We’re a week into spring now and with the change of seasons, Iowans know it also means changing weather and sometimes, severe weather. Meteorologist Mindy Beerends, at the National Weather Service, says this is Severe Weather Awareness Week. There’s a different theme each day and today’s (Monday) focus is on severe thunderstorms.

“Tuesday, it’s how to receive warning information,” Beerends says. “Wednesday, information about tornadoes. Thursday, it’s preparedness and families, what they can do to prepare for severe weather, and Friday, we’ll be looking at flooding.”

Last year was a relatively quiet year for tornadoes in Iowa. “We had 43 tornadoes in the state of Iowa, just under the average of 48,” she says. “The activity usually peaks in May and June but every month in Iowa has seen a tornado.”

This year is already very active for tornadoes with multiple reports of funnel clouds in late February and at least ten tornadoes touched down statewide in early March. Beerends says there will be a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday.

“If there’s no severe weather occurring or expected that day, the Weather Service will conduct a tornado drill between 10 and 11 AM,” Beerends says. “We’re really just trying to get everybody to ensure they can receive a tornado warning and also practice any actions that you would take in the event of a real tornado.” Learn more at www.weather.gov/dmx.

(Radio Iowa)

Key legislators say there is NOT consensus on a bill that would reorganize the drinking water system in metro Des Moines, but it appears a statewide water quality initiative may get bipartisan support. Representative Chip Baltimore, a Republican Boone, has been working on that second bill, to set up a financing structure for water improvement projects.  “I think that one’s got more momentum behind it at this point in time and is a much more positive for the overall state of Iowa,” Baltimore says.

Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, says Baltimore’s bill is “very creative,” but Hall would like to see the state dedicate more dollars to water quality — by raising the state sales tax by three-eighths of a percent. “Water quality is something that you see legislators on both sides of the aisle agreement: we need to discuss this,” Hall says. “It’s a serious issue for the state.”

Hall and Baltimore made their comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program. House Republican Leader Chris Hagenow is from Windsor Heights, one of the suburbs that gets its drinking water from the Des Moines Water Works. Hagenow says a “regionalization” plan for drinking water systems in the Des Moines metro has run into problems. “Obviously you get something like that, there’s a lot different ideas and people want to go different directions and we’ve been trying to reach consensus on that and haven’t gotten there yet,” Hagenow says.

On March 17th, a federal judge tossed out the Des Moines Waterworks lawsuit that had challenged three northwest Iowa counties. The bill to dismantle the independent utility and turn over management to city councils in the Des Moines metro has cleared committees in both the House and Senate, but must pass either the full House or 50-member Senate by this Friday to remain eligible for consideration this year.

(Radio Iowa)

An Iowa City based research organization has released a report that’s critical of a bill approved at the statehouse dealing with nuisance claims against large livestock operations. David Osterberg is co-author of the report, titled “CAFO’s” and the diminished defense of public health,” released by the Iowa Policy Project. At issue is a bill that’s cleared both the Iowa House and Senate and awaits the governor’s signature. “It is going to be harder for you to win a lawsuit against a large confinement that you believe is affecting your health, affecting the property value of your residence, and just making your life generally unpleasant,” Osterberg says.

The legislation would limit damages that a neighbor may recover if harmed by a nearby operation. In addition to health consequences, Osterberg says the report focuses on how large animal feeding operations impact property values. “There is more to say about things like water pollution that comes out of these confined animal feeding operations, but we pretty much limited ourselves to health effects from air emissions and property loss,” Osterberg said.

Supporters of the legislation claim it’s designed to protect both large and SMALL farmers from nuisance lawsuits.

(Radio Iowa)

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) – City workers are moving into a new home in Underwood. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the new location offers more space to workers and more access for the Pottawattamie County community of about 900 residents.

City clerk/administrator Jill Willard says the new building has been vacant for several years after efforts to attract startup businesses didn’t pan out. Willard says the city owns the building.

Some renovation work began in January. There will be an office for the mayor and a City Council chamber room. The room also can be rented out for social gatherings such as classes and birthday parties.

Three people, including a teenager, were arrested Sunday evening in connection with an investigation into a vehicle stolen from Villisca. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 19-year old Keigan Eugene Armstrong, of Lenox, 24-year old Wade Garret Hulsey, of Villisca, and a 14-year old male were charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree.

Armstrong and Hulsey were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond each, while the juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted in their investigation by Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources officers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge says Gov. Terry Branstad doesn’t have to testify under oath in a lawsuit filed by a fired Division of Criminal Investigation agent who blames Branstad for destroying his career. Judge William Kelly, a Branstad appointee, rejected Larry Hedlund’s request to depose Branstad in Hedlund’s wrongful termination lawsuit.

Kelly ruled Friday in favor of the Iowa attorney general’s office, which is representing Branstad and argued the governor was too busy to face a two-hour deposition. Kelly says Hedlund can seek information from Branstad in written questions but requiring the governor to be deposed “would be an incredible burden” while he’s preparing to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Hedlund is suing Branstad and Iowa Department of Public Safety officials. He contends he was defamed and fired for reporting wrongdoing, including a 2013 incident in which he reported Branstad’s speeding SUV.

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

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in central Iowa say Chicago Bears cornerback Deiondre Hall and Green Bay Packers cornerback Makinton Dorleant were arrested outside a bar in Cedar Falls. Hall was cited for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interference with official acts. Dorleant also was cited for interference. A police affidavit says Hall spit in the face of the officers during Saturday night’s incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has led to finger-pointing at the Legislature and is an indication of how much has changed in the 17 years since the death of another child prompted a bipartisan inquiry. Following the death of Natalie Finn, lawmakers have been split about how to respond. It was much different after the 2000 death of 2-year-old Shelby Duis. Her killing prompted then-Gov. Tom Vilsack to speak at a public hearing, and the matter dominated that year’s legislative session.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Black Hawk County officials are struggling to decide how to pay for the replacement of a bridge crossing the Cedar River without raising property taxes or limiting funding for other road projects. The Courier reports the 55-year-old bridge has been deemed structurally deficient and needs to be rebuilt at an estimated cost of $6.5 million to $7.3 million. The supervisors are expected to consider the funding options in coming weeks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Kim Weaver wants a rematch against U.S. Rep. Steve King after losing to the Republican congressman in 2016. The Des Moines Register reports Weaver announced Sunday she would challenge King in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in 2018. In the last election, Weaver lost in 38 of the 39 counties in the district, but she remains optimistic about her chances against King.

A reminder from Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon: The eastbound entrance ramp and westbound exit ramps will closed tomorrow (Monday) morning at 7:00 AM and are scheduled to reopen on April 28th at 3:00PM. The EB entrance ramp detour is to take I-80 WB to US 71 and turn around. The WB exit ramp detour is also to go west to US 71 and take it back to exit 54.

At this time it appears it will stay open over I-80 but will be single line alternating with flaggers during the day. The exit and entrance ramps will be closed 24/7 starting Wednesday at 7AM until April 28th at 3PM. I attached a picture of the detour for the ramp closures.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democrat Kim Weaver wants a rematch against U.S. Rep. Steve King after losing to the Republican congressman in 2016. The Des Moines Register reports Weaver announced Sunday she would challenge King in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in 2018.

In the last election, Weaver lost in 38 of the 39 counties in the district, but she remains optimistic about her chances against King. The 52-year-old Weaver of Sheldon has criticized King in the past for his comments on minorities, immigration and same-sex marriage.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has led to finger-pointing at the Legislature and is an indication of how much has changed in the 17 years since the death of another child prompted a bipartisan inquiry.

Five months after the death of Natalie Finn, Republican lawmakers have been split over whether to investigate her treatment and Democrats have accused GOP leaders of being reluctant to take up the matter because of possible questions about state staffing.

The response was different after the January 2000 death of Shelby Duis, a 2-year-old from Spirit Lake. Her killing prompted then-Gov. Tom Vilsack to speak at a public hearing in Storm Lake, and the matter dominated that year’s legislative session.

Sen. David Johnson said both parties worked together in 2000 to improve the child welfare system.