After a warm and humid week across Iowa, near-record cold temperatures are slated to move into Iowa for the next few days. The National Weather Service in Des Moines says non-severe, scattered storms are possible mainly north of I-80 this afternoon. Rainfall amounts with these storms should be on the very light side, with totals remaining less than one tenth of an inch. Mostly cloudy skies should help keep temperatures in the 60s and 70s across the area today.

Cooler air will continue to move into the region tomorrow, as highs will be confined to the upper 60s and low 70s. For Thursday morning, the record low in Atlantic is 43 degrees. As of now, it appear the temperature Wednesday night into early Thursday morning we will be very close to that number.

Warmer air and storm chances will return to Iowa for this July 4th weekend, so if you do have outdoor plans Saturday into Monday, make sure to monitor the weather forecast each day, beginning with today.

A number of new state laws are taking effect today (Tuesday) in Iowa, including laws addressing identity theft and providing new protections for consumers who buy used vehicles in Iowa. Bill Brauch — the director of the consumer protection division in the Iowa attorney general’s office — says the state’s privacy breach law has been updated. “If someone steals credit card numbers and names and expiration dates — before July 1 that’s not considered a privacy breach, believe it or not,” Brauch says. “Now it will be.” In addition, as of July 1st credit card companies, banks and retailers must notify the Iowa attorney general’s office if there’s a credit card breach involving over 500 Iowans.

“There are about 20 states out there that have a requirement like that and now we’ll be added to that list,” Brauch says, “where the attorney general has to get notice of breaches so we’re aware of them and can help people.” Another bill that becomes law today allows Iowa parents or guardians to take steps to protect the credit score of a minor child or incapacitated adult.  “This requires that if a parent wants to freeze a credit report a minor child, the credit reporting agency has to create a credit report first of all, if one doesn’t exit, and only for the purpose of then freezing it,” Brauch says. “This will protect the child from then becoming the victim of identity theft.”

The Social Security numbers of millions of children have been used by identity thieves to get loans, credit cards and even medical insurance, but the kids often don’t learn of the crime until they get older and try to get a credit card or a loan of their own. The state’s “Lemon Law” for consumers who buy defective vehicles is also expanding. Since 1991, Iowa’s lemon law has applied to vehicles weighing 10-thousand pounds or less. As of today, it covers vehicles weighing up to 15-thousand pounds.

“This is going to pick up a lot of larger pick-up trucks that do have some problems and the folks who own these larger, like 350 or 3500 model pick-ups have not been covered by that law and they’ve expressed some disappointment to our investigators that they don’t have the same rights as folks who buy smaller vehicles,” Brauch says. “Well, as of July 1 they will have the same rights to be able to ask for a replacement vehicle or a refund.” The 2014 legislature updated the Iowa Consumer Credit Code. The law was enacted in 1974 to provide certain rights to Iowans who take out a loan to buy expensive consumer goods, like washing machines and cars. Since 1974 those protections only applied to loans of 25-thousand dollars or less. Now those consumer rights apply to loans of up to 53-thousand-500 dollars and in future years that will be adjusted annually for inflation.

“That means a lot more rights for people who finance the purchase a new car, for example, or a more expensive used car,” Brauch says. “It might even pick up some mobile homes.” The Iowa Consumer Credit Code forces lenders to fully disclose the interest rate charged on a loan. It also provides consumers some protection against late fees and outlines when it is illegal for a lender to repossess a vehicle. Finally, Brauch singles out one more consumer protection that passed the 2014 Iowa legislature. It sets up a process for someone to get back stolen property found in a pawnshop, at no charge, if they had filed a police report about the theft.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says Preliminary Storm Surveys will take place today. Two teams will fan out to assess the damage occurring from Monday’s severe storms, and report on their findings. Their assessments will help to determine  the type of weather event that occurred (such as a Tornado or straight-line winds, hail and flooding), duration and path.  One of the teams will deploy from near Stuart to the Warren County line. The other team will cover an area between Story and Tama Counties.

The results and conclusions of the survey will be completed and uploaded to the National Weather Service website late this afternoon or early evening.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly economic index for nine Midwestern and Plains states has inched up again, suggesting more economic growth over the next three to six months. A report issued Tuesday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 60.6 in June from 60.5 in May, hitting another three-year high. Looking six months ahead, the business confidence portion of the overall index rose to 63.6 from 62.5 in May.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Strong, thunderstorm winds overturned a semi on Interstate 80 Monday afternoon in Cass County, causing the driver to be sent to hospital for treatment of what were described as “incapacitating injuries.” The Iowa State Patrol says the 2015 Freightliner semi driven by 56-year old Leroy Gault, of Braymer, Missouri, was traveling west on I-80 at around 12:30-p.m., when the winds tossed the rig into the median and landed on its driver’s side, near the 71-mile marker.

A passing motorist helped Gault out of the semi. He was subsequently transported by Anita Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Interstate traffic was reduced to one lane for more than a couple of hours while crews worked to remove the semi from the accident scene.

Cass County Democratic Party Chiar Sherry Toelle reports the Democratic Parties of Adams, Cass, Pottawattamie, and Union Counties will be hosting an afternoon with Tim Ennis, candidate for the Iowa House, District 21, on Saturday, July 12th, 2014 from 2 to 4 PM.

The event will be held at the Corning Winery’s Floating Vine, located just south of Corning. Tickets are $25 per person and can be ordered from Sherry Toelle, Chair of the Cass County Democratic Party, or
purchased at the door the day of the event. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres with a cash bar.

521 AM CDT TUE JUL 1 2014

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE EAST NISHNABOTNA RIVER AT RED OAK.
* AT 5:15 AM TUESDAY THE STAGE WAS 19.6 FEET…OR 1.6 FEET ABOVE
FLOOD STAGE.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 18.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FORECAST…THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 20.0 FEET BY THIS
MORNING. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
* IMPACT…AT 20.0 FEET…LOWLAND FLOODING BEGINS ALONG THE WEST BANK.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has been killed in a building collapse caused by severe weather in eastern Iowa. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says strong winds blew through the small community of Fairfax on Monday and caused extensive damage to a building that trapped a man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Severe weather affected much of the state Monday, causing damage to properties and reports of extensive flooding.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials are warning people to stay away from boating on the Mississippi River along the eastern border of Iowa because of flooding. The state Department of Natural Resources says high water has placed large amounts of debris in the water, creating unsafe boating conditions. There are also reports of boat wakes causing flooding in cabins along the river. Officials recommend that people stay away from swimming, wading and entering the river.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Damage including flooded roads and downed power lines has been reported around Iowa as severe weather packing heavy rain and large hail moved through the state. The National Weather Service says it received dozens of reports Monday about damage caused by severe thunderstorms. Reported damage included snapped trees in Hamilton County, downed power lines in Hardin County and flash flooding in Black Hawk County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The bishop of the Des Moines Diocese has placed a priest on indefinite administrative leave after finding a decades-old allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was credible. The diocese says Bishop Richard Pate has placed the Rev. Howard Fitzgerald on leave while the matter is forwarded to the Vatican. While on leave, Fitzgerald can’t function publicly as a priest. Pate also has asked him to not wear clerical garb.

Police in Harlan have issued an alert to area residents about possible roof inspection scams. Officials say people are calling from the 402 area code wanting to come out and inspect roofs damaged by recent hail and wind events. The calls were directed at elderly individuals.

Additional information is expected to be released later, with regard to the validity of the roof inspection requests.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Monday, issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for five counties in response to the ongoing flooding and severe weather that took place beginning on June 26th. Locall, Adair and Guthrie Counties are included in the proclamation, which allows State resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of the storms.

In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program (IAP) for Adair and Guthrie Counties. The IAP provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,580, for a family of three.

Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available of the Iowa Department of Human Services website:  http://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs

Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.