(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed legislation to provide paid family leave to new parents who work in state government. Women who work in state government get four weeks of paid leave after giving birth and a state employee whose spouse or partner gives birth get one week of family leave. The same family leave policy will apply to state employees who adopt a child. Governor Reynolds says giving state employees time away from work to focus on their newborns is part of making Iowa a pro-family state. The proposal has been among the governor’s priority bills in the past three years. It won nearly unanimous support from the House and Senate this spring.

Gov. Reynolds signs the families first bill (5-27-25)

Reynolds has until June 14th to take action on all the bills that passed the 2025 Iowa legislature. She’s recently approved a new graduation requirement for Iowa high schoolers. They’ll have to pass the same test immigrants must pass in order to become U-S citizens. Another bill signed by the governor yesterday (Tuesday) forbids community colleges as well as Iowa counties and cities from having diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

(Radio Iowa) – Two years ago today (Wednesday), an apartment building in downtown Davenport partly collapsed, killing three residents and injuring several, though an investigation into the cause of the collapse still hasn’t been made public. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation report on the incident was completed in April of 2024, but it remains sealed. Davenport resident Ezra Sidran, a retired University of Iowa computer science professor, says the city may have played a role in the collapse.

“I and others have filed FOIAs with the Department of Public Safety for the DCI report, and we are hoping to get it this week,” Sidran says. “And I think that if we do get that DCI report, the city’s culpability will be pretty obvious.” Generally, the Department of Public Safety has ten days to respond to a Freedom of Information Act Request. The Iowa Public Information Board ruled that it is up to the Department of Public Safety whether to release the report.

File photo by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio

Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham refused to release the report, citing confidentiality concerns and what she said were threats to the building’s owner, Andrew Wold (WALD). Sidran says Wold has left the state.  “Mr. Wold has changed his name to Andrew Langel, has fled to Florida, has sold five million dollars worth of his property and is clearly not in any danger,” Sidran says, “so there’s no reason why this report should not be public.”

To date, no criminal charges have been filed against Wold or his companies.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa-born actor who first won international fame for his 2006 role as the Man of Steel in “Superman Returns” is returning to his home state this weekend. Norwalk native Brandon Routh tops the list of headliners for the fourth annual Des Moines Con, what event founder Ben Penrod describes as a pop culture festival, celebrating comics, cosplay, TV, film, gaming, and anime. “Des Moines Con is something like a nerdy flea market featuring celebrities and discussion panels and workshops and costume contests,” Penrod says. “If you’re in downtown Des Moines at some point this weekend, you might see some folks wearing some crazy costumes, dressed like superheroes or cartoon characters.”

While many convention attendees will be clad in detailed, sophisticated costumes, many others will just be in plain clothes, while hoping to catch a glimpse — and a photo — of famed figures from comic books and movies. Penrod reminds, follow the rules of comicon etiquette. “Most cosplayers are there because they want people to take photos of them, so it’s usually fine, but we just say, you know, make sure you ask permission first,” Penrod says. “As far as the celebrities who come, those guys do typically charge and they they’ll have a price list.” He says it’s a thrill to be bringing a global star back to central Iowa. “Brandon Routh has been getting a ton of love on our social media,” Penrod says. “I think people are so excited to see him back in Des Moines.”

One new event this year is a concert on Saturday night that will feature Epic Rap Battles of History, the celebrated California rap group, though Penrod says it’s the T-V and movie celebrities that will likely be the most popular draws. “Between Brandon Routh, Charlie Cox (of Daredevil), Mike Colter (of Luke Cage), and Neil Newbon from Baldur’s Gate Three, I think those guys are kind of the big heavy hitters for this year,” Penrod says, “but we’ve got some really good cast reunions that I think maybe don’t get the same attention, but they’re also just as big of a deal if you’re a really big fan.”

The cast reunions include five of the original voice actors from Overwatch, and multiple cast members from Demon Slayer, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and others. Events run Friday through Sunday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) – The first of 24 community send-off ceremonies for some 18-hundred Iowa National Guard soldiers who are deploying to the Middle East starts today (Wednesday). Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn says the reality of joining any branch of service right now is that you’re going to deploy at some point. Major General Osborn says recruits know from the very beginning what is expected. Osborn says today’s soldiers are more up to date on what’s happening as they want to know. and want to understand what they’re training for, why they’re training.

Locally, sendoffs set for today (Wednesday) include those in:

Carroll (168 IN A Co) 4:00 PM – Carroll High School Stadium**, 90 troops deploying  (Change from earlier announcement!)
Red Oak (334 BSB H Co) 4:00 PM – Red Oak Armory, 60 troops deploying.

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The full schedule includes, today:

Boone (Brigade Headquarters) 3:00 PM – Boone Speedway, 92 troops deploying
Camp Dodge (113 CAV A & B Co) 3:00 PM – Pool Pavilion 113 troops deploying
Le Mars (113 CAV C Co) 3:00 PM – Le Mars High School, 45 troops deploying
Sioux City (113 CAV HHT & D Co) 3:00 PM – Bishop Heelan High School, 84 troops deploying
Dubuque (133 IN A Co) 5:45 PM – Dubuque Armory, 67 troops deploying
Iowa City (133 IN B Co) 5:30 PM – Melrose Readiness Center, 103 troops deploying
Iowa Falls (133 IN C Co) 5:00 PM – Iowa Falls Armory, 86 troops deploying
Davenport (133 IN D Co) 3:30 PM – Davenport Armory, 60 troops deploying
Waterloo (133 IN HHC & G Co) 6:00 PM – Cedar Falls High School, 218 troops deploying
Carroll (168 IN A Co) 4:00 PM – Denison High School, 90 troops deploying
West Des Moines (168 IN B & C Co) 4:30 PM – West Des Moines Readiness Center, 214 troops deploying
Council Bluffs (168 IN HHC & D Co) 4:00 PM – MidAmerican Center, 178 troops deploying
Red Oak (334 BSB H Co) 4:00 PM – Red Oak Armory, 60 troops deploying

Sendoffs on Thursday, May 29:
Estherville (194 FA A Co & Det 1) 1:00 PM – Estherville Armory, 76 troops deploying
Camp Dodge (194 FA B Co & Det 4) 1:00 PM – Pool Pavilion 64 troops deploying
Fort Dodge (194 FA HHB, D2, & F Co) 1:00 PM – Fort Dodge Armory, 81 troops deploying
Mount Pleasant (224 BEB A Co) 2:30 PM – Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana, 46 troops deploying
Cedar Rapids (224 BEB C Co) 2:00 PM – Cedar Rapids Armory, 9 troops deploying
Johnston (224 BEB D Co) 2:30 PM – Joint Force Headquarters’ Motorpool, 9 troops deploying
Davenport (224 BEB HHC, B & E Co) 2:30 PM – Mississippi Fairgrounds Speedway, 101 troops deploying
Sendoffs for Friday, May 30th:
Camp Dodge (334 BSB C Co) 5:00 PM – Freedom Center, 16 troops deploying
Cedar Rapids (334 BSB HHC, A & B Co) 5:00 PM – Cedar Rapids Armory, 105 troops deploying

(Radio Iowa) – Wet weather in the past week stalled planting progress for Iowa farmers.  The U-S-D-A weekly report shows corn planting increased by only four percent to 95 percent complete. It is still six days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. Bean planting increased from 84 to 92 percent complete. That’s more than two weeks ahead of last year and eight days ahead of average.

Seventy-six percent of the corn has emerged, and 83 percent is rated in good to excellent condition. Sixty-percent of soybeans have emerged and 80 percent are rated in good to excellent condition.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI-TV] — The National Weather Service has determined that a third tornado formed in Iowa back on April 17th. The tornado, rated an EF1, touched down in southwestern Union County near the intersection of 270th Street and Beechwood Avenue around 10:21 pm.

The NWS survey shows it traveled more than four miles east-northeast, damaging multiple sheds and one home over the next seven minutes. The tornado lifted about eight miles straight south of Creston around 10:28 pm. The tornado followed two others in far southwest Iowa earlier in the evening, including one that measured over a mile wide in Fremont & Page counties.

So far, just four tornadoes have struck Iowa in 2025. More than 90 had formed in the state at this point last year.

(Radio Iowa) – A free series of outdoor concerts has been held on the Iowa Capitol grounds for nearly eight decades, but this summer’s concerts will be staged elsewhere. A new state rule prohibits organizations from holding more than one event per year at the Capitol. Dan Stevenson, executive director of the Des Moines Metro Concert Band, says they’ve found other venues for this summer’s “Music Under the Stars” events.

“We just kind of are focusing on this year and we’ll see what happens going forward,” he said. “Our job is to serve our listeners and serve Iowans.” All four of the band’s concerts on Sundays in June will be held on the lawn of Hoyt Sherman Place, a Des Moines theater that opened in 1923. The band’s fifth and final summer concert will be held in Waterworks Park in Des Moines.

The municipal band for Iowa’s Capital City was chartered 78 years ago and William Beardsley, who was Iowa’s governor at the time, gave the band permission to perform on the west side of the Capitol. Stevenson, the band’s current executive director, has played clarinet in the band for years. “A tradition like this belongs to the people of Iowa,” Stevenson says, “and that’s what we’re going to keep in mind going forward.”

The musicians in the Des Moines Metro Concert Band come from all over the state, including some who have played in symphony orchestras in other cities. Iowa’s tradition of town bands is linked to famous composers like Meredith Willson of Mason City and Karl L. King. King moved to Fort Dodge in 1920 to lead the city’s Municipal Band and was the band’s conductor until his death 50 years later.

SIGOURNEY, Iowa (KCRG-TV) – Fire officials said two people were killed in a house fire in Sigourney, Monday. The fire occurred Monday afternoon at a home on Highway 149 just south of Sigourney. Firefighters said there were reports of people inside the home and crews tried enter the residence, but couldn’t, because the fire was too intense.

Several departments were called to the scene. After the fire was put out, crews found two people dead inside the home. The victims named have not been released at this time. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victims,” Sigourney Fire Chief Bill Halleran said.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation by the state fire marshal.

ELDORA, Iowa [KCCI-TV] – Two people are now facing criminal charges more than a year after a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed in Eldora. Keeley Baer died April 14, 2024, after she was shot by a 12-year-old boy. Hardin County authorities at the time told KCCI the boy was taken into custody and the matter was being handled in juvenile court.

The boy obtained a pistol and shot Baer, which investigators say was accidental and the two children were friends. Now, two adults are facing charges connected to the fatal shooting. James Charles Ainsco, 42, and Robin Louise Raper, 35, were both taken into custody in Hardin County and are being held at the county jail.

Both Ainsco and Raper are listed as a “parent, guardian, or person having custody or control over a child” in court documents. Criminal complaints allege they knowingly left a loaded and unsecured firearm accessible in the home.

They are each charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment causing death and making firearms available to a minor.