(Radio Iowa) — The cost to make temporary repairs to levees impacted by spring flooding along the Missouri River continues to rise. John Leighow is chief of readiness and contingency operations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Northwestern District. Leighow says recent dry weather has allowed their teams access to more levees for assessment.

“Additional damages are being identified as the water continues to drop and our field engineers are attempting to accurately assess the scope of damages to approximately 150 miles of damaged levees,” Leighow says. He adds, the amount of money that’s been spent to temporarily fix damaged levees is growing.

“Currently, the cost of these efforts is around $123 million and it’s climbing,” Leighow says. “That’s $3 million more than what we had last week. As of now, we are not anticipating any budget constraints regarding recovery efforts.” Even though funding is currently available, Leighow says there may soon be more competing claims for the money.

“We are now approaching the peak of hurricane season right around the end of August into Labor Day — early September timeline,” Leighow says. “The peak of hurricane season will compete for the same resources that we need for our recovery efforts.” Releases from Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, South Dakota remain at 70,000 cubic feet per second — nearly double the average release for this time of year.

Missouri River Basin Water Management Division Chief John Remus says adjustments in releases are now tied to precipitation with mountain snowpack mostly gone. “The snowpack is all melted,” Remus says. “We haven’t necessarily seen all of it in the reservoir yet, but the main driver (of conditions) from here on out would be precipitation.”

To date, nine of the 51 damaged levees in the Omaha District have been temporarily repaired. Corps officials say it could be next spring before every breach in the system is plugged.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic leaders in the Iowa Legislature are calling for hearings on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ refusal to discuss why she demanded the resignation of former Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven. Senate and House Government Oversight Committee Democrats called Monday for hearings on Foxhoven’s sudden departure last month and want him to appear to explain what happened.

Sen. Tony Bisignano says a 2017 state law requires the reason for demanding a state employee’s resignation to be made public. Reynolds has declined to explain why she asked Foxhoven to resign beyond saying there were several factors. Foxhoven has declined to explain the factors behind his firing. He declined to comment Monday. Separately, Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, says he plans to investigate the reasons behind Foxhoven’s departure.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of lottery players who bought tickets for drawings that were rigged by an insider could be eligible for refunds under a tentative $4.3 million legal settlement. A judge still must approve the deal from lawyers for plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit and the Multi-State Lottery Association.

The settlement announced Monday would resolve claims stemming from former association security director Eddie Tipton’s long-running jackpot-fixing scheme. Tipton installed code that allowed him to predict winning numbers for drawings on certain days. He and his associates bought winning tickets worth millions.

Players who purchased tickets for drawings between 2005 and 2013 that were tainted by the scheme would be eligible. The lottery association would establish $4.3 million fund for eligible class members, attorneys’ fees and other costs. The named plaintiff, Iowa resident Dale Culler, would receive a $20,000 incentive payment.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some Nebraska and Iowa businesses are still struggling to recover from flooding that damaged their properties or otherwise kept customers away from their doors.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that in Nebraska alone, more than 1,000 businesses were affected by March’s severe weather. Flooding continued into May and June in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, especially along the Missouri River. Central Nebraska got hit by flash floods earlier this month this month, hurting Kearney’s hotel and tourism industry.
The Omaha World-Herald reported that businesses and boosters have been taking extra steps to send a message: Our towns and businesses haven’t been wiped out, and we need customers now more than ever.

A Harley-Davidson dealership in (Iowa’s) Pacific Junction threw a party at the end of June to celebrate the dealership’s return to its regular location after cleaning up and repairing soggy drywall. Loess Hills Harley-Davidson moved employees and motorcycles to a temporary building in nearby Glenwood for months after taking on 18 inches of water. “We can either sit back and say we’re victims and we’re going to play the pity party or say, hey, were going to take the opportunity to make something good out of something bad,” general manager Dan Roland said.

Agricultural company Cargill has helped employees pay for hotels in Nebraska City to ensure operations at its plant there weren’t interrupted too much by road closures and detours. Interstate 29 across the river in Iowa was closed by flooding, and the Iowa Highway 2 link to the bridge over the Missouri to Nebraska City was underwater for weeks as well. In northeast Nebraska’s Knox County, officials have been handing out maps so visitors can navigate flood-damaged roads and bridge reconstruction. The community of Verdigre held an event called “Good As New” at the end of May.

Developers are speeding plans to build more housing on the Nebraska City side of the Missouri, in case Iowa residents hurt by flooding decide not to rebuild, said Dan Mauk, executive director of the Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corp.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University is dropping claims of wrongdoing against a former employee and paying her $225,000 to resolve a legal dispute over its popular outdoor sculptures made from Legos. As part of the settlement, Iowa State has also taken several steps to restore the reputation of Teresa McLaughlin. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen has written her a glowing letter of recommendation calling her an honest, innovative employee.

The school also will dedicate a bench for McLaughlin in Reiman Gardens, the campus landmark that McLaughlin spent most of her career building as its director. Those steps will resolve a contentious three-year legal dispute that derailed Nature Connects, the traveling Lego art program conceived by McLaughlin. McLaughlin had accused the university of failing to pay her commissions. The university accused her of working with the artist to market competing exhibits.

Human remains discovered January 24th, 2019 at the former No Frills Supermarket in Council Bluffs have been identified. Council Bluffs Police say the Iowa DCI Lab in Ankeny reports the deceased individual was Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada, who had been reported missing since Nov. 2009, after he became upset and ran out of his parents’ home. The man was 25-years old when he was last seen. His identity was learned through an analysis of DNA collected from his biological parents. Murillo-Moncada was employed at No Frills Supermarket at the time of his disappearance. The store closed in 2016. The autopsy indicated no signs of trauma.

Former employees at the store, which was located at 1817 W. Broadway Street in Council Bluffs, told investigators that it was common for workers to be on top of the coolers, as the space was utilized for storage of goods. Investigators believe that Murillo went to the store after leaving his home and climbed on top of the coolers, where he fell into an approximate 18” gap between the back of the cooler and a wall, getting trapped. The case is being closed and classified as an accidental death. The family of Murillo has requested not to be contacted, so they can grieve the loss of their family member.

(Radio Iowa) — Clean-up is underway in Waverly after a weekend storm injured five people and left wide-spread damage throughout the northeast Iowa community.  Officials say straight-line winds uprooted trees and blew down utility lines around noon on Saturday. The sudden storm hit Waverly just as the city’s annual Heritage Days Festival was getting underway following a parade. High wind hit the fairgrounds and collapsed the beer tent, injuring five people. Festival organizers reported the injuries were all relatively minor. Despite the storm damage, Waverly Heritage Days went on as scheduled.

No one was injured when a pickup struck a cow on 110th Street in Union County, early this (Monday) morning. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 16-year old Gauge Mitchell, of Creston, who wore his seat belt, was driving a 1997 Chevy K1500 pickup westbound on 110th Street at around 12:37-a.m., when the vehicle struck a cow on the traveled portion of the road. Following the collision, authorities say “The cow exited to road to the south.” Mitchell pulled the pickup into a private driveway and parked, because the vehicle had sustained disabling undercarriage damage estimated at $1,500. No citations were issued. The report did not indicate who the owner of the cow was.

Cass County Health System (CCHS) spokesperson Ann McCurdy reports that between the CCMH Emergency Department and the First Aid station, about 25 RAGBRAI participants were treated for injuries or health issues, during their ride through Cass County and Atlantic. While no specific information was released due to HIPPA rules, we can tell you that two, older adult males suffered injuries during falls from their bikes in Atlantic and Marne, Sunday, and one-person was injured during a fall on 7th Street near S. Highway 71 (in the area of Walmart), at around 8-a.m. today (Monday).

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson told KJAN News there were no major issues, other than a man who was arrested for OWI Sunday evening, after his vehicle crashed into a RAGBRAI participant’s camper, at 8th and Chestnut Streets, and the three, in-town injuries mentioned.

The 2019 edition of the Cass County Fair begins later this week, in Atlantic. Activities start Wednesday, with 4-H Static Exhibit Judging (9-a.m. – 2:30-p.m.), and the Clover Kids Showcase (9-a.m. until Noon). The food sale at the Cass Community Center starts at 10-a.m., Wednesday.  Preparation work begins at 6-p.m.

The full-event and activities begin in earnest Thursday morning, and includes the Swine Weigh-In from 7:30-to 9:30, Rabbit Check-in from 8-to 9:30-a.m., Poultry Check-in 10-a.m. to 11-a.m. At 10:30-a.m., the Meat Goat and Dairy animals will be checked-in. The rest of Thursday’s schedule is as follows:

• Sheep Weigh-in: 3-p.m. to 4:30-p.m.
• Horse Check-in: 4:30-p.m. to 5:30-p.m.
• 4-H Exhibits open at 5-p.m.

At 7-p.m., there’s the Little Miss and Little Mister Contest, followed at 7:30-p.m. by the King and Queen Contest, and Senior Recognition at 8-p.m. Entertainment for the night is an outdoor movie slated for 8:45-p.m.  During the day also, there is Chain Saw Artistry, with multiple shows per day, with  times to be determined (TBD), Midway Carnival rides and entertainment (Times TBD). The carnival opens at noon each day, and punch cards are available: $20 for 24 punches, or $1/punch if purchased individually. Games/attractions cost anywhere from 1-5 punches.

Iowa-based Gotcha Games will provide some fun entertainment, including: A gyroscope, mechanical bull, Laser Tag, and a 24-foot “rock” climbing wall. Other upcoming attractions at the 2019 Cass County Fair include:

• Mutton busting (6:30-p.m., Friday) and the Bull Ride (8-p.m., Friday)
• Youth Water fights (4-p.m. Saturday), and the Tractor Pull (6-p.m. Saturday)
• The All-American Lumberjack Show (7-p.m., Sunday)
• The Parade of Champions (5:45-p.m., Monday), and Grand Champion Beef Selection (6:30-p.m., Monday)

The Fair concludes Tuesday (July 30th) with the Livestock Sale at 8-a.m. For a full Fair Schedule, click here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/cass/2019%20Fair%20Schedule.pdf