(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa woman has been charged with murder in connection to a house fire that took place early Sunday morning. Authorities say fire crews were dispatched to a residence in Ottumwa based on the report of a heavy fire. Two people were in the home at the time of the blaze. One person was able to escape but 59-year-old Ernest Wilson of Ottumwa died.

31-year-old Ashley Lankford of Ottumwa was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree arson, attempted murder, first-degree criminal mischief, and animal abuse. Lankford is currently in the Wapello County Jail. Her bond has been set at one million dollars. The fire remains under investigation.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – June 25, 2024 – If you travel on Interstate 29 or I-680 north of Council Bluffs, the Iowa Department of Transportation intends to close I-29 from 25th Street at the north edge of Council Bluffs to the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland later tonight. In addition, the portion of I-680 west of I-29 located in Iowa will also be closed.

Those roadways were originally announced to close around 11 a.m. However, Iowa DOT staff are working to keep the roads in the Council Bluffs area open as long as possible. We are closely monitoring the rising flood water levels on the Missouri River in addition to the latest weather forecasts. Timing of road closures will depend on river levels. For the latest travel information visit 511ia.org.

The Iowa DOT reminds travelers to never enter a water-covered roadway. Do not move or travel around barricades or fencing as they are placed there for your safety. Turn around and don’t drown.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

(Iowa HHS News) – Iowa joins a list of several other states with individuals who have become sick, some in critical condition, after consuming Diamond Shruumz-brand products purchased through a retail store in eastern Iowa. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about these products:

• Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should discard them.
• Consumers should check their homes and discard these products if found.
• These products may appeal to children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers should consider discussing the information in this advisory with their children and take extra care to avoid these products being consumed by younger people.
• Retailers should not sell or distribute any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should hold the product in a secure location until additional instructions can be provided on how to return or safely dispose of the product.
• If you become ill after consuming these products, please contact your healthcare provider and/or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Let them know you have recently consumed the Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, and/or Gummies.
• Healthcare providers should report these illnesses to their local health department and/or the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The individuals in Iowa each reported consuming one of the following Diamond Shruumz-brand products: cookies, cream chocolate bars, and fruit cereal-flavored bars.

Iowa HHS officials recommend individuals do not purchase or consume these products and if they have any of these products, that they dispose of them. These products are considered dietary supplements and are not regulated by the State of Iowa and cannot be recalled by the state. These products are commonly available for purchase at consumable hemp retailers as well as tobacco and vape shops.

Iowa HHS is investigating these instances and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an ongoing investigation related to these events. The FDA also stated that they had been in conversations about with the firm about a possible voluntary recall, but these discussions are still ongoing. Any Iowan experiencing severe symptoms should visit the emergency room.

(Radio Iowa) – Residents in Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties may apply for federal aid through FEMA and businesses swamped by floodwaters may be eligible for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration. A levee on the Little Sioux River broke in western Iowa shortly before five this (Tuesday) morning, forcing the evacuation of the small towns of Rodney and Smithland. An emergency shelter has been set up in Onawa. Clean up has begun in other areas of northwest Iowa where floodwaters are receding.

Cheri Gacke of Rock Valley says this is the second time she’s had to recover from a flood, as her home was flooded a decade ago. She plans to move. “I hope the city comes up with something that’s going to fix this town because our town’s going to die otherwise, I think,” Gacke says. “(We) can’t keep doing this every few years.”

Five hundred homes in Rock Valley are damaged or destroyed after the Rock River crested five feet higher than it did in 2014. Volunteers are helping residents like Gacke sift through their belongings and haul debris to the curb. “Thank everyone for their help,” Gacke says. “They’re so compassion and sharing and willing to work.”

As previously mentioned, the Iowa D-O-T closed Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs (effective 11-a.m. Tuesday). The timing will be determined by how fast the Missouri River rises in that area. Highway 20 between Moville and Correctionville is closed due to flooding.

(Reporting by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio; Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City and Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)