Iowa Pulse

Two McDonald’s employees were injured after police say a customer opened fire through a drive-thru window in Ankeny Thursday night. Hassan Mohamed, 25, of Des Moines, faces two counts of attempted murder and additional charges. FULL STORY: iowaspulse.com/ankeny-mcdona…

FREEDOM WINS TONIGHT?

Warmer Days, Cool Nights Ahead for Iowa! Iowa is in for a stretch of warmer, mild weather, with daytime temperatures climbing into the 70s and overnight lows dipping into the 40s in some areas. It's a welcome taste of warmer fall weather, but you'll still want a jacket when heading out early in the morning or later in the evening. Iowa Pulse meteorologist Alex Kerkhove has the latest on what Iowans can expect in the days ahead. Watch the latest Iowa Pulse weather update for the full forecast!

EARLVILLE, Iowa — A brutal killing on an Iowa farm shocked the state in 2018. Now, nearly eight years later, the case is back in the national spotlight. Todd Mullis was convicted of murdering his wife, Amy, with a corn rake and sentenced to life in prison. But his son, who discovered his mother's body at just 13 years old, is speaking out in a new CBS 48 Hours interview, insisting his father is innocent. Now 21, Trysten Mullis is challenging key evidence and testimony that helped convict his father. A judge rejected Todd Mullis' latest attempt to overturn his conviction earlier this year.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced Wednesday that she is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, alleging violations of Iowa's Consumer Fraud Act. A 91-page court petition reveals the state is seeking extensive penalties and court-ordered changes to the company's operations. Iowa is asking a judge to require OpenAI to: 1. Delete and destroy data collected from Iowa residents before a court judgment. 2. Reimburse Iowa consumers who purchased products or services during the period of alleged unlawful conduct. 3. Pay civil penalties of up to $40,000 per violation. 4. Pay additional penalties of up to $5,000 for violations involving residents age 60 or older. 5. Suspend certain advanced AI testing until adequate safeguards are independently verified. 6. Implement stronger consumer privacy, age-verification and safety measures. Bird alleges OpenAI misled parents about ChatGPT's safety, exposed vulnerable users to potentially harmful content and failed to adequately disclose risks associated with its AI technology. The lawsuit also raises concerns about autonomous AI systems allegedly engaging in unauthorized cyber activity. OpenAI has previously introduced additional safeguards for teenagers, including parental controls, age-prediction technology and restrictions on harmful content.

Debate Night. Whos taking the W?

ALTOONA, Iowa — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said Sunday that the federal agency is processing updates to Iowa's impaired waterways list as a lawsuit continues over nitrate pollution in several major rivers. The dispute centers on seven segments of five Iowa rivers — the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon and South Skunk — that the EPA previously identified as impaired because of elevated nitrate levels. The EPA later reversed its decision and removed the seven listings after the Iowa Department of Natural Resources challenged the designations. Three environmental organizations filed a federal lawsuit in May, arguing that the waterways should remain listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act. During a visit to Altoona on Sunday, Zeldin emphasized cooperation with Iowa officials, farmers and businesses to address water quality concerns. The EPA is also reviewing Iowa's newly submitted 2026 impaired waters list. No new nitrate regulations or decisions to restore the disputed listings were announced during Sunday's visit.

FLASHBACK: During a 2022 speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned about the growing power of surveillance technology, satellites and digital systems, arguing they could give governments unprecedented tools for control. The clip is resurfacing as debates over digital ID, artificial intelligence and surveillance technology continue.

Sen. Josh Hawley displayed a disturbing map during a Senate hearing showing more than 338,000 unique IP addresses that officials said had downloaded, shared or distributed child sexual abuse material over just a six-month period. The red dots stretch across nearly the entire country. Hawley used the map while questioning whether federal investigators have enough resources to identify victims and pursue offenders involved in online child exploitation. According to testimony cited during the hearing, the map comes from a Department of Justice database.

Alex Kerkhove is tracking lingering rain across western Iowa into Monday, along with the possibility of patchy morning fog. Then comes the cool-down. Tuesday and Wednesday look mostly clear and crisp, with highs only reaching the 60s across much of the state. But keep the umbrella nearby, rain chances return later in the week, with showers possible from Thursday through Saturday, including some overnight rainfall.

A retired F-14 Tomcat turned heads across Southwest Iowa Friday as the massive aircraft was transported through communities including Stanton and Red Oak on its way to Colorado. The unusual sight drew plenty of attention along the route as the oversized load made its way west. 📸 Video/photos: Matthew Smith / LiveStormChasers.com and Iowa Pulse contributors.

🚨 WRONG-WAY DRIVER CAUGHT ON DASHCAM NEAR FORT MADISON A driver headed toward Burlington captured a vehicle traveling the wrong way near Fort Madison at about 4:45 p.m. Sept. 10. It was not immediately clear whether law enforcement later made contact with the driver. Video courtesy of Lee Moise.

IOWA GAS PRICES SURGED 69% FROM FEBRUARY TO AUGUST Iowa saw the largest percentage increase in regular gasoline prices in the country between Feb. 18 and Aug. 20, according to AAA data, climbing from $2.45 to $4.14 per gallon. Prices have eased somewhat since then, with AAA putting Iowa's statewide average at about $3.96 Saturday.

How did you like week zero of College Football?

BREAKING: More than 20 people may be missing or unaccounted for at the Grand Canyon following a significant flash flood. The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help after flooding hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Aug. 29. Officials are seeking information about hikers, backpackers and campers who may have been in the Bright Angel Creek corridor, including the North Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Campground and Cottonwood Campground. Anyone with information is asked to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009 or [email protected]. Source: Grand Canyon National Park / National Park Service

MONTCLAIR, Calif. — A truck carrying about 40,000 pounds of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer vanished after leaving an Anheuser-Busch distribution center on Aug. 17, police said. The load, valued at roughly $45,000 and including more than 1,400 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon plus nearly 200 cases of Old Milwaukee nonalcoholic beer, never reached its destination. A subcontractor was scheduled to deliver it. Pabst Blue Ribbon is asking the public for tips and offering a reward. The company said on social media that the truck can be returned with no questions asked within a limited window. Montclair police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department.

000 WWUS74 KLIX 281550 NPWLIX URGENT — WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28, 2005 ...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED... HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED STRENGTH... RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969. MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE. HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT. AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK. POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED. AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE!

🚨 STATE FAIR STRAW POLL: With the 2026 Iowa State Fair wrapping up, Republicans led every major race in the late-night results. 🔴Zach Lahn/Derek Wulf: 63.68% 🔵Rob Sand/Dave Muhlbauer: 36.32% 2,759 votes cast in the governor race.

An Ames police officer was injured after a patrol vehicle was struck while the officer was working along the interstate Monday night. The officer is expected to recover. Police said the driver was arrested and charged with failing to change lanes when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, causing injury. The Ames Police Department would like to remind drivers to slow down, move over and remain alert when approaching emergency vehicles stopped along the roadway.