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Derecho blows through Iowa, Illinois Monday evening
People across the Quad Cities region are picking up the pieces after what has been confirmed a derecho blew through the area Monday night. The system produced at least three tornadoes, with wind speeds equivalent to that of a category two hurricane. Wind speeds exceeded 70 mph, with a significant...
Rural hospitals built during baby boom now face baby bust
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Rural regions like the one surrounding this southern Iowa town used to have a lot more babies, and many more places to give birth to them. At least 41 Iowa hospitals have shuttered their labor and delivery units since 2000. Those facilities, representing about a third of all Iowa hospitals, are located mostly in rural areas where birth numbers have plummeted. In some Iowa counties, annual numbers of births have fallen by three-quarters since the height of the baby boom in the 1950s and ’60s, when many rural hospitals were built or expanded, state and federal records show.
Damage assessed after storm complex sweeps parts of the Midwest; Pattern change here brings cooler and comfortable conditions
FEELS COOLER Clouds have arrived Tuesday afternoon, but we remain rain/storm free. The reduction in temperatures &and humidity Tuesday are welcome despite still being warm and sticky. It felt as much as 20° cooler than Monday (2nd image below) when heat index was well over 100°. STORM CLEAN UP UNDERWAY We faired very well despite […]
Upper Mississippi River flooding offers relief after ongoing drought in the south
Upstream flooding along the upper Mississippi may bring downstream benefits and alleviate summer drought, according to meteorologists. A group of mayors and forecasters along the Mississippi River basin held a press conference on Thursday about the benefits and challenges of heavy rainfall in the Midwest in June and July. Representatives of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) gave an update on how flooding in states like Iowa, Illinois and Missouri will affect downstream communities.
Investigators did not violate rights in college gambling probe, state says in filing
Attorneys for the state have filed to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the investigation that roiled Iowa collegiate athletic programs and resulted in multiple criminal charges. More than 20 people, mostly student athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, were accused last year of underage gambling and identity theft, the latter for allegedly using other peoples' online gambling accounts to place wagers on athletic events. Nineteen pleaded guilty and were fined $645 for underage gambling, while six more had their charges dismissed.
Report: Housing is less affordable due to red tape in Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new report found that Illinois had the third-worst rate in the nation for building new housing units in 2023, with the main culprit being over regulation. Illinois Policy Institute found that government regulations account for nearly $70,000 of the $292,000 median home price in the state. Researcher Ravi Mishra said that is preventing new housing construction and aggravating a housing shortage, leading to higher prices...
Illinois dam fails after heavy rains and tornadoes sweep across state; hundreds told to evacuate
Storms with heavy rains and tornadoes rattled Illinois, overtopping a dam Tuesday in a southern part of the state and forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes. Water overtopped a dam near Nashville, Illinois, sending first responders to the flooded area to make sure everyone got out safely, officials said. There were no reports of injuries in the community of 3,000 southeast of St. Louis, but crews were sent to a home where a woman reported water up to her waist, said Alex Haglund, a spokesperson for the Washington County Emergency Management Agency.
Ottumwa motorcyclist injured in Tuesday morning crash
OTTUMWA, Iowa — A southeast Iowa motorcycle rider was injured in a Tuesday morning crash involving a car. It happened just after 11:30 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Rochester. According to the Ottumwa Police Department, the motorcycle rider, Dakota Jeffery Boyer, 33, of Ottumwa, received...
Ottumwa Man Arrested after Stealing from Delivery Truck
An Ottumwa man was arrested after allegedly stealing personal belongings from a delivery truck. 29-year-old Dillon Sisler was charged with 3rd degree burglary (unoccupied motor vehicle), an aggravated misdemeanor. On May 26 at 12:16 a.m, court records say Sisler entered an unoccupied delivery truck in the Hyvee parking lot on...
UPDATED SOUTHERN IOWA FAIR SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR TONIGHT (7/16)
OSKALOOSA — The Southern Iowa Fair Board and Extension Council announced last night that all events at the Southern Iowa Fair that were scheduled for 5:30pm or later were canceled due to the severe weather. The board released the updated schedule for today (7/16) on their Facebook page.
Illinois Confirms Multiple Tornadoes from Monday, Including Airport Twister
Chicago, IL – Tornadoes touched down across the Chicagoland area on Sunday evening, with confirmed sightings and damage reports coming from various locations, including a twister near Midway Airport. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago, survey teams are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by...
Oneida native earns bronze medal at national SkillsUSA Championships
ATLANTA — An Oneida native is now one of the best masons in the country. Gavin Gerard, a student at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, took home the bronze medal in masonry at the SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta at the end of June. With that win, he became the college's first medalist at a SkillsUSA national competition.
Man shot, critically injured in domestic disturbance, Rock Island police say
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) - The Rock Island Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance Monday night where one person was shot, officials said. The incident remains under investigation. Monday, at approximately 8:08 p.m., officers responded to the 3700 block of 5th Street for a report of shots being fired,...
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