Iowa

Why are flags at half-staff? Iowa flags lowered for second day in a row

Published

1 year ago

March 8, 2025

Press Room

Why are flags at half-staff? Iowa flags lowered for second day in a row

For the second day in a row, flags around Iowa will remain at half-staff.

All flags at the State Capitol Building as well as flags on public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the staff will be at half-staff.

Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered flags be lowered Friday and Saturday but for different reasons. Flags across Iowa were lowered to honor the passing of former Iowa State Senate President Jack Kibbie. So why are flags lowered for Saturday as well?

Why are flags at half-staff today in Iowa?

Flags in Iowa will remain at half-staff Saturday to honor Evan “Curly” Hultman who died in February at age 99. Hultman was elected to attorney general in 1960.

He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was awarded the Army’s Distinguished Medal in 1984. Hultman was awarded the U.S. Secretary of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1994, according to a news release from Reynold’s office.

“Curly was an extraordinary Iowan and a highly decorated World War II veteran who dedicated himself to serving our country as a soldier and serving our state as a public servant,” Reynolds said in the news release. “After a long career in law, Curly supported his fellow war veterans by raising funds for numerous veteran programs and causes. Curly was a great man who will be missed dearly. Kevin and I are keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

What’s the difference between half-mast and half-staff for flags?

Half-mast is used when the flag is flown from a flagpole, typically referring to a ship mast or similar structures, according to Federal Flags. Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flagstaff.

Half-staff is the term used for flags on land, particularly in the United States. Half-staff describes a flag that is raised halfway, between the top and bottom of the flagpole.

When the American flag is flown at half-staff, it conveys a message of respect and mourning. Federal Flags says this custom is most often observed following the death of a government official, military personnel or in response to a national tragedy.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

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Iowa

April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows

Published

5 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows

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.

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Iowa

Iowa City PD searching for missing man with dementia

Published

12 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

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.

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Iowa

Nominations open for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin contest

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Nominations open for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin contest

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The race to crown the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin is back again!

The Iowa Pork Producers Associated has opened nominations for the 2026 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest.

Nominations opened Wednesday and will close on June 1.

You can vote for your favorite sandwich here.

The annual contest spotlights some of the state’s best restaurants and sparks some friendly competition, the IPPA said.

IPPA picks the top 40-voted spots across Iowa. Undercover judges will eat at each location and rank the sandwiches on on taste, quality, physical characteristics, presentation and experience. The top five picks will be revealed in October, with the winner receiving a $500 prize and bragging rights.

Last year’s winners, Hometown Heroes in Grinnel, said their pork tenderloin sales were 20 times more after their win.

“Once we made the judging, we did what we do best,” Co-owner Kalyn Durr said in a statement, “we tried to put out a consistently great tenderloin sandwich for each and every order,”

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