Iowa

Videos capture tornado aftermath of destruction at Iowa homes, farms

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

Videos capture tornado aftermath of destruction at Iowa homes, farms

After severe weather, including tornadoes, tore through the Midwest on Tuesday, videos shared on social media portrayed the devastation in Iowa.

More than 4 million people across the Midwest were under threat of severe weather through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Forecasts warned of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and northwestern Illinois, delivering large hail and damaging winds.

While it was unclear at the time of publication exactly how man tornadoes ripped through Iowa on Tuesday, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said in a statement that a “fast-moving storm popped quick and spawned many small tornadoes” across the one county alone.

The sheriff’s office said that there were no reports of injuries but shared photos of the wreckage in posts on Facebook.

“Even though the damage was substantial, we are grateful that no one was injured and no animals lost at this farm west of Sioux Center,” the SCSO wrote.

The severe-weather damage is pictured on Tuesday at a farm west of Sioux Center, Iowa.

Sioux County Sheriff’s Office

Newsweek reached out via email on Tuesday night to the Iowa State Patrol, NWS and the SCSO for comment and updates.

Videos and photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, captured the severe weather that pummeled other parts of Iowa on Tuesday, including funnel clouds and high winds that resulted in “significant” storm damage.

Storm chaser and videographer Aaron Jayjack shared a roughly 30-second video on X that showed several structures northeast of the city of New London that collapsed into rubble following a possible tornado.

“Significant damage to homes and farms NE of New London, Ia from wedge tornado moments ago,” Jayjack posted.

Another clip shared by Jayjack features a close-up of the storm destruction.

“Close range 360 video. Had to bail out of there at the last second,” he wrote.

Storm chaser Brandon Copic shared a video on X that shows a silo hurtling through the air and landing mere feet from his vehicle.

“STRONG Tornado Lofts Silo and throws it across the road outside of Salem, IA a short time ago,” Copic said.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner posted video and photos on X of tornadoes in Pocahontas and Calhoun counties.

“Tornado on the ground in Pocahontas County,” Gardner wrote in one post.

A fascinating 40-second video shows a “rope tornado” twisting through fields east of Palmer. Rope tornadoes may appear weaker due to their stringy appearance, but some get more intense, according to the NWS. This type of tornado usually assumes a sinuous shape in the early or final minutes of its life cycle.

Storm chaser Reed Timmer posted on X: “What an incredible rope #tornado from veteran storm chaser Paul Spomer.”

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Iowa

Semi-truck crash causes Iowa power outage impacting hundreds

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Semi-truck crash causes Iowa power outage impacting hundreds

TAMA COUNTY, Iowa — A pair of power outages left more than 700 people without power in Tama County Friday afternoon.

Alliant Energy says the larger outage, just north of Garwin, was caused by a semi-truck striking one of their power poles. That outages impacted 690 customers as of 5 p.m. Friday.

The smaller outage impacted roughly 36 people in Tama. The outage was caused by equipment needing repairs.

Alliant says crews are on site and working to fix both outages.

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Iowa

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) – The Iowa Great Lakes community is remembering Leo “Butch” Parks, a longtime lakes-area businessman and founder of Parks Marina.

He died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the age of 81.

Parks established the marina on East Lake Okoboji in 1983, growing it from a small fishing boat operation into a business with marinas, sales, service, rentals, storage, and popular destinations like the Barefoot Bar.

Parks and his wife, Debbie, also owned Okoboji Boat Works for 23 years.

Funeral services are set for Friday, Jan. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. It will be followed by a celebration of life at Snapper’s restaurant in Okoboji that evening.

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.

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Iowa

Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

AURELIA, Iowa (KTIV) – A Northwest Iowa woman is facing charges of harassment and pandering for prostitution after two incidents took place in December 2025.

Forty-seven-year-old Kristal Miller of Odebolt was taken into custody on an arrest warrant and faces three charges: one count of pandering for prostitution and two counts of first-degree harassment, according to court documents.

Kristal Miller(Cherokee County Jail)

The charges stem from two separate incidents that took place on Thursday, Dec. 18. 2025.

According to court documents, at 6:15 a.m., Miller reportedly went to the Casey’s General Store, located at 100 Pearl St. in Aurelia. Documents state Miller approached an employee and customers, requesting money from them.

Authorities state Miller claimed she was wanted by the FBI and told people, if anyone called the police, “she would kill them.”

During this encounter, she also allegedly asked an employee to remove the string from her hooded sweatshirt. Documents state when the employee refused this request, she threatened to strangle them.

That same day at 7 a.m., Miller reportedly approached a female employee outside an Aurelia daycare and asked them for money.

Court documents stated Miller suggested the unnamed employee leave her boyfriend. Miller reportedly told the employee, if she did, then she and Miller would both be paid.

Authorities say when she was told no by the employee, Miller became upset and started yelling at them.

Miller also allegedly threatened to “steal her car” and ”take her away to her guys to start a new life.”

She was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on a cash-only bond of $5,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Cherokee for Friday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m.

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.

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