(Radio Iowa) – The latest Drought Monitor report for Iowa is dramatically different than it was one year ago. One year ago 100 percent of Iowa was either in drought or abnormally dry conditions. The latest Drought Monitor map shows just Scott County and a small part of Clinton County now show abnormally dry conditions. That amounts to less than one percent of the state.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the last time Iowa had no abnormally dry areas was in early May of 2020. The state has been free of actual drought conditions since late May of this year – which stopped four-years of drought conditions.

(Radio Iowa) – A Dickinson County Jury has found Kyle Lou Ricke guilty in the shooting death of Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram in September of 2023. Judge Nancy Whittenburg read the verdict just before noon.

The jury received the case around 10:30 A-M and deliberated for roughly an hour before returning the verdict. The trial began Monday with jury selection, there was testimony on Tuesday and closing arguments Wednesday. The defense did dispute that Ricke shot Officer Cram, but claimed the act was not premeditated, and did not call any witnesses. The prosecution said Ricke executed Cram, who came to arrest Ricke for a misdemeanor charge of harassment from Palo Alto County. The trial was moved from Kossuth county due to concerns about finding an impartial jury due to pre-trial publicity. A sentencing date will be set later. The mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Iowa is life in prison without parole.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Representatives with the Iowa West Foundation are once again hitting the road and taking their Grants Workshop to another rural community – this time to Harlan on July 31st. The hope is that the workshop makes it easier for the non-profits and government entities in the IWF greater funding region, to access information on how to apply in person and hear directly from IWF program officers about budget inquiries and the grants management system, among other topics, in advance of the third and final funding cycle of 2024. Here is the link to register. https://bit.ly/iwfHarlan.

The grants workshop will be held on July 31st from 9-until 10:30-a.m., In-Person ONLY. It will not be offered on Zoom.Venue details will be shared upon registration. Registrations will be accepted until noon on Friday, July 26 or until registrations meet our workshop’s maximum capacity.

Ideally, attendees will come to the grants workshop with a specific grant idea in mind. They will have an opportunity to:

• hear from program officers,
• ask questions about the grant application process,
• work through budget inquiries, and
• learn about the IWF new grants management system.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon City Council met in a regular session Monday evening, and discussed the use of personal fireworks within the City. It was noted in the minutes of the meeting, that there have been many complaints regarding the discharging of fireworks. Councilman Richardson motioned and Councilman Grabill seconded, an amendment to Ordinance No. 739, entitled “Fireworks,” to read that a person shall be at least 100-feet away from a neighboring property to discharge a fireworks device, unless consent has been given. The motion passed. The Council acted also, to permit the use of fireworks on July 3rd and 4th from 6-until 10-p.m.  Fireworks will no longer be allowed on New Year’s Eve.

In other business, the Audubon City Council approved the installation of Stop and Yield sign(s) at the intersection of 3rd Ave. & Chicago St. to match the intersection of 3rd Ave. & South. Audubon Police Chief Coby Gust discussed with the Council the topic of speed signs on Highway 71 (Market St.). Chief Gust said the Iowa D.O.T. will need to remove the 30-mph signs, and then do a speed survey to determine if the 30-mph signs are necessary.

Audubon Parks and Rec Board member Ashley Hartl told the Council that there will be a zip line installed at Bluegrass Park (Dinosaur Park). Hartl was going to check also, to see if it is possible to get AED certification for the lifeguards.

(Radio Iowa) – All of members of Iowa’s U-S House delegation voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that prevents non-citizens from registering to vote in U-S federal elections. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says the bill strengthens the election process. “This bill will prevent illegal immigrants and non-citizens from voting in U-S elections by requiring our state election officials to ask about citizenship before providing voter registration forms. It would require an individual to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections,” Hinson says. The Republicans from Marion says voting is a sacred right.

“Only American citizens should be able to vote in American elections,” she says. “I will continue working on common sense election integrity measures that make it easy for American citizens to vote and hard to cheat.” Hinson says the Biden Administration has allowed millions of illegal immigrants into our country and wants to maintain loopholes that them to vote. Only five Democrats voted for the measure, as Democrats who voted against it say the number of voters who illegally vote is very small. Hinson says if Democrats believe illegals should not vote, they should support this measure.

“It’s a vital election integrity issue. It still protects states’ rights to run their own elections, but it makes sure that people understand that their vote counts and that the integrity of their vote counts,” she says. Hinson made her comments in her weekly conference call with reporters.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — The Iowa State Fair is cancelling two attractions amid concerns over Avian Influenza infections in dairy cows. The Milking Parlor and the I Milked a Cow Experience will not be a part of the fair this year to prevent the spread of avian flu. So far this year there have been at least ten confirmed cases of bird flu in Iowa dairy herds.

Jeremy Parsons, CEO of the Iowa State Fair, said safety is the fair’s first concern. “I think for the average fairgoer you’re still going to see dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair,” Parsons said. “The dairy industry is important in Iowa agriculture so we’re still showcasing that, just showcasing it a little different in terms of no milking parlor and no hands-on experience of I Milked a Cow that many fairgoers have done over the years, so just a chance to still walk through the barns, see the cattle, honestly just trying to keep the livestock safe quite frankly as we showcase Iowa agriculture.”

To learn more about the Iowa State Fair visit the fair website.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports a Fremont County woman was arrested this (Thursday) morning. 45-year-old Christie Marie Alley, of Randolph, was taken into custody a little after 9-a.m. in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street. She was charged with Public Intoxication and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Alley’s bond was set at $300.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau report a woman from Bondurant was sentenced July 2nd, following her plea of guilty to Tampering with Records (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). 39-year-old Sarah Rahm received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation for a period of two years. Rahm was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $855.

The investigation began in March 2024 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating Rahm made willful misrepresentations regarding her pet’s medical history and then falsified the onset date of a claimed medical condition in connection with an insurance claim.

Sarah Rahm (Photo courtesy of the Polk County Jail)

The investigation concluded that Rahm was aware of her pet’s medical condition before purchasing a pet insurance policy, which required a five-day waiting period for accidents. On the sixth day after the policy commenced, Rahm submitted a claim to the insurance company for the medical condition, misrepresenting the date of injury in an attempt to obtain $593.15 in coverage for a pre-existing condition. Rahm was arrested on May 3, 2024.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — An Oskaloosa school administrator died earlier this week in an apparent drowning in Lake Michigan.The Mason County, MI, Sheriff’s Office reports 44-year-old Mark Scholes, of Oskaloosa, was seen struggling Tuesday afternoon in the water at Lake Michigan at the Ludington State Park. Authorities say several people entered the water in an effort to assist Scholes, but by the time they reached him, he had already slipped under the surface. The citizens who responded were able to locate the Scholes under the surface and pull him to a raft, and then to shore where CPR was started.

Several people entered the water in an attempt to help him, the sheriff’s office said, and pulled him onto a raft after he slipped under the surface and then to shore, where they performed CPR. Mark Scholes was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Oskaloosa Middle School Principal Mark Scholes (from the school district’s website)

The Oskaloosa Community School District confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Scholes was the district’s middle school principal. Scholes started with the district as an associate principal in 2013. He became principal of the middle school in 2019, according to the district.