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A wild brawl erupted at a Meta facility in Altoona between two out-of-state contractors, escalating to a physical fight and a shocking gunshot — but authorities confirm it was self-defense, with no injuries and no charges filed. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary...

Dr. Andy Crozier, Waukee’s new superintendent, kicked off his leadership with a community coffee chat focused on listening and building trust. With the district booming and a potential new high school on the horizon, he’s prioritizing visibility and engagement. He’s not planning major changes to screen time policies, which already limit phones in classrooms, and sees Waukee as an AI education lead...

West Des Moines is gearing up for a massive $400 million development called the Grand Experience, set to transform two sites near the MidAmerican RecPlex into a bustling entertainment hub. The project includes a 142-room hotel, convention center, residences, a sprawling indoor water park, and a brand-new 6,000-seat covered amphitheater — all wrapped up with shops, restaurants, and parking. Mayor R...

Iowa’s hands-free driving law is paying off—with a 13.6% drop in phone tapping and 9.1% fewer handheld calls, thanks to driver behavior shifts, law enforcement, and safety partnerships. Nationwide’s data shows over 140,000 fewer phone movements across the state, including in major counties like Polk. The real win? Iowans choosing safety over distractions—proving community action drives real change...

In Runnells, Iowa, a wild special election unfolded as write-in candidates forced a historic tie in the city council race — with two contenders each snagging 37 votes, forcing a random draw by the Board of Supervisors on July 14th to decide who gets the seat. Meanwhile, the mayor’s race was a breeze for Josh Davis, and one council seat remained unfilled after no one bothered to run. Listen in comf...

Ashley Taylor’s fatal wrong-way crash trial, originally set for this month, has been delayed due to her lawyer’s request for family medical reasons — a new date of July 23 has been scheduled. The crash in May 2025 on Highway 30 allegedly involved Taylor driving drunk in the wrong direction, leading to a head-on collision that killed 26-year-old Christian Royston. With the legal process still unfol...

Bipartisan House lawmakers, led by Iowa’s Zach Nunn, are demanding urgent action to protect WNBA players—especially star Caitlin Clark—after a season marred by dangerous on-court incidents. They’ve formally lettered the league’s commissioner, citing Clark’s status as a hometown hero and revenue driver, and gave the WNBA until July 24th to respond. This moment underscores a growing national convers...

A powerful explosion rocked a rural home northwest of Hancock, Iowa, just before noon Tuesday, sending flames and debris flying—prompting swift response from multiple fire departments. The fire raced from the residence into a grain bin and then into a nearby field, causing extensive damage. Thankfully, no one was inside at the time, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are now investigating...

John Deere is pushing for a two-year contract extension with its Iowa union workers, citing market uncertainty and falling equipment demand, while offering to keep all current benefits intact and tossing in a $3,000 ratification bonus to sweeten the deal—putting the fate of labor peace and worker livelihoods squarely in the hands of rank-and-file UAW members before August’s deadline. Listen in com...

In Runnells, Iowa, a city council seat is being decided by a literal lottery—after a tie between Corey Walker-Zepeda and write-in candidate Jake Dingman, both with 37 votes, the Polk County Board of Supervisors will draw names from a hat to pick the winner. One vote could’ve changed everything, underscoring how crucial every ballot is. Meanwhile, another tied seat went to Jay McCrea, whose willing...

A tense standoff outside a Meta building in Altoona ended with a single shot fired into the ground—no charges filed after investigators confirmed the shooter acted in self-defense. The incident, involving non-Meta contractors from out of state, was swiftly resolved thanks to video evidence and witness accounts, leading to a quick arrest and a clear legal outcome. Listen in comfort: Get a discount...

Iowa is throwing a massive celebration this fall to mark America’s 250th birthday — the America’s Harvest Festival on October 24th at the state capitol, featuring fall fun, live entertainment, and representatives from all 99 counties, spotlighting Iowa’s deep roots in American agriculture and heritage. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertis...

A tragic car crash in Waukee on July 7th ended in the deaths of two men, Titus Wanjala, 43, and River Cropper, 23, after their vehicle plunged into a pond near Manchester Blvd and N.W. Stratford Drive. Emergency crews pulled both men from the submerged car, but neither survived. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, with no official details released yet. The community mourns the l...

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on July 4th when a nine-year-old girl from Waterloo, Iowa, lost her life in a rollover crash near Pierre, South Dakota. The accident, involving a Polaris Ranger, occurred around 2 PM as the vehicle attempted a turn — a devastating moment that has left a community in mourning. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Ad...

The U.S. Men’s National Team may be out of the World Cup, but their final match against Belgium shattered U.S. soccer viewership records with 30 million viewers—tying the biggest audience ever for a soccer game broadcast in America. That game surpassed the previous record set just days earlier by the U.S. vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match, which drew 26.4 million, and even outpaced the earlier U.S. vs....

Iowa’s rolling out its biggest agricultural celebration yet: America’s Harvest Festival, set for October 24th on the State Capitol grounds in Des Moines, spotlighting the state’s farming legacy with reenactments, live music, and local eats—all free thanks to major sponsors like Hy-Vee and the Iowa Farm Bureau. Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s a tribute to generations of hardworking Iowans who’ve fe...

Iowa’s first measles case of 2026 is a wake-up call: an adult caught it while traveling abroad, reminding us measles is still active worldwide. With over 2,100 U.S. cases already this year — most among unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals — getting vaccinated remains our best protection. Vaccinated people usually experience milder illness and are less likely to spread it. Health officials ha...

UnityPoint Health in central Iowa is cutting jobs and outsourcing key revenue cycle roles to Omega Healthcare, affecting less than 1% of its workforce—though patient care remains untouched. Employees got notice on July 7, following last year’s move to outsource 207 IT jobs. The hospital insists these changes are about operational efficiency, not patient safety, as part of a broader healthcare tren...

Iowa reports its first measles case of 2026 — a vaccinated adult in Polk County who likely caught it while traveling abroad. Health officials are urgently tracing contacts and alerting people who visited specific locations in Des Moines, Webster City, and Altoona during key windows. While vaccines offer strong protection, no shot is 100% foolproof, especially with international travel. This single...

Tragic Drowning at Coralville Aquatic Center | Des Moines News

Thunderstorms are rolling into central Iowa this evening, bringing heavy rain and strong wind gusts—especially north of I-80 toward Highway 20—with no major risk of hail or tornadoes. Storms will sweep south between 7 p.m. and midnight, then weaken into southern Iowa before dawn Thursday. Most areas expect under an inch of rain, but a few spots could see 1–2 inches, with isolated areas possibly ge...

Iowa braces for a weather rollercoaster today—hot, humid, and nearing 90 degrees, but don’t relax too soon: scattered storms are rolling in late evening and overnight, packing heavy rain and gusty winds. Northern Iowa sees storms between 4–6 p.m., spreading south and east into central Iowa by 7–10 p.m. While not as severe as last week’s flooding, some areas could see 1–2 inches, with isolated spot...

Hot today, then a wild weather twist: a cold front brings thunderstorms between 7 and 9 PM, with strong winds as the main threat—no major flooding expected. Most of central Iowa’s under a moderate severe weather risk. Rain clears by midnight, temps cool to the mid-80s through Thursday, but don’t relax—the heat’s roaring back by the weekend, with nineties sticking around for at least the first half...

Trump’s legal team is trying to shut down a lawsuit over a pre-election Iowa poll showing Kamala Harris ahead — but Selzer’s lawyers are pushing back, calling the claim baseless and arguing that public polling before an election doesn’t justify legal action. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an auto...

A惊魂一幕在科拉尔维尔上演：一人落水，紧急救援人员火速赶到，警方介入调查。细节尚不明确，但事件凸显泳池安全之重要，官方正全力还原事发经过，后续将持续追踪。 Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sourc...