(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court is likely to issue a ruling on Friday that will determine whether most abortions will be outlawed in Iowa. Last July, Governor Reynolds signed a law to ban abortions most around the sixth week of a pregnancy, when fetal activity can be detected, but the law was quickly put on hold due to a legal challenge. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says the 2022 U-S Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade has paved the way for state action.

“That makes a law like our ‘Heartbeat Law’ here in Iowa a legal possibility and we’ll hope that after the decision comes out, a legal certainty, right? That we can uphold that law,” Bird said. Bird spoke Saturday at the “March for Life” at the Iowa Capitol. Her office defended the six week abortion ban in court.  “We know nothing is more precious than life and we know who the Creator with a capital C of life is,” Bird said, to applause. “And especially as a mom I’m thankful I get to protect everybody, both the born and unborn.”

Opponents of Iowa’s six week abortion ban are set to hold events this week. The law includes exceptions for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. Critics say the rules prepared to enforce the law aren’t clear enough and women will be denied abortions in medical emergencies.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says flood related losses in northwest Iowa are staggering and she is asking for a presidential disaster declaration to trigger federal aid for flood victims. Governor Reynolds says the preliminary estimate is at least 19-hundred properties in 22 counties have been swamped by flood waters and hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

“I can tell you the devastation is severe and it’s widespread,” Reynolds says. “In almost every community impacted the rivers crested several feet above record levels from the floods of 1993.” Over a thousand Iowans stayed in emergency shelters Saturday night. By Sunday, at least 10 communities had no drinking water. “The seven day forecast calls for more rain,” Reynolds said, “which means flooding may continue to be an issue and may impact other parts of the state as well.”

Sixteen river gauges in northwest Iowa have already recorded historic flood levels. On Sunday night, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management director John Benson met with local officials about making preparations in the other places where those flood waters are headed. “This is a very serious flood that we’re in right now and it is not going to cease,” Benson says. “It is going to blossom across the state.” Benson says the key is protecting critical infrastructure, like drinking water plants.

Governor Kim Reynolds and top aides took a helicopter tour of flooded areas of northwest Iowa on Saturday. (Photo from Office of Governor Kim Reynolds.)

“Where it does become a challenge is if you have, like we had up in northwest Iowa…a completely excessive, unforecastable rainfall,” Benson said, “…but if we get normal stuff, they’re on top of it…We’re already having those conversations about what we can do to get better prepared for what we’re going to see here in the future.” Last week over 10 inches of rain fell in northwest Iowa and the nearby river basins in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota that drain into northwest Iowa. Donna Dubberke, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says that’s eight times the average amount.

“That water is now working its way down through the system,” she says, “so the concern with the forecast is we remain in an active weather pattern, which means periodic rain chances throughout the next week to 10 days.” The governor is urging Iowans who get evacuation orders to heed those warnings. Helicopters were deployed to rescue residents after a levee was breached in Rock Valley and Iowa Department of Natural Resouces staff performed 250 water rescues throughout northwest Iowa on Saturday. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens says state troopers witnessed two drivers who ignored a “road closed” sign.

“Kind of barrelled headlong into floodwaters, ended up getting swept away,” Bayens said. “We had one individual that was on the cusp of losing his life had the Iowa State Patrol Air Wing not spotted his heat signature in the water and was able to dispatch boats in a timely way to rescue him.” Iowa Department of Transportation director Scott Marler says his agency has moved 23 pumps into northwest Iowa to try to clear water from roadways. On Sunday, the Iowa D-O-T moved five-thousand Hesco barriers to build temporary levies in key locations.

“If you see those barricades that say, ‘Road Closed,’ please turn around and don’t try to go around those barricades and proceed past them,” Marler says. Reynolds is asking President Biden to activate federal assistance for individuals as well as low interest Small Business Administration loans for businesses in nine counties. She’s also seeking federal help for local governments in 22 counties that are dealing with damage to public infrastructure and the cost of removing debris. Governor Reynolds says Rock Valley may be unable to quickly revive its drinking water plant and the Iowa National Guard may step in with a temporary system that produces drinking water for the community.

(As previously mentioned), Reynolds is asking President Biden to activate federal assistance for individuals as well as low interest Small Business Administration loans for businesses in nine counties. Those nine counties are Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux. The governor’s also seeking federal help for local governments in 22 counties that are dealing with damage to public infrastructure and the cost of removing debris. Those counties are Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright.

The Flood Warning continues from 8-p.m. today (Monday) until 2-a.m. on July 1st, for the Missouri River, affecting the following counties in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri:

• Missouri River At Nebraska City affecting Fremont (IA) and Otoe (NE) Counties.
• Missouri River at Plattsmouth affecting Mills (IA) and Cass (NE) Counties.
• Missouri River At Decatur affecting Burt, Thurston (NE) and Monona (IA) Counties.
• Missouri River Near Blair affecting Harrison (IA), Washington (NE) and Pottawattamie (IA) Counties.
• Missouri River At Brownville affecting Atchison and Nemaha Counties in NE.
• Missouri River At Omaha affecting Douglas, Sarpy (NE) and Pottawattamie Counties (IA).
• Missouri River At Rulo affecting Holt and Richardson Counties (NE).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at water.noaa.gov.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms and widespread flooding that occurred on June 21 and continuing.  

The letter requests activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans for the following nine (9) counties: Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux. In addition, the letter requests the activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program for the following twenty-two (22) counties:  Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright. 

Funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses access to programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.  

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program provides homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in the affected counties whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, the ability to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program provides funds that can be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after, severe weather.  

In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.  

The letter can be read in its entirety here. 

(Des Moines, Iowa; KCCI) – A judge has denied the former Adair police chief’s request for a new trial, which means Brad Wendt’s convictions will stand. Wendt was found guilty of 11 charges for allegedly misusing his position to buy and possess machine guns.

His legal team argued he should get a new trial because the charges were vague and there wasn’t enough evidence. In the 30-page court document, the judge shared evidence, including texts and law letters Wendt made during his tenure.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – June 22, 2024 – If you are planning a trip in northwest Iowa this weekend you need to be aware of several road closures that may slow down your trip. Between the evening of June 20 and morning of June 22, portions of northwest Iowa received significant rain, resulting in flooding along various primary highways. There are currently widespread flash flooding and river flooding issues.

Iowans are urged to closely monitor conditions and never enter a water-covered roadway. Flood waters can force a vehicle off the roadway. In addition, it is not uncommon for roadways and shoulders to be damaged when flooded, presenting unsafe conditions for motorists.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has issued the warning of travel strongly discouraged in the counties of Lyon, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Emmet, and Dickinson.

As of 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, there are 20+ specific locations on the primary highway system with road closures. Not all of the closures will allow for detours as the secondary roadways are also flooded. The Iowa DOT suggests visiting 511ia.org as it has the most up to date roadway closures. Turn around and don’t drown.

The Iowa DOT is working with other state agencies to assist local communities in flood response. This includes traffic control and pumps. Flood recovery will begin once the rain stops, and flood waters can recede.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system.

(Corning, Iowa) – A traffic stop Tuesday west of Corning resulted in the arrest of a woman on drug charges. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies made the traffic stop on Highway 34 at Gingko Avenue. During an investigation that followed, the K9 “Midge” was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

The driver, 66-year-old Marlene Dewylia Dukes, of Villisca, was subsequently arrested on charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine, Operating While Intoxicated, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Dukes was transported to the Adams County Jail and later posted bond.