The christening of the ship marked the moment the nuclear submarine was ready to hit the water for sea trials. Commissioning of the ship is when the vessel is cleared for active duty. The USS Iowa has a commissioning committee that raises funds for equipment for the ship's crew.

On Sunday, Iowa Navy Veterans were invited to Big Grove Brewery in downtown Des Moines to meet with the commanding officer of the vessel and a couple crew members.

"When we carry the Iowa name we carry all of this, all of the people from Iowa, all of the previous people that served, the incredible history of Iowa," said Matt Powell, the Commanding Officer for the USS Iowa. "And the commissioning committee is the one that folds that all in and they really wrap that into the true spirit of the ship that will carry with it for the next several decades as the ship performs missions here on out."

A crew member aboard the USS Iowa is visiting the ship's namesake for the first time this weekend. He shared with WHO 13 News that this visit adds a new level of respect for the ship and the state.

"It's really cool, seeing that support it's just uplifting," said Christian Leporati, STS2 on the USS Iowa. "It really helps you just kind of keep going, when I go back when I leave here. It's more reinforcement that there's people rooting for you."

Both Powell and Leporati along with two other crew members will be at the Iowa State Fair on Monday before heading back to Connecticut where the submarine is currently stationed.

Big Grove Brewery partnered with a brewery out in Connecticut, to create the "Rack Stowed Cream Ale" to raise funds for the ship's commissioning.

The full list of donors to for the USS Iowa can be found on the ship's website.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the driver of a 2002 Chevy Suburban was backing out of a driveway when the 6-year-old boy entered a blind spot on the right rear side of the vehicle, and was hit.

Despite life-saving measures being initiated by the driver of the vehicle, the child passed away from his injuries at the scene, the state patrol said.

“The fear was very real,” Jim Olson, former Winterset mayor and class of ‘64 said. “For Winterset graduates, it’s really a special place.”

Next spring, a new batch of tenants are scheduled to move in. 

"I think they had bids to tear it down and I think we convinced them that saving an old historic structure like this is a thing we like to do in Winterset," Olson said.

HKG Development is transforming the old school into 27 affordable housing units for seniors 55 and older. 

Framing is already installed in several of the old classrooms. Original wood flooring discovered after linoleum and glue were removed will be restored. Much of the original existing charm will also be refurbished and kept.

The renovation has also turned up unexpected items from the glory days of Winterset High.

"I found a batch of yearbooks from 1969 in a cabinet and basketball jerseys in a closet," developer Michael Kiernan said.

The cost of rehabbing a building over 100-years-old costs nearly double compared to new construction, Kiernan said.

“It's roughly a $9.3 million investment into the city of Winterset,” Kiernan said. “It consists of 13 layers of funding that took five years to put together.”

Funding including state and federal historic tax credits, low income housing tax credits, grants and forgivable loans.

The goal of the project is to provide seniors on fixed incomes a place to call home.

“Something Winterset needs is affordable senior housing," Olson said.

The project is expected to be done by April 2024.

One bedroom apartments will rent for around $500 per month, two-bedroom units will rent for $600 to $700 dollars, Kiernan said.

Temperatures rise to the upper 80s to low 90s Friday and Saturday. It will also be a bit muggy, feeling like the low to mid 90s. This is pretty much the kind of fair weather we'd expect to see!

A couple spotty storms will be possible Friday evening, with the best chances in southern Iowa. Saturday looks mostly dry, with partly to mostly sunny skies. Overall, chances for rain look pretty low for the state fair.

Showers and storms move in as early as Sunday morning ahead of a cold front. Stronger storms will be more likely in the afternoon and evening hours, some of which could produce hail and strong winds. If you're planning to head out to the Iowa State Fair Sunday afternoon and evening, have a way to get weather alerts and a plan to seek shelter if needed.

Once the cold front moves through Sunday night into Monday morning, more pleasant weather settles in next week. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s with mostly dry conditions--nearly perfect fair weather!

The O'Brien County Sheriff's Office said that Jake Gritten, 19, was caring for 1-year-old Jasper. The two were last seen in Sheldon Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Prairie Ridge Apartments on 16th Street.

Attempts were made to call Gritten, but they have been unsuccessful.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Gritten and Jasper is asked to call the Sheldon Police Department at 712-324-2525. Tips can also be submitted online on the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office CrimeDusters page.

David Alan Huston, 54, was found not guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing the scene of an accident, KWWL-TV reported.

A group organized by Indivisible Iowa and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa were protesting in front of the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids in 2022 to support abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision when Huston drove by, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors argued Huston accelerated into the crowd and intended to hurt protesters.

Huston testified that the protesters were swarming his vehicle and blocking traffic when he had a green light. He said he feared for his family’s safety and drove off.

One woman was hit in the collision. She was not critically injured.

“I know if anyone can do it, Hawkeye fans can and will,” coach Lisa Bluder said.

The state of Iowa has a long history of supporting girls and women's basketball. The Hawkeyes were second nationally in attendance last season with an average of 11,143 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The women's basketball attendance record of 29,619 was set in the 2002 national title game between Connecticut and Oklahoma in San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. A portion of the tickets will be sold for $20 and honored if the game is moved indoors because of inclement weather. Tickets sold for $10 are non-refundable.

The Hawkeyes were 31-7 and national runners-up to LSU last season, and they return Collegiate Women's Athlete of the Year Caitlin Clark. DePaul was 16-17.

“So much for closed-door scrimmages," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. “We are thrilled to be able to play Iowa, the reigning national runner-ups in a game for charity inside Kinnick Stadium. The opportunity to compete against Caitlin Clark, one of the best players in the country, will be a great test for our team.”

County fair queens come from all over the state to compete for the Iowa State Fair Queen, but only one can be crowned. 

Last summer, Mary Ann Fox from Mitchell County took home the title.

"If four-year-old me could see me now she would scream," Fox said. "I've always loved the State Fair and seeing all the queens on the grounds. I always thought that would be so cool to be the State Fair queen and when I got announced last year, I could not believe it."

This year, 104 young ladies are competing for the State Fair crown. There's a queen from each of Iowa's 99 counties. A couple of the counties bring in two when you count the expo and we can't forget the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo.

"I'm grateful to be here, to meet everybody, to learn about their fairs, to talk about my fair and learn about their different backgrounds," Chloe Zittergruen, Keokuk County Fair Queen, said. "Because everybody has a different background, has a different story."

"We've worked so hard to get here and we are doing our very best to represent our counties with pride," Emma Lihs, Polk County Fair Queen, said. "We are so, so excited to be here and meet everybody and compete to be the dream of the Iowa State Fair Queen."

The candidates come a couple of days before the State Fair starts for interviews and other activities.

"The girls are judged off themselves," Fox explains. "How well are they being able to represent their counties but also have some charm, charisma, be able to let loose here. We want someone that's personal but also be professional when representing the Iowa State Fair."

A panel of five judges decides who wins. They're looking for personality, poise, and leadership.

"It's not a pageant," Paris Springer, a judge and former Iowa State Fair Queen, said. "It really is an opportunity for us to meet those homegrown Iowa girls who have a passion for agriculture, they have a passion for their community, and they're really proud representatives of every corner of the state. And they all have unique perspectives that are so wonderful to hear."

Former State Fair queens are part of the process because they know what it's like. They serve as judges and chaperones, and even host workshops. Abrah Wright is teaching the contestants how to "be the best you."

"It's just an awesome week of learning and growing, getting to know girls from across the state of Iowa from literally every county," Wright said. "And also really trying to hone in on who am I and how can I help portray that to the judges that helps them get to know me in a matter of three or four days."

An experience that will go beyond the State Fair, and a contest building confidence and future leaders of tomorrow.

"It's so fun to select the next Iowa State Fair Queen," Spring said, "but then to see 99, 100 plus girls bloom throughout the week is so great to see."

The coronation will be held Saturday night at 7:00 on the Bill Riley Stage.

"You know to have not only the governor but the state of Iowa recognize your organization as one they can trust with the funds that they receive through an event really means a lot," said Brenda Miller, executive director at the Ronald McDonald House Des Moines.

And it's a lot of money, as the charity steer show raised over $400,000 dollars last year, and has donated over $4.9 million dollars during the event's 40 year history. 

"It has been such a great partnership with the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattleman's Association," said Miller.

With three Ronald McDonald House Charity chapters in Iowa, these funds help serve their mission of offering a home away from home.

"We find that working with the youth from the steer show, many of them are former families. So it's nice when they can come back and give back and see the services we provide to those that they love and those that have used the Ronald McDonald House," said Miller.

Young exhibitors from the steer show lend a hand before the big event.

"The day before the steer show, all of them and their parents, come here to the house for a day of volunteering. Last year they put bicycles together and they put shelving together in our garage. They do all kinds of projects around the house for us, and it's just an amazing day," said Miller.

The event allows the kids to learn more about how the Ronald McDonald House helps local families through services like a place to stay, transportation, care bags, and free meals for those staying in the home and at the hospital. Overall, it helps take the stress off of families with children undergoing treatment.

"We have families that are here for 100 nights or maybe two years, and it keeps the entire family unit together," said Miller.

If you're not looking to bid on a steer at the Governor's Charity Steer Show, there are still ways you can help the Ronald McDonald House.

"There will be an area that is set up with the Iowa Governor's Charity Steer Show if you have any items you want to donate to the Ronald McDonald House, make a cash donation, or if you brought your tab tops to donate, you can deliver those there at the day of the fair," Miller said.

Ernie has been at the Animal Rescue League since December 27, 2022. A 5-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier, Ernie’s coat is of a brown, almost orange, tiger-like pattern. He’s nearly 60 pounds and full of energy.  

Cassandra Johnson, Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator at the Animal Rescue League, says Ernie loves to walk, sniff, and explore. While Ernie is plenty active, he also is able to relax. Johnson says Ernie loves to play with squeaky toys and is able to keep himself preoccupied.  

Ernie has been around kids and done fairly well, but Johnson notes he can be a bit “bouncy” at times, so he’ll need an owner who can work with him on “four on the floor” manners. Ernie also needs a home without cats. He loves to play, so he also requires a home with other dogs who like to wrestle or play. He knows how to “sit” and is working on other tricks and manners.  

Ernie isn’t alone in having been at the ARL for a while. KC Routos, Director of Development for the Animal Rescue League, explains that shelters have become overcrowded over the last few years, especially over the summer. In fact, overcrowding has become such an issue at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa that the organization has turned to partners to board dogs while volunteers and workers figure out spacing issues at the shelter.  

ARL volunteers are surprised Ernie has been at the shelter for so long. Those volunteers are confident Ernie could settle in and be a great pet for his future owner, especially someone who is active and enjoys going for walks.  

If you're interested in adopting Ernie, you can find more information here.

"It's nerve-wracking a bit. It's emotional," Lankford said. "It means everything to me right now because ... I've been waiting for this day. I've been waiting for three years -- three long years. I've been through the most. My son has been through the most. And we're here. I'm so happy to finally be here, because I can't wait until she gets the justice that she deserves."

Family and friends brought signs of support and displayed them outside the Scott County Courthouse.

"We started as her billboard and we're gonna finish as her billboard," Lankford said. "We're trying to bring a peaceful theme here. We're screaming 'Justice for Breasia.' We can't scream it inside at the moment, but we're gonna for sure scream it out here."

The newest drought monitor indicates small improvements in southern Iowa. South central and southeastern Iowa have seen some of the moderate drought retreat. Parts of Decatur County are no longer under a severe drought. However, the areas under extreme drought near Ottumwa saw almost no improvements. Meanwhile, parts of eastern Iowa from Waterloo to Cedar Rapids have been upgraded to a severe drought.

This matches somewhat with where most of the rain fell over the last week. Brad Pugh, a meteorologist with the Climate Prediction Center, notes that crops can still do well thanks to short term rain even when under a longer term drought. Longer term precipitation deficits are one reason why much of the extreme drought remains in place in southeastern Iowa. So, while recent rains have been good for crops, they haven't been enough to make much of a dent in the drought over the last several months and years.

The next seven days will bring the potential for more needed rain across Iowa. A good portion of the state is expected to see at least another half inch to inch of rain. For any notable drought relief, however, we will need to see significantly more rain to compensate for the deficit that has built up over the year and last several years.

WHO 13's Calyn Thompson spoke with the owner and operator Scott Carlson on Today in Iowa.

Emily Manweiler, a Dairy Princess at the Iowa State Fair, is showing cows Thursday and Friday and said that it takes a lot of work to get them ready.

"They all got clipped yesterday and then they've just been bringing them back and forth from the wash racks to just clean them off so they look good for all the people coming in today because it's the first day of the state fair," Manweiler said.

Manweiler said that one thing people at the fair may not know about dairy cow producers is that they treat their animals very well.

"People don't understand that we treat our dairy animals like pets. All of these cows are just like big puppies to us and we love them and we take care of them to the best of our abilities all of the time," Manweiler said.

Iowa State Treasurer Roby Smith made the announcement Wednesday.

“Today we are returning $4.5 million to one Iowan,” said Smith. “Now this Iowan has asked to keep her name confidential, we will honor that request. I can tell you it was McDonald’s stock and dividend is what we're returning.”

The owner invested in more than 15,000 shares in McDonald’s and when the company deemed the property unclaimed, it was turned over to the state. The owner responded to the state's due diligence letter and all of those shares and dividends were returned to her.

Smith said the previous record for the amount of money returned through the treasure hunt was $2.3 million. Over the last four decades, the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has returned more than $340 million to Iowans.

The program is designed to return unclaimed property like shares, forgotten checking and savings accounts, contents of safety deposit boxes, utility refunds, and life insurance policy payouts.

You can visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.gov/ to see if you have any unclaimed property.

On Sunday July 30 at around 8 pm, police responded to a report of shots fired near North 14th Street and 1st Avenue North. When officers arrived on scene they found a vehicle with bullet holes. No one was injured.

Fort Dodge Police are looking for Austin S. Ferguson, 29, and Jason H. Ferguson, 47, in connection to the shooting. Austin is wanted on a charge of attempt to commit murder and Jason is wanted on a charge of aiding and abetting attempt to commit murder.

Police said both Austin and Jason should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department at (515)573-1424 or Webster County Crime Stoppers at (515)573-1444 or online.

Ferentz doesn't have the answer to the problem -- but he did share some personal thoughts on the nature of the regulations themselves. Or rather, a story of Ferentz watching ESPN on his couch and being exposed to the projection of betting elements on the broadcast.

"They're talking about spreads and all that. We got a really fancy TV system now -- we got YouTube TV," Ferentz said. So I got ESPNews -- Mary's opened the budget up a little bit.

"So I got ESPNews on and they got lines on the opening day of college football games on the left. So to think that kids aren't going to be attracted that -- and I understand they give you the 'bet with us and we'll give you a 300 free dollars or you can lose 300 of our dollars' and then lose the rest of your money.

"It's just like... let's acknowledge that and let's deal with it in a common sense way."

The nationals bring tens of thousands of spectators to the small town to watch the sprint car races.

Jason Reed, the General Manager of the Knoxville Raceway, said that the Knoxville Nationals is the biggest event the raceway has all year.

"It's an exciting kick-off to the four-day event we've been planning on all year. We'll have 50-55 of the best sprint car drivers in the world starting off tonight," Reed said.

Reed said that the Knoxville Nationals provide an economic benefit to the small town.

"Normally the town is 7,500 people for 50 weeks out of the year. The other two we swell it up from that 7,500 to about 30,000 by the end of this week. So for the local businesses, the grocery stores, everybody, it's a great economic impact for them," Reed said.

To learn more about the Knoxville Nationals visit the Knoxville Raceway's website.

"Both of my parents showed cattle when they were younger. So, they introduced me to it and I really liked it ever since," said Jones. Soon, there was a family competition. "Yeah, but I always beat them anyways," said Jones.

One of her biggest shows is still ahead of her, as Jenna is not only an exhibitor but also my partner for the Governor's Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair.

"We're very excited and honored to be part of the Governor's Charity Steer Show, as well as just our kids showing, it means a lot and it's part of our life," said Michelle Jones, Jenna's mother.

While I've never shown steer before, I understand certain aspects of the gig, like how Oakley requires an hour, and a glam squad to get show-ready.

It takes a lot to get a steer show ready.

Glamour aside, I asked Jenna the secret to successfully showing steer, and Jenna said it all boils down to this:

"It takes a lot of work and confidence, and if you don't have confidence in yourself you won't look prepared, but if you have confidence you'll do well."

With confidence in mind, it was my turn to take a lap around the ring with Oakley.

As a retired pageant girl, and envisioning this steer show like a cow pageant, I felt confident I could keep up, but I quickly saw there was a lot I had to learn before show day. Thankfully, I've got the best teacher.

So with a little practice, some fake it 'til ya make it confidence, and this reminder:

"It isn't always about winning or losing all the time, but it is about the behind-the-scenes work and dedication that goes into it," said Chris Jones, Jenna's father.

Team Oakley is steer show ready.

The Charity Steer Show is Saturday, August 12 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. Proceeds raised from the show benefit Iowa's Ronald McDonald House Charities.