(Updated 3:40-p.m.)
COLO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two men are recovering after being struck by lightning near a central Iowa golf course. Story County Sheriff’s deputies tell Des Moines television station KCCI that the men were in the Twin Anchors Golf Course parking lot near Colo on Friday afternoon when they were struck by lightning.

One man, who is in his 20s, was unresponsive but breathing when he was taken to an Ames hospital. The other man, who is in his 40s, was conscious and alert when he was taken to a Nevada hospital.

Both men had been released from the hospital by Saturday. The younger man says he has nerve damage and loss of hearing in one of his ears from the incident.

EVERLY, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials in northwestern Iowa are investigating the death of a South Dakota woman whose body was found in a camper. The Sioux City Journal reports that Clay County sheriff’s deputies were called to a rural area near Everly late Thursday night for reports of an unresponsive woman.

Arriving deputies found 30-year-old Casey Blaine Eleeson, of Huron, South Dakota, dead in the camper. Investigators say her death is suspicious. A 43-year-old man from Spencer, Iowa, at the scene was arrested after deputies say he was found with methamphetamine and marijuana on him.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A project being funded by Microsoft and federal grants will provide free internet to the Valley Junction area of West Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that the three-year pilot project will provide free Wi-Fi to area students, businesses and residents.

The project is expected to launch in October. As part of the project, T-Mobile will also be providing portable wireless devices known as Mi-Fis to about 200 low-income students from Hillside Elementary over the next two years.

Project Consultant Dave Lyons says those students and their families are the heart of the public-private partnership. Lyons says the free public Wi-Fi aims to open up internet access, not replace existing services for families and businesses.

A federal development block grant was used for the project.

Iowa ranks among the top third on a list of best states in which to retire, according to a new report from the personal finance website Bankrate.com. Analyst Taylor Tepper says Iowa placed 16th overall on the report based on seven main criteria, including things like cost of living, crime, culture, health care and weather.

“Iowa did very well — its best category was cost of living, which is obviously very important for seniors who are living on a fixed income,” Tepper says. “It finished #11 and that really propelled it up towards the rankings. Health care quality, Iowa finished #12.”

The Hawkeye State landed relatively high on the report thanks to its good placement in key categories which are important to retirees, things like health care costs and crime. “You’re going to spend some $280,000, a couple will — when they turn 65, throughout their retirement on health care, so you want to make sure those dollars are going toward better outcomes,” Tepper says. “On crime, Iowa’s a relatively safe place to live.”

There were only a few areas where Tepper sees room for Iowa to make improvements. “The main places where it didn’t do particularly well were weather and taxes,” Tepper says. “Weather, Iowa was 33rd, taxes it was 40th. Higher taxes put a bigger burden on retirees who are living on those fixed incomes.”

South Dakota ranked as the best state in which to retire, followed by Utah, Idaho, New Hampshire and Florida. New York placed last on the list, just below New Mexico, Maryland, Louisiana and Arkansas.

https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-and-worst-states-for-retirement/

(Radio Iowa)

The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration was in Iowa Friday for a roundtable discussion with women business owners. The Iowans told Linda McMahon they’ve purchased new equipment, increased advertising and one plans to reinstate her company’s bonus program because of federal tax cuts. A report released Thursday shows no overall growth in hourly wages in June of this year compared to June of last year. McMahon says she doesn’t dispute that statistic, but it doesn’t match what she’s hearing.

“Most of the businesses that I talk to around the country, I am constantly hearing that: ‘We are increasing our wages,'” McMahon says. “I mean, we heard today there are more 401K contributions not only from the company, but from the employees.” She says other factors point to a “really healthy” economy where wages will start to rise.

“We will see competition in the marketplace for workers and wages will go up as a result of the supply and demand issue…because there are fewer employees out there looking for work,” McMahon says.

A woman who owns a business in Pella told McMahon she’s hiring people from Missouri and Minnesota who keep their homes there, but commute for the work-week. McMahon says encouraging internships and especially apprenticeships will help Iowa students and Iowa businesses fill jobs here. McMahon has visited 40 states since she took over as the leader of the Small Business Administration in early 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa charity is seeking donations to provide new, fully-stocked backpacks to children in the foster care system. Families Helping Families of Iowa says donations are being collected through July 23 at places around Cedar Rapids. Those places include two Bankers Trust locations, Capri College, the Junior League, Nadia’s Salon, and United Fire Group, as well as the Families Helping Families office.

An array of school supplies are being sought, from backpacks to pencils and pen and notebooks. A full list of needs can be found at http://www.familieshelpingfamiliesofiowa.org/programs/school-supplies/ .
The backpacks will be handed out to around 400 children on Aug. 4 at the Families Helping Families office in Cedar Rapids. The group’s Back to School Rally will also hand out free ice cream and vouchers for shoes and haircuts.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol is reminding motorists that the state’s year-old law against texting and driving doesn’t just apply to vehicles that are in motion. Sergeant Nate Ludwig says it’s also illegal for a driver to text when they’re waiting at a stop sign. Ludwig says it can be frustrating for other drivers who are playing by the rules.

“It creates a little bit of a road rage between motorists,” Ludwig says. “You’re at a stop sign and maybe tap that horn…you know, usually, people will put their phone down because they realize, ‘oh yeah, somebody’s watching me while I’m on my phone – that’s probably not real safe.'”

The Iowa State Patrol recently reported, over the first year of the stricter texting-while-driving law, Troopers issued 1,131 citations to motorists. The violation can cost a person over $100. Ludwig says the State Patrol, at times, has placed Troopers in unmarked cars to catch unsuspected motorists who are texting behind the wheel.

“I know other states, like the Tennessee State Patrol, have utilized commercial motor vehicles – big semis traveling down the road, because those guys sit up high and 9 times out of 10 they’re getting passed on the interstate by other vehicles going by ’em and it’s alarming to see the number of people who are using their phone on the road,” Ludwig says.

The law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, police could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for ANOTHER offense.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say no charges will be filed against a business owner who shot and killed a suspected burglar outside his business in southern Des Moines. Des Moines police said Friday that 67-year-old Thomas Kraft encountered 37-year-old Amund Benjamin Haarstad, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, stealing items from the shop on Wednesday and fired a gun into the ground after Haarstad threatened him. Police say the bullet ricocheted and hit Haarstad in the head.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A termination letter shows that a member of the Iowa State Patrol was fired this month because of “intimidating, threatening and unwelcome” interactions with colleagues. The patrol fired Des Moines-based trooper Wade Karp on July 3 after a 10-month paid administrative leave. The agency had refused to explain the reason for the termination, saying only he violated department rules. The patrol reversed course and released a redacted copy of Karp’s two-page termination letter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A unique memorial service set for 5-year-old Garrett Matthias of central Iowa is matched only by the one-of-a-kind obituary the preschooler had a hand in authoring and that is now garnering national attention. The Des Moines Register reports that Garrett died July 6 of a rare cancer that attacked his temporal bone and cranial nerve. But his funny take on life and death in his obituary _ signed “See ya’ later, suckas! – The Great Garrett Underpants” _ that’s getting smiles.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray was remembered at his funeral as a public servant and humanitarian. Family, friends and Iowa leaders gathered Friday for Ray’s funeral at the First Christian Church in Des Moines.