Hannah Fingerhut

A second autopsy commissioned by the family of one-year-old Kohen Wiley indicates he was shot from the side rather than the front of a moving car, contradicting the officers’ account that they fired in self‑defense. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, joined by the child’s relatives, demanded the release of police body camera, dashcam, and Walmart surveillance footage. The shooting, which occurred after a call about possibly shoplifted diapers, has sparked protests in Senatobia and renewed scrutiny of prior police encounters in the community. State investigators maintain the vehicle drove toward officers before shots were fired, while the investigation continues.

A severe heatwave is disrupting summer camps, outdoor events and public activities across the Midwest, while extreme conditions are expected to spread into the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Heat indexes could exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with some areas nearing 110 degrees. Officials and medical experts are urging hydration, shade, light clothing and limited exposure during the Fourth of July holiday period. Communities have opened cooling centers, canceled events and closed or restricted access to public buildings.

Zach Lahn defeated Trump-endorsed Representative Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary, delivering an unusual setback for the president and encouraging Democrats seeking to win the governor’s office. Lahn’s campaign combined socially conservative policies with opposition to agricultural consolidation, pesticides and poor water quality, attracting strong backing from the Make America Healthy Again movement. Activists framed the result as evidence that voters are receptive to anti-pesticide politics despite Iowa’s powerful farm lobby. Democrat Rob Sand, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination and has raised $18 million, will face Lahn in November. Feenstra conceded and urged Lahn to unite the party.

ICE officer Christian Castro faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime over the January 14 shooting of Venezuelan man Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. Federal authorities had initially accused Sosa-Celis and another man of assaulting an officer, but a judge dismissed those charges and investigators began examining whether officers lied under oath. The case unfolded during the Trump administration’s large-scale Minnesota immigration operation, which also prompted unrest after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Minnesota officials continue investigating federal officers despite the administration’s claim that the state lacks jurisdiction.

Vice President JD Vance visited Iowa for the first time since taking office to campaign for Republican Representative Zach Nunn, while also stopping in Cincinnati to vote in Ohio’s primaries and hosting a Republican National Committee fundraiser in Oklahoma City. The trip gives Vance an early opportunity to build support among Iowa Republicans ahead of the 2028 presidential race, although party strategists say it is still too early for candidates to campaign openly and that President Donald Trump remains the central influence. Vance and other Republicans also face economic concerns among Iowa voters, including higher gas and fertilizer prices linked to the conflict in Iran, as well as the effects of Trump administration tariffs on farmers. Democrats have been more visibly testing the early-primary states, while potential Republican candidates are proceeding cautiously until Trump signals that the next campaign can begin.

Christopher and DeYanna Ostroushko and their daughter Paige were indicted on federal assault charges after a confrontation with Turning Point USA journalist Savanah Hernandez during an anti-immigration-enforcement protest outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minnesota. Christopher and Paige also face charges of interfering with a federally protected activity, while Christopher separately faces a state misdemeanor assault charge. Prosecutors allege that the family confronted Hernandez and that Christopher shoved her head-first into the ground; Hernandez reported injuries including broken glasses and a concussion. The family’s attorney argues that circulated videos are incomplete and says the defendants will mount a strong defense, emphasizing that an indictment is not a conviction. The family is due to appear before a federal judge on May 12.

A state audit confirmed that former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts directed $6,476 in consulting and travel payments to Lively Paradox, a firm that marketed him as a consultant and speaker, despite district finance officials identifying a conflict of interest. The audit also found more than $2,000 in prohibited donations made with district funds. The district lacked an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure policy at the time but has since revised its rules to require disclosures and additional training. Roberts, who was detained by ICE in September, pleaded guilty in January to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms; he faces sentencing on May 29, with the two charges carrying a maximum combined sentence of 20 years.

Kristin Ramsey, 53, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of Iowa Realty agent Ashley Okland, who was found dead while hosting an open house in West Des Moines. Prosecutors say a witness saw Ramsey near the model home, heard two loud thuds, and later found Okland unresponsive; the defense argues prosecutors presented the grand jury with only a selective portion of the evidence and omitted weapons, ballistics, and DNA information. Ramsey's bail remains set at $2 million, and her trial is scheduled for January. Okland's death prompted real estate associations across the country to adopt stricter agent-safety practices.

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed Iowa to enforce its 2023 law restricting LGBTQ+-related instruction through sixth grade, banning certain books from school libraries and classrooms, and requiring parental notification when students socially transition at school. The decision vacates lower-court injunctions that had limited the law, including protections for student Gender Sexuality Alliances and related advertising. Iowa officials called the ruling a victory for parents, while teachers, publishers, authors and LGBTQ+ advocates argue the law is overly broad and violates First Amendment rights. The underlying lawsuits will continue in district court.

U.S. gasoline prices have risen above $4 per gallon amid higher crude-oil costs linked to the Iran war and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Gas-station retailers generally have little control over these increases: crude oil and refining account for most of the pump price, while taxes and operating expenses absorb much of the remainder. Differences between stations reflect local taxes, transportation costs, competition, sales volume and operating economics. Retailers often see margins tighten during rapid price increases, while higher pump prices can also reduce convenience-store sales. The largest profits in the supply chain are generally made upstream by oil producers and refiners, though sustained price spikes may eventually weaken demand.

Dutch food-safety scientist Huub Lelieveld has received the World Food Prize for six decades of work developing hygienic food-processing methods that reduce reliance on preservatives, improve efficiency, prevent foodborne illness, and limit waste. After a long career at Unilever, he founded the Global Harmonization Initiative to promote international agreement on food and trade regulations. Lelieveld argues that knowledge about producing safe food and water must be distributed globally, especially as access to cross-border trade and transport can be disrupted.

The end of U.S. penny production has prompted lawmakers in roughly two dozen states to consider rules for rounding cash purchases to the nearest nickel. Federal legislation would establish symmetrical rounding nationwide, but it has not yet passed Congress. States including Indiana, Tennessee, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Virginia and Washington are pursuing different approaches, ranging from mandatory rounding to optional policies or legal protections for businesses. Treasury officials say rounding up and down equally should not affect consumers overall, while Federal Reserve researchers find that prices ending in eight or nine could make consumers lose several million dollars collectively. The change may save $56 million annually in production costs but could increase demand for costly nickels.

Iowa’s new preemption law, signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, bars cities and counties from maintaining nondiscrimination protections that go beyond the state civil rights code, eliminating local gender identity protections in places including Des Moines, Iowa City and Ames. Republicans say the measure creates clarity for businesses and schools, while Democrats and local officials argue it prevents communities from addressing residents’ needs and are considering legal action. The change follows Iowa’s 2025 rollback of gender-identity protections, which sharply reduced accepted civil-rights complaints and ended the ability to amend the sex designation on Iowa birth certificates; all such applications are now rejected.

Rising gasoline prices following the U.S. war with Iran are causing financial strain and political frustration across the United States, including among both Trump supporters and opponents. The national average reached $3.48 per gallon, up from $2.90 a month earlier, while many consumers cut travel or household fuel use. Polling shows broad concern that the war will raise energy prices and a divided public over the military action. Electric-vehicle owners view their vehicles as protection from the surge, while some drivers blame fuel companies for price gouging and others fault Trump’s policies and decision-making.

A drone strike on a command center in Kuwait killed six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers supporting logistics during the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran. Four victims were identified as Sgt. Declan Coady of Iowa, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor of Minnesota, Capt. Cody Khork of Florida, and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens of Nebraska; two others remained unidentified. Their families and communities remembered them as devoted spouses, parents, friends, and service members, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the military’s preparations and President Donald Trump warned that further deaths could occur.

The Pentagon identified four of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a drone strike at a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, as Army Reserve members from Florida, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. All served with the 103rd Sustainment Command in logistics roles supplying troops with food, fuel, water, ammunition and equipment. The report also details their families, education and community service, while noting President Donald Trump's warning that additional deaths were likely as the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran continued.

The Trump administration is scaling back Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area after heightened tensions, including the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. Border czar Tom Homan said improved cooperation with state and local authorities, personnel changes and the use of body cameras enabled the drawdown, but targeted immigration enforcement will continue and thousands of officers remain in Minnesota. Residents and state officials welcomed the reduction while remaining distrustful and concerned about the operation’s effects on immigrant communities, businesses and public confidence in government.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis protester, was fatally shot by federal immigration officers after a roughly 30-second struggle. Federal officials say Pretti had a 9 mm handgun and violently resisted attempts to disarm him, but videos reviewed by the Associated Press appear to show him holding only a phone and do not clearly show him with a weapon. The footage shows officers pushing, pepper-spraying and wrestling Pretti to the ground before shots are fired, although it does not establish who fired first. Pretti’s family and Minnesota leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, accuse federal agents of excessive force, while the Trump administration defends the shooting and attacks its critics.

Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, is expected to plead guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an employment verification form and unlawfully possessing firearms while in the country illegally. The charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 20 years, and the plea agreement acknowledges that Roberts may be deported after serving any sentence. Roberts was arrested by immigration officers after allegedly fleeing in a district-issued Jeep; authorities found a loaded handgun, cash and additional firearms at his home. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue additional related charges and to recommend some leniency, but the final sentence will be determined by a judge.

Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, is expected to change his not-guilty plea to federal charges alleging that he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship and illegally possessed firearms. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September after allegedly fleeing agents; authorities say they found a loaded handgun, cash, and three additional firearms at his home. Roberts, a Guyanese national subject to a final removal order, could face prison time and deportation. His attorney has said Roberts believed a previous lawyer had successfully resolved his immigration case.

A Minneapolis family of six was caught between protesters and federal immigration officers while driving home from a child’s basketball game. Destiny Jackson said an officer rolled a tear gas canister beneath their SUV, filling it with toxic fumes and triggering panic as her children struggled to breathe. Her six-month-old son experienced respiratory distress, while Jackson, her husband, and two other children received hospital treatment. The Department of Homeland Security said officers were responding to rioters and agitators and did not target the family. The incident has intensified concerns about the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on bystanders and local residents.

The remains of Iowa National Guard members Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathanial Howard, killed in a December 13 ambush in Syria along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat, were repatriated to Des Moines on Christmas Eve. Their families, state officials and military personnel attended a solemn transfer ceremony before the caskets were taken to funeral homes. The soldiers were posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, while three other Iowa guardsmen were wounded. President Donald Trump met the families and pledged retaliation; the administration subsequently carried out military strikes in response to the attack.

Federal prosecutors estimate that half or more of the roughly $18 billion allocated to 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen, although the precise losses remain uncertain because fraud is difficult to detect. Investigations began with the Feeding Our Future child-nutrition case and have expanded to housing, autism and other programs, with more charges expected. Gov. Tim Walz ordered an audit, paused payments and expanded fraud-prevention resources, while President Donald Trump and other Republicans blamed his administration. The cases have also triggered concern about stigmatizing Minnesota’s Somali American community, since most defendants are Somali American. Nationally, pandemic-era fraud has cost the federal government hundreds of billions of dollars, and recovering stolen funds is often slow, incomplete and complicated by overseas assets and unrecoverable spending.

Federal prosecutors say at least 14 Minnesota state-run programs have been flagged for significant fraud, involving suspected misuse of a substantial share of approximately $18 billion in Medicaid payments. Five new defendants were charged in an alleged housing-services scheme, while another person was accused of fraud involving an autism-services program; one previously charged defendant pleaded guilty. Prosecutors criticized Minnesota’s oversight, warning that fraud threatens services for legitimate patients. The findings are likely to reinforce Donald Trump’s attacks on Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota, while Trump has also used the cases to target the state’s Somali immigrant community.

An investigation commissioned by Des Moines Public Schools concluded that the school board reasonably relied on JG Consulting to vet Ian Roberts or disclose limitations in its vetting when hiring him as superintendent in 2023. The review found that the firm supplied only a seven-year background check and a likely forged transcript claiming Roberts held a Morgan State University doctorate, while potential discrepancies were not raised with the board. Roberts, who is from Guyana, resigned after being arrested and indicted on charges including falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing a firearm. The district is expected to use the findings in its lawsuit against JG Consulting, which argues that immigration and work-authorization verification were the district's legal responsibility and accuses it of shifting blame for its own hiring failures.

A major Arctic cold front brought record-low temperatures, freeze warnings and snow across the eastern two-thirds of the United States. Florida experienced an abrupt freeze, prompting concerns about agriculture and falling iguanas, while heavy lake-effect snow caused hazardous travel and opened ski areas around the Great Lakes. California was expected to face a separate atmospheric river bringing heavy rain, mountain snow and an increased risk of flooding, mudslides and debris flows in wildfire-scarred areas.

A major Arctic air mass brought record-low temperatures to Alabama, Florida and Georgia, with 18 million people under freeze warnings. Jacksonville reached 28°F, breaking a 1977 record, while falling iguanas highlighted the unusual cold in Florida. Heavy lake-effect snow affected New York, Michigan, Vermont, West Virginia and other northeastern areas, causing hazardous driving conditions, accidents and travel disruptions. Forecasters expected additional snow before temperatures moderated later in the week.

Former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts has been indicted on charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an employment verification form and possessing firearms while unlawfully in the United States. Roberts, originally from Guyana, was detained by ICE after allegedly fleeing in a district-issued Jeep Cherokee; authorities found one handgun in the vehicle and three additional weapons at his home. He had previously received a final removal order, and the school district is facing fallout from his hiring, including a lawsuit against the consulting firm involved in the superintendent search.

Ian Roberts, the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent arrested by U.S. immigration agents, maintained a consulting relationship with Lively Paradox, a firm founded by Nicole Price that marketed his expertise and published books he co-authored. The Associated Press found that districts where Roberts held leadership roles repeatedly hired Price or Lively Paradox for training, workshops and consulting, generating tens of thousands of dollars in payments. Des Moines officials stopped a proposed $116,000 contract after identifying a potential conflict of interest, although the district later paid the firm $6,476 for work at a board retreat. Roberts’ contract permitted outside professional activities with approval, but the extent of his outside income remains unclear. Price denies impropriety, while district officials and board members have called for a review of expenditures connected to Roberts.

Des Moines Public Schools is suing JG Consulting, alleging the search firm negligently vetted Ian Roberts before recommending him for superintendent. Roberts, a Guyanese national, was arrested by immigration authorities and charged with possessing firearms while unlawfully present in the United States; he later resigned after his education license was revoked. The district says the firm failed to present negative information, including discrepancies in Roberts’ academic credentials and immigration status, and is seeking to recover taxpayer funds and address reputational damage.

Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was charged in federal court with possessing firearms while allegedly unlawfully present in the United States. Immigration agents arrested him after he fled a traffic stop, and authorities found a handgun in the school-issued Jeep Cherokee he was driving as well as three allegedly loaded firearms at his home. Roberts's attorney, Alfredo Parrish, said he would plead not guilty and emphasized the presumption of innocence. Court documents say Roberts had a final removal order and lacked lawful employment authorization, while Roberts reportedly believed a Texas attorney had successfully resolved his immigration case. The attorney's office said its letter indicated the case was being closed but was not intended to say the court proceedings had ended.

Ian Roberts, who resigned as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools after being detained by immigration authorities, claimed in his 2023 job application that he had earned a 2007 doctorate from Morgan State University, although the university confirmed he had not completed the degree. The school board learned of the discrepancy during its background check but hired him anyway because he met the stated minimum qualifications. Roberts is challenging deportation to Guyana and remains jailed in Sioux City. His superintendent license was revoked, while records also reveal a $250,000 employment settlement involving a former subordinate at his previous Pennsylvania district.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, after authorities said he fled a traffic stop and was found with a loaded handgun, cash and a hunting knife. ICE said Roberts was in the country on an expired student visa, had a final removal order from 2024 and had prior weapons-related charges. Pennsylvania court records show he previously pleaded guilty to a minor firearm infraction, which he said may have been influenced by racial bias. Education union leaders expressed shock and praised Roberts’ leadership, while the detention heightened concerns among students, families and staff in one of Iowa’s most diverse school districts.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said she will dismiss her lawsuit against Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx over a deleted Facebook post that questioned whether local authorities should honor federal immigration detainers without court orders. Although Bird’s investigation found that Marx had complied with nearly two dozen ICE requests, she alleged the post violated state law and threatened county funding. After meeting with Marx and receiving a commitment that the county will continue honoring detainers and cooperating with federal immigration authorities, Bird said the county is now compliant. The decision followed strong local support for Marx and criticism that the lawsuit was intended to bully him.

At least 120 people were killed and more than 160 remained missing nearly a week after catastrophic July Fourth flooding along Texas’ Guadalupe River. Key unanswered questions concern how state and local officials prepared, how quickly warnings and emergency alerts were issued, and whether Camp Mystic’s emergency plans adequately accounted for the overnight flash flood. State officials say forecasts did not identify the precise area of heaviest rainfall, while local officials have offered few details about resource deployment and alert procedures. Investigations and an after-action review are expected, but authorities have not provided a timeline and say the immediate priority remains searching for victims.

Flash floods caused by intense rainfall along the Guadalupe River in Texas’s Hill Country killed at least 24 people and left many others missing, including roughly 23 to 25 girls from Camp Mystic. Hundreds of people were rescued by ground teams and helicopters, while families searched for loved ones at reunification centers and through social media. Officials said the rainfall dramatically exceeded forecasts, but Kerr County’s chief elected official acknowledged that the county had no warning system. Residents described being caught without emergency alerts as floodwaters rapidly rose, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to flash flooding.

Donald Trump said he plans to stage a full UFC championship fight on the White House grounds as part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. He said the event could draw 20,000 to 25,000 people. The announcement came during an Iowa appearance launching anniversary events, which will also include a National Mall festival and a national high-school athletic competition. The White House provided no additional details. Trump’s close relationship with UFC president Dana White and his recent attendance at several UFC events were noted. He also promoted his tax and spending bill, which Democrats oppose because of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Donald Trump has proposed holding a UFC championship fight on the White House grounds on July 4, 2026, as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The event could accommodate 20,000 to 25,000 spectators and would be accompanied by a National Mall festival and a high school athletic competition. Trump also used a speech in Iowa to highlight the passage of his tax-and-spending bill.

Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity from its civil rights code, ending explicit protections for transgender and nonbinary residents in employment, housing and public accommodations. The law defines sex according to reproductive anatomy at birth, eliminates changes to birth-certificate sex designations and ends Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy. Republican officials say the changes protect sex-separated spaces, while LGBTQ+ advocates warn they will increase discrimination and prompt families to leave the state. Existing complaints involving incidents before July 1 can still be filed within the applicable 300-day period, and the law is likely to face court challenges amid broader nationwide restrictions on transgender rights.

Nitrate levels in rivers supplying the Des Moines area have reached 9 milligrams per liter, just below the federal limit of 10, prompting Central Iowa Water Works to impose its first regional ban on lawn watering. The utility is treating the water at a cost of $14,000 to $16,000 per day, but demand currently exceeds its treatment capacity. Officials say the water remains safe and compliant, while warning that higher levels could threaten infants and pregnant women. Nitrate spikes are historically associated with agricultural runoff, but officials have not identified the specific cause of this year’s unusually high readings. The episode revives a long-running dispute involving farmers, state authorities and Polk County over the cost and responsibility for reducing fertilizer pollution.

The Satanic Temple's Iowa congregation, represented by the ACLU of Iowa, filed a religious-discrimination complaint after state officials denied its application for a December 2024 holiday display and event at the Iowa Capitol. The group says the denial violated constitutional and state civil-rights protections and unfairly treated Satanists differently from Christian and other religious groups. Officials cited concerns about obscene content, gratuitous violence and costume accessories that could pose risks to children. The complaint is a required preliminary step before a state civil-rights lawsuit, while a separate ACLU lawsuit challenges the withholding or redaction of records related to the dispute.

Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy declined to sign a 287(g) agreement allowing local officers to enforce federal immigration law, saying the arrangement could drain county funds, jail capacity and personnel despite his willingness to assist ICE. His decision has drawn both support and criticism locally as the Trump administration threatens to identify jurisdictions deemed insufficiently cooperative as “sanctuaries.” Iowa law requires cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and Attorney General Brenna Bird has pursued legal action against another county sheriff. Iowa currently has only one agency participating in the program, while nationwide participation has expanded sharply.

A federal judge ruled that Iowa may restrict mandatory instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade, but cannot prohibit nonmandatory programs, student groups or advertising related to those topics. Judge Stephen Locher found that the law’s bans on “programs” and “promotions” could violate students’ First Amendment rights, while allowing restrictions on mandatory curriculum, tests, surveys and instruction. Schools must permit Gender Sexuality Alliances and neutral references to diverse identities and sexual orientations, but teachers may not provide detailed or normative instruction on those issues. The decision follows earlier rulings by Locher and the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals concerning the law, as well as a separate challenge to restrictions on books depicting sex acts.

Cuts by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency have gutted AmeriCorps, dismissing workers and canceling grants that supported disaster recovery, education, food production, veterans’ services and other community programs. Organizations including Mosaic in Action in Texas and High Rocks Education Corporation in West Virginia are scrambling to replace lost labor and funding, while some volunteers and local groups have turned to online fundraising and private donations. Leaders warn that these workarounds are temporary and that many partner organizations and vulnerable communities may lose essential services.

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is refusing a demand from state House Government Oversight Committee Chairman Charley Thomson for confidential information about its legal-service clients, donors and members. The organization’s attorney argues that the request is not legally valid and may represent an abuse of process, while Democratic ranking member Elinor Levin says it is intimidating, burdensome and potentially beyond the committee’s authority. Thomson’s directive warns of fines or criminal liability and orders the nonprofit not to disclose the request, despite the House not having approved a formal investigation. The dispute comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration and growing concern among Iowa immigrant and refugee communities.

About two dozen states sued the Trump administration over the dismantling of AmeriCorps and the cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for community and state projects. The lawsuit alleges that the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency unlawfully cut staff, dismissed volunteers and terminated congressionally funded grants. The administration defended the actions by citing more than $40 million in improper payments reported in 2024. At least 85% of AmeriCorps staff were placed on administrative leave, while programs supporting disaster response, veterans, food pantries, child-abuse prevention and housing faced disruption.

Iowa lawmakers are advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow courts to limit face-to-face testimony requirements for witnesses under 18 and people with certain disabilities or mental illnesses. The measure responds to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that found remote testimony violated a defendant’s state constitutional confrontation rights, despite federal precedent allowing such procedures when necessary to protect child witnesses. Supporters, including Attorney General Brenna Bird, prosecutors and victim advocates, say the change would prevent traumatized children from having to face alleged abusers and would encourage them to testify. Defense attorneys and some lawmakers warn that exceptions could undermine defendants’ rights and signal guilt to juries. The amendment would require approval again in 2027 or 2028 before going to Iowa voters in November 2028.

A slow-moving storm system brought tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain to Oklahoma and Texas, causing widespread damage and deadly flooding. Two people, a woman and a 12-year-old boy, died after floodwaters swept away a vehicle in Moore, Oklahoma. At least 17 tornado events were reported, including confirmed EF1 damage in Ada and Marshall County, Oklahoma, while tornadoes in Parker County, Texas, caused significant damage and power outages. The system moved northeast toward Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa, with additional threats from hail, high winds and flooding because streams remained swollen and the ground saturated.

The Trump administration is ending AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps early as part of its government-spending reduction campaign associated with the Department of Government Efficiency. More than 2,000 young adults serving in projects involving housing, conservation, education and disaster relief will be dismissed on April 30, with allowances and health coverage continuing through that date. Corps members may receive prorated education awards, while former director Kate Raftery warned that the decision will deprive participants of an important pathway to skills, education and careers.

AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps has dismissed its young volunteers early because of operational changes tied to the Trump administration’s government-reduction campaign and the Department of Government Efficiency. More than 2,000 members, who work with nonprofits and FEMA on community and disaster-response projects, will be paid through April, but education and student-loan benefits will be prorated based on time served. The program’s annual funding was nearly $38 million, and its teams have completed millions of service hours since 1999.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird sued Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, alleging that a Facebook post questioning federal immigration detainer requests discouraged cooperation with ICE and violated a 2018 state law banning sanctuary-city policies. Although the sheriff’s office had complied with nearly two dozen ICE requests since 2018, Marx argued that detainers lacking court orders could violate Fourth Amendment protections. The post was deleted as a gesture of good faith, but the attorney general’s office said the corrective action did not meet its requirements, putting county state funding at risk. The dispute comes amid the Trump administration’s broader effort to compel local governments to support federal immigration arrests and deportations.

A rapidly developing storm system brought blizzard conditions, high winds and hazardous travel to parts of the Midwest and Great Plains, while dry, windy conditions elevated wildfire risks from Texas and Oklahoma through Arkansas and Missouri and severe thunderstorms threatened Illinois and Indiana. More than 70 million people faced wind advisories or warnings, major sections of Interstates 70 and 80 were closed, tens of thousands lost power in Nebraska, and previous tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires had killed at least 42 people across eight states. The storm was expected to push east on Thursday, bringing possible heavy snow to higher elevations in New England.

The Trump administration has asked courts to dismiss Biden-era lawsuits challenging Iowa and Oklahoma laws that criminalize presence in the states for certain people who are in the U.S. unlawfully. The states enacted the measures after accusing the Biden administration of failing to enforce immigration law, while the Biden administration argued that the laws improperly interfere with federal authority. The laws remain blocked, and the litigation has become more complicated after the Eighth Circuit said a separate challenge by Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice should be dismissed because the federal case made it moot.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation making Iowa the first U.S. state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code. Effective July 1, the law defines male and female by reproductive anatomy at birth and eliminates protections against discrimination based on gender identity, while retaining protections based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability and other characteristics. Iowa Republicans say the change is needed to protect sex-specific spaces, while Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates argue it will enable discrimination and stigmatize transgender people. The bill passed with opposition from all Democrats and five House Republicans, and advocacy groups including One Iowa say they may pursue legal action.

Iowa lawmakers are expected to vote on a Republican-backed bill that would remove gender identity from the state’s civil rights protections and define gender as synonymous with sex. Supporters say the change would preserve sex-segregated spaces and reinforce restrictions on transgender participation in sports and access to bathrooms, while LGBTQ+ advocates warn it could permit discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations. If approved by the GOP-controlled House and Senate, the bill would go to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Advocates say it would be the first state legislative action explicitly removing gender identity from a civil rights code, amid a broader national push influenced by policies of President Donald Trump.

Bayer is supporting legislation in Iowa and several other states that would shield pesticide makers from failure-to-warn lawsuits when their products comply with EPA labeling rules. The company says Roundup is essential to American agriculture and that roughly 177,000 lawsuits and $16 billion in settlement costs are unsustainable. Farmers and industry allies argue that losing Roundup could hurt yields, soil conservation and the rural economy, while opponents say the bills would deny people accountability for cancer allegedly linked to glyphosate. The EPA considers glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer when used as directed, but other studies and lawsuits associate exposure with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The effort has expanded after similar bills failed in several states in 2024, with legislation advancing or under consideration across much of the United States.

The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kept in place a temporary injunction blocking Iowa's law criminalizing presence in the state for some immigrants with deportation orders or prior removals. The court also directed a lower court to dismiss a separate challenge brought by Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, ruling that the federal Justice Department's case made it moot. That decision could complicate the litigation if the Trump administration withdraws the federal complaint. Iowa officials continue defending the law and supporting President Trump's broader deportation agenda, while immigrant-rights advocates are considering their next legal steps.

A new winter storm is expected to bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, while an Arctic air mass continues to produce dangerously cold temperatures across the southern United States. Dallas-area roads are being treated ahead of snowfall, with officials preparing for hazardous travel and a Cotton Bowl game expected to draw 75,000 fans. The broader cold spell has already caused crashes, deaths, flight disruptions, power outages and infrastructure problems, including a water-system failure that closed Virginia’s Capitol buildings. Forecasters warn that additional snow and refreezing could create widespread black ice, while Florida growers remain concerned about damage to fern crops and citrus trees.

Annabell Whelan rescued two injured owls in Minnesota on the same day: a great gray owl found near Two Harbors and a snowy owl trapped in a car grille in Duluth. After consulting Wildwoods, she safely transported the first owl to rehabilitation and cared for the snowy owl, named Nowl, overnight until the center reopened. Wildwoods treated Nowl and coordinated her transfer to the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, while urging drivers to slow down, watch for wildlife and contact professionals rather than handling injured animals themselves.

Marcia and Jerry Savage, aged 74 and 78, were killed when a tree crashed through their bedroom during Hurricane Helene in Beech Island, South Carolina. Family members said the couple were found embracing, and that Jerry appeared to have turned to protect Marcia. Their relatives remembered them as devoted teenage sweethearts married for more than 50 years, generous grandparents, and active members of their community. Their deaths were among more than 150 fatalities caused by Helene across several U.S. states, including two South Carolina firefighters killed when a tree fell on their truck.

Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned effective immediately after more than seven years in office, saying he needs to devote more attention to his wife and two children while pursuing a new career opportunity. Gov. Kim Reynolds praised his service and said she will appoint a replacement later in the fall, as required by Iowa law. Gregg was appointed lieutenant governor in 2017 after Reynolds became governor and was elected with her in 2018 and 2022.

Iowa abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood North Central States, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Emma Goldman Clinic, voluntarily dismissed their legal challenge after the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the state's ban on most abortions after roughly six weeks. The law took effect July 29 after the court lifted a temporary injunction. Planned Parenthood said continuing the case would not currently expand access and is instead focusing on care within the new restrictions and helping patients travel to neighboring states. The ruling represents a victory for Iowa Republican leaders and anti-abortion advocates, while increasing pressure on abortion providers and patients seeking care elsewhere.

Iowa’s law banning most abortions once cardiac activity is detectable, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, took effect after the Iowa Supreme Court lifted a temporary injunction. The measure includes limited exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormality and threats to the pregnant woman’s life, replacing the previous 20-week limit. Abortion providers will continue operating within the law while expanding referral, travel and medication-abortion support in neighboring states. Providers and advocates warn that the restrictions will disproportionately harm low-income residents and women of color, while Republican leaders defend the law as reflecting Iowa’s interest in protecting fetal life.

An Iowa district judge ordered a law banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy to take effect, following a 4-3 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that found no state constitutional right to abortion. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law in 2023, and it had been temporarily blocked after legal challenges from the ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Exceptions apply for rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities and threats to the pregnant woman's life, but providers say enforcement will be difficult because the timing of detectable cardiac activity is approximate. Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic plan to continue offering services within the law, while Planned Parenthood has expanded facilities in neighboring Minnesota and Nebraska. Supporters celebrated the decision, while providers warned that patients will face denied appointments, travel and other burdens as access narrows.

Spring tornadoes and record flooding affected two-thirds of Iowa’s counties, damaging more than 5,000 homes, destroying infrastructure and producing over $130 million in reported damage. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced state programs for housing reconstruction, temporary housing through FEMA, community development and assistance for farmers. Flooding also damaged schools and farm operations in communities including Rock Valley and Spencer. Meanwhile, flooding along the eastern Iowa Mississippi River valley remained below record levels, while rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl eased drought conditions and reduced concerns about low river levels and saltwater intrusion.

The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to decide whether the state may enforce its abortion law banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. The law has been blocked since shortly after its passage, leaving abortion legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks. Republican leaders and the state argue that the law should be reviewed under the least stringent constitutional standard, while the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic argue that it burdens constitutional rights and bodily autonomy. The ruling could address enforcement immediately and may also shape the court’s approach to future abortion-rights challenges.

Extreme rainfall caused record or near-record flooding across Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and businesses and killing at least two people. Near Mankato, Minnesota, a family’s childhood home collapsed into the Blue Earth River after flooding around the Rapidan Dam, but the owners vowed to reopen the nearby Rapidan Dam Store and continue selling its homemade pies and burgers. Officials are evaluating the stability of a nearby bridge and whether to repair or remove the dam, while downstream communities face major property damage, road closures, overwhelmed infrastructure and the discharge of untreated sewage into the Missouri River.

Torrential rains have caused widespread, deadly flooding across Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota, with some areas receiving up to 18 inches of rain and rivers reaching record levels. Homes, roads, bridges, utilities and levees have been damaged, while further flood warnings, tornado warnings and severe weather remain in effect. Officials have ordered evacuations and restricted access to dangerous areas; President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for affected Iowa counties. Rescue workers are also responding to extensive harm to wildlife, while floodwaters continue moving downstream through the Missouri and Mississippi river systems.

Severe flooding across Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota and neighboring parts of the Midwest has killed at least two people, displaced residents, damaged roads, bridges and businesses, and caused power and drinking-water disruptions. More thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes were forecast, while extreme heat added to the danger. Rivers were expected to continue rising as water moved downstream, and the Missouri River was forecast to crest near Omaha. A railroad bridge over the Big Sioux River collapsed without reported injuries, and flooding caused a partial failure of the western support structure at Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam, though officials did not expect the concrete dam itself to fail. Iowa officials reported hundreds of water rescues, while federal emergency personnel were deployed to assist affected communities.

Iowa defended Senate File 2340 in federal court, arguing that local officials would apply federal immigration standards rather than create new immigration rules. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights groups are seeking to block the law, which would allow state officials to arrest and prosecute people with certain deportation histories and potentially require them to leave the country. Opponents argue that immigration enforcement and deportation are exclusively federal responsibilities and warn that the law could affect people with lawful status or asylum claims. Judge Stephen Locher is considering an injunction before the law's July 1 effective date, while Iowa protesters and immigrant-rights advocates criticized the measure as unworkable and harmful to immigrant communities.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced that the state will resume reimbursing sexual-assault victims for emergency contraception after a 16-month review delayed 362 claims, but will no longer reimburse abortion expenses. The review also found deficiencies in victim-assistance services, including the lack of required protective-order notifications since 2019, prompting an overhaul and proposed increases in compensation for sexual-assault nurse examiners. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa condemned the delay and said survivors needing abortion care would now bear the cost; one abortion claim will not be reimbursed.

Residents of Greenfield, Iowa, are clearing debris and mourning four deaths after a tornado with estimated peak winds of 175–185 mph destroyed more than 100 homes and damaged the local hospital. Iowa officials requested a federal disaster declaration, and FEMA said it would expedite assistance that could include temporary housing. Additional tornadoes, large hail, flooding and hurricane-force winds were forecast across Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and neighboring states, with officials warning that already damaged communities remained especially vulnerable.