As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, a Statewide Tornado Drill will take place beginning at 10-a.m., today. The event will unfold as follows:

• 10:00-a.m.: Test Tornado Watch from 10-a.m. to 11-a.m.  Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) will sound, and Weather Radios in all 99 counties will activate.
• 10:15-a.m., there will be a test Tornado Warning. At that time, sirens will sound throughout communities in Iowa, not only as part of the drill, but to test the sirens for actual severe weather. The National Weather Service recommends using the time to prepare for the real thing.
• 10:35-a.m.:  The test Tornado Warning will expire.
• 11:00-a.m.: The test Tornado Watch will expire.

This test will not activate the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on your mobile device, but some counties, including Cass, will activate their respective Emergency Notification System. If you haven’t already registered for the Cass County ENS, go to links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA). If you need further assistance, contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.

In 2018, there were 69 tornadoes in Iowa. 48 is the average number of tornadoes in the state. The peak months for tornadoes are May and June, but in Iowa, every month experienced a tornado. The majority of tornadoes occur during the afternoon and evening hours.  Now is the time to plan and prepare for where you would go during a tornado at home, at work or school and while commuting. Plans may vary based upon your unique circumstances.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of setting his stepson aflame in Des Moines has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports that 42-year-old Randy Miles Jr. told his stepson’s family in court Tuesday that he was sorry. Miles had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the state to avoid prosecution. Prosecutors dropped charges of arson and first-degree murder in return for Miles’ pleas.

Authorities say Miles fled to Grand Forks, North Dakota, following his confrontation with 26-year-old Christopher Lenhart on Aug. 25, 2017. Witnesses told police that Miles had argued with Lenhart and then threw gas on him while Lenhart was inside a vehicle. The gas then ignited. Lenhart died two days later at an Iowa City hospital.

(Radio Iowa) — With spring flood damage approaching three-billion dollars in Iowa and Nebraska combined, concerns are growing that waterways will again rise beyond their banks with even moderate rainshowers. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Joel DeJong says the soil remains saturated across much of the state and spring planting will certainly be delayed for many growers.
“We’ve got areas where the water seems to just not drain very well,” DeJong says. “Our soil moisture profile is just full right now so any rain we get this spring, a high percentage of it is going to run off, so we have that continued threat as we move forward. And as we get runoff from snowmelt up north, if the reports are accurate, I think we have continued threats.”

Not only is the soil too water-logged to plant, but DeJong says there are many areas where the rich topsoil has been carried away by flooding.  “The issue I have concerns about is soil erosion in areas where we had runoff, and secondly, the areas that had flooding. How long before we get dry enough to get back there?” DeJong says. “All acres are probably at risk of being a little late for planting this year but if you’re near a river where you got really saturated, it’s going to be a really long waiting game before we get a good shot at it.”

Even if the waters have receded and the soil might soon be suitable for planting, DeJong says farmers are facing other obstacles, like all the trash, sand, rocks and trees deposited by the high water. “We’ve all seen the pictures of all the flooding and how wide those rivers have been and how long they’ve been there and it’s just amazing the power that comes with it and what it takes with it,” DeJong says. “Of course, the residue is all gone from those acres and then you’ve got stuff that’s deposited on top of it. I’m sure they’re going to have sand deposits and everything else you’ve got to clean up and level out.”

DeJong advises producers not to get too concerned over the wet weather as conditions can change quickly. He says it’s a good idea to get everything ready to go for planting, so it can get done quickly when things do dry out.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has voted to change the way a key chemical in medical marijuana sold in Iowa is measured, making it easier to manufacture the pills, creams and other products. The legislation does not significantly change the current limit on T-H-C levels, but it would let physicians assistants and nurse practitioners recommend cannabis products as treatment for a limited number of medical conditions — plus paroled felons and Iowans with a terminal illness would be able to legally buy cannabis products if the bill becomes law. Representative Jarad Klein of Keota has been the point person on this issue for House Republicans.

“This is an issue that…some of us have great differences of opinion on, but we came together and found reasonable solutions, reasonable responses to help sick people in the state of Iowa, because quite frankly, unfortunately, the federal government has not been doing their job and they’ve left it up to those of us in the states to address it.” Republican Representative Jeff Shipley of Fairfield suggested the bill should get rid of more limits and let Iowans get cannabis as treatment for ANY medical condition. “I don’t quite understand the controversy, to be honest with you,” Shipley said. “To me, it’s just about empowering patients.”

Senators are working on a medical marijuana bill of their own and it’s unclear what policy changes may win approval this year.

(Radio Iowa) — A dead body was found on the shore of the Floyd River Tuesday morning, near the southeast edge of the Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. Someone called in around 10 a-m to report what appeared to be a body. Sioux County Sheriff Dan Altena says they found very little information for them to investigate

“It appears to be a male in his 30’s or 40’s and there was no identification,” Altena says. “So, at this point we have no idea who the person is. The body was not under water when we found it and began our investigation. It did appear that the body had been under water. It is very difficult to know how long the body was under water and that type of thing.”

Altena says the body was taken to the Iowa State Crime Laboratory in Ankeny, and an autopsy may hopefully provide some answers. “There was no real apparent cause of death at our investigation — but it was hard to tell,” according to Altena. The sheriff and officials at Northwest Iowa Community College say they believe there is no immediate danger to the public.

More information will be available as the investigation continues.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Tuesday, issued another disaster proclamation in response to flooding and flash flooding beginning March 13th and continuing. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for Carroll County.

Residents in the following (Area) counties are eligible to apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program: Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Union.

For more information visit floods2019.iowa.gov.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have passed a bill that could send a person to prison for life if they cause death of a fetus, even if it’s an accident and in cases where someone didn’t know the mother was pregnant. Sen. Jake Chapman amended the bill Tuesday on the floor of the Senate to make causing the death of a fetus a life-in-prison crime, the same as someone convicted of murder. Language equates such deaths to “killing an unborn person.” The bill now goes to the House.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Sioux City man of first-degree arson and involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 fire-related death of a woman. The Sioux City Journal says Robert Mahoney was convicted Tuesday in the death of 51-year-old Wanda Blake. Blake died three weeks after Mahoney torched his Sioux City apartment on Feb. 4, 2018. Mahoney faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced May 17.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — More than 1 million private wells that supply drinking water in mostly rural parts of the Midwest could face the risk of contamination from floodwater, posing a health concern that could linger long after the flooding subsides. The high water and swift current carries such things as raw sewage from overburdened treatment plants. The National Ground Water Association says there are 1.1 million private wells in 300 flooded counties in 10 states.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved a bill requiring the removal of all automated traffic cameras, sending the measure to the House even as that chamber considers another proposal dealing with the devices. The Senate bill passed Tuesday by a vote of 30 to 19. Republican Sen. Jack Chapman pushed for the ban, saying cities primarily installed the systems to raise money even while violating citizens’ constitutional rights.

At least eight Iowa cities operate more than 70 cameras. The most recent data showed Cedar Rapids raised the most, at $4 million annually. Windsor Heights, a Des Moines suburb of about 5,000 people, raised $2 million.

Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi, who says she received an automated speeding ticket Monday in Des Moines, opposed the bill, saying cameras change driver behavior, improve safety and free up officers.

Similar legislative efforts to ban the cameras have been tried for nearly a decade but have failed. The House measure would divert an estimated $6.5 million a year from cities to the state Department of Public Safety.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Des Moines Public Schools employee and youth theater director has been charged with five felony child sexual exploitation counts.
The Des Moines Register reports that 49-year-old Thatcher Lane Williams was charged after police found multiple files of apparent child pornography on his Tumblr account on his home computer earlier this year. Police say in court records that Williams told investigators no one else had access to the Tumblr account.

Williams had been the office manager at Monroe Elementary before resigning Monday when he learned charges would be filed. He had been placed on leave when police began their investigation in January. Williams has also worked with Class Act Productions, a children’s theater group in Altoona, as a director.

Williams was being held Monday on a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is set for April 5.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Sioux City man of first-degree arson and involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 fire-related death of a woman. The Sioux City Journal says Robert Mahoney was convicted Tuesday in the death of 51-year-old Wanda Blake. Blake died three weeks after Mahoney torched his Sioux City apartment on Feb. 4, 2018.

Prosecutors say Mahoney was bored when he set a small fire in his apartment with bug spray and a lighter. When the fire went out, Mahoney became angry and set a second fire, which blazed out of control and damaged several units at Central Apartments.

Firefighters found Blake unconscious in a hallway. She was taken to a hospital and was recovering, but died when blood clots in her legs traveled to her lungs. Mahoney faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced May 17.