HAWARDEN, Iowa (KTIV) – The Big Sioux River at Hawarden could see some major flooding, which has spurred the community to take action.

Out in Hawarden, Iowa, volunteers and officials put together sandbags for potential flooding of the Big Sioux River. As of 12:30 p.m., the Big Sioux was at 23.5 feet, and Sioux County officials say it will crest at 36.8 feet on Sunday evening. The flood stage for the river is 20.5 and this crest will break the 35.2 feet record the Big Sioux has at Hawarden.

Several other communities like Hawarden are preparing just in case.

Another Iowa town, Akron, is anticipating the river to crest at 24.3 feet, which is getting close to its record of 25 feet. Akron officials and volunteers also plan to prepare sandbags Friday for what may come tonight and into the weekend.

Out in Rock Valley, sandbags have been delivered to the local police department and city officials are alerting residents that evacuations may be needed.

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SAC CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The once missing Iowa trucker found dead on a farm in rural Sac County about two months ago died from hypothermia related to acute meth intoxication, the Sioux City Journal reports.

The report, which cites a death certificate for David Schultz, says he ingested the drug, then died when he was exposed to the cold temperatures outside.

Schultz went missing in November 2023, sparking a massive search effort.

His body was found in April 2024 in the 1900 block of Union Avenue, which is close to the location his truck was found. It’s unclear why his body wasn’t recovered sooner.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Libertarians will be on the ballot statewide for the first time since 2018.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Zach Nunn will face off against a well-funded Democrat, and now a Libertarian entering the field may make it even tougher.

Marco Battaglia says his candidacy gives voters a choice to break away from the two-party system.

“We got Polk County pretty much where people just show up and check, you know, the D next to the name. And we got a lot of the other counties where people just show up and check the R next to the name. A good goal would just to be get people thinking about those three options rather than just knowing they’re going to show up and vote for a color,” Battaglia said.

In 2022, Nunn won by 2,145 votes against Democrat Cindy Axne.

With yet another tight race on the horizon, Battaglia says he’s not worried about being labeled a spoiler.

“I think that’s a really shortsighted way of looking at politics. The sooner that Iowans and the people of the district get used to a multi-party system, a system where someone can just run as no party as an independent and have a fair race the better I think it’ll be for everyone that lives here,” Battaglia said.

Iowa State University Political Science Professor Dave Peterson says if Battaglia has any impact on the race, it would be as a spoiler.

“The margins matter, right? If the Libertarian pulls a couple of points from Nunn – if that takes him from 53 to 51, not a big deal. But if it takes him just over the edge where the Democrat, you know, has slightly more then it matters, but I think that’s unlikely. I think Nunn is likely to win this race,” Peterson said.

Peterson says the effects of a third-party candidate may be muted since Donald Trump being on the ballot will lead to higher Republican turnout.

Battaglia isn’t the only Libertarian running for Congress. In Eastern Iowa, Nicholas Gluba is running in Iowa’s 1st congressional district. In Northwest Iowa, Charles Aldrich is running in the 4th district.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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