Storified by ottumwacourier · Thu, Apr 18 2013 07:52:38

God my mom is such a badass stayed up all night cleaning up water so our whole basement didnt flood and she still went to work this morning!

— Hannah Romanco · Thu, Apr 18 2013 07:29:23

My home town and the town I socialize in are flooding. So there's that. #iowaprobz

— Dakota Cairns · Wed, Apr 17 2013 18:41:28

Yep it's a little swollen! #rainyday #rain #toomuchrain @ Eisenhower instagram.com/p/YOo_ZbN8Im/ · Jessica Neely

I'd really be enjoying this storm if it wasn't making my basement flood

— Chris Peden · Wed, Apr 17 2013 18:46:43

Currently finding two of every animal to pile into my trailer. #flood

— Dakota Cairns · Wed, Apr 17 2013 18:45:09

Every get ready to start sand bagging the river. #flooding

— Josh McCoy · Wed, Apr 17 2013 15:19:31

Come on down to lake Miller... #flood pic.twitter.com/WquKv2RTzn · HaileyLuvsYou (:

The only reason we kinda like rain. #puddlesplashing #fun @vittycent_ instagram.com/p/YOONEdjamN/ · Becca Belcher

I posted 3 photos on Facebook in the album "Spring Showers Create Minor Flooding at the High School" fb.me/1fkWKLX0T

— Cardinal Comets · Wed, Apr 17 2013 12:51:44

RAIN IS A GOOD THING! But flooding....flooding is not.

— Megan Brady · Wed, Apr 17 2013 10:24:14

Storified by ottumwacourier · Thu, Feb 07 2013 06:54:38

Tonight's finale: Whatever the African farmers are doing here, I appreciate the view. http://pic.twitter.com/vle0Vw2Y · Chris Hadfield

I see a chameleon that has taken on the colours of sub-Saharan Africa. http://pic.twitter.com/zHoVr0Tu · Chris Hadfield

The startling verdant green of this swamp in Paraguay caught my eye from my perch a million feet up. http://pic.twitter.com/XRFfkiBB · Chris Hadfield

An angry meeting of air and water on the Chilean coast. http://pic.twitter.com/Tg0V7DbF · Chris Hadfield

The incredibly green lush wetness of the Amazon basin. http://pic.twitter.com/fveWoTb8 · Chris Hadfield

Salamanca Park and Barranquilla Industrial District Port, Colombia - river pouring silt into the sea. http://pic.twitter.com/DgIYVWhw · Chris Hadfield

Asuncion, Paraguay, a city nearly 500 years old. The ancient street patterns are visible from space. http://pic.twitter.com/SaCGVT3E · Chris Hadfield

From London on the Thames to the sea to the world, so much of history came from this brightly-lit city. http://pic.twitter.com/tFN80CV2 · Chris Hadfield

Tonight's finale: The Andes mountains blur to the horizon in a cold Pacific fog. http://pic.twitter.com/cc3H8Yog · Chris Hadfield

Where the Mississippi enters the Gulf of Mexico. The soil of America's heartland forming a vast, deep delta. http://pic.twitter.com/Dctu8ipH · Chris Hadfield

Clouds, shadows and sand, playing with my imagination. http://pic.twitter.com/q1nVEJ52 · Chris Hadfield

A two-dimensional fountain, a river spurting and fanning into the sea. http://pic.twitter.com/AWcXiHoW · Chris Hadfield

If you're looking for specific photos I've posted, you can find all the updates organized in facebook albums here: http://www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield

— Chris Hadfield · Sat, Feb 02 2013 08:59:10

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 09:10:53

Attempted murder suspect has long history

OTTUMWA - The man accused by authorities of trying to kill three people in Ottumwa on Sunday is no stranger to law enforcement. Charles J...

Ottumwan charged with attempted murder

OTTUMWA - An altercation between two people Sunday night led to four victims suffering from hatchet wounds and an attempted murder charge...

Report: Former Warrior Michael Haynes killed in Chicago shooting incident

OTTUMWA - Michael Haynes, a key player on this past season's Indian Hills basketball team, was shot and killed in his hometown of Chicago...

Body of Red Rock drowning victim found

LAKE RED ROCK - The body of a drowning victim at Lake Red Rock was found at around 6:25 a.m. Wednesday morning. Marion County Sheriff Ron...

Techel trial date set

OTTUMWA - A judge has set the trial date for a man accused of killing his pregnant wife. Seth Techel, 21, of rural Agency, was charged wi...

PHOTO: Dangerous spill " Local News " The Ottumwa Courier

PHOTO: Dangerous spill Police say there were no fatalities in the rollover accident near Second Street on Highway 34 coming into Ottumwa ...

Teen collapses from heat stroke during horseback riding lessons

ELDON - After hours of no food or water and working in Sunday's 100-degree heat, Cheyenne Tedrow collapsed. "All of a sudden she lunged f...

In Davis County, Nicoletto sentencing set; Grinstead trial gets under way

BLOOMFIELD - A former Davis County educator convicted of sexual exploitation will hear his sentence this fall. Last week, a jury convicte...

New charges filed in hatchet attack

OTTUMWA - Police have filed additional charges in the case of a man who allegedly attacked three other people with a hatchet. Charles Jul...

Frustrations grow over cycle of crime

OTTUMWA - Often, people commit crime after crime and swing in and out of jail before they are ever sent to prison. Following Sunday night...

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 09:03:35

Crash at the Figure 8 races at the Southern Iowa Speedway

OSKALOOSA - Firefighters and ambulance personnel make sure driver Dave "Tiny" Sellers is OK after a nasty collision in the Figure 8 races...

Decorated diapers and fastest crawlers, walkers win trophies

OSKALOOSA - Forty-one babies and little tykes competed in the annual Southern Iowa Fair Diaper Derby and Decorated Diaper Contest on Satu...

Drought 2012: Worst in decades

OSKALOOSA - Drought conditions are causing issues for many Mahaska County farmers. Bob Wells, Agricultural Economics and Farm Management ...

Battle ax murder trial set for September

OSKALOOSA - The trial of a man accused of using an ax to murder his mother's boyfriend will be delayed about one month. The Mahaska Count...

Electrical short causes University Park fire

UNIVERSITY PARK - Oskaloosa Fire Department officials determined that an electrical short caused a house fire in University Park Thursday...

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 08:57:53

Several injuries in crash near Exline

EXLINE - On July 19 at approximately 1:15 a.m. a report of a personal injury crash was reported in the 25000 block of Highway 5. Investig...

State audit reveals financial shenanigans at CVP&DCoG in Centerville

CENTERVILLE - For more than three years the executive director of Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council of Governments in Center...

Appanoose County Fair photo highlights

Local News Featured Ads Obituaries Poll The Iowegian wants readers to think about President Barack Obama's recent assertion in a campaign...

CHALDEA CHUCKWAGON SANDWICH COMPETITION

Local News Featured Ads Obituaries Poll The Iowegian wants readers to think about President Barack Obama's recent assertion in a campaign...

Rusty Wallace bike ride coming to Moravia

CENTERVILLE - The Rusty Wallace NASCAR Foundation motorcycle ride on Wednesday, July 25 will leave the Iowa Speedway in Newton at 11 a.m....

2012 Appanoose County Fair swine and beef grand champions

Local News Featured Ads Obituaries Poll The Iowegian wants readers to think about President Barack Obama's recent assertion in a campaign...

NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace in Moravia

Local News Featured Ads Obituaries Poll The Iowegian wants readers to think about President Barack Obama's recent assertion in a campaign...

Weather unfriendly with Appanoose County farmers

CENTERVILLE - Three out of the last five growing seasons for Appanoose County farmers have been difficult, to say the least. Everybody re...

Two Appanoose County men charged with attempted murder

CENTERVILLE - Two Appanoose County men in unrelated cases are facing attempted murder charges. The first case involves a verbal death thr...

Drought's impact being felt by local farmers

CENTERVILLE - Appanoose County farmer's main message to Rep. Dave Loebsack Saturday was three-fold: Yields will be much lower because of ...

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 08:35:26

Local male believed to have drowned at Lake Red Rock - UPDATE

Pella - On Sunday, July 22, approximately at 3:25 p.m. the Marion County Sheriff's Office received a 911 stating that a man has possibly ...

Red Rock drowning update: Divers on scene now

Lake Red Rock - A team of volunteer Midwestern divers is at Lake Red Rock now as the search for the body of 25-year-old Derek Long contin...

BREAKING NEWS: Body found

The body of a drowning victim at Lake Red Rock was found at around 6:25 a.m. Wednesday morning. Marion County Sheriff Ron Goemaat told us...

Down Under Grill opens today

Pella - Those visiting the Knoxville Raceway will notice something new across the street, next to one of the landmarks linked with the tr...

New report shows drought strengthening

OTTUMWA - Many southeast Iowa residents saw the first rain in over a month during the overnight hours. News this morning brings it back h...

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 08:43:54

Local male believed to have drowned at Lake Red Rock - UPDATE

Pella - On Sunday, July 22, approximately at 3:25 p.m. the Marion County Sheriff's Office received a 911 stating that a man has possibly ...

BREAKING NEWS: Body found

Lake Red Rock - The body of a drowning victim at Lake Red Rock was found at around 6:25 a.m. Wednesday morning. Marion County Sheriff Ron...

Red Rock drowning update: Divers on scene now

Lake Red Rock - A team of volunteer Midwestern divers is at Lake Red Rock now as the search for the body of 25-year-old Derek Long contin...

Gas leak starts fire at Main St. and Big Rock Rd.

The Pella Police Dept., Fire Dept. and Pella Ambulance responded to a fire shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. One individual was ...

Accident sends one to the hospital

Pella - A truck-motorcycle accident around 2 p.m. this afternoon sent the motorcyclist to the hospital. The accident remains under invest...

Storified by ottumwacourier · Fri, Jul 27 2012 07:04:14

Okay, NOW I'm excited for the Olympics.... The London Rollergirls are part of the opening ceremony! #wftda

— Monica Thompson · Fri, Jul 27 2012 06:47:39

How is McDonald's the official sponsor of the Olympics. Something about being in shape and McDonald's that does sound right together.

— Bobb Grandsard · Fri, Jul 27 2012 06:56:51

Twitter is gonna blow up the next 17 days. America style #Olympics #USAUSAUSA

— Kelsey Jenn · Fri, Jul 27 2012 06:29:10

Most overrated day of the Olympics. Really couldn't care less what happens at the OC tonight and probably won't watch

— Aaron Gernes · Fri, Jul 27 2012 05:40:24

I love how Google does different things everyday, but its depiction of the Olympics, is just, well, weird.

— Josh Rizzo · Thu, Jul 26 2012 23:02:57

I'm assuming the London Olympics will have Quidditch.

— Mike Hockett · Thu, Jul 26 2012 22:40:11

Anyone else think it's weird seeing a Great Britain soccer team? Why do they compete as GBR at the Olympics but nowhere else?

— Patrick Fink · Thu, Jul 26 2012 12:41:35

Drought and heat have hit Iowa hard this year. Here's how people are reacting.

Storified by ottumwacourier · Tue, Jul 24 2012 10:49:05

U.S. Drought Could Cause Global Unrest

Twice in the last five years, rising food prices triggered global waves of social unrest. With drought baking U.S. crops, another round o...

Due to recent drought conditions, the City of New Sharon is requesting its customers to conserve water. This... http://fb.me/1XKOAHBcx

— New Sharon Sun · Tue, Jul 24 2012 06:28:22

State Drought Monitor

The data cutoff for Drought Monitor maps is Tuesday at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The maps, which are based on analysis of the data, a...

Gonna be impossible to sleep in this heat...

— brooke · Mon, Jul 23 2012 14:53:55

Just checked the temp it's 105 at the ottumwa airport

— Jens Grage · Mon, Jul 23 2012 13:43:47

Driving to the Ottumwa Hospital several thermometers read: 107. Are you kidding me? Haven't we had enough already.

— Leila Disburg · Mon, Jul 23 2012 12:49:20

20120723-OSEC-DL-0017 · USDAgov

You don't appreciate this drought until you drive on gravel everyday and get dusted out or do yard work and not be able to break ground.

— Alex Gookin · Wed, Jul 18 2012 19:00:23

AC has never felt so amazing since going on a long run in the heat

— Sydney Cloyd · Wed, Jul 18 2012 09:45:56

Farm Bureau member talking drought in SE Iowa with #CNN http://pic.twitter.com/lQPGptAx · John Sandbothe

Want to read the ruling? It's on the Courier's website. Follow this link to go to it.

Storified by ottumwacourier · Thu, Jun 28 2012 09:10:14

i'm just as mad at the GOP as i'm the dems! Even if the mandate was ruled unconstitutional entire law has 2 go & we do ths w/ Romneycare?

— Christopher Headley · Thu, Jun 28 2012 08:35:50

Effects of Obamacare won't even be positive until 2 decades down the road! How far into debt will we be by then?

— Will Overlander · Thu, Jun 28 2012 08:13:09

So Obama says that the individual mandate was not a tax but the court rules that it is #confusedandbetrayed

— Jeremy Shepherd · Thu, Jun 28 2012 08:06:24

If the individual mandate is a "tax" then the Senate can repeal it w/ 51 votes, right? Maybe we shouldn't celebrate just yet...

— BitterOldPunk · Thu, Jun 28 2012 08:03:12

I wanna cry #obamacare tell me this isn't real

— S Jane · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:59:32

This is what I wanted.

— Michael R. Potts · Thu, Jun 28 2012 08:01:18

After today's ruling we will all be taking home less money after every paycheck. #Obamacare

— Nik Rule · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:33:40

Republicans crying democrats gloating makes for some good news! Neither side have a clue what us real Americans want!!!

— John Essary · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:48:15

NBC says they didn't. Somebody better slow down and read the darn thing first. No mandate, just a no insurance penalty "tax." Feds can't dictate what you buy. No. 2, Fed's can't dictate what states provide in Medicaid. This thing is a time bomb that Roberts designed to cut the knees out from under Obama.

— Eugene Rasmussen · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:39:13

@m_mcaulay with all due respect, Romney is not who I want to hear from today and for sure about obamacare!

— Christopher Headley · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:33:31

The law will stand. The mandate will stand, not under the Commerce Clause powers, but under the taxing powers. Roberts joins the left.

— ashley jahner · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:17:56

Just goes to show you our judicial system is as crooked as politics!

— Joshua Dye · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:29:02

what r they going force people to buy next?

— Joe McWilliams · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:23:34

RIP America as we know it

— Dustin Hollingsworth · Thu, Jun 28 2012 07:17:01

Supreme Court to rule on #Obamacare within the hour. What's at stake? Money, the deficit, jobs, personal choice & profitability of business.

— Nik Rule · Thu, Jun 28 2012 06:46:25