Iowa
Hundreds show support for Iowa couple hurt in hot air balloon crash
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MARTENSDALE, Iowa (KCCI) -Folks from neighboring communities spent part of Saturday in Martensdale, displaying as much as assist a pair damage in a sizzling air balloon accident over the summer season, KCCI’s Kayla James stories.
Again in July, a sizzling air balloon crashed into an influence line and caught on fireplace. 4 individuals have been within the basket: a couple, the pilot, and a 13-year-old. The pilot is recovering from extreme burns. The 13-year-old, who was additionally on the experience, is alleged to have suffered minor accidents.
As for the couple, KCCI spoke with Wealthy Wheeldon on Thursday. Wealthy suffered burns on his palms, arms, again and head. His spouse, Irene, suffered burns to her face, legs and arms.
On Saturday, the couple was in Martsendale for a fundraiser held to assist them cowl out-of-pocket medical bills. Over a span of 5 hours, a whole lot of individuals filed into the city’s highschool’s car parking zone. The world had been remodeled for the fundraiser and was stuffed with video games, a balloon home, a dunk tank, raffle prizes, tents and extra.
“We’re very grateful to all people that’s right here,” mentioned Nathan Wheeldon, Irene and Wealthy’s son. “It’s only a testomony to the variety of lives they’ve affected over time.”
The couple has been residence for a bit after spending a while within the hospital following the accident. Nevertheless, they nonetheless should undergo bodily remedy.
“It’s simply quite a lot of stretching, attempting to get our mobility again,” Irene mentioned.
“In order that we don’t lose that movement, you bought to maintain stretching it again out,” Wealthy mentioned.
The Wheeldon household mentioned it finest: what occurred occurred and it’s time to maneuver on.
It’s one thing the couple says they’d not be capable to do with out their family and friends serving to them alongside the best way.
Copyright 2022 KCCI. All rights reserved.

Iowa
Three Thoughts on Iowa WBB Adding Emely Rodriguez
Iowa basketball made a notable addition from the transfer portal on Monday, picking up a commitment from Central Florida guard/forward Emely Rodriguez. In Three Thoughts, we’ll take a look at what Rodriguez brings to Iowa, the potential positional fits for Rodriguez with the Hawkeyes, and what her addition means to the rest of the Iowa depth chart.
Iowa
WNBA Response to Iowa Icon Caitlin Clark’s Clash with Angel Reese Falls Short

The college rivalry between Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese caught fire again in the 2025 WNBA season opener, overshadowing the Indiana Fever’s decisive 93-58 victory over the Chicago Sky.
And the drama didn’t end on the court or at the final buzzer.
The series of events which continue to dominate post-game conversations—including Clark’s triple-double— unfolded late in the third quarter, with the Fever in control of the game.
Tempers began to flare as Chicago Sky’s Reese shoved Fever forward Natasha Howard in the back, leaving the former LSU star alone under the basket to corral the ensuing rebound. For a moment, play appeared to stop, but after no whistle was blown, Reese readied herself for what seemed to be an uncontested layup. However, Clark intervened with a hard foul which jarred the ball from Reese and sent her college rival to the floor:
Reese took issue with the severity of the foul, and sprang up to confront Clark. Fortunately, further extracurricular activities were avoided, as the pair were separated. With assistance from a teammate, Clark distanced herself from the situation as officials, players, and Chicago coaching staff pulled Reese off the court, preventing further escalation.
Reese remained heated during the ensuing official timeout—and put amateur lip-readers to work deciphering her off-color language as staff continued to hold her back on the team’s sideline.
The hero of the minor scuffle was surely Fever center Aliyah Boston, who kept her cool, anticipated Reese’s reaction, and quickly helped diffuse the situation before officials finally arrived. Boston stepped in between the pair, and preventing Reese’s attempt to engage with Clark—who had turned her back from the play—by forcefully pushing her own teammate from behind and away from the altercation.
Fittingly, Boston received a technical foul and a fine for her efforts.
After a lengthy review by the officiating team, crew chief Roy Gulbeyan upgraded the “common foul” he originally called on Caitlin Clark to a “Flagrant Foul Penalty 1,” which “is deemed not a legitimate basketball play.” Reese also received a “verbal technical” foul for her aggressive, profanity-ridden response.
However, Gulbeyan stated Reese’s technical foul was offset by a second technical by the Fever—and the technical foul was allegedly committed by Boston:
After the conclusion of the Fever’s opening-day victory, Gulbeyan—who, ironically, missed Reece’s original foul—received questions about the officiating decisions from Indy Star pool reporter Chloe Peterson. Peterson specifically inquired about the decision to upgrade Clark’s foul to a “Flagrant 1,” and also asked, “What did you see that led you to call a technical foul on Anger Reese and Aliyah Boston?”
The crew chief’s explanation for Clark’s foul was brief, but at least the question was answered. Gulbeyan didn’t fare as well with his second response: “There is a physical taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.”
With broadcast footage and countless viral replays showing no clear evidence of Boston’s alleged offense, this was the time for a detailed explanation. When presented with a direct question, refusing to provide a useful answer in a forum designed for this specific type of discourse was a clear missed opportunity—especially for a league striving for greater legitimacy and national attention.
As the WNBA’s popularity grows, players, fans, and media will continue to expect clearer answers and greater transparency than they were afforded on Saturday night.
When Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky meet again on June 7, the game will be must-see TV. But unless the WNBA directly addresses these issues and clarifies its stance on the controversies from Saturday’s matchup, attention will remain focused on the unresolved drama rather than the basketball itself.
Iowa
State Historical Museum of Iowa unveils new signs to improve accessibility

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – A new feature at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines debuted this weekend.
NaviLens launched on Saturday after two years of planning.
More than 500 codes are spread across the museum’s first floor. It’s designed to make exhibits more accessible for Iowans.
One version of the app is for those who have low vision or are blind.
It’s easy to use. The app is constantly scanning for codes
The idea of NaviLens started in Lindsay Keast’s kitchen when she saw a colorful code on a cereal box.
”I thought, why not bring that into a museum so that people can navigate the space?” said Keast, with the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
”I can sum that up just in one word, which would be independence. By having the NaviLens tags throughout the exhibits means that I can come to the historical society and go through an exhibit on my own,” said Bettina Dolinsek, State Historical Museum of Iowa Accessibility Consultant.
The app also includes descriptions of objects around the museum, things like stairs and elevators.
Museum staff hope to expand NaviLens to the entire space. It’s also a yearly subscription for the service and they’re already fundraising for those efforts.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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