Officials with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced in a news release that federal search warrants were executed on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at a number of locations in the Des Moines metropolitan area:

• 8500 block of Warren Drive, Des Moines
• 1800 block of Logan Avenue, Des Moines
• 1200 block of 11th Street, Des Moines
• 6300 block of SW 12th Street, Des Moines
• 3300 block of Sylvania Drive, West Des Moines
• 5700 block of Allison Avenue, Des Moines
• 900 block of 8th Street SW, Altoona
• 600 block of Walker Street, Des Moines
• 7400 block of SW 12th Street, Des Moines
• 7000 block of Bloomfield Road, Des Moines

The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents, and investigators from the Des Moines Police Department Vice and Narcotics Control Unit, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Metro Special Tactics and Response (STAR), Iowa State Patrol SWAT, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force East division, United States Marshals Service, West Des Moines Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Altoona Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

No other details were provided at this time.

Creston Police reported a few arrests in the last few days.

On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 12:00 pm 69 year old Francis Charles Weihs of 203 W. Montgomery St. in Creston was arrested at Maple and Montgomery.  Weihs was charged with Urinating and/or Defecating in Public.  Weihs was sited and released on a promise to appear.

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 1:35 pm 36 year old Julian Albert Rex Allison of 610 New York Ave. in Creston was arrested at 608 N. Birch St.  Allison was charged with Violation of Parole.  Allison was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond.

Also on Tuesday at 8:09pm 36 year old Ashley Nicole Parmenter of 2426 Almond Ave. in Creston was arrested at 1102 N. Pine St.  Parmenter was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Parmenter was taken to Union County Jail.  Bail of $1,000 cash or approved surety was posted.

It’s the third straight day of a statewide extreme heat warning, and highs in the low hundreds are tough on people — and pets.  At this stage, some folks may be getting used to the steamy weather, but it can still be deadly, quickly, to enclosed animals.  Joe Stafford, Director of Animal Services at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says if you leave a pet in a parked car, cracking a window open does virtually no good, and neither does parking in the shade.

In his 20-plus years in the industry, Stafford says he hears about such cases every summer and he’s confounded as to why some pet owners don’t ever seem to get the message.

He urges Iowans, if you see a pet (or a child) alone in a car, call 9-1-1, as your action could save a life.  Many dogs love to go on walks, but during this heat wave, it’s wise to limit their time outdoors, perhaps just to walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler.  K-C Routos (ROO-diss), the A-R-L’s director of development, says to test the sidewalk before bringing your pooch out on a leash.

If your dog is spending a lot of time outside, she says to keep them out of direct sunlight or consider using a sunscreen for dogs.  For more information on summer pet safety tips: https://www.arl-iowa.org/news/pet-tips-/5-summer-heat-safety-tips-for-pets/.

State Treasurer Roby Smith announces the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt had an active year at the Iowa State Fair. “In a short 11-day span, over 2,800 claims were filed at the Iowa State Fair and more than $538,900 was claimed. One individual even found $24,385 belonging to them,” said Smith. “As the State Fair would say, ‘Nothing Compares’ to finding your lost money!”

Smith utilizes the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to reunite owners and heirs with their unclaimed property. Under Iowa law, these assets are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office after businesses and financial institutions have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. Common examples of unclaimed property include forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds and safe deposit box contents.

“Thousands of fairgoers took advantage of our convenient, easy-to-navigate process to search for themselves, family members, friends and local businesses,” Smith continued. “But there’s no need to wait until next year’s State Fair; search online all year round! New names are continually being added, so even if you have claimed in the past, try searching again.”

To see if the State has any unclaimed property waiting for you, visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to complete your search. Stay up-to-date with the Treasurer’s Office on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning.  It is now in effect until Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 pm.

Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values peaking around 105 to 110 degrees are expected each day in all of Iowa.

Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.  The long duration of the heat can be particularly hard on the very young, the elderly and those with medical conditions.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9-1-1.

The Iowa Association of Realtors report for July says the state housing market continued to see sales and inventory drop.

Home sales were down by nearly 21 percent in July compared to last July. That’s a drop of 677 homes sold for a total of three-thousand-11 in the month. The number of sales from June to July of this year mirrored the yearly trend, down 20 percent.

The report says higher interest rates and a lower inventory led to the decline. The number of homes on the market in July decreased by a little more than 12 percent compared to July of last year. Homes sat on the market for 33 days this July before a sale — compared to the 23 day average of July 2022.

This (Wednesday) is the first day of school in many Iowa districts and motorists are being warned to slow down and stay alert for darting kids and for school buses. Hamilton County Supervisor Rick Young of Jewell says there’s been a recent rash of bad behavior from behind the wheel.

Speeding on gravel roads can be very risky, especially if a school bus is making a stop over the next hill, or as you’re approaching a rural intersection that’s partly obscured by crops.

The Iowa legislature unanimously passed Kadyn’s (KAY-dinz) Law in 2012, targeting motorists who pass a stopped school bus with the stop arm extended. On the first offense, a conviction could bring a fine of up to 675 dollars, up to 30 days in jail, and a 30-day suspension of the driver’s license.

In Sioux City alone, police report issuing 32 citations last school year to motorists who passed a parked school bus with its stop sign extended.

Landowners who object to letting the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline run through their property are making their case to state utility regulators. The Iowa Utilities Board opened a public hearing on the company’s application for a pipeline permit this (Tuesday) morning. The hearing is expected to continue through next month. Lawyers spent part of the opening day arguing about what kind of questions they’re allowed to ask of landowners. Bret Dublinski (doo-BLIHN-skee) represents Summit Carbon Solutions.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee) represents landowners who don’t want Summit’s pipeline on their property.

Utilities Board chairman Erik Helland is presiding over the hearing.

Helland and the other two members of the Utility Board are also asking questions of landowners. A lawyer for the state’s Office of the Consumer Advocate is also asking questions.

Landowners who object to letting the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline run through their properties are making their case to state utility regulators. The Iowa Utilities Board’s hearing on the company’s application for a pipeline permit began Tuesday morning. Marcia Langner (LANG-ner) of Ayrshire spent an hour and a half testifying about her concerns about the proposed pipeline route through her Clay County farm.

Langner says developers are using scare tactics when they say corn prices will tank if the pipeline isn’t built.

Nelva Huitink (NELL-vuh HOYT-ink) of Hospers says her family put a plan to build an automated milking facility on hold after learning Summit’s pipeline might run through their farm.

Huitink says the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline already occupies seven percent of her farm, drainage tile has been damaged and a sinkhole opened up a month ago.

Jessica Marson was the other landowner who testified on the hearing’s opening day. Her family farm is near Rockford, in Floyd County. She says Summit’s easement contract isn’t just for where the pipeline is buried, it would give the company access to the entire farm.

Marson says the Iowa Utilities Board should put Summit’s application on hold because North Dakota regulators haven’t approved the company’s plan to take liquid carbon to that state for underground storage.

The hearing will continues today (Wednesday) and ten more pipeline opponents are scheduled to testify. The hearing is expected to last for several weeks, perhaps to the end of September.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining the chorus of critics accusing the Biden Administration of releasing six-billion dollars to Iran in order to secure the release of five Americans being held hostage. Grassley and fellow Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina have sent a letter, asking the White House about what they’re calling a “secret deal” with Iran.

A New York Times report says President Biden negotiated the release of the hostages in exchange for unfreezing Iran’s assets in South Korea, transferring the near-six-billion dollars to an account in the central bank of Qatar (kah-TAR). In a tweet on Monday, Grassley said, “That’s a lot of money to fund more terrorism + will make taking Americans hostage more likely.” Grassley talked with Iowa reporters in a conference call on Tuesday morning.

According to the Times, Biden administration officials have declined to comment or to confirm details about the agreement. Grassley is incensed the U-S would negotiate with Iran, which he says is negotiating with terrorists.

Reports say three of the Americans were being held in Iran on unsubstantiated charges of spying. The other two are reportedly a scientist and a businessman.