DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order Monday that will establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation for Iowa. Reynolds signed the order at an event near Indianola. The office will serve as an extension of the Iowa Tourism Office under the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “Outdoor recreation contributes nearly $6 billion annually to Iowa’s economy and supports nearly 50,000 jobs across the state, and opportunity exists for further growth,” Reynolds said in a statement. Vice President of Programs Chris Perkins said at the signing event that Iowa is the 25th state to establish an outdoor recreation office. “We are seeing undeniable momentum behind the idea that outdoor recreation drives economic growth, supports small businesses and rural communities, improves public health and strengthens quality of life,” Perkins said. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also announced the launch of the 2026 Iowa State Park Passport.
DECORAH, Iowa — A Decorah man faces multiple charges after the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office received a report of multiple children being sexually abused at a residence on 228th Avenue. Deputies responded on June 6 and initiated an investigation. John Gerdemann, 29, was charged with sexual abuse in the second degree, sexual abuse in the third degree of a minor, incest and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. On June 7, a search warrant and arrest warrant were obtained and served at Gerdemann’s residence. He was taken into custody and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
PALO, Iowa (KCRG) – The Palo City Council says it will not hold a second or third reading for its data center ordinance at upcoming meetings. The city shared that “several City Council members have indicated a desire for additional time to review and consider the proposal.” The decision comes after the council passed a first reading last week after two hours of pushback from residents. An ordinance would lay the groundwork for how future data centers would operate within the city, including noise ordinances, road usage, and water usage. The only data center proposed for the area is from Google. The current draft of the ordinance does not require a study of how much water the data center would use. It also does not include how much money the city would ask from the data center to operate in Palo. The city is working to evaluate the ordinance and will return to it at a later date.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Rob Sand, the Democrat candidate for Iowa’s governor, announced Monday that Dave Muhlbauer will join him on the ballot for the lieutenant governor seat. Muhlbauer is a fifth-generation family farmer, cattleman and lifelong Iowan who is currently serving as Crawford County Supervisor. “Muhlbauer represents the best of our state: hard-working, honest, and always willing to help out. I’m proud to have him on Team Sand,” Sand said in a press release. “Dave has a track record of working with everyone to deliver for western Iowa and knows it’s time to rotate the crops in state government. He’ll be a great partner on the trail and an even better lieutenant governor for the people of Iowa.” Sand and Muhlbauer will face off against Republican nominee, Zach Lahn, in the November election. Lahn has yet to announce his running mate pick.
