Fears about flooding are rising as more rain is in the forecast over the next few days for parts of the state that are still soggy from up to five-inches of rain last weekend. Meteorologist David Sheets, at the National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities, says eastern Iowa is filling what was until recently a moisture deficit.

“As of a couple weeks ago, there were parts of eastern Iowa that were starting to enter a D-zero drought,” Sheets says. “River levels were at seasonal normals and in some instances, below normal.” That’s changing though and Sheets admits too much rain, too soon, will cause more flash flooding in areas like Cedar Rapids. Still, the Weather Service is -not- predicting widespread flooding like in 2008.

“The danger we have is the saturated soil conditions and stream levels running high,” Sheets says. “If we were to get a thunderstorm with heavy rainfall, it can quickly lead to flash flooding in urban areas and along streams. That’s what we’re most prone to right now.” The current forecast calls for more scattered storms across much of Iowa through Sunday but the showers are -not- expected to bring significant amounts of rain.

(Radio Iowa)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Red Oak arrested 67-year old Dennis Leroy Vanderhoof, of Red Oak, late Tuesday night. Vanderhoof was taken into custody at around 10:10-p.m. in the 200 block of N. 4th Street, for Breach of Peace. His bond was set at $300.

Homes are selling faster in Iowa than any point in the last three years. That’s according to a report released Tuesday by the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR). I-A-R president Jon Yocum says the report, covering activity in the month of May, outlines several positive developments in the state’s housing market. “First off, our days on the market has dropped considerably from a year ago, so that means houses are hitting the market and moving much faster,” Yocum says. “Sales are up 7.3 percent over a year ago, so that means more homes are being sold.”

Home sold in Iowa last month, on average, were on the market for 75 days. That compares to 90 days one year ago. A total of 4,134 homes were sold in Iowa last month as compared to 3,853 homes that sold in May 2014. Yocum gives credit to low interest rates and programs offered in the state to help home buyers. “The Iowa Finance Authority has come out with a couple of new summer programs…with some more money to help buyers with down payment and closing costs, especially if you’re a first-time buyer,” Yocum says.

The report also shows the median sale price of homes sold in Iowa rose just over 4 percent. In May 2014, the median sale price was $137,500 while the median price last month was $142,450.

(Radio Iowa)

Local businesses or others interested in contracting or working with the government, from federal to local, and invited to attend a workshop and Q & A session on Government Contracting on Thursday, June 25th, from Noon to 1 PM, at the Cass County Extension Office. The workshop is offered at no cost to anyone pre-registered, and a light lunch will be provided to all attendees.

Topics covered include how to locate governments in your area and become registered with them, how to research and find government bid opportunities, how to respond to a government solicitation and develop a government proposal as well as more information about Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) services available to your business.

The workshop will be led by Andy Alexander, Government Contracting Specialist with Iowa State University CIRAS. Andy has expertise in bid proposal preparation assistance, government contract counseling and post award assistance, and is a Certified Contracting Assistance Specialist (CCAS) and Certified VA CVE Verification Counselor.

More information on the program is available by calling or stopping into the Cass County Extension office, and can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.exension.iastate.edu/cass. Registrations are requested by Wednesday, June 24th at noon. To register, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, or e-mail keolson@iastate.edu.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County arrested a motorist early this (Wednesday) morning, following a two-state pursuit that ended south of Council Bluffs. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the chase began about 2:40-a.m. in west Omaha, around 120th Street and West Dodge Road. That’s where an unidentified motorist failed to maintain control of a Dodge Durango SUV in his lane.

The driver failed to pull over after Omaha police attempted to make a traffic stop, Douglas County emergency 911 dispatchers said the motorist led police to the Missouri River on Interstate 80. Once the pursuit crossed into Iowa, authorities here picked up chase in Council Bluffs.

The motorist finally pulled over and was taken into custody at around 3:10-a.m. on southbound Interstate 29 just south of Council Bluffs. No injuries were reported. The chase involved Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police and deputies with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department.

A woman from Carroll County was injured during a collision between her car and a semi, Tuesday afternoon, in central Iowa’s Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 58-year old Patricia Peters, of Carroll, was traveling west on Highway 30 at around 1:50-p.m., when for reasons unknown, her 2008 Chevy Impala crossed the center line and hit the front, driver’s side of an eastbound 2014 Peterbilt semi, driven by 52-year old William Moffett, of Crane, MO. Following the collision, the Impala came to rest on the north shoulder of the road, while the semi stopped in a corn field, north of Highway 30.

A 2001 Chevy Tahoe traveling behind Peters’ car swerved to avoid the collision, entered the north ditch and rolled over. The driver, 27-year old Paul Daggett, of Minburn, was not hurt. Patricia Peters, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by Jefferson Rescue to the Greene County Hospital. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After a six-day break with no new bird flu cases, the Iowa Department of Agriculture says another egg-laying chicken farm has tested positive. A farm in Wright County with 1 million chickens has experienced increased deaths among the flock and a preliminary test indicates the presence of the bird flu virus. Iowa’s last reported case was June 9.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Three relatives charged in a conspiracy to ship weapons from Iowa to Lebanon are pleading not guilty. Ali Herz; his brother, Bassem Herz; and Bassem Herz’s wife, Sarah Zeaiter, entered the pleas Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids. The fourth suspect, Ali Herz’s son, Adam Herz, is expected to follow suit during an arraignment hearing Wednesday. The four were arrested last month after agents intercepted shipping containers headed from Cedar Rapids to Beirut that had many guns and rounds of ammunition hidden inside construction equipment.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — All new homes built in Waterloo must include garages under a plan approved by the City Council. The council voted to change a zoning ordinance and require all new single or two-family homes built after July 1 to have a garage. Habitat for Humanity has built many homes without garages, but officials say the group was consulted and supported the requirement.

GARWIN, Iowa (AP) — An investigation by the state auditor has found more than $500,000 in improper and unsupported spending by the eastern Iowa city of Garwin. Auditor Mary Mosiman says an audit requested by city officials found $562,089 of improper and unsupported spending. That includes 203 payments traced by credit card statements to former City Clerk Anna Lori Leytham. Payments on those credit card accounts date from December 2000 to September 2013.