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Justice Department could sue Iowa over new immigration law
DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Justice has told Iowa's top officials it plans to sue the state over a new law making it a crime for a person to be in Iowa if they've previously been denied admission to the U.S. The statute interferes with the...
Meet the Ankeny teen completing his Eagle Scout project, despite doctor's diagnosis
ELKHART, Iowa — After years of participating in the Scouts, Jack Selby completed his Eagle Scout service project: constructing a back plate and planting a garden near the Virgin Mary statue at an Elkhart church. Jack, his parents and grandparents have spent the past couple weeks completing the garden,...
'We love what we do': MercyOne nurses honored with awards from national association
DES MOINES, Iowa — Three Iowa women are being recognized for outstanding service and leadership at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Each year, the Iowa Emergency Nurses Association honors nurses across the state at their annual conference. Leashe Trease, Sharee Brickman and Amber Wilson all work in the...
Red Cross in Iowa, Nebraska service hundreds of residents after severe weather damage
DES MOINES, Iowa — After the deadly Winterset tornado in 2022, Mark Carlson felt moved to join the American Red Cross. He's now helping Iowans and Nebraskans piece their lives together after last Friday's severe weather. "We've been seeing every level of damage you can imagine from the tree...
Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market opens May 4: Here's everything you need to know
DES MOINES, Iowa — Spring is here in Iowa, which means we're counting down the days until the Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market. Beginning on May 4, more than 300 vendors from across the state will flock to the market to sell locally-grown produce, handmade art, baked goods and more.
Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert retiring in 'next few months', city confirms
DES MOINES, Iowa — The city of Des Moines says Police Chief Dana Wingert will retire in "the next few months". “We will be sad to see Chief Wingert retire, but will take advantage of the next few months to celebrate his nearly decade long leadership. Chief Wingert has been a voice for pushing the Des Moines Police Department forward," the city told Local 5 over email.
Sports betting investigation: DCI investigator's email says probe would impress the public
IOWA, USA — A criminal investigator for the state of Iowa suggested to colleagues last year that busting college athletes for online sports betting would impress the public and “the powers that be” and perhaps nudge lawmakers toward updating gambling laws. “If they get suspended or get...
How much rain fell Wednesday evening into Thursday in central Iowa?
DES MOINES, Iowa — Scattered showers and thunderstorms occurred across the state Wednesday evening into Thursday. Rain arrived after 3 p.m. Wednesday from the south, pushing northeast. Thunder and rainfall intensity picked up into the evening as heavier pockets of rain generally landed south of Interstate 80. Rain is...
Local 5 Weekend Guide: Des Moines Farmers' Market opening weekend, Tulip Time
DES MOINES, Iowa — With summer on the horizon, central Iowa is blooming with potential. From Pella Tulip Time to a Cinco De Mayo celebration in Valley Junction, there are so many ways to celebrate what makes central Iowa special. Local 5 rounded up five events taking place this...
Power in Ames restored after lightning strikes utility pole, causing outage
AMES, Iowa — Thousands of customers in west Ames were out of power Thursday morning, according to the Ames Electrics Services outage map. Ames police said on X the outage was caused by lightning striking a power pole on Mortensen Road near Hayward Avenue early Thursday. The Ames Electric...
Minden, Iowa family loses everything from EF-3 tornado
MINDEN, Iowa — The EF-3 tornado that ripped through Minden, Iowa left the community reeling and many families without homes. The Runge family had their entire home destroyed by Friday's tornado, a house full of memories lost in minutes. All that is left of the home is a pile of rubble.
Mayor Connie Boesen: Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders rescinds resignation
DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders will not resign in fall as originally planned, Mayor Connie Boesen confirmed in a Wednesday email. "Scott has pulled together the support he needs to remain successful in his role, and I look forward to his continued strong leadership in the years to come," Boesen's message reads in part.
Indianola family assists farmers facing drought conditions across the country
INDIANOLA, Iowa — An Indianola family has been selling hay bales and corn stalks for years to farmers experiencing drought conditions. When there's a drought, less precipitation leads to slower growing grass and translates to less hay bales being created. Some ranchers travel to The Hay Depot from Warren...
Demonstrators protest at Iowa State University amid nationwide Palestine protests
AMES, Iowa — Students across America have taken to their college and university campuses this week protesting their schools’ ties with Israel. On Wednesday, students at Iowa State University held a demonstration in support of Palestine, calling for a permanent ceasefire. Alumni like Kimberly Glenn also gathered to...
Gov. Reynolds sign bills into law to expand access to cancer screenings
DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday signed 40 bills into law, with two of them involving insurance coverage for cancer care. In 2023, the State of Iowa was recognized by the Iowa Cancer Registry for having the second-highest rate of new cancers in the nation. During the 2024 legislative session, some lawmakers focused on how to make cancer-driven care more affordable for Iowans.
Pella's annual Tulip Time Festival guide | Tickets, parking, schedule, forecast
PELLA, Iowa — Pella's iconic Tulip Time Festival will be wowing visitors once again with its thousands of blooming flowers and authentic Dutch feel. The festival will take place from Thursday, May 2-Saturday, May 4 this year. With a picturesque windmill, fields of flowers and historic architecture serving as the event's backdrop, the three-day celebration of Dutch culture is sure to keep attendees entranced.
Culver's restaurants hosting 10th 'Scoops of Thanks Day' on May 2
PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. — Fans of Culver's frozen custard have a chance to grab a scoop while helping a good cause. Thursday, May 2 is the 10th annual "Scoops of Thanks Day" at Culver's restaurants. The promotion allows guests who donate $1 to local Future Farmers of America chapters and other agricultural educational organizations to receive a complementary scoop of frozen custard.
State Medical Examiner identifies body of man found after Jasper County house fire
COLFAX, Iowa — Editor's Note: The above video was originally published in March 2024. The State Medical Examiner's Office has identified the body found in a Jasper County home following a fire in March, according to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. The deceased man, 64-year-old Dale Albert Schmidt, was...
JJ's Tavern + Grill honored as 2024 Iowa's Best Burger
ANKENY, Iowa — JJ's Tavern + Grill in Ankeny has been honored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council with the 2024 Iowa's Best Burger award. The JJ Smash Burger is a tasty combination of beef, tavern sauce, American cheese, lettuce, red onion and pickle. "We’re now sealed with some...
Woman dies after being pinned under trailer, Madison County Sheriff's Office says
MADISON COUNTY, Iowa — A Winterset woman has died after being pinned underneath a trailer, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Officials responded to a report of a woman pinned under a trailer on Woodland Avenue in rural Madison County, between Truro and St. Charles, around 9:30 a.m. Monday.
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