stopped along the side of a highway or interstate, should be common sense. Iowa’s “Move Over” law, also known as the “Move Over or Slow Down” law, requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching a stationary vehicle displaying flashing lights, including emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and certain other vehicles like construction and maintenance vehicles. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to $210, and a potential license suspension.

It’s been a State law since 2002.

(Iowa DNR News) – Iowa woodlands, wildlands and waterways draw hundreds of thousands of tourists and recreational users each year. Much of the spread of invasive species comes from people simply enjoying nature. Uninvited guests can hitch a ride on outdoor gear, shoes and clothes, traveling hundreds of miles in a single day.

Take these easy steps to stop the spread of invasive species in your community.

1. Verify that the plants you buy for your yard or garden are not invasive. Many non-native plants can become invasive. The Forest Invasive Species Guide includes quick ID photos and common management techniques to control 19 invasive trees, shrubs and plants.
2. Look for spongy moth egg masses on all outdoor equipment when traveling from a spongy moth quarantined area.
3. Clean your boots before and after you hike in a new area to avoid spreading seeds. This is a common way garlic mustard and other plants are spread.
4. Do not buy or sell firewood from outside your county. Firewood can contain emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt and many more pests. Plenty of firewood is available locally near state and county parks. Make sure to burn all of the firewood at the campsite and not leave it or transport to a new area.
5. Work with your Private Lands Forester for plans to make your forests more resilient to invasive species.

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Is your newly planted tree thirsty? You may need to water trees planted in the spring or summer one to three times a week in the first few months after planting. Water early in the morning or evening so the tree roots have a chance to absorb most of the water and the sun can’t evaporate it away. Check the moisture level in the soil near the tree’s trunk (four to six inches below the surface) at least once a week, and more often during hot, dry weather. If the soil feels moist or damp you can hold off on watering, if it is dry you need to water your tree. The soil should be moist, but not saturated after watering.

Newly planted trees need regular and consistent watering for optimal growth and health. A gallon of water is equal to about one inch of rainfall.

• Immediately after planting and mulching – 5-15 gallons, depending on container size
• Week 1 – 2 gallons of water per diameter inch of trunk daily
• Week 2 – 2 gallons per diameter inch 4-5 days per week
• Week 3 – 2 gallons per diameter inch 2-3 days per week
• Week 4 and thereafter – 2 gallons per diameter inch once per week

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The popular Trees for Kids grant program is accepting applications through August 22 to plant trees in public areas of communities (park, community center, public school, etc.) this fall. Grantees can be awarded up to $2,500 to purchase trees and mulch. Youth are required to be engaged in the process, most often helping to plant the trees on site.  Studies show trees planted around schools and in neighborhoods give youth increased levels of concentration, lower levels of aggression, lower levels of obesity and fewer symptoms of ADHD.