New data collected by the National Weather Service shows even stronger winds during last week’s derecho than initially believed. The Quad Cities weather service office released new storm reports on Wednesday morning, and based on damage to the Westdale Court apartments on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids, which removed the roof, outside walls, and some inside walls from the top floor, surveyors estimate that 140 mph winds took place in that location. An emergency manager in Benton County also relayed a new measured wind speed in Atkins, using a personal weather station, of 126 mph. This appears to be greater than the previous record-holder for highest unofficial measured wind gust in Iowa, which was 123 mph and associated with a derecho on June 29, 1998, in Washington County.
Drake University has removed more than a dozen students from its Des Moines campus, saying they violated coronavirus safety and prevention guidelines at gatherings both on and off campus. A total of 14 Drake students were asked to leave campus for two weeks. Drake University asks undergraduate students to sign a compact in which they agree to social distance, self-monitor for symptoms and wear face coverings in campus buildings. The compact states that students will be disciplined if they host or attend parties on or off campus. Students who repeatedly violate the compact could be suspended or expelled.
An Iowa State professor is under fire after issuing a syllabus that threatens students who have opposing views from hers on abortion and same-gender marriage. According to the syllabus, the English professor said students could not make arguments against gay marriage, abortion or Black Lives Matter. Iowa State said it spoke with the professor, who changed the class outline. The university added it has provided the faculty member with information about its First Amendment policies.
President Donald Trump has promised to approve $180 million in aid for damaged Iowa homes and infrastructure and additional funding for farmers who were affected by the derecho that tore through the state last week. On Monday, Trump signed a portion of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ disaster relief request that covers extensive debris removal and repairs to public buildings, streets and bridges in 16 counties. That portion of the request totaled about $45 million.
A Cedar Falls man has been chaged with having sexual contact with a 2-year-old. Cedar Falls police arrested 47-year-old Daniel Definbaugh on Tuesday, charging him with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Bond was set at $100,000.
Authorities say Definbaugh had sexual contact with a girl in 2018 when she was 2 years old. He also had sex with an adult woman while the child was present. Police received a tip about the incidents just last month.
A Saturday night shooting that killed a Waterloo man started as a robbery. Police Tuesday arrested 24-year-old Ana Hellia Berinobis-McLemore of Elk Run Heights on one count of first-degree robbery. Court records indicate others were involved in the robbery, which ended with the death of 49-year-old Vincent Hemenway. Witnesses told police that two men in masks came to a house, asked for a lighter and then tried to take a lighter from one of the people. When the person resisted, one of the masked men drew a gun and fired several rounds into the group of people in the garage, striking and killing Hemenway. Police said GPS data from a cell phone found nearby placed Berinobis-McLemore less than a block from the scene of the shooting.
The Iowa State Education Association and the Iowa City Community School District filed suit Wednesday challenging a new state law requiring in-person learning during the pandemic. The Iowa City school board unanimously voted to join the lawsuit during a Tuesday evening meeting. The lawsuit will challenge the state education department’s implementation of the new law. The governor said schools that defy the state guidelines and move online without prior approval will not receive credit for that instructional time. School districts can request a waiver for in-person requirements, but only if they meet certain benchmarks.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is helping counties get ready for the November 3 general election amid the pandemic. Pate’s office is distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to Iowa counties, including face shields, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social distancing markers. More than $2 million from the CARES Act will also be made available to counties, which can use the money to purchase additional PPE, polling place supplies, training materials for poll workers and disinfectant services.
A Sumner man is in the Bremer County Jail after a stand-off Tuesday night. Shortly after 7 p.m. Sumner Police were alerted that 49-year-old Douglas Daniels was intoxicated and possibly carrying a firearm near Northeast Security Bank. Police say Daniels’ wife told them he was inside the Sumner Gazette, where he works. Police said she told them he threatened to shoot her or any officer or deputy who entered the building. After several hours, the Iowa State Patrol was able to get inside the newspaper building to bring Daniels out. No one was hurt. Daniels was taken to the hospital and then to jail, charged with Harassment 1st Degree, Possession or Carrying of Dangerous Weapons While Under the Influence, and Public Intoxication.
