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Iowa could soon have handsfree driving laws: here’s what you need to know

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Iowa could soon have handsfree driving laws: here’s what you need to know


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Handsfree driving legislation has made its way to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It comes after the Iowa House passed the bill Wednesday, approximately seven years after it was first proposed.

And for Trooper Bob Conrad with the Iowa State Patrol, it’s been a long time coming.

“I think this is going to make a difference. It’s going to save lives. It’s going to make a lot of people happy,” he said. “To me, passing a law like this is one of those things that shows that we’re all working together for a common goal to make sure people go home at the end of the day.”

Although the bill has yet to be signed into law, Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her support for it in her Condition of the State earlier this year.

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Currently, Iowa’s law allows drivers to physically manipulate their phones to make a call or check their maps when driving.

Under this new legislation, drivers can still use their phones, but instead of physically dialing the numbers to make a phone call, they will only be permitted to do it on a handsfree mode, such as Bluetooth or voice command, or with a single touch. The same thing goes for checking maps or sending text messages.

Otherwise, drivers could face a $100 fine, or even more if the violation hurts or kills somebody.

And while Conrad says he understands that it will take some time for drivers to adjust, it’s not impossible.

“This is not something that stops you from using your phone completely. It doesn’t keep you from getting the emergency phone call from your your children or or something else at work you need. It it just is about doing it better.” he said.

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Northwest Iowa woman taken to the hospital after rollover

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Northwest Iowa woman taken to the hospital after rollover


SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KTIV) – A Woodbury County woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital after a rollover took place in Sioux County.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 45-year-old Jenni Madison of Sioux City was taken to the hospital Saturday, July 11.

Authorities say at about 12:01 p.m., deputies investigated a rollover that took place on Highway 60, one mile south of Alton. According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the car was traveling north on Highway 60 when the driver lost control, entered the median and rolled.

Deputies say Madison was taken by ambulance to the Orange City Area Health System to be treated for minor injuries. The vehicle sustained $12,500 in damage.

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Orange City Fire Department, Alton Fire Department, Alton Ambulance, the Orange City Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol helped the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.

Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.



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Several Iowa High School Baseball Standouts Selected In MLB Draft

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Several Iowa High School Baseball Standouts Selected In MLB Draft


A number of Iowa high school baseball standouts were selected during the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The amateur draft was conducted July 11-12, 2026 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gable Mitchell, Kaleb LaFavor, Caleb Klein, Sam George, Nate Smithburg and Kooper Schulte each heard their names called during the draft.

Gable Mitchell Was Two-Way Star For Iowa City High

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Mitchell, an Iowa City High grad, was picked in the eighth round with the 193rd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. He played his collegiate baseball at the University of Iowa after batting .466 with 12 extra-base hits, 55 runs scored, 29 RBI and 25 steals, going 5-0 with a 0.95 earned run average and 18 strikeouts as a senior.

In high school, Mitchell was an all-stater in baseball and earned all-conference honors on the football field. His grandfather is Dan Gable, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist who led the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA championships.

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Kaleb LaFavor Lone Current Iowa High School Baseball Player Selected

LaFavor, currently a senior at Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round with the 304th pick. He has gone 3-1 with 40 strikeouts and a 0.79 earned run average in just under 18 innings on the mound this summer.

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Klein, a Western Dubuque High School prep, played at Southeastern Community College and Southeast Missouri. He helped lead the Bobcats to back-to-back Class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament championships.

During his senior season at Western Dubuque, Klein hit .414 with nine doubles, seven triples, 49 runs scored and 30 RBI, stealing 20 bases. He went to the Atlanta Braves with the 442nd pick in the 15th round.

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Several Former Iowa High School Baseball Players Hear Their Names Called

George, a former Pleasant Valley High School standout, played for Minnesota State University this past spring and was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round with the No. 581 overall selection.

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In his final high school season with the Spartans, he struck out 62 batters in 44 innings, putting together a 2.07 earned run average.

Smithburg was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round with the 533rd pick after playing at Fairfield High School and for the Oklahoma Sooners.

As a senior, Smithburg went 6-1 with 83 strikeouts and a 0.43 earned run average in 47 innings pitched on the mound.

Schulte, who played at New London High School, played collegiately at Central Arizona, Southeastern Community College and for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round with the 600th pick overall.

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He was an all-stater for New London in 2022, helping lead them to a state baseball championship that same season. As a senior, Schulte hit .444 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 50 runs scored, 44 RBI and nine steals, recording three saves and 29 strikeouts in just over 14 innings pitched.

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Saints win finale in Iowa, snapping skid

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Saints win finale in Iowa, snapping skid


The Saints claimed a victory in its series finale at Iowa, defeating the I-Cubs 5-4 to snap a four-game losing streak.

Orlando Arcia’s third-inning double scored Matt Wallner and Aaron Sabato to give St. Paul (50-41) the lead for good in the third inning.

Iowa scored twice in the ninth and threatened to steal away the win before reliever Trent Baker struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game and earn the save.

Ben Ross and Kyler Fedko hit homers for the visitors.

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Matt Bowman, who relieved Saints starter Aaron Rozek in the fifth inning, claimed the win.



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