Thunderstorms rumbled across southern and central Iowa Tuesday, dumping heavy rain and causing damage in some parts of the state. Anywhere from 2.5 to as much as 5.5-inches of rain fell across a wide swath of the State. Flash flooding was reported in Adams County late Tuesday night, where 5.5-inches of rain fell in Corning.

Water was reported to have flowed over roads at around 11:30-p.m. in Corning and Prescott, as well as several gravel roads south of Highway 34. Many rural roads remained closed at mid-day, today (Wednesday). In Taylor County, a small pond in Bedford was filled to overflowing just before 11-p.m. The Weather Service says 4.26-inches of rain fell in Bedford overnight Tuesday into early this morning. A storm spotter in Clarinda reported 2.93-inches of rain fell in that area.  3.02-inches was reported in the Union County community of Lorimor.

Further north rain amounted to 5.3-inches near Panora, while a National Weather Service spotter in Guthrie Center reported 4.15 inches had fallen Tuesday. In both cases, a majority of the heavy rain fell Tuesday evening, in less than two-hours.

Elsewhere across the State, thunderstorm winds gusting up to 65-mph toppled a telephone pole in Ottumwa, along with numerous tree limbs, some of which fell on homes. Winds up to 65mph were also reported in Centerville, causing large tree limbs to snap. In Dallas County, a gravel road was washed out southwest of Granger. Penny-sized hail (3/4” diameter) was reported near Grimes, also.

A lightning strike southeast of Urbandale sparked a fire on a telephone pole.

Police in Creston, Tuesday morning, arrested a man wanted on a Union County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. Officials say 34-year old Walter Hodgkins, of Creston, was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to kidnappings linked to a dispute over drug dealings. The Sioux City Journal reports  that Isaiah Mothershed entered his plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court. He’s charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of willful injury.

Court documents say two people who went to buy marijuana from Mothershed on July 7 were bound and blindfolded by him after he accused them of helping another person steal his pot. The documents say he used a hot object to burn their faces and struck one of them with a shotgun. The documents say Mothershed then forced them into the trunk of his car, but they escaped later when he stopped and left the car to go into a house.

Police in Red Oak arrested two men on assault charges, Tuesday. 36-year old Philip Michael Eshelman, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 4:30-p.m., in the 2400 block of N. Broadway Street, on a warrant for Assault Causing Serious Injury. And, at around 6:55-p.m., 23-year old Cody Dean Johnson, of Red Oak, was arrested on Trespassing and Simple Assault charges. His arrest stems from an incident that  occurred at around 12:30-p.m. Tuesday where Johnson allegedly entered a home without permission, in the 300 block of 1st Avenue, and hit a resident there.

Johnson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond, while Eshelman was being held in the jail without bond.

Two people were arrested Tuesday evening on forgery charges, in Montgomery County. According to Red Oak Police, 31-year old Christopher Ivan Long, of Red Oak, was arrested on 11 Felony counts of Forgery. 33-year old Bobbie Jo Bruce, also of Red Oak, was arrested on three Felony counts of Forgery.

Officials say Long committed acts of Forgery from April 27th until July 11th, while Bruce’s acts dated from June 23rd to July 11th. Each of the Forgery incidents were allegedly committed at the United Farmers Mercantile Cooperative, in Red Oak.

The suspects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, each. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the investigation and arrests.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa says it wants to spend up to $45 million on improvements to Kinnick Stadium and about $85 million on a student-housing project. The university outlined plans for the new projects in a document sent to the Board of Regents. The UI will provide more detail at a regents meeting next week.

The university outlined plans to spend $35 million to $45 million on renovations to the stadium, focused on the north end zone. Improvements would include new suites, restroom upgrades and expanded food options.

The UI also wants to spend about $85 million on a student-housing project near the athletic complex that would be financed through athletic department and dormitory revenue bonds.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has extended a state of disaster emergency through Aug. 30 in response to the bird flu outbreak in the state. The virus has infected more than 31.5 million birds in Iowa, mostly egg-laying chickens, making the state the hardest hit in the nation. Branstad’s declaration activates disaster response programs, allows the use of state supplies and makes other efforts to speed response efforts.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former field hockey coach who was fired at the University of Iowa last year has filed a state civil rights complaint. Tracey Griesbaum’s action is a step toward filing a lawsuit. Her attorney, Tom Newkirk, says he and Griesbaum have exhausted efforts “to get the university to investigate and remedy this without a lawsuit.” Griesbaum has said gender bias under athletics director Gary Barta led to her firing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the federal government expects to pay chicken and turkey farmers $191 million to cover their bird flu losses. That’s in addition to the $400 million spent on cleaning up dead birds and disinfecting barns. The government also is paying to research and stockpile a bird flu vaccine.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A lockdown is still in place at the Iowa State Penitentiary, more than three weeks after a dangerous felon escaped the maximum security lockup in Fort Madison and made it to Illinois. Inmates are mostly confined to their cells and there will be no visitors allowed this coming weekend.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has tentatively identified the man found in the ditch off of River Road North of Council Bluffs, Tuesday, as 52-year old Albert J. Giramonti, of rural Crescent. Giramonti had been reported missing by his wife on Sunday July 26, 2015 at 4:41 p.m.  Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said it appears Giramonti tried to take the curve on the gravel road too fast, lost control and left the roadway, landing in ditch of high grass.

His body was discovered next to his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle, by a County Engineer employee who was mowing in the area. Giramonti’s body will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny Iowa for an autopsy. The matter remains under investigation.

Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body near Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs. According to KETV on Omaha, the scene is along River Road adjacent to the interstate. Investigators say a county roads crew found a man’s body next to a motorcycle in a ditch. The medical examiner was called to the scene; the motorcycle has been towed.