More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Residents in the Des Moines area are cleaning up after deadly floods destroyed homes and submerged cars, and more damage could be revealed as the floodwaters recede.
Heavy rains over the weekend forced the evacuation of numerous homes and businesses in Des Moines and surrounding suburbs. Drake University broadcaster 66-year-old Larry Cotlar was killed when he was swept away by floods on Saturday.

Areas near Fourmile Creek in Des Moines and Walnut Creek in Clive were especially hard hit. Water rushed into ground-floor apartments in parts of Des Moines ruining belongings. Fifty-eight-year-old Ellen James says she lost everything and had to stay in a shelter Sunday night. In Clive, dozens of businesses and homes were also ravaged by floodwater.

Red Oak Police are investigating two hit-and-run property damage incidents that were reported Friday. The owner of a 2014 Ford XPL Sport Utility Vehicle reported to Police their legally parked vehicle was struck as it was parked in the 600 block of E. Elm Street, while the owner was away on vacation. The SUV was side-swiped by an unknown white vehicle, causing about $2,500 damage. And, the owner of a 2010 Ford Fusion told police he parked his vehicle on the east side of N. 3rd Street Friday evening, and went inside his residence. When he came out a few hours later, he noticed a dent in the passenger side door and what appeared to be white paint on the door. There was also a residue of rubber, possibly from the tire or bumper of the other, unknown vehicle. The damage was estimated at $1,500.

A woman from Creston reported to Police, Sunday, that someone had stolen several car wash tokens from her vehicle. The incident occurred while the vehicle was parked near her residence in the 300 block of S. Vine Street. The loss was estimated at five-dollars.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Red Oak Police, Sunday night, arrested 50-year old Gregory Allen Riley, of Red Oak. He was taken into custody at around 9:40-p.m. for Violation of a No Contact Order. Riley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Flooding in Des Moines was fueled by 3 to 8 inches of rain that fell across the area Saturday night. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says, “The speed and how long that rain fell caught us by surprise.” Longtime Iowa sportscaster Larry Cotlar died Saturday when he was swept away in floodwater as he got out of his van on a city street. The 66-year-old Cotlar had worked as the voice of Drake University’s teams since 2005.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed more than 170 bills during and after the legislative session. Most of those laws took effect Sunday, the start of Iowa’s new budget year. Among the changes is an extension to Iowa’s safe haven law, which allows newborn infants to be voluntarily surrendered for foster care placement. Additionally, drivers approaching a stopped vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights are now expected to move over a lane.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will more than double the amount of water released into the Missouri River from the river’s lower-most dam over the coming weeks. Releases from Gavins Point Dam, between Nebraska and South Dakota, will be stepped up over the next several days, reaching approximately 50,000 cubic feet per second by early to mid-July. That’s up from the 24,000 cubic feet per second set in mid-June.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs man who shot his own mother while showing her his shotgun has been charged with a felony in the case. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 20-year-old Seth Rennie has been charged with reckless use of a firearm resulting in serious injury. Rennie told police he thought the gun was unloaded when it fired May 20, hitting his mother in the torso. She was taken to an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital with injuries, including a damaged liver.

A long-time central Iowa Sports Broadcaster died Saturday night, after being swept away in floodwaters after his van stalled in a flooded Des Moines street. According to WHO-TV in Des Moines, the body of 65-year old Larry Cotlar, of Des Moines, was found nearly four-hours after he was swept away by the raging flood waters. His body was discovered early Sunday morning, several blocks away.

Witnesses told police that as the van occupants got out of the vehicle, one was swept away in the floodwater. His body was found nearly four hours later, at around 12:40-a.m., several blocks away. Cotlar was the Media Relations Manager for the Iowa Barnstormers, and a radio play-by-play announcer for the Drake Men’s Basketball team. He also worked at a sports radio station in Des Moines.

The rain that caused Cotlar’s van to stall out, also prompted the evacuation of homes and businesses along Walnut Creek in the suburb of Clive. Many streets throughout the area were closed Saturday night, and some remained blocked Sunday morning.

A woman from Union County was arrested Saturday on drug charges, in Taylor County. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Samantha Gile-Smith, of Creston, was arrested in the 300 block of West Van Buren Street, in Lenox.

Gile-Smith was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine) – a Class C Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver (Marijuana) – a Class D Felony, and Possession of an Open Container as a Driver.

She was being held at the Taylor County Jail without bond until seen by a Magistrate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed more than 170 bills during and after the legislative session. Most of those laws took effect Sunday, the start of Iowa’s new budget year. Among the changes is an extension to Iowa’s safe haven law, which allows newborn infants to be voluntarily surrendered for foster care placement. The law now applies to children as old as 30 days, instead of two weeks.

Another new law requires drivers approaching a stopped vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights to always move over a lane. If that’s not possible, drivers must slow down and be ready to stop. Additionally, a law change means adults no longer need a permit to carry stun guns. They’re still considered dangerous weapons. Stun guns that launch projectiles are prohibited.