100+ People Evacuated From Burlington Comfort Suites Due To A Partial Collapse
(Burlington, IA) — A Burlington hotel partially collapsed over the weekend. The Fire Department said 122 guests were evacuated from the Comfort Suites in Burlington early Saturday morning. Fire crews added that they found the east portion of the building’s two-story section collapsed over the ballroom area when they arrived. The cause of the collapse is still being determined.
This Year’s Iowa State Fair Queen Is From Tama County
(Tama County, IA) — This year’s Iowa State Fair Queen has been crowned. Belle Werner of Tama County was chosen as the winner out of just over 100 contestants. Judges considered the contestants based on personality, leadership and contributions to their community. Werner will receive four-thousand dollars in scholarships and will represent the Iowa State Fair for the next year.
City Of Waukee Ending Relationship With Flock
(Waukee, IA) — The Waukee Police Department is ending its relationship with automated license plate reader company Flock Safety. Police Chief Chad McCluskey says the move comes as the 2027 Iowa Legislature is expected to consider legislation related to license plate reader technology. He said, while the Flock system has been effective, including helping the department find an elderly man with dementia, there are also a number of concerns over privacy and data retention. McCluskey says Waukee will continue to evaluate the technology, monitor the 2027 legislative session and revisit the decision once Iowa’s legal framework is clear.
Court Appearance For IL Man Accused In DUI Crash That Killed 3 From DSM
(Des Moines, IA) — The Illinois man accused of driving drunk and killing three members of a Des Moines family will in court today. Police say 22-year-old Carson Rehkopf was driving under the influence when he collided head-on with the family’s SUV. The crash happened July 31 in Kendall County, southwest of Chicago. Thirty-eight-year-old Amy Lee Witter, 65-year-old James Witter and their four-year-old daughter were killed.
Fair Attendance Through Day Three Slightly Down Compared To Last Year
(Des Moines, IA) — Attendance at the 2026 Iowa State Fair is slightly lower than last year. Opening day of this year’s fair last Thursday saw about one thousand fewer people than 2025. The trend continued Friday, with about four-thousand less people attending than the year before. Day three saw the largest attendance so far this year, with just over 125-thousand visitors at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. That’s seven-thousand more than last year. Despite stormy and soggy conditions to start off this year’s fair, total attendance so far is just shy of 320-thousand people.
Country-Rock Artist Filling In For Colt Ford At Iowa State Fair Wednesday
(Des Moines, IA) — Country-rock artist Sterling Elza is filling in for Colt Ford at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday. On social media, Ford said his tour bus crashed while traveling for a show in Germany. He said he has a broken shoulder and had to have surgery after being pulled from the bus through a windshield. Elza will play on the free MidAmerican Energy Stage at 8 p.m.
