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Kim Reynolds creates task force to plan America’s 250th birthday celebration. Who’s on it?

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Kim Reynolds creates task force to plan America’s 250th birthday celebration. Who’s on it?


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Gov. Kim Reynolds has named a task force to prepare Iowa to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year.

Reynolds signed an executive order on Nov. 6 creating the task force, named the Governor’s Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, which will be led by Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

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In a statement, Reynolds said she was honored to launch the task force.

“Ever since President Donald Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off the 250th celebration, my administration has been working to coordinate our own year-long celebration,” she said. “I look forward to showcasing the incredible contributions Iowans have made throughout our nation’s history.”

Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3 for an event kicking off America250, the national yearlong celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, leading to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

“Iowa has a prominent place in American history more than deserving of displaying for our country’s 250th birthday,” Cournoyer said in a statement. “I want to thank Gov. Reynolds for appointing me to lead this task force with the goal of acknowledging Iowa’s impact on American excellence over the years.”

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Naig said he was grateful to help lead the task force.

“America 250 is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the people who have and continue to make our nation exceptional, as well as the values that built this country — faith, family and freedom,” he said. “I look forward to working with partners across the state to highlight Iowa’s important contributions to our nation’s history over the last 250 years.”

Twenty-one Iowans will serve on the task force, including four ex officio members made up of a Republican and Democratic lawmaker from the Iowa House and Senate, who will be appointed by their legislative leaders.

The remaining members of the task force are:

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  • Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer 
  • Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig 
  • Secretary of State Paul Pate 
  • Department of Administrative Services Director Mark Campbell 
  • Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen 
  • Department of Economic Development and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham 
  • Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow 
  • Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon 
  • Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn 
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Director Todd Jacobus 
  • Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons 
  • Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution 
  • Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution 
  • The FAMiLY Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats 
  • RMA Armament Founder and CEO Blake Waldrop 
  • Stellar Industries President and CEO Dave Zrostlik 
  • Cambrex (Charles City) President Joe Nettleton 

Reynolds’ executive order directs the task force to issue a report within 120 days detailing plans for the country’s anniversary celebrations in Iowa.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.





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Iowa High School Baseball Stats: Leaders On The Diamond This Summer

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Iowa High School Baseball Stats: Leaders On The Diamond This Summer


As we work through the month of June, things are starting to heat up on the diamond around Iowa high school baseball.

With the start of postseason play just around the corner in July, teams are working to get prepared for the stretch run.

High School On SI Iowa has a Top 25 state power ranking while the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association releases weekly class-by-class rankings.

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Here are leaders as of June 17, 2026 for several major hitting and pitching categories. Stats are from those uploaded to the Bound website.

Iowa High School Baseball Leaders

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Home Runs

  • Tru McBride, Fort Dodge, 9
  • Colton Roemmich, West Des Moines Valley, 9
  • Brandon Bea, Davenport North, 8
  • Kamden Jorgensen, Saydel, 8
  • Gabe Blanshan, Urbandale, 7

Running Batted In

  • Callan Koch, Sioux City East, 38
  • West Cole, Mason City Newman Catholic, 37
  • Tru McBride, Fort Dodge, 36
  • Chance Georgius, Roland-Story, 34
  • Ty Heydon, Coon Rapids-Bayard, 34

Stolen Bases

  • Aiden Ferry, Roland-Story, 38
  • Tate Garman, Algona, 33
  • Titan Foster, Nodaway Valley, 32
  • Tate Moulton, Grand View Christian, 30
  • Cael Wishman, Baxter, 29

Runs Scored

  • Cal Jepsen, Sioux City East, 45
  • Aiden Frey, Roland-Story, 43
  • Cal Heydon, Coon Rapids-Bayard, 41
  • Kolton Schiltz, Fort Dodge, 40
  • Colton Wight, Martensdale-St. Marys, 39

Hits

  • Colton Wight, Martensdale-St. Marys, 39
  • Cal Jepsen, Sioux City East, 38
  • Callan Koch, Sioux City East, 36
  • Ty Heydon, Coon Rapids-Bayard, 35
  • Lucas Kelley, Des Moines Roosevelt, 34

Doubles

  • Joe Nilles, Sioux City North, 13
  • Colton Wight, Martensdale-St. Marys, 13
  • Lucas Kelley, Des Moines Roosevelt, 12
  • Brett Harris, Western Dubuque, 12
  • Brooks Bond, Lewis Central, 11

Triples

  • Callan Koch, Sioux City East, 7
  • Will Nesler, Ankeny Centennial, 5
  • Jacob Pierro, Dubuque Wahlert Catholic, 5
  • Lucas Kelley, Des Moines Roosevelt, 5
  • Cal Jepsen, Sioux City East, 4

Total Bases

  • Colton Wight, Martensdale-St. Marys, 68
  • Tru McBride, Fort Dodge, 68
  • Bryce Pauly, Davenport North, 67
  • Cal Jepsen, Sioux City East, 65
  • Ty Heydon, Coon Rapids-Bayard, 62

Pitching Wins

  • Tyler Etten, Urbandale, 9
  • Chase White, Dyersville Beckman Catholic, 7
  • Colton Moffit, Baxter, 7
  • Connor Mullenbach, Saint Ansgar, 6
  • Aidan Nielsen, Don Bosco, 6

Earned Run Average (min. 18 innings pitched)

  • Connor Mullenbach, Saint Ansgar, 0.00
  • Luke Vestal, Pleasantville, 0.00
  • Ryan Stedman, West Des Moines Valley, 0.24
  • Will Litton, Iowa City Regina Catholic, 0.25
  • Judd Jirovsky, Grundy Center, 0.26

Strikeouts

  • Colton Moffit, Baxter, 85
  • Brody Wangsness, North Butler, 75
  • Lincoln Roethler, Denver, 71
  • Owen Klocksiem, Louisa-Muscatine, 67
  • Cooper Chizek, Emmetsburg, 65

Opponents Batting Average Against (min. 18 innings pitched)

  • Macklin Loftus, Logan-Magnolia, .017
  • Jack Wedemeier, Waverly-Shell Rock, .065
  • Teagan Brunk, Shenandoah, .069
  • Ryan Stedman, West Des Moines Valley, .072
  • Bronx Siebersma, MVAOCOU, .075

Saves

  • Beckham Simon, West Liberty, 4
  • Deacon Kucera, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 4
  • Graham Rima, Pleasant Valley, 4
  • Gavin de Jesus, Waukee, 4
  • Easton Goodwin, Waterloo Columbus Catholic, 3

Innings Pitched

  • Colton Moffit, Baxter, 43
  • Tyler Etten, Urbandale, 38.2
  • Owen Galvin, Denison-Schleswig, 38
  • Tallon Crandall, Carroll, 37.1
  • Austin Remster, Melcher-Dallas, 37.1

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Rain brings second week of relief in Iowa drought monitor map

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Rain brings second week of relief in Iowa drought monitor map


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Drought conditions in Iowa improved for a second consecutive week, though areas of moderate drought expanded in parts of the state.

The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?

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U.S. Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?

The latest Drought Monitor report, released on Thursday, June 18, showed about 46% of Iowa experiencing some form of drought. This continues the streak of conditions improving week to week in Iowa. The previous report, released on June 11, showed that 63% of the state was experiencing some form of drought.

The most recent report reflects conditions as of 8 a.m. June 16, right as storms were sweeping through Iowa, with parts of eastern Iowa seeing more than 2 inches of rainfall. Light rainfall on June 17 led to areas like Iowa City and Burlington reporting around an inch of rain.

Here is the breakdown of current drought conditions in Iowa:

  • 61% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
  • 39% of Iowa is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
  • 7% of Iowa is experiencing moderate drought conditions
  • 0% of Iowa is experiencing severe drought conditions

Even though drought conditions have improved overall in Iowa, the area experiencing moderate drought increased from the week of June 11, particularly in northern Iowa. Much of Cerro Gordo, Hancock and Kossuth counties are under D1 conditions, with nearby Palo Alto, Winnebago, Floyd and Mitchell also in moderate drought.

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Pockets of moderate drought also persist along the northwest edge of Iowa in Lyon, Sioux and Plymouth counties. In eastern Iowa, Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties saw their moderate drought status ease week to week.

Most of the U.S. is facing drought conditions

About 73% of the U.S. is experiencing some level of drought, a 2-percentage-point improvement from the prior week. Some of the most intense drought conditions are in the southeast and the mountain west.

Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly

The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday.

The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.

Typically with D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.

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Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.



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Tornadoes reported in Illinois, Iowa as severe weather roils Midwest

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Tornadoes reported in Illinois, Iowa as severe weather roils Midwest


Confirmed tornadoes were reported in Illinois and Iowa Wednesday night as severe weather descended on a large swath of the Midwest.

According to the National Weather Service, a confirmed tornado was reported near the small northeast Iowa community of Harpers Ferry at 5:10 p.m., while a second confirmed tornado rolled through Charleston in central Illinois at about 6:40 p.m. local time.

Both tornadoes were flagged by the weather service as a “particularly dangerous situation,” a rare designation used by the weather service for environments in which “strong and violent tornadoes” are possible.

Photos and videos obtained by CBS News showed extensive damage in Charleston, with downed trees and power lines. Hail that measured 2.75 inches was also reported in the Charleston area, according to the weather service.

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“There are a large number of trees blocking roadways throughout Charleston at this time,” Charleston police said in a Facebook post. “Unless it is an absolute emergency, do not drive or attempt to go anywhere.”

The city of Charleston later declared a local state of emergency. 

Damage after a tornado struck Charleston, Illinois, on June 17, 2026. 

Cameron Craig

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One cell phone video captured the terrifying moments what appeared to be a large tornado tore through Effingham, Illinois, located about 40 miles southwest of Charleston.

Larry Thies, coordinator for the Effingham Emergency Management Agency, told CBS News that initial information indicated damaged buildings, trailers, and downed power lines and trees. He said officials were working to set up an emergency operations center, but were facing challenges because internet was down in the area.

Tornadoes reported in Illinois, Iowa as severe weather roils Midwest

Cell phone video of a tornado in Effingham, Illinois, on June 17, 2026. 

Laura Gaynor / Chris Chittick


The extent of the damage to region was still unclear. There was no immediate word of injuries or fatalities. CBS News senior meteorologist Rob Marciano said there were at least seven reported tornadoes during the weather event.

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According to utility tracker PowerOutage.us, at least 55,000 customers were without power in Illinois.

Earlier Wednesday, Marciano reported that more than 125 million Americans were facing severe weather advisories, including the Gulf Coast states, which were under flood alerts due to Tropical Storm Arthur. Speaking on “CBS Evening News,” Marciano said such ripe tornado conditions were rare for June.

“This is unique for June, this is unusual to have such a strong jet stream just screaming across the country, then you’ve got the summertime tropical moisture coming in…and then some cold air coming in,” Marciano said. “And winds coming at different direction, at different levels, creating that spin. So what that equates to is really the high probability of seeing, not just tornadoes, but intense tornadoes of EF2 strength or higher on the ground for a long time. And also damaging winds at 75 mph or higher, and of course big time hail.”



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