(Radio Iowa) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — during a weekend stop in Iowa — says this is the year for Democrats to be listening to voters.

Walz said “…It’s a rebuilding year, but I think there’s a great opportunity here in this moment, that there’s a void that needs to be filled.” Walz spoke with Radio Iowa before an event in Iowa’s third congressional district, which is represented by Republican Zach Nunn. Hundreds gathered in a Des Moines high school auditorium gave Walz a standing ovation when he arrived for the town-hall-style forum.

People in the crowd shared concerns about the changes President Trump and Elon Musk are making in the federal government.

Walz made a couple of brief references to the 2024 presidential race, but did tell the crowd Democrats need to be less timid.

Walz plans to speak in swing congressional districts where Republicans won narrowly in 2024. He’ll be in Omaha today (Saturday) where Republican Congressman Don Bacon won reelection by a two-point margin. The governor’s travels fuel speculation he may run for president in 2028, but Walz — in an interview — focused on his 2026 decision about running for a third term as Minnesota’s governor.

Walz has been saying there’s not a charismatic leader who’ll sweep in and save the Democratic Party, so it’s up to rank and file Democrats to turn the tide. Walz says the party needs a rebranding and Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the state’s brand of populism are a start.

In a written statement issued during Walz’s appearance in Des Moines, Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Walz has embraced the worst of left-wing policies. Congressman Nunn told Fox News the American people had a great town hall called the election — and Nunn noted his winning margin in November was about 15-thousand votes.

(Linn County, Iowa) – A man traveling in an SUV was critically injured Friday night, when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed near Cedar Rapids. The Iowa State Patrol reports 64-year-old James Henry Wick, III, of Cedar Rapids, was driving a 2011 Jeep Wrangler northbound on I-380 near the U-S Highway 30 overpass, at around 10:15-p.m., when the vehicle drifted-off of the road and into the median.

When the SUV struck a guardrail and began to spin, Wick – who was not wearing a seat belt – was ejected through the roof of the vehicle. He was transported by ambulance to St Luke’s (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics) in Cedar Rapids.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Severe storms that raced across Nebraska and Iowa late Friday afternoon and night pummeled some area with damaging winds and hail. Here in Cass County, the damage reports started coming in at around 5:15-p.m., when a large roof was ripped-off of a shed or outbuilding and landed on 620th Street near Memphis Road, south of Atlantic. Winds at the time gusted to near 70 miles per hour (mph). Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reported 620 was completely blocked by the debris. The road was partially re-opened about an hour later.

A semi was toppled onto its side while on an off-ramp from I-80 westbound at mile marker (mm) 54, in Cass County. Unknown if there were any injures. Another semi was blown-off the road east of Manilla, in Crawford County. The driver was said to have been okay. And, an empty cattle hauling tractor-trailer was blown-over near Lytton, in Calhoun County.

In Adair, an Iowa Department of Transportation hoop-style building used to store sand and salt was ripped to shreds. A large plastic, empty water storage container was tossed into the air and landed near the business.

Guthrie Center, IA (Photo via the Iowa Storm Chasing Network’s Facebook page)

In Guthrie Center, the roofs of some buildings in the downtown area were torn-off by severe thunderstorm winds. A large tree was blown over onto a house near the Des Moines International Airport, Friday evening. Power poles were snapped-off in Carroll County, near Maple River.

In Montgomery County, firefighters from Red Oak, Grant and Elliott were dispatched just before 5-p.m., Friday, to the 1500 block of M Avenue, for a report of downed powerlines and a ditch fire that was spreading quickly due to the storm winds. Fire crews were able to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to some near by structures. MidAmerican Utilities responded to the scene to restore the powerlines. No injuries were reported.

Red Oak FD Facebook page photo

Scattered incidents of hail ranging in size from small marbles to as big as ping-pong balls, were reported as well. Quarter-size hail was reported to have fallen in or near Brayton. Ping-pong ball-size hail occurred in Adair and near Ames.

You can view the full storm incident and damage reports through links to the Omaha and Des Moines National Weather Service Offices, on the “Severe Storm report” story on the Weather page at kjan.com.   (Here are some photo’s we’ve received):

IA DOT hoop bldg in Adair (Photo courtesy Terry Nichols in Adair)

620th S. of Memphis Rd. Cass County, IA (Mike Kennon photo, Cass Co EMA)

Near Manilla (From our sister station KDSN)

HARLAN, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday evening, updated information pertaining to an officer-involved shooting that took place March 6, 2025, in Harlan.  Authorities say that at approximately 4:30 a.m. on March 6th, Shelby County Sheriff Deputies responded to a welfare check near the 1800 block of College Place in Harlan. When law enforcement arrived, they encountered a male, later identified as David Plagmann (age 36), holding a rifle. Law enforcement attempted to deescalate the situation by negotiating with Plagmann for approximately 30 minutes.

During that negotiation, Plagmann pointed the rifle towards a Deputy, and was subsequently shot by law enforcement. Deputies and EMS immediately performed life-saving measures to Plagmann.  Plagmann was transported to nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

While processing the scene, law enforcement subsequently located a deceased female, later identified as Alexis Martin (age 31). Current evidence suggests Plagmann was responsible for the death of Martin.

The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as Captain Chad Butler.  Captain Butler is a 25-year veteran of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

This is an ongoing criminal investigation, and no further details are being released at this time.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the DCI’s investigative findings will be reviewed by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Soybean Association held its annual farmer roundtable in Sioux City Thursday.  Association president Brent Swart of Spencer says tariffs are the key topic of discussion.

He says they learned from the last time the tariffs were put on China in 2018.

He says trade wars with Canada and Mexico are also a concern, as is the impact of bird flu.

Swart says they also have concerns about getting a new farm bill passed in Congress.

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Friday) authorized a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County, Iowa effective immediately through April 13, 2025. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial pullets.

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Marshalltown woman pleaded guilty yesterday (Thursday) to diverting controlled substances for her own use and falsely noting the administration of a controlled substance in a patient record.

According to public court documents, 37-year-old Amanda Nicole Manatt was employed as a registered nurse at a hospital in Marshall County in 2023 and at a hospital in Story County in 2024. While working as a nurse at each hospital, Manatt obtained controlled substances intended for patient use. Manatt took the controlled substances, including fentanyl and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), for her own use. Manatt also falsely documented the administration of a controlled substance in a patient record.

Manatt is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2025, and faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (DIA/MFCU), the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau investigated this case.

(Radio Iowa) – Two men are facing charges in Kossuth County after investigators found a car linked to a scam in Hamilton County that cost a man 10-thousand dollars. Pat Powers reports.

(as said) – The driver identified as Eddie Benitez. Abrias was arrested for first-degree theft. Abreas had three cell phones in his possession, one of which he’ll have the address of the victim in Hamilton County saved in its maps app. Another individual, Carlos Guzman, of Fort Dodge, was determined to be involved, and arrest warrant for theft was issued by Kosuth County. Both Abrias and Guzman were also charged with impersonation of a public official.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously voted to set new training standards for people who recycle the batteries from electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles that can run on battery power or gasoline. Representative Chad Behn of Boone says under the bill, the Iowa D-O-T would approve a training program and issue certificates to those who complete it.

Rep. Chad Behn (R-Boone) (official photo)

Over 14-thousad-500 electric vehicles were licensed in Iowa by the end of last year. Experts say E-V batteries typically last between eight to 12 years before they must be replaced. When high voltage batteries are removed from vehicles, any remaining charge in the battery is drained, then it’s shredded into a black powder. That powder contains valuable minerals that can be used to make more batteries.

Twenty states already have laws on E-V battery recycling.

(Radio Iowa) – Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz is scheduled to appear at a town hall event in Des Moines at 3 o’clock this (Friday) afternoon. Walz posted on social media: “If your Republican representative won’t meet with you because their agenda is so unpopular, maybe a Democrat will.” Second District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she’s not ducking the G-O-P agenda — or her Iowa constituents.

“I spent all day out in the district yesterday, and I have a record of doing town halls,” Hinson says. “I have already been public that I’m scheduling those right now, and anyone who wants to come to my future town hall meetings that I will be doing can do so by subscribing to our newsletter.” Reports say the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee warned vulnerable Republicans not to hold in-person town hall events after several viral instances where they were scolded by the members of the public. Hinson suggests she has nothing from which to hide.

“I gotta’ say I love that Tim Walz is leaving his budget deficit in Minnesota to come to Iowa to learn how we balance budgets here, because I think he’s taken Minnesota in the wrong direction,” Hinson says. “I’m certainly glad he’s not the vice president, and I’m glad to see that we are actually starting to move this country in the right direction.” Leaders of the Iowa Democratic Party are quoted as saying the Walz event in Iowa is sold out.