Iowa
Nearly 6 million laying hens in Iowa affected by bird flu over past four days, state says
Testing milk nationwide for bird flu
The USDA has issued a new order requiring raw, or unpasteurized, milk nationwide to be tested for bird flu
Fox – Fox 29
Nearly 6 million laying hens in Sioux County have been affected by bird flu outbreaks over the past four days as wild birds that carry the virus migrate across Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture said Monday that a Sioux County commercial egg-laying operation with 1.6 million birds was infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. It’s the second outbreak in Sioux County since Friday, when the infection was detected in a 4.3 million-bird flock.
The state reported Sunday that a Palo Alto County turkey operation with 31,000 birds tested also positive. The three detections followed a period since June when there were none.
All the birds are destroyed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus, which is deadly to poultry. The outbreak that began in 2022 has affected 29.2 million birds in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer, according to state and U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Nationwide, 115.3 million birds have been affected.
Gov. Kim Reynolds already had declared a disaster for Sioux County and extended it to Palo Alto County. The declaration allows the use of state resources to combat the spread of the disease.
It is believed to be spread by wild birds, which may show no apparent symptoms, and has been especially prevalent in Iowa during periods of migration. This fall’s above-normal temperatures may have delayed migration, with outbreaks recently reported in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and other Midwestern states.
The uptick in infections comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepares to implement a national testing program for bird flu in milk after outbreaks of the virus, HN51, in dairy cattle in states including Iowa. Thirteen cases of H5N1 have been detected in dairy cattle in Sioux, O’Brien and Plymouth counties, though there have been none since June.
The first round of milk testing under the USDA order is set to begin Dec. 16.
While most infected dairy cattle experience mild symptoms from bird flu, there is concern among epidemiologists that it could be spread to humans through unpasteurized milk.
So far, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in Iowa.
Infected products do not enter the food supply and it remains safe to consumer poultry and eggs, as well as milk that has been pasteurized, a process that kills the virus, the Iowa Department of Agriculture has said.
The outbreak reported Monday was sixth in Iowa poultry this year.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.
CHATHAM, Ill. (KCRG) – The families of four children and a teenager killed after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, just short of a year after the tragic accident.
The teenager killed, 18-year-old camp counselor Rylee Britton, of Springfield, planned to attend the University of Iowa and would have been finishing her freshman year.
The April 28 accident at YNOT Camp also claimed the lives of 7-year-olds Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, and 8-year-olds Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson. Lund spent five weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
At least six other children were severely injured, and numerous children witnessed the accident.
The crash happened after Marianne Akers, 44, veered off of a county highway, traveled through a cornfield and drove straight through the building. Akers was not charged after an investigation found that she was having a medical episode during the crash, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday, names YNOT Camp, as well as Akers, responsible for their deaths. They claim the building violated multiple safety codes when it was built and was not suitable to protect its occupants.
Legal representatives are holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the lawsuit.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on offense, defense development
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on how the Cyclones offense and defense is developing.
After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.
He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.
According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.
Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.
Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments
As of April 21
- Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
- Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
- Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
- Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
- Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
- Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
Avoiding common car crashes
Discover the common causes of car crashes and learn how to avoid them.
Prepare for more overnight closures at the northeast mixmaster as the Iowa Department of Transportation closes the ramp connecting westbound Interstate 80 and northbound Interstate 35.
Here’s what to know.
When will the Iowa DOT close the westbound I‑80 to northbound I‑35 ramp?
The westbound I-80 to northbound I-35 ramp will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning from April 21-24.
What’s the detour when the Iowa DOT closes the westbound I‑80 to the northbound I‑35 ramp?
During the closures, drivers wanting to go from westbound I‑80 to northbound I‑35 will follow a signed detour.
Instead of taking the closed ramp, motorists will stay on westbound I‑80, bypassing the northeast mixmaster connection. They’ll then exit at U.S. Highway 69, turn around, and head back east on I‑80, where they can connect to northbound I‑35 using the open portion of the northeast mixmaster.
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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