Des Moines Register All News

GUN TURN-IN: More than 50 unwanted guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were handed over to Des Moines area police last week during a series of weapon turn-in events.

MISSING URBANDALE TEEN: Taylor Ann Claiser, a junior at Urbandale High School, is believed to be with her 20-year-old boyfriend Spencer Brookman.

A Council Bluffs doctor is in jail on a charge of second-degree sexual abuse after a child alleged he touched her inappropriately on numerous occasions.

NOLLEN PLAZA NEW NAME: The renaming comes as Des Moines Performing Arts, which runs the plaza, the Civic Center, Stoner Theater and Temple Theater, prepares to complete a $9 million renovation on the large gathering space at Locust and Third streets downtown.

IOWA APES: Three southside Des Moines Hy-Vee stores have been donating produce and other items, even pizza, for about a year to feed the sanctuary's six bonobos. A couple of months ago, the sanctuary started picking up damaged cartons of milk, yogurt and other products from AE.

POLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE: Polk County supervisors are expected to vote within the next few weeks to place a courthouse building project on the ballot for voter approval this November. The only question appears to be whether they'll ask voters to swallow one $81.1 million pricetag or bite it off in three smaller chunks.

MIDWEST TORNADOES: On Sunday there were several reports of tornadoes in five states. Overall, tornadic activity has been slow this May, the typical peak of the severe weather season.

• Forecast: What to expect this afternoon, tonight
• Storm-related insurance claims at 1,075 and counting
• Video: Storm damage in Stacyville
• Video: Storm damage at Paws Inn near Waukee
• Video: Storm damage near Dallas Center
• Where the storms made their biggest impact
• Kyle Munson: How the canoe sailed into the middle of an Iowa farm field

SEXUAL HARASSMENT & THE IOWA SENATE: Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who served in the Iowa Senate in 2009 and 2010, said Monday she didn't experience sexual harassment as a state lawmaker, but she believes everyone should be ensured a safe and secure working environment.

MEDICAID IN IOWA: On Monday, Branstad seemed to indicate he might be amenable to accepting some form of expansion if it came with “assurances” that the feds wouldn't renege on funding commitments in the years to come.

CARNIVAL RIDE INJURY: A 5-year-old Council Bluffs boy injured in a weekend carnival ride accident has been released from the hospital.

NOLLEN PLAZA: Nollen Plaza is getting a new name to go with its much-anticipated makeover. Details of the renaming and the renovations will be unveiled today.

RAINFALL, FLOODING & DAMAGE TOTALS: National Weather Service crews will go out today to survey the damage in Madison, Dallas and Polk counties, including the sites of two reported tornadoes near Earlham and Huxley.

• Video: Flash floods close highway 218 in northern Iowa
• Video: Strong wind and heavy rain in Slater
• Video: Heavy rain falls in Beaverdale
• Video: Rain, wind pass through Johnston

POPEYES CHICKEN ROBBERY: An unknown man reportedly leaped over the counter at a Popeyes Chicken restaurant and held the cashier at gunpoint while demanding money.

A Des Moines man told police he thought he had been punched in the back as he tried to walk away from an altercation. But when he felt the blood, he realized he had been stabbed.

Tornadoes, damaging winds and hail lashed Iowa as severe spring weather returned Sunday evening after nearly a year's absence, but no injuries were reported.

• Morning Update: 14,000 still without power
• Video: Flash floods close highway 218 in northern Iowa
• Video: Strong wind and heavy rain in Slater
• Video: Heavy rain falls in Beaverdale
• Video: Rain, wind pass through Johnston

A former key staffer for the Iowa Senate Republican caucus says she was fired Friday, just hours after providing documentation of sexual harassment by male legislators and caucus staff members and asking for changes.

A new, four-phase, $82 million version of a long-discussed courthouse building expansion plan will be unveiled this morning during a presentation before Polk County supervisors. The proposal could go before voters this fall.

The state-run Glenwood Resource Center for the disabled has the worst record of compliance with federal regulations of any care facility in Iowa over the past 10 months.

Mark Gee's world is not so different from the main character's world in one of his favorite series, 'Harry Potter.'