Iowa
Iowa Cubs Fall in Fifth Straight Game in 3-2 Loss to Storm Chasers
(Des Moines, IA) – The Iowa Cubs have now earned their fifth straight loss in a 3-2 bout against the Omaha Storm Chasers. Omaha takes the series victory 5-1 in the worst series from the Iowa Cubs that we have seen yet this season.
The Storm Chasers started off scoring in this game after Nick Pratto hit a home run that launched over the left-center field wall to put Omaha up 1-0 at the top of the first inning. In the top of the second inning, Storm Chaser Tyler Tolbert was able to go up to the plate with bases loaded and one out when he grounded into a double play but was still able to score the second run of the ballgame by scoring Devin Mann before the play could finish on the field to put Omaha up 2-0. Omaha would then go on to score their last run of the game in the fifth inning off a sac-fly by John Rave to left field to score Cam DeVanney from third to go up 3-0.
Iowa was eventually able to make a little run of their own on the back nine. Jake Slaughter hit a single with a runner in scoring position at third base as Tyler Gentry was able to score and bring it to a 3-1 Omaha lead at the bottom of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, David Peralta added on a solo home run to put the Cubs within one run of tying things up. That was followed up by a strikeout, field error, flyout, and a groundout to finish the ballgame.
Earning the win on the day was Carlos Hernandez who pitched in 1.0 inning while allowing no earned runs and had two strikeouts. Will Klein was able to earn the save for Omaha while pitching in 1.0 inning and allowed just one hit which was the home run. With the loss on the day was Cubbie Dan Straily who pitched in 5.0 innings while allowing all three runs and having five strikeouts.
The Iowa Cubs will return to action when they travel to Syracuse on Tuesday with the game starting at 5:00 p.m.
(Information provided by milb.com)
At Western Iowa Today, we strive for reporting accuracy. If you see a mistake or a typo, please let us know by email to news@westerniowatoday.com.
Story Content (c) 2024 Meredith Communications LC – All Rights Reserved.
Iowa
Top 16 announced in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest
DES MOINES, Iowa — After a week of voting, a list of more than 50 is down to the Top 16 in the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Competition.
Hosted by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidwestOne Bank, the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Contest is a newer competition that highlights items that are designed or produced in the state that carry national, even international, impact.
58 products were initially nominated in the contest’s third year, on Thursday, officials announced the Top 16 had been chosen after a week of public voting. Products that made the cut include agricultural equipment, construction materials, food, and beverages.
- Mi-T-M ePowerStation (Mi-T-M Corporation – Peosta)
- Pella Steady Set (Pella Corporation – Pella)
- Beer Caves (Walk-In Coolers & Freezers) (Leer, Inc. – Carroll)
- Weiler D1075 Blasthole Drill (Weiler – Knoxville)
- Butter Braid Pastries (Country Maid, Inc. – West Bend)
- Ironclad Tornado Shelter & Gun Safe (Ironclad Shelter Solutions, LLC – Earlham)
- Spalding Arena Renegade Basketball Hoop (Spalding – Jefferson)
- Winnebago EKKO 23B (Winnebago – Forest City)
- Gushers (General Mills – Cedar Rapids)
- Cedar Ridge Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Cedar Ridge Distillery – Swisher)
- Load Cell (Scale-Tec – Anamosa)
- Flexzilla Garden Hose (Legacy Manufacturing – Marion)
- Marie Callender’s Pot Pie (Conagra – Council Bluffs)
- 23-28XL Scraper (Mobile Track Solutions – Elkader)
- Sterzing’s Potato Chips (Sterzing Food Company – Burlington)
- dScribe Studio, 55″ – Digital Lightboard (Revolution Lightboards – Dubuque)
“This is where the competition really comes to life,” said Nicole Crain, ABI President. “These Top 16 products represent the very best of Iowa manufacturing — innovative, high-quality, and made right here in our state. Now it’s up to Iowans to help decide which product rises to the top.”
Voting to decide the Top 8 moves to a bracket-style tournament, which opens on April 17 and runs through April 22. Participants can vote in each matchup, once per day (every 24 hours) per device. The Top 8 will be announced on April 23.
The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa will be revealed live in June during ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference in Coralville and Iowa City.
Previously, the Vermeer Automated Hay Baler won the first contest in 2024, and the John Deere CP770 Cotton Picker won the second contest in 2025.
Iowa
April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows
How to use less water during a drought, like not watering your lawn
When there are water restrictions – like not watering your lawn or washing your car – there are more ways for you to use less water.
Christine Sanchez, Wochit
The last few weeks of rain have alleviated some drought conditions in Iowa, though some areas of the state are still experiencing a moderate drought.
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?
US Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?
The latest Drought Monitor report, released on April 16, indicated that roughly 22% of the state is experiencing some form of drought. It includes observations as of 8 a.m. April 14, so even more rain has fallen since then.
This is an improvement from the last report, released on April 9, which showed that 73% of Iowa was experiencing some form of drought.
Here is the breakdown of drought conditions in Iowa as of April 16:
- 83% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
- 17% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
- 5% of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions
- 0.02% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions
The April 16 map shows abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions mainly in western and southern Iowa. Parts of northwest Iowa are in moderate drought, while a separate stretch of dry conditions runs across south-central into southeast Iowa.
Polk County is not experiencing any dry conditions. Des Moines has recorded 5.06 inches of rain so far in April, well above the normal monthly total of 1.70 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Current conditions are an improvement from a year ago, when 86% of Iowa was abnormally dry, and 30% was in moderate drought, according to the Drought Monitor.
All 99 counties in Iowa were categorized as drought-free last August thanks to record-setting rainfall totals during the summer. It held this designation for several weeks before the first reports of abnormally dry conditions returned at the beginning of September 2025.
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 under 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.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
Iowa
Iowa City PD searching for missing man with dementia
IOWA CITY, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — The Iowa City Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding a man who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.
Kalenga Byondo, 60, has dementia and was last seen leaving his home along Broadway Street around 7:00 a.m. ICPD lists him as 5’10”, and 160 pounds – and he was wearing all-black clothing when he went missing.
Anyone who knows where Byondo could be is asked to call 319-356-6800.
-
Ohio3 days ago‘Little Rascals’ star Bug Hall arrested in Ohio
-
Georgia1 week agoGeorgia House Special Runoff Election 2026 Live Results
-
Arkansas7 days agoArkansas TV meteorologist Melinda Mayo retires after nearly four decades on air
-
Austin, TX1 week agoABC Kite Fest Returns to Austin for Annual Celebration – Austin Today
-
Politics3 days agoDem fundraising giant in the hot seat as GOP lawmakers demand answers over dodged subpoena
-
Politics6 days agoTrump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
-
Health1 week agoWoman discovers missing nose ring traveled to her lungs, causing month-long cough
-
San Francisco, CA5 days agoPresident Trump terminates Presidio Trust