Category — Des Moines, Iowa

A fast moving fire claimed the life of an elderly, disabled Ankeny woman early this morning. Neighbors in the Autumn Ridge Estates Mobile Home Park say the fire started around 4:00 this morning, and quickly engulfed the mobile home trapping the woman. “She was a nice lady,” said neighbor Sharonne Hussey, “She fed stray cats. She was the stray cat feeder. She was the ultimate, you know, nice …

The city says residents should be prepared and ready for flooding The Birdland levee failed during the floods of ‘93, it failed again in 2008, and now there’s another reason to be concerned. Water is leaking from under the levee, and home owners nearby fear it won’t hold.

The Raccoon River is threatening to flood homes and businesses in Dallas County tonight. Kinnick Feller Park flooded over the weekend. Today, the city is trying to keep the water from causing even more damage.

The University of Iowa needs a new men’s basketball coach. Athletics Director Gary Barta fired Todd Lickliter Monday morning after Lickliter struggled to win during three seasons at Iowa. The University of Iowa needs a new men’s basketball coach. Athletics Director Gary Barta fired Todd Lickliter Monday morning after Lickliter struggled to win during three seasons at Iowa.

Fleur Drive remains open as the Raccoon River continues to inch closer to the roadway. Des Moines Public Works crews say they think Fleur will remain open through Monday afternoon and close early Monday night.

Iowa’s Athletics Director Gary Barta has confrimed men’s basketball coach Todd Lickliter’s time at the University of Iowa is over.

While the Des Moines metro waits for the water to rise, homeowners in Fort Dodge are already battling it. On Saturday, people living along the river were asked to leave their homes as river levels rose.

An Iowa State University student died while on a spring break trip to California over the weekend. Nineteen-year-old Tyler Danielson of Carlisle never made it to California.

Gov. Chet Culver says he’ll veto any state budget that doesn’t include an extra $347 million for Iowa’s schools.

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $1.6 million to the state to help development of biofuels as an energy alternative.

A Dubuque woman has been accused of stealing about $111,000 from her employer and spending much of the money at Dubuque casinos.

A man who led police on a chase Sunday night is still on the loose. Police noticed a man driving erratically near 21st and Forest Avenue — eventually turning the wrong way down a one-way street.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Flood preparations continue as Iowans keep a watch on the sky and the rivers. Ice jams caused basements to flood in Fort Dodge over the weekend and may do the same in northern Iowan as snow continues to melt.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say the body of an elderly woman has been found inside a burning mobile home in Ankeny. Firefighters were called to the mobile home about 4 a.m. on Monday. Officials on the scene say the woman was found dead inside the trailer.

PALO, Iowa (AP) - Authorities in eastern Iowa have called of a search for a car in the Cedar River near Palo (PAY’-loh). A driver on a bridge reported seeing a car sinking in the river about 7:15 p.m. Sunday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa legislative committee is expected to take up questions surrounding the Iowa Association of School Boards.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Iowa City police have arrested a woman who allegedly attacked her sister with the lid of a toilet tank. Nitasha Johnson, of Iowa City, was arrested early Sunday. She’s charged with domestic abuse assault causing injury and interference with official acts.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) - Authorities are still investigating a deadly pileup on Interstate 35 near Latimer in northern Iowa, but they acknowledged the cause may never be known.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Des Moines police are searching for the driver of a car that led police on a chase and then slammed into a house. According to police, the driver was spotted Sunday night driving erratically before turning the wrong way down a street.

Firefighters are still trying to figure out what caused an early more fire that killed a woman in her home.

University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta has scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference to discuss the future of the Iowa basketball program.

President Obama plans to send his plan for an overhaul of the nation’s education system to congress Monday. Sunday, Obama’s education secretary, Arne Duncan, pushed the plan in Des Moines saying it will overhaul the ‘No Child Left Behind’ law.

An Iowa legislative committee is expected to take up questions surrounding the Iowa Association of School Boards.

This spring could be a difficult time for homeowners as rivers rise and the threat of tornadoes approaches. You can make sure you’re covered if your home and everything in it is damaged or destroyed.

Fleur Drive remains open as the Raccoon River continues to inch closer to the roadway. Des Moines Public Works crews say they think Fleur will remain open through Monday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A jobs program helping at-risk Iowa high school students will receive a $50,000 boost. Representatives from Cargill are expected to give the money on Monday morning to the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates program, or iJAG.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A published report says the number of state employees in Iowa is down by about 1,500 compared with last year. An analysis by the Globe Gazette this month shows that’s more than 2 percent.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) - Cedar Falls officials say they’ll replace hundreds of trees lost in a windstorm last July. But only some homeowners will qualify and they won’t have a say in the type of tree planted.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say an ice jam on the Des Moines River caused some flooded basements in central Iowa, but officials are preparing for more long-term problems.

SANTA ROSA, N.M. (AP) - An Iowa teenager has died in a rollover crash on Interstate 40 in eastern New Mexico. State police identify him as 19-year-old Tyler Danielson of Carlisle.