Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A rare wind storm with power similar to an inland hurricane swept across the Midwest, blowing over trees, flipping vehicles, causing widespread property damage and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power. The storm known as a derecho lasted several hours as it tore across eastern Nebraska, Iowa and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. A scientist at the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center says the storm had the wind speed of a major hurricane, and likely caused more widespread damage than a normal tornado. Officials in the Iowa cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown say the damage is extensive.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa administrators are pushing ahead with plans to resume some in-person classes and on-campus housing, even as student leaders said those steps were too risky during the coronavirus pandemic. The university said it will not test students who will begin moving into the Iowa City campus in the coming days, unlike the mass testing last week at Iowa State University in Ames. The school has also not finalized metrics for determining whether to shut down face-to-face instruction in the event of an outbreak during the semester. But at a news conference, top administrators touted the safety measures they have put in place and said they looked forward to welcoming students back.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa say a road construction worker has died after becoming pinned under a concrete spreader. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened Monday morning along a segment of U.S. Highway 61 where crews are working on a paving project. Arriving first responders extricated the man from the machine and rushed him to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. Officials have not released the worker’s name, but say he is a 61-year-old resident of Nichols, Iowa. The investigation into his death continues.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The family of a fourth worker who died of coronavirus during an outbreak at Tyson Foods’ largest pork processing plant is suing the company over his death.The lawsuit says Isidro Fernandez of Waterloo, Iowa died April 26 from complications of COVID-19, leaving behind a wife and children. The case was filed last week and is similar to one brought in June by the same lawyers on behalf of the estates of three other deceased Waterloo workers. The lawsuits allege Tyson put employees at risk by downplaying concerns and covering up the outbreak in order to keep them on the job. Tyson says the deaths are tragic but that it vigorously disputes claims fo wrongdoing.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa say a road construction worker has died after becoming pinned under a concrete spreader. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened Monday morning along a segment of U.S. Highway 61 where crews are working on a paving project.

Arriving first responders extricated the man from the machine and rushed him to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. Officials have not released the worker’s name, but say he is a 61-year-old resident of Nichols, Iowa. The investigation into his death continues.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man, 30-year old Joseph Dean White, was sentenced last week to two-years in prison at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Coralville, after he was found guilty in Adair County District Court, to a Felony charge of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury. He must also pay a fine of $625 and a 15% surcharge, both of which were suspended. White was also ordered to pay a $90 Domestic or Sexual Abuse Crimes surcharge, restitution to his victim. His cash-only bond was set at $2,500. White was being held in the Adair County Jail while awaiting space at the Correctional Facility in Coralville.

On August 5th, 41-year old Crystal Marie Mack, of Creston, was arrested in Orient following a non-injury accident in the 2900 block of Henry Wallace Road. Mack was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (A marijuana pipe) and Possession of a controlled substance/1st offense, Marijuana. She was cited and released at the scene.

And, on August 3rd, 27-year old Jesse Patrick Beaman, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Montgomery County Jail, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Parole. Beaman was being held in the jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on drug charges Saturday, of 63-year old Terry Dean Calhoun, from Anita. He was taken into custody on felony charges that include Sponsoring a Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used (D Felony) and Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent Offense (D Felony). Calhoun was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $10,000 bond.

On Friday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 46-year old Christopher Michael Miller, of Griswold, on a felony charge of OWI 3rd/Subsequent Offense. Miller was taken to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and released the following day on his own recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa State University study finds that tearing down abandoned houses may lead nearby homeowners to spruce up their their own properties. Dan Kuhlmann, an I-S-U professor of community and regional planning, says he did extensive research on how the demolition of dilapidated eyesores positively impacted many of the neighbors. “It’s partly an investment. We make maintenance on our homes because we expect our home to retain value if we invest in it,” Kuhlmann says. “When you demolish a structure that you think is dragging down your home prices, I think that also contributes to your decision to maintain.”

The research focused on cities like Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, where the number of abandoned houses steadily rose in the wake of the 2008 recession. Communities across Iowa, too, had pockets of houses sitting empty — and that may still be vacant. “This is a common side effect of the foreclosure crisis we had,” Kuhlmann says. “Some homes are resold and purchased by investors or people who are just not able to take possession quickly. But especially when you had homes that were foreclosed that were lower value and older, sometimes you just couldn’t find a buyer in the heart of the crisis.”

There are often legal issues with tearing down a house as sometimes it’s difficult to determine — or find — the rightful owner. It can also be very expensive to tear down a house, he says, as demolition in Cleveland was running between ten and 15-thousand dollars per house. Kuhlmann notes, revitalizing a neighborhood can’t end with demolition. “Having a vacant lot is better, generally, than having a distressed and abandoned and boarded-up property,” Kuhlmann says. “But if you just have a vacant lot, people will dump there, it’s overgrown and it becomes an eyesore of its own.” Even if a new home can’t be built right away, he says the land could be better used as a community garden, or perhaps an adjoining landowner could care for the property as an extended side yard. The study is being published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Planning Education and Research.