Iowa
Purported Iowa tornado video shows footage from other places | Fact check
Watch Debby’s flooding and tornado damage in South Carolina, Georgia
Tropical Storm Debby slowed to a crawl and dumped more than a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours in some Southeast spots.
The claim: Video shows tornado and storm in Iowa on July 30
A July 31 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows an array of storm and tornado footage.
“Tornado and Storm in Iowa USA,” reads text superimposed over the video. “July 30, 2024.”
The video was shared more than 400 times in two weeks.
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Our rating: False
There was no tornado in Iowa on July 30, and the video doesn’t appear to show any footage from Iowa, according to an area meteorologist. The video includes clips from other places.
No tornado in Iowa on July 30
There were “damaging winds,” but no tornadoes in Iowa on July 30, Rod Donavon, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, told USA TODAY. He said none of the footage in the video appeared to be from Iowa and he recognized some of the clips as old videos from other places.
The video includes footage of weather events in Taiwan, Arkansas, Michigan and Nebraska. It also includes clips that were posted online prior to July 30 and one clip that matches an event that occurred before that date.
Donavon said one of the clips in the video shows hailstones that are much larger than the hail that was reported in Iowa on July 30.
Fact check: Video old footage, not Aug. 8 Tennessee tornado
USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- Rod Donavon, Aug. 12, Phone interview with USA TODAY
- The Washington Post, Aug. 10, 2015, Dashcam records terrifying video of Typhoon Soudelor tornado in Taiwan
- Google Maps, accessed Aug. 13, 2289 Spence Cir, Jonesboro, Arkansas
- Google Maps, accessed Aug. 13, 284 M-32, Gaylord, Michigan
- Google Maps, accessed Aug. 13, 8815 Cornhusker Hwy, Lincoln, Nebraska
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USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.
Iowa
Arrests made in SD in Iowa courthouse incident
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Two suspects in the incident at the Lyon County, Iowa, courthouse were arrested in Spearfish, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post earlier Saturday.
The sheriff’s office identified two suspects as Brandon Lyle High Pipe, 39, and Luciano Eliseo Sanchez, 18, in a social media post on Thursday. Nationwide warrants were issued for the two suspects.
The sheriff’s office said on Tuesday the courthouse had burglarized overnight. The damage inside includes writing on walls, broken glass, tipped-over Christmas trees and other items tossed around.
The incident caused the courthouse to be closed for at least one day.
The sheriff’s office said on Saturday morning that more information should be released later.
Iowa
Iowa City West sweeps City High in a pair of close contests
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Grace Fincham led the West High girls to a second-half comeback in a 60-51 win over City High, giving the Trojans a win on their rival’s home floor.
The Trojans improve to 6-2 with the win. The Little Hawks drop to 6-2.
In the boys’ nightcap, the Little Hawks’ comeback attempt fell short, as the Trojans held on for a 53-51 win.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa football dissects LeVar Woods succession plan
The loss of LeVar Woods, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ long-time, elite special teams coordinator, cannot be dismissed. The Hawkeyes have consistently been among the nation’s best special teams units, from punting to kicking to owning the return and field position battle.
With LeVar Woods departing Iowa for Big Ten foe, the Michigan State Spartans, the Hawkeyes have a big hole to fill, and head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke to the media this week on what that succession plan may look like.
“Yeah, it’s not a light decision. The trick will be to find the next LeVar Woods. He’s done a fantastic job. He didn’t have the profile necessarily maybe at that point to predict what he was going to do, but he’s done all the work. It’s like a good player; players do the work. LeVar has done a great job immersing himself and learning every aspect and then growing with each and every turn. So I guess I’m describing what we’re looking for, a guy who’s a good coach, who’s eager to take a challenge on, and immerse themselves in that world.
“Special teams is a unique niche, if you will. I’m sure we’ll have good candidates. It’s not pressing right now in my mind. What is pressing is the next two weeks getting ready for the game, and then after that we’ll have eight plus weeks or eight plus months actually to get it right. I don’t plan on waiting until August to fill it, but we’ll figure that out when we get in the new year,” Ferentz said about LeVar Woods.
The past few seasons, Iowa has been elite on special teams with kicker Drew Stevens being incredibly consistent, the punting game flipping fields, and the run of returners consisting of Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Charlie Jones, Cooper DeJean, and Kaden Wetjen.
The Hawkeyes have won more than their fair share of games relying on this unit, and to continue that success, Ferentz needs to hit on this hire.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
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