(St. Paul, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV died Saturday afternoon in a collision with a Freightliner truck. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident in Lee County happened at around Noon, at the intersection of Highway 16 and 205th Avenue, north of St. Paul, Iowa.

The Patrol says a 2003 GMC Envoy SUV was traveling north on 205th Avenue when the driver failed to yield to the 2023 semi driven by 21-year-old Levi Allen Whaley, of Mt. Pleasant. The SUV was struck on the passenger side, causing the driver to be ejected.

Both vehicles came to rest in the northwest ditch. The driver of the SUV died at the scene. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family. The Patrol was assisted a the scene by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County EMS, West Point Fire & Rescue, and Air Evac.

(Silver City, Iowa) – A man from South Dakota was injured during a motorcycle accident Friday morning, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 48-year-old Cody Murphy, of Arlington, SD, was riding a 2000 Harley Davidson FHX southbound on Interstate 29 near mile marker 38, when the machine went out of control at around 9:42-a.m.

Murphy was tossed from the motorcycle and came to rest in the right-hand lane of travel, on the Interstate. The motorcycle slid into the median before coming to rest. Murphy was transported by Silver City Rescue to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

The crash remains under investigation. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Patrol at the accident scene.

Senator Chuck Grassley will host a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, from 1:45-2:45 p.m. at the Montgomery County Family YMCA Multi-purpose Room 101 E. Cherry St. Red Oak, IA 51566.

There is a possibility that there will be a quorum of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, but no official county business will be acted upon during that time.

After a week of warm, dry weather for most of Iowa, there’s a chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday, the first of the summer season. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says the rain would bring some welcome relief from the worsening drought that now covers more than 83-percent of the state.

The forecast shows a chance for rain on Sunday, with dry weather returning on Monday.

The Museum of Danish America in the southwest Iowa town of Elk Horn is marking its 40th anniversary this weekend. Museum spokeswoman Amelia Juhl says they’re working with several Norwegian and Swedish organizations to showcase their traditions — and the facility. Saturday’s events include a private tent dinner, followed by a traditional Danish celebration of the summer solstice with a bonfire and a list of activities.

Juhl says visitors are welcome to bring their own seating, beverages, and lawn games to Sankt Hans Aften (sonkt hans OFT-en) or Saint John’s Eve. Events will be underway on the rim of the 30-acre Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park.

In the event of rain, most of the activities will be held indoors. While visiting the Museum of Danish America, you can check out the many detailed exhibits.

The museum has members in 48 states. Only Louisiana and Vermont are not represented. For more information about the museum and upcoming events, visit: www.danishmuseum.org.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the Friday afternoon arrest of 31-year-old Amanda Joy Williams of Red Oak for Theft 5th Degree. Williams was arrested at 1:38 p.m. in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. Williams was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

(Butler County, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon near Allison claimed the life of one man, and resulted in injuries to another. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 3:12-p.m. on Highway 3 at Newell Avenue. Authorities say a 2001 Ford Van driven by 64-year-old Paul Yerkes, of Greene, was westbound on Highway 3 when it entered the eastbound lane and struck a 2016 International semi driven by 41-year-old Timothy Grittmann, of Allison.

Yerkes died at the scene. Grittmann was transported by Allison EMS to the hospital in Waverly. The crash remains under investigation.

(Indianola, Iowa) –  A crash involving three pickup trucks Friday afternoon south of Indianola, resulted in the death of two people and injuries to two others. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 4:47-p.m. on southbound Highway 69, just north of 128th Avenue.

According to the report, a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 47-year-old Darrel Dean Davisson, of Boxholm, crossed the center-line of northbound Highway 69 and traveling into the southbound lane. The pickup sideswiped a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 67-year-old Wanda Gail Lydon, of Indianola, before striking head-on,  a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by 38-year-old Shane Caleb Estes, of New Virginia.

Davisson, and a passenger in the Estes pickup died at the scene. Shane Estes suffered serious injuries and was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines. Wanda Lydon suffered minor injuries. She was treated and released.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa)  – Planned Parenthood is closing three of its nine clinics in Iowa over the next year. Clinics in Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, and the south side of Des Moines will be closed, due to what Planned Parenthood officials say are staffing shortages and increased costs. The organization plans to relocate some staff and expand abortion services at its Ames, Iowa City and Omaha clinics. Mazie Stilwell with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says they also plan to offer medication abortion at the clinic near Drake University in Des Moines.

(as said) “Consolidating locations will prevent the routine closing of health centers due to staffing shortages, ensuring that patients experience a continuity of care,” Stilwell says. “I must emphasize that while the number of Planned Parenthood health centers will decrease, these changes will increase the number of patients that we can see.”

Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Cedar Falls has already closed. Stilwell says the south Des Moines and Council Bluffs locations won’t be closed until the Ames and Omaha clinics are ready to take on more patients.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld part of a lawsuit against the state by the former spokesperson of the Department of Public Health. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

(As said) – Polly Carver-Kimm sued the State of Iowa, the Governor, and her communications director for wrongful discharge alleging she was forced out after refusing to deny public records requests in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled it is possible that Carver-Kimm will be able to prove that she was actually terminated for carrying out her mandatory legal duty, and if the state fired her for that reason, it “would have a chilling effect on other employees by discouraging them from engaging in similar conduct.” Her claim against the state can proceed, but the Supreme Court dismissed Governor Kim Reynolds from that claim. It agreed with the governor’s assertion that she did not have the authority to fire Carver-Kimm, the department director did.

(Note: Polly-Carver Kimm is the wife of Radio Iowa Sports Director Todd Kimm)