(Radio Iowa) – Memorial Day weekend may be the unofficial start of summer, but the warm weather will arrive a week late this year. After high temperatures much of this week below normal in the 60s and 70s, meteorologist Dave Cousins, at the National Weather Service in Davenport, says a heat wave will start to roll in on Friday, with a steamy forecast for next week.

“There’s been this pesky storm system here that’s been lingering across the upper Midwest, which is why it’s been kind of cool and showers each day here the last week,” Cousins says. “That’s finally going to move off to the east later today, and as that does that, high pressure is going to build into the area and it will be noticeably warmer even by tomorrow.”

The forecast calls for much of Iowa to see highs Friday in the upper 70s and low 80s, with a gradual increase coming as the month of June nears. “It’s just a little bit warmer each day. Saturday’s in the mid 80s,” Cousins says, “and here in the Quad Cities, we do have 90 in the forecast on Monday and again on Tuesday.”

You may need to make adjustments to stay comfy. (Radio Iowa photo)

Some long-time residents say it’s just not Iowa unless you run both the heater and the air conditioner in your car the same week, sometimes on the same day. Along with the relatively abrupt changes in temperature comes the risk of severe weather, so Cousins reminds Iowans to be “weather aware.”

“There are chances next week for showers and storms nearly every day after Monday,” he says, “so keep an eye out for more active weather next week.” The first day of meteorological summer is June 1st, though the season won’t officially arrive until June 20th.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On May 12, 2025, the Davenport Police Department requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office with an officer-involved shooting in Davenport, Iowa.

At approximately 3:13 a.m., Davenport officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance involving a knife in the 1700 block of Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport. Law enforcement arrived on scene and located two females who were involved in the domestic incident outside of the residence. While officers were outside interviewing the two involved parties, gunshots were heard from inside the residence.

Shortly after hearing the gunshots, Davionce Lackey, a 26-year-old female, exited the back door of the house armed with a handgun. Lackey pointed the firearm in the direction of the involved parties and the officers and fired. The officers returned fire, striking Lackey multiple times.

Officers provided emergency medical care to Lackey, who was later transported to a medical center. Lackey was treated for her injuries and released. The officers and the other two involved parties were not injured during the incident.

Both officers are members of the Davenport Police Department and have been identified as:

Officer Dan Hylton (four-year veteran)

Officer Michael Hogan (four-year veteran)

Both officers remain on critical incident leave pending a review by the Scott County Attorney’s Office. This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, today (Thursday), said a woman from Mount Ayr was arrested Wednesday afternoon on multiple drug charges, following an investigation that led to several search warrants being executed. Authorities say 52-year-old Laura Michelle Vaughn faces charges that include:

• Felony Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used
• Maintaining a Drug House (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 2nd Offense (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor)
  

  Laura Michelle Vaughn (Ringgold CO S/O photo)

Vaughan was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $9,300 cash-only bond. Her arrest stems from a Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office investigation into possible criminal activity four addresses (shown below), AKA “Ramsey Farms,” in rural Ringgold County.

• 2285 270th Ave, Mount Ayr
• 2288 270th Ave, Mount Ayr
• 2289 270th Ave, Mount Ayr
• 2296 270th Ave, Mount Ayr

The properties were suspected as a “drug hub” and hangout for individuals unlawfully using and selling controlled substances. In the last several months, the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of outside law enforcement agencies, compiled a list of individuals and criminal activity supporting the above claims, resulting in an execution of a search warrant at “Ramsey Farms”.

Agencies Involved in the investigation and execution of search warrants, include: The Ringgold, Taylor, Decatur and Union County Sheriff’s Offices; The Creston and Afton Police Departments; Iowa Dept. of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE); Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR); Ringgold County Conservation;, Maryville, MO. PD, and the Multi-Jurisdictional Entry Team (MJET)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), said that at around 11:20-p.m. on May 20th (2025), Sheriff’s Deputies with assistance from the Atlantic Police Department, executed a search warrant at a residence in Atlantic. The warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into suspected drug activity.

As a result of the search, two individuals were taken into custody:

51-year-old Gene Christopher Reed, of Atlantic, was arrested and charged with: Drug Trafficking (5 grams – 100 kilograms of methamphetamine), Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, Gathering Where Controlled Substances Are Used, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Drug Tax Stamp Violations.

61-year-old Brian Joseph Iwersen, of Atlantic, was arrested and charged with: Drug Trafficking (5 grams – 100 kilograms of methamphetamine), Gathering Where Controlled Substances Are Used, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Drug Tax Stamp Violations. Both Reed and Iwersen were transported to the Cass County Jail, where they were booked and held.

Upon further investigation, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office issued additional charges on May 28th, 2025, related to the initial arrests. Iwersen was charged with: Felon in Control of a Firearm, Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, and Theft – 4th Degree. He remains in custody at the Cass County Jail on a $35,000 cash or surety bond.

Reed was charged with: Theft – 4th Degree. He also remains in custody at the Cass County Jail on a $35,000 cash or surety bond.

(Jefferson County, Iowa) – A collision at around 7:35-a.m. today (Thursday) in southeast Iowa, resulted in the death of a teenager. The Iowa State Patrol reports 17-year-old Ava Ford, of Packwood, died, when the 2003 Toyota Camry she was driving, for reasons unknown, crossed the center line of Packwood Road south of Packwood, and collided head-on with a 1999 Dodge RAM pickup. Ford died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 40-year-old Clinton Weaver, of Lancaster, MO., was injured and flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Multiple agencies assisted at the crash site. Ford was a member of the Pekin Community School District class of 2025.

The Pekin Community School District posted the following statement on its Facebook page:

It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the death of Ava Ford, a valued member of our senior class. Ava died early this morning in a car accident.

We know this news will be deeply upsetting, and we want to assure you that our thoughts and condolences are with Ava’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Ava was a passionate, kind and thoughtful student who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Our school counselor will be available in the high school office throughout the rest of the week and next, ready to provide support to any student or community member who may need to talk. We have a grief crisis team available through the AEA that are on standby if needed. We encourage you to urge your child to reach out if they need help.

(Radio Iowa) – Some members of the audience booed or jeered Congresswoman Ashley Hinson during her town hall meeting in Elkader Wednesday when she talked about the administration’s Big Beautiful Bill. Hinson, a Republican from Marion who represents the second district, says it’s part of her job to hold the town halls. “I am continuing with my commitment to be transparent and accessible. That’s something I ran on as a former journalist. I think that’s really important, is being able to get out there,” she says. Hinson spoke on her weekly conference call with reporters and says she was glad to address the concerns of those at the town hall.

“I was able to correct the record and the misinformation that is out there about the bill that we passed last year or last week. President Trump’s one big, beautiful bill,” Hinson says. Hinson was asked why some of her colleagues are not hold as many public events, and she disputed that idea. She says it’s important to continue meeting with constituents. “Being able to go out there and talk about the agenda that Americans voted for and show people how we’re actually executing on that and doing exactly what we said, I think is really important,” Hinson says. “So I would encourage all of my colleagues to get out there and hold public town meetings because I think it does number one, send a message that we are accessible and transparent. And number two, that we are going to tell it like it is and dispel any myths and rumors out there about what we’re working on.”

Hinson says Republicans and the current administration have been more open than the Biden Administration on what their plans are and how they are carrying them out.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released a report on arrests that took place from May 23rd through the 28th:

On May 23rd, 2025, Cass County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested: Justine Danielle Jones, 31, of Harlan, on a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment on possession of controlled substances charges. Jones was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held; Scott Allen Jensen, 54, of Adair, was arrested on charges of OWI-1st offense, and speeding. Jensen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.
On May 24th, 2025: Xavier Anaya, 19, of Atlantic, was arrested in Cass County on the charge of ineligible to carry a weapon. Anaya was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.
On May 25th, 2025: Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Matthew Allen Strong, 30, of Exira, on charges of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Strong was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.
On May 27th: Natalie Olson-Everett, 48, of Lewis, was arrested on charges of child endangerment, child endangerment with bodily injury, interference with official acts, and false report to public entity. Olson-Everett was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.
And authorities say additional charges were levied Wednesday, May 28th, against Brian Joseph Iwersen, 61, of Atlantic, in connection with his May 21st, 2025, arrest. Iwersen was charged with felon in control of firearm, trafficking stolen weapons, and theft 4th degree. Iwersen is currently being held at the Cass County Jail where he has a $35,000 cash or surety bound;
Additional charged were also levied against Gene Christopher Reed, 51, of Atlantic, in connection with his May 21st, 2025, arrest. Reed was charged with theft 4th degree. Reed is currently being held at the Cass County Jail where he has a $35,000 cash or surety bound.

(Radio Iowa) – A two-year moratorium on wind farms in a northwest Iowa county has failed on a tie vote. Dickinson County Supervisor Levi Markwardt proposed the moratorium on new construction.  “I’m not trying to change things that have already been approved,” he said. Another supervisor on the Dickinson County Board joined Markwardt in voting for the moratorium. It failed on a two-to-two vote after the fifth member of the board cited a business conflict and abstained. Supervisor Kim Wermersen of Okoboji voted against the moratorium.

“I support the right of landowners to choose to place them on their property for income,” he said. The other no vote came from Supervisor William Leupold, of Spirit Lake. “Zoning laws, regulations and our wind energy ordinances are in place to determine where those turbines are placed,” he said.

Markwardt, the supervisor who proposed the moratorium, defeated an incumbent last November to win a seat on the board and he says the placement of wind turbines in Dickinson County was a major issue in the race.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Officer reports two people were injured in separate, recent accidents. One of the accidents – a collision involving an SUV and a pickup truck – happened at around 9-a.m. Wednesday (May 28th) at Wagon Road and 252nd Street. Authorities say a 2012 Chevy SUV driven by 39-year-old Jacob Crawford, of Greenfield, was traveling north on Wagon Road. Crawford told a sheriff’s deputy he was tired, and fell asleep at the wheel. His vehicle crossed over the center line of the road, and when he woke up, over-corrected. The SUV came into contact with a 2025 Chevy pickup driven by 61-year-old Keith Fulton, of Panora, as he was traveling south on Wagon Road.

Fulton told authorities he saw the oncoming SUV and took evasive action by veering into the other lane, to avoid a head-on crash. The SUV also veered into the other lane, causing both vehicles to come into contact. Crawford suffered possible/unknown injuries, but was not transported to the hospital. Damage from the accident amounted to $40,000 altogether (both were totaled). Jacob Crawford was cited for Driving on the Wrong-side of the roadway.

The other accident happened at around 1-p.m. on May 16th. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says a 2005 Ford passenger car driven by 71-year-old Rebecca Ann Tannahill, of Bagley, was traveling south on Quail Avenue and failed to stop at the intersection with 160th. The car entered the intersection and went out of control on the gravel roadway. The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled-over into the ditch and back on to the road before coming to rest on Quail Avenue. Tannahill complained of pain and possible injury. She was transported by Panora EMS to the Guthrie County Hospital.

Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $3,500. No citations were issued. The report said Tannahill was driving too fast for conditions when she ran the stop sign.

(Panora, Iowa) – Iowa business owners and community leaders are teaming-up with Midwest Partnership, to offer the first-ever Business Owner Summer Summit (BOSS 2025), a two-day event organizers say is focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing small businesses today: Employee retention. Set for June 5th & 6th (2025) at The Port on Lake Panorama, BOSS 2025 brings together business owners, HR professionals, and community-minded entrepreneurs for two days of expert-led sessions, peer panels, and lakeside networking – all designed to equip small and mid-size businesses with the tools needed to build strong teams, and keep top talent.

Keynote speakers include: ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard; Blue Compass CEO & author of Retain, Drew Harden; Sinikka Waugh, founder of Your Next Clear Step, and Lance Farrell, founder of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping. The event is open to business owners, HR professionals, and organizational leaders from across Iowa. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. Registration and full-schedule details are available at https://bossiowa.com.