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Heavy rainfall leads to flooding, multiple wastewater bypasses across the state

STATEWIDE — Following several days of heavy rainfall across the state, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Iowans to stay out of streams until the waters recede.

Several communities and facilities experiencing flooding across the state have notified DNR Field Offices of flooding impacts and wastewater bypasses. Currently, the department is unaware of impacts to municipal drinking water supplies or fish kills. DNR staff will continue to monitor these situations and assist impacted communities.

Heavy rainfall events can overload wastewater collection systems, which are underground sewer pipes that carry sewage to a treatment plant. Some collection systems are particularly vulnerable due to aging infrastructure.

With sewage pipes overwhelmed, excess water has nowhere to go and can back up into basements through floor drains. Bypassing can lower the water level and alleviate pressure in the collection system, keeping sewage from backing up into basements, which could present health risks.

It is recommended people and pets avoid these areas and stay out of flooded waterways.

WAPELLO COUNTY – Several inches of rain fell in a short amount of time, causing a stockpile of pressed wastewater sludge (biosolids) to become saturated near an agricultural site northeast of the City of Kirkville, causing a runoff event into a drainage ditch, which outlets to Cedar Creek. Staff from the DNR Field Office in Washington responded and are monitoring the situation.

Water samples have been collected in the area, and a soil berm is being constructed on the property to prevent further impacts to Cedar Creek. The remaining biosolids will be land-applied and excavated from the road ditch. As a precaution, the public is advised to avoid Cedar Creek north of Kirkville at this time.

Sigourney Man Dies in Two-Vehicle Crash Near Ollie

OLLIE – A two-vehicle crash in Keokuk County yesterday afternoon resulted in the death of a Sigourney man.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, yesterday afternoon, at approximately 2:45 PM, 65-year-old Steven Greiner of Packwood was traveling northbound in a GMC Sierra on 270th Avenue southeast of Ollie, while 83-year-old Phillip Blackhurst of Sigourney was traveling northbound behind him in a Ram ProMaster van.

Greiner’s vehicle was slowing to make a right turn onto 335th Street when Blackhurst’s vehicle rear-ended him. Both vehicles came to rest in the southbound ditch.

The crash report states that Blackhurst was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office.

Greiner was injured in the accident and transported via ambulance to Keokuk County Hospital & Clinics.

Both drivers were reportedly wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Ex-fraternity leader at Arizona university gets jail time after pledge died of alcohol poisoning

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced to two months in jail Wednesday for his role in a hazing that led to the death of a pledge.

Carter Eslick, 20, also received three years of supervised probation during a sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court. Eslick had pleaded guilty to a felony hazing charge in the Jan. 31 death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, at an off-campus house.

An autopsy found Martinez died of alcohol poisoning with a blood-alcohol content of 0.425% — more than five times the state’s legal limit for drivers 21 and over.

Martinez was among four Delta Tau Delta pledges who shared two bottles of vodka to ensure they vomited, according to court documents. Witnesses reported adjusting Martinez’s sleeping position and checking his pulse and breathing to look for signs of alcohol poisoning throughout the night, the documents said.

Martinez’s parents appeared remotely in court, still grieving their son, and said they want accountability and reform within Greek life, Phoenix television station azfamily.com reported.

Eslick was the fraternity’s pledge master at the time and was responsible for welcoming new members. He apologized Wednesday to Martinez’s family and said he takes “full responsibility for the hand I played in that ritual.”

Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said no sentence can undo the harm to the Martinez family.

“My hope is that this case helps people understand the serious dangers of hazing and encourages them to speak up and intervene before another family experiences this kind of loss,” Barker said in a statement.

Judge Stacy Krueger said Eslick knew what he did was dangerous and was troubled that no one spoke out against it.

Eslick could face additional jail time if he doesn’t meet the conditions of probation, which include creating and delivering 305 anti-hazing presentations and keeping the court updated on his progress. He also can’t use alcohol or drugs unless prescribed.

The university suspended the fraternity after Martinez’s death, and the national organization later closed the NAU chapter.

Iowa Lottery moving its headquarters to the Hoover Building

By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)

Department of Revenue director Mary Mosiman announced at the Lottery Commission meeting today that the Iowa Lottery headquarters is moving from Clive to the state capitol complex.

“The Department of Administrative Services is in the process of selling this building. So employees that currently office here will eventually…..over the next several months be relocating to the fifth floor of the Hoover building,” she says.

The Iowa Lottery and Alcoholic Beverages Divisions were moved to divisions under the Department of Revenue three years ago as part of the government realignment program. Mosiman says moving the Lottery headquarters is also part of that re-alignment, but the Alcoholic Beverages Division will keep its building in Ankeny.

Mosiman says they will be putting out a lot of information to update Lottery players on the change. “We want to make sure that they know where to come to turn in their winning tickets. We want to make sure that they easily find where to park and where to find the Lottery headquarters,” she says.

Mosiman says the move will save some money. “With this particular move, there will be some efficiencies that we anticipate seeing, including some enhancement of security that is very necessary for integrity of play, as well as everything pertaining to all things revenue generation,” she says. The Lottery purchased the building in Clive for $5.35 million in 2014 and the then CEO said the total cost came to $7 million with the addition of a generator and security measures.

Current Lottery CEO Steve Waymire says they are doing extensive renovation to accommodate the Lottery in the Hoover building. “Our current setup doesn’t fit in the Hoover building, so we will have all new furniture, it looks nice. We have a window for sales. We’re coming up with ways for the marketing team to decorate the area to make it our own and to lead players to the fifth floor,” Waymire says. He says they plan to move from November 6th through the 11th. “Our biggest obstacle is to ensure the movement of our computer gaming system and to make sure that it’s done in a secure manner,” he says. They will be on the same floor as the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The Ag Department moved out of the Wallace Building at the end of June in 2025 and into the Hoover Building. The Wallace Building was then torn down.

The Iowa Lottery headquarters moved to Clive after then Lottery CEO Terry Rich said the heating and cooling system in their building on Grand Avenue in Des Moines needed to be replaced and that would take several months. The Des Moines School District bought the Grand Avenue building from the Lottery for $1.6 million dollars to use as its administration building. The district later moved out of the building.

Mahaska Chamber Now Accepting Nominations for Civic Awards

OSKALOOSA – The Mahaska Chamber is now seeking nominations for their annual civic awards.

Do you know a business, organization, or individual who has gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in the community? You are invited to nominate someone who has made a difference through their leadership, dedication, service, or commitment to making Mahaska County a better place to live, work, and grow.

Award categories include:

Retail Business and Service Business of the Year (2 awards) – The most outstanding retail or service business in the Mahaska community during this past fiscal year must be in business for minimum of two years, demonstrate success, with evidence of commitment and contribution to the community. 

Industry of the Year – The most outstanding industry in the Mahaska community during the year will have a stable employment history, will have been in business for minimum of two years, showing evidence of commitment and contribution to the community and a commitment to sound management practices. 

Business Person of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated those qualities which have distinguished him/her in business: proven commitment and contribution to the community, a commitment to ethical business practices, recognized within their profession, a Mahaska County resident, a history of success in their business. 

Citizen of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated outstanding involvement in and support of his/her community over an extended period of time. 

Community Improvement Award – This commercial or industrial property will have made improvements which enhance the appearance and /or economic vitality of the Mahaska community through new development or through the redevelopment of an existing property. 

Educator of the Year – This individual from a Mahaska County school will display a true passion and devotion to the betterment of students. 

Student of the Year -This individual will be a graduating senior or college student from a school in Mahaska County who is well-rounded and displays exemplary leadership and service for the betterment of Mahaska County. 

Volunteer of the Year -This individual volunteers their time and goes above and beyond for the betterment of Mahaska County. 

Up & Comer – This young individual or new business owner will be recognized for their dedicated commitment, passion and high standard of excellence while leading the charge in Mahaska County. 

Chuck Russell Award – This person or project will be recognized for their dedicated commitment in preserving the rich heritage and history of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County. 

To make any nominations or if you have an innovative idea for a “special award” for exceptional achievement in a category not mentioned, you are encouraged to call 641-672-2591 or email ddegroot@mahaskachamber.org with “Mahaska Chamber Award” in the subject line to present the suggestion to the Chamber. Nominations must be received by Monday, November 2. 

Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn convicted of fatally shooting his wife

TROY (AP) — A former Ohio music pastor who once appeared on “American Idol” was convicted of murder Tuesday in the killing of his wife while he was having an affair.

Prosecutors said Caleb Flynn, 40, staged a home invasion in February after shooting his wife, Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach.

Flynn, who claimed his wife was killed by a burglar, could get up to life in prison without the chance of parole when he’s sentenced on Monday.

Flynn closed his eyes, shook his head to the side and fought to maintain his composure as the judge read the guilty verdicts on charges of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. He began sobbing while the judge dismissed the jury. His attorney called the verdicts “disappointing” and said he expects to file an appeal.

Flynn appeared on “American Idol” in 2013, telling TV viewers about how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition. He sang before judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj but did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood.

Prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday that Flynn wanted out of his marriage when he shot his wife at their home in Tipp City, a suburb north of Dayton. Flynn and the couple’s two daughters were home when police arrived.

The night before the fatal shooting, he sent a text to his lover saying: “I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow,” said Matthew Joseph, an assistant Miami County prosecutor.

Flynn didn’t want to lose his daughters, his high-paying job at his wife’s family business or his position in the church, prosecutors said.

“He wanted to keep his mistress and have his daughters all to himself,” Joseph said.

Prosecutors didn’t find the gun used to kill Ashley Flynn, but they said his fingerprints and DNA were all over the scene. They also said his devices showed that he was moving about the house even though he told investigators he was sleeping when his wife was shot.

During the trial, the woman who said she was having an affair with Flynn testified that he said he hated his wife and had thoughts of killing her.

Flynn’s attorney told the jury Tuesday that investigators never found evidence that Flynn fired a gun that day.

“His being unfaithful doesn’t equal murder,” said Patrick Mulligan. “The issue here isn’t, ‘Was he a good husband?’”

Text messages Flynn sent to his lover complaining about his wife were meant to make her feel good, Mulligan said.

Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn in 2022 while she was a 20-year-old intern at his church and had an affair with him for more than a year. Botner read some of her text messages with Flynn.

About six months before the killing, Flynn wrote: “I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”

Iowa’s governor calls legislature back into session Friday, to approve steel mill project incentives

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Governor Reynolds is calling the legislature back to Des Moines for a special session on Friday, to vote on new incentives for a proposed steel mill in southeast Iowa.

“This is a transformational opportunity,” Reynolds said Monday.

Reynolds was among a handful of Iowa elected officials who were in the Oval Office with President Trump on Monday afternoon to reveal the deal. Reynolds indicated she had engaged in “tough negotiations” with the company that plans to build the plant. “It has been incredible synergy working together on this project,” Reynolds said.

Today, in a news release, Reynolds said the State of Iowa has a “memorandum of understanding” outlining the terms of “a partnership” with Mesabi Metallics and the legislature will be asked to make to “reasonable and limited updates” to an already existing state economic development program. The “Major Economic Growth Attraction” or MEGA program currently provides rebates for sales taxes on construction materials, the company gets tax credits for each full-time worker hired once the plant opens and a refundable tax credit worth 5% of a company’s investment in the facility. That would equal $750 million on the proposed $15 billion project under current program rules. While she was at the White House, Reynolds said a program called “Source Iowa” will be launched at the end of the week, too.

“We want to make sure that Iowa businesses that are located in the state have the opportunity to partner with Mesabi Metallics,” Reynolds said.

The governor’s proclamation calls on the legislature to convene at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Mesabi Metallics is a subsidiary of a family-owned business based in India. It has recently opened in iron ore mine and processing plant in northern Minnesota that would supply the raw material for the plant in southeast Iowa.

City of Ottumwa Announces 2026 Oktoberfest Parades Street Closures

OTTUMWA — The annual Ottumwa Oktoberfest celebration is upon us and will feature both the Kiddie Parade and the Main Parade.

The Kiddie Parade will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. along Church Street. Motorists should be aware of street closures between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. from the St. Patrick’s Church area to the Happy Joe’s area.

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Main Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the intersection of Kitterman Avenue and West Main Street. From there, the parade will proceed east on Main Street to Green Street, north to East Second Street, then west to the Wapello County/City of Ottumwa Law Enforcement Center. In addition, the staging area will be closed to traffic from the intersection of West Main Street and West Second Street to the beginning of the parade route on West Main Street. Closure of the staging area is expected to begin around 7:00 a.m. with the route closure to follow approximately an hour later. Closures are expected to last until noon.

Motorists are encouraged to plan for both these events and exercise extra caution if traveling near the parade routes during these times.

From motorcycles to booze, US ban on $1 billion worth of Canadian imports goes into effect

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-Canada relations, already tense, are likely to deteriorate further after the United States went ahead early Tuesday with a decision to ban nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles.

The ban amounts to barely a ripple in $880 billion worth of a two-way annual trade between the two northern neighbors. But it marks another ratcheting up of President Donald Trump’s second-term trade war with America’s longtime ally and trading partner.

The import ban “certainly won’t do anything to help the trade tensions between the United States and Canada,” said trade attorney Patrick Childress, a partner at Holland & Knight and a former U.S. trade official.

The latest sparring began over the summer when Trump reached back to a Great Depression law to impose 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, charging that Canada discriminates against U.S. dairy, auto and alcoholic beverage producers. Canada promptly counterpunched with tariffs of 15%, 25% or 50%, matching U.S. imports dollar for dollar.

To punish Canada for retaliating against his tariffs, Trump decided to ban a list of Canadian products, effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.

The economic impact is likely to be minimal. Childress noted that the products on the banned list were already facing Trump’s tariffs. ”For a lot of these goods, the 50% was already acting as a de facto ban by making importation from Canada into the United States uneconomical,″ he said.

Jacob Jensen, director of trade policy at the center-right American Action Forum think tank, calculates that the ban would cover $967 million worth of Canadian imports, based on 2025 numbers. Of that, 87% would be alcoholic beverages that the U.S. targeted because of some Canadian provinces responding to Trump’s provocations by banning U.S. booze from store shelves.

Also banned are some dairy products — including the milk byproduct whey. The two countries have long clashed over Canada’s attempts to protect its dairy industry from foreign competition by imposing hefty tariffs once dairy imports have exceeded a quota.

The ban also covers motorcycles. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) in Quebec confirmed that its three-wheel Can-Am Spyder and Canyon motorcycles “will be excluded from importation into the U.S.’’ But BRP said the impact likely won’t be felt until next year because it has completed most production and shipments for the current season.

“This marks yet another escalation in the trade war that may result in further retaliation on the Canadian side,” Jensen said. He expects Canadian exporters and U.S. importers “impacted by these bans will be highly motivated’’ to demand that trade officials on both sides find some way to reach a “resolution of this whole ordeal.’’

The impasse imperils efforts to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a North American trade pact Trump pressured America’s neighbors into accepting in his first term and which he once declared “the most modern, up-to-date, and balanced trade agreement in the history of our country.’’

The deal allowed most goods to cross North American borders duty free. But since returning to the White House last year, Trump has announced a series of tariffs that have clouded the future of trade in the region.

Trump has directed most of his ire at Canada. He is openly seeking to pull Canadian manufacturing south. And he has inflamed public opinion in Canada by repeatedly suggesting that the country become America’s 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came to power last year on a promise to stand up to Trump. In addition to retaliating against Trump tariffs — China is the only other country to do so, with very different results — Carney has sought to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States, which last year accounted for more than 70% of Canadian exports.

“There is now a price to be paid for access to the United States market,” Carney said earlier this month. The Canadian prime minister wants to double Canada’s non-U.S. trade over the next decade.

Carney has embraced the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member.

And he said last week that trade negotiations with India are making “good progress” and that the two countries are aiming to conclude talks by the G20 summit in mid-December.

Carney also broke with the U.S. earlier this year, striking a deal with China to allow a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada at a sharply reduced tariff in exchange for China lowering tariffs on Canadian canola.

“We take note of the coming into force of the Administration’s previously announced trade measures,” said Gabriel Brunet, a spokesman for Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc. “Our first priority remains on protecting and supporting Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses from these unjustified actions. Our core focus is on what we can control: building strength at home, diversifying our partnerships abroad, and building Canada strong for all Canadians.”

Trump expressed confidence that the Canadians would cave in.

“They’re gonna come in and they’re gonna say, ‘Sir, we are sorry,’” he told reporters Monday. “They’ve treated the United States very, very badly. I think a deal will be made but it’s gonna be fair.”

Trade attorney Childress said the standoff is likely to continue for months, not weeks. The import bans and the tariffs so far “probably won’t cause enough economic upheaval to force either party back to the negotiating table,’’ he said.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Wet conditions persisted last week, with much of the state receiving above-average rainfall. This month is on track to go down as one of the warmest and wettest Septembers on record for the state of Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “As we move into October, warm weather is expected to continue, and we may finally get a break from the rain. Farmers are eager to harvest their crops and will be ready to get combines rolling as soon as the fields dry out.”

Crop Report

There were 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 27, 2026. This is 5.1 days less than last year, when there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 39 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 27 percent surplus. Ninety-seven percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is unchanged from last year. Seventy-two percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 6 percentage points behind last year. Five percent of corn has been harvested, which is 9 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Sixty-two percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 18 percentage points behind last year. Three percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 12 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.

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