A RAPIDLY-RISING WAPSIPINICON RIVER WILL CLIMB TO FLOOD STAGE IN INDEPENDENCE TODAY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS MAJOR FLOODING, WITH AN OVERNIGHT CREST MORE THAN FOUR FEET ABOVE WHAT OFFICIALLY QUALIFIES AS A FLOOD. OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT TV-9 SPOKE TO INDEPENDENCE CITY MANAGER AL RODER. DOWNSTREAM ON THE WAPSIPINICON, ANAMOSA IS FORECAST TO SEE FLOODING BEGINNING THURSDAY AND LASTING INTO THE WEEKEND.
A CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CONVICTION WILL SEND A CEDAR FALLS MAN TO PRISON FOR AT LEAST 35 YEARS. 30-YEAR-OLD TENKO WILDE RECEIVED A 100 YEAR SENTENCE YESTERDAY. HE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE UNTIL 2056. THE CASE AGAINST WILDE INCLUDED EVIDENCE THAT HE ABUSED TWO BOYS. IN JUNE, HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MULTIPLE COUNTS OF SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL ABUSE, AS WELL AS INDECENT CONTACT WITH A CHILD. A DEFENSE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL WAS DENIED ON MONDAY.
THE EFFECTS OF STORMS LAST WEEK LED TO CROP DAMAGE IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA, AS WELL AS FLOODING. FOR SOME FORTUNATE PRODUCERS, THE PRECIPITATION WAS TIMELY. MONDAY’S USDA CROP REPORT SHOWS 60 PERCENT OF SOYBEANS WERE RATED GOOD TO EXCELLENT. THE CROP IS MATURING ABOUT TWO DAYS AHEAD OF THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. STATEWIDE, CORN IS 58 PERCENT GOOD TO EXCELLENT BUT WAS UNLIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM LATE-SEASON RAIN. FIFTY-SIX PERCENT OF TOPSOIL HAS AT LEAST ADEQUATE MOISTURE, BUT SUBSOILS REMAIN DRIER.
THE CEDAR RIVER REACHED FLOOD STAGE IN CEDAR FALLS MONDAY. A CREST IS EXPECTED TODAY BEFORE RIVER LEVELS FALL BACK OUT OF FLOOD TERRITORY TOMORROW. CEDAR FALLS OFFICIALS SAY THAT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROJECTIONS SUGGEST SEVERAL ROADWAYS NORTH OF THE RIVER ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED. WATERLOO IS ALSO ANTICIPATING MINOR FLOODING WITH AN OVERNIGHT CREST A LITTLE MORE THAN A FOOT ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. DOWNSTREAM IN VINTON AND CEDAR RAPIDS, RIVER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB LATER THIS WEEK, BUT THE CURRENT FORECAST SUGGESTS THE CEDAR WILL NOT OFFICIALLY FLOOD IN THOSE LOCATIONS.
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE SETTLING INTO THEIR CLASSROOM ROUTINES. HAVING CLASSES BACK IN SESSION PROVIDES BENEFITS THAT GO BEYOND THE SCHOOLYARD, ACCORDING TO MIKE BERANEK. THE PRESIDENT OF THE IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WAS A RECENT KXEL GUEST. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING FOR STAFF AND CURRICULUM MATERIALS, THE HEAD OF THE STATE TEACHER’S UNION ALSO HIGHLIGHTED MENTAL HEALTH AS AN AREA WHERE DISTRICTS NEED ADEQUATE SUPPORT.
COLLINS AEROSPACE IS BUYING A TEXAS COMPANY THAT MAKES FLIGHT TRACKING EQUIPMENT. IN A MONDAY ANNOUNCEMENT, COLLINS SAID HOUSTON-BASED FLIGHTAWARE WILL MOVE UNDER ITS UMBRELLA. FLIGHTAWARE WENT INTO BUSINESS IN 2005 AND SERVES MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND AIRCRAFT OPERATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH A VARIETY OF IN-FLIGHT TECHNOLOGY. THE COMPANY’S WORKFORCE AND ASSETS WILL STAY IN TEXAS. COLLINS AEROSPACE DID NOT INDICATE HOW MUCH IT PAID FOR FLIGHTAWARE.
ELEVEN IOWA COUNTIES WERE DECLARED STATE DISASTER AREAS ON MONDAY. THE PROCLAMATION FROM IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS INCLUDED MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE. ADDED TO A DISASTER DECLARATION FOLLOWING STORMS LAST WEEK, THE AREA STRETCHES FROM ALLAMAKEE COUNTY SOUTH TO BUCHANAN AND BREMER COUNTIES AND WEST AS FAR AS CERRO GORDO COUNTY. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS OF UP TO $5,000 DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES NEAR THE POVERTY LEVEL WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SEVERE WEATHER.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE JUST OVER TWO MONTHS AWAY. VOTING WILL HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN EARLY NOVEMBER. IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MIKE BERANEK TALKED ABOUT HIS HOPES FOR VOTER TURNOUT THIS FALL. POTENTIAL SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES HAVE UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER TO FILE WITH THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT. THE NOVEMBER 2ND ELECTION WILL ALSO COVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES. FIND THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BERANEK ON DEMAND AT KXEL.COM.
THE CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS OPEN THEIR FINAL HOMESTAND OF THE SEASON TONIGHT AT VETERAN’S MEMORIAL STADIUM. SIX OF 18 REMAINING GAMES ARE AGAINST THE QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS, INCLUDING TONIGHT’S 6:35 MATCHUP. THE KERNELS NEED JUST FIVE MORE VICTORIES TO ASSURE THEMSELVES AND ABOVE-.500 FINISH. MEANWHILE, QUAD CITIES OWNS THE LEAGUE’S BEST RECORD, 12 GAMES AHEAD OF CEDAR RAPIDS.
