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Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) -- For a small band of supercharged Democratic organizers, the pleasant Des Moines neighborhood of Beaverdale goes by another name: Obamadale. The moniker was bestowed three years ago by a motley crew of Democrats who first met as strangers over martinis at a local restaurant in the early days of President Obama's re-election bid, brought together under the aegis of the "neighborhood team" model that defined the campaign's bottom-up volunteer structure.

A former Tarleton State University student who wrote the best-selling book, "American Sniper," was one of two victims shot and killed at Rough Creek Lodge late Saturday afternoon. Chris Kyle and a friend were found dead at Rough Creek's shooting range.

A district court judge says Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz cannot move forward with new rules that would challenge voters appearing on databases as noncitizens. Judge Mary Pat Gunderson issued a ruling Friday blocking Schultz from implementing voting rules he established without holding a public hearing. Schultz created the new rules in July, using an administrative emergency rulemaking process. He says he needed to act quickly before the November election because noncitizens might be registered to vote. Both Sides of Lawsuit React Here is the news release issued by Secretary of State Matt Schultz: Secretary of State Matt Schultz...

Real Estate Agent Shot To Death In Model Home Iowa Realty Cancels Des Moines Area Open Houses WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- A real estate agent was shot to death Friday in a new townhome complex in West Des Moines. West Des Moines police have identified her as Ashley Okland, 27, of West Des Moines. Polk County Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Schmunk confirmed to KCCI that he was called in to examine Okland at Methodist Medical Center at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. Schmunk said she probably died within an hour of that call. West Des Moines Lt. Jim Barrett said...

A kitten, believed to be about 6 weeks old, is now being cared for by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa after being found this week in the trash. ARL Director Tom Colvin says the baby girl kitten, now named “Alley,” was one of six kittens found by Waste Management workers in Des Moines early Wednesday morning. “They were found in a garbage bag…when one of their trucks came in and dumped its load,” Colvin said. Alley was the only kitten still alive. Colvin says Alley is very fortunate, not only to survive, but also because she seems comfortable around...

Obama's #1 Fan!

CARROLL, Iowa -- Police said they had no trouble identifying two men accused of trying to break into a Carroll apartment. Police were responding to a call about an attempted burglary when they pulled over a car matching the alleged suspects' vehicle. Inside the car, officers found two men with their faces blackened with permanent marker. Police said the caller described two men with painted faces attempting to break into an apartment Friday night before driving off. Twenty-three-year-old Matthew McNelly and 20-year-old Joey Miller were arrested at gunpoint after officers were told they might be armed. Neither man had a...

WATERLOO (KWWL) -- A Boeing 757 made an emergency landing at the Waterloo Regional Airport just after 10:00 a.m Tuesday morning. Northwest flight #335 took off around 8:30 a.m. Iowa time from Detroit due for Los Angeles. The airport was notified that there was smoke in the cockpit and the plane needed to land in Waterloo. The airport was notified when the plane was ten miles out. We have a crew on the scene and will bring you the latest on the KWWL News at Noon.

Comedian, Hand Model Sues Over Finger Tip Loss DES MOINES, Iowa -- A Des Moines comedian, magician and hand model filed a lawsuit Monday in Polk County court over a lounge chair incident. Patrick Albanese, a comedian in the play Triple Espresso, is suing Kmart and the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Albanese said he moved a lounge chair on a deck and it collapsed. Caught in the collapsing chair's front leg was his finger. Court documents show that the "plaintiff's crushed finger tip fell beneath the deck and was later retrieved by one of the plaintiff's relatives." The lawsuit...

DES MOINES — Officials on Friday issued a voluntary evacuation order for much of downtown Des Moines and other areas bordering the river. Officials recommended that downtown residents and businesses evacuate parts of downtown on either side of the Des Moines River by 6 p.m. Friday. Included are all areas in Des Moines' 500 year floodplain. The alert was prompted by rising river levels expected to peak at 8 p.m. Friday. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said they are asking for the evacuations "to err on the side of citizens and residents." The evacuation should begin immediately, Cownie said, and...

WATERLOO --- The first installment of Ken Burns' long awaited seven-part World War II documentary, "The War," which aired on PBS Sunday night, captivated many but contained one error that caught the attention of some Cedar Valley residents. Local viewers noted that the show' first installment, "A Necessary War," mistakenly stated that the five Sullivan Brothers, who enlisted in 1941 and were killed Nov. 13, 1942, were from Fredericksburg, Iowa, and not Waterloo. The confusion probably arose because Bill Ball of Fredericksburg, a good friend of the Sullivans, was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His death, according to...

Western Iowa man killed after potato gun explosion HULL (AP) --- A potato gun stuffed with explosive powder ignited and erupted, killing a Hull man on Friday night. The potato gun apparently ruptured when it was fired by Ryan Meerdink, 21, authorities with the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office said. Hull authorities discovered Meerdink outside a residence around 8:20 on Friday night. He was then taken to Sioux Center Hospital, where he later died. Authorities believe the explosion was an accident. "It's just been real blurry today," said Betty Meerdink, Ryan's grandmother. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Study Shows More Iowans Go Hungry A new study shows more Iowans are going hungry. The study by Drake University found that more than one of every ten households are reporting limited or recurrent lack of access to nutritional and safe food. It also connects a lack of healthy food options to obesity in low-income households. The 2007 Hunger in Iowa Report indicates that more Iowans are skipping meals or eating cheaper and less healthy food because of their inability to get nutritional food in a social acceptable way. Other reports were released in 2001 and 2003. The reports are...

Condoms Lead To College Evacuation Prophylactic Miss-Delivery Empties Classrooms Several classrooms at Des Moines Area Community College were evacuated after college officials became nervous about a suspicious package. College officials called police and postal inspectors after the box was delivered Thursday. What they found inside wasn't a bomb -- it was a box containing 500 condoms. The package was sent to a teacher of a human sexuality class, and was sent by a person who had been a previous speaker at the class, said Rob Denson, the college's president.

A soothing summer sound may be making its way back onto Des Moines streets. The City Council met tonight to discuss the possibility of allowing ice cream trucks back into neighborhoods. The trucks were banned 40 years ago when a 9-year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing the street with her treat. Lawrence William of Kansas City, who owns several ice cream trucks, wants to bring his business to Des Moines. However, some are against bringing ice cream trucks back. South side Dairy Queen owner, Steve Sarcone, says the trucks present too many dangers....

Des Moines, Iowa -- Time is up on the dispute between Mediacom Communications and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Now Mediacom cable subscribers in Cedar Rapids can't watch CBS, and subscribers in Des Moines can't watch Fox. In Des Moines shortly after midnight, Mediacom pulled the plug on KDSM-TV, the Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate which is normally carried on cable channel 6. Mediacom ran ESPN News in its place overnight, a duplication of a cable outlet already carried on channel 22. Mediacom may substitute other programming on channel 6 during the duration of KDSM's absence. The timing could not be worse for sports...

Officials: Family of 5 Shot Dead in Iowa BONAPARTE, Iowa — Three high school girls and their parents were found dead Saturday morning at their home in eastern Iowa, and the couple's son was arrested in Illinois and considered a suspect, officials said. The victims were found shot at about 4 a.m. near Bonaparte, according to the Van Buren County sheriff's office. It was not immediately clear what prompted the slayings. Shawn Bentler, 22, was arrested Saturday in Quincy, Ill., on an unrelated charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, the Van Buren County sheriff's office said. The Iowa Department of...

Dixie Chicks Cancel Des Moines Concert Des Moines, August 3, 2006 - First they were coming, now they have decided not to visit the Hawkeye state. Today the country music trio, Dixie Chicks announced they will not be performing at Wells Fargo Arena. The concert was slated for August 24th. No reason was given for the cancellation, but the group released a statement that said "This is a year where we weren't sure what to expect. We were prepared for a lot of things as we figure out this new phase of our career. What we weren't prepared for, however,...

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Witnesses say parts of Iowa City sustained heavy damage Thursday night as a tornado swept through the city. The most heavily damaged sections were parts of downtown and south-central Iowa City. Hospitals report about a dozen people injured, with most injuries not being serious. The National Weather Service says the courthouse roof in downtown Iowa City is gone, and that the top two floors of a large concrete and brick building in downtown Iowa City have collapsed. The historic Dairy Queen on Riverside Drive was destroyed. Cars were overturned near Clinton and Burlington Streets. A Menard's...

Police Issue Warning About Sex Offender Working As Clown Man Says He's Trying To Move On DES MOINES, Iowa -- Eastern Iowa police issued a warning about a registered sex offender who's now working as a clown at children's birthday parties. Stanley Johnston was convicted of lascivious acts with a child under the age of 13 back in 1993. Police said he's served his prison time and was released. Marion police put out a public alert Thursday that Johnston was now working as Magi the clown. Marion's police chief said he's not judging Johnston, but said the public has the...