2026/01/07

Eye Opener: Near record-high temps today; what's next for Mitchellville?

It's Wednesday, January 7.

Today's emoji forecast: 🌞🌞 We could approach record-high temperatures today, but rain should cool us down tomorrow. Jon Rivas has your forecast.

What people are talking about:

An Iowa man who went missing on Dec. 29 was found dead yesterday in Arkansas.
The Iowa men's basketball team fell to 2-2 in Big Ten play after its comeback fell short last night at Minnesota.
Fort Dodge police are asking for the public's help finding a suspect wanted for attempted murder.

TOP STORY: What's next for Mitchellville?

THE 101: A wave of resignations among city leaders in Mitchellville has left residents with questions about whether the situation was intentionally engineered and what could come next.

WHAT TO KNOW: The five-person city council does not have the minimum three members to conduct city business after two members resigned just days before a vacant seat was set to be filled.

Because both resignations occurred before that meeting could take place, the appointment was never made.

"We could've avoided this whole situation," said Mitchellville resident Elaine Webb. "It's all a political act."

The news of the paralyzed city council comes just after other major changes in the city. The entire police force resigned effective Jan. 1, leaving the city to rely on the Polk County Sheriff's Department for all law enforcement. Two police chiefs resigned in 2025 and a city administrator was fired, too.

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

Another resignation followed yesterday. Chris Pruitt, the city's public works director, stepped down. He cited harassment and a hostile working environment involving the city's mayor and a city councilwoman.
Experts told KCCI it's rare for a city to fail to meet the minimum number of officials to hold council meetings.

4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

🚓 Sting operation: A Nevada man is facing a grooming charge after he allegedly tried to meet up with a law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy. Read more

🚨 Broadlawns threats: A Des Moines man was arrested this week after investigators say he threatened to kill people at Broadlawns. Read more

🌊 US forces board oil tanker: American forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the north Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. Read more

⚠️ Ankeny stabbing update: Authorities have identified the Ankeny woman killed in an apparent stabbing earlier this week. Read more

RAINY DAYS AHEAD

The fog will clear more efficiently this morning and we will open up to a sunny and warm afternoon. Highs will be pushing and potentially breaking records today with near 60 degree temperatures expected. This will be the most comfortable day for the rest of the week with rain, cold, and snow chances moving in towards the weekend.

An area of low pressure will be passing over Iowa Thursday which will bring soggy rain showers starting mid to late morning and lasting into the overnight hours. Rain totals will favor .5" to 1" with some areas potentially receiving more than an inch of rain. Northwest of the metro will have more of a mix precipitation chances as we go into Thursday evening and Thursday night. This could lead to minor accumulations staying under an inch. Some areas could climb to 1 to 2 inches as this snow and rain chances come to an end by Friday morning.

Friday will start dry, but temperatures will be cooling down. The evening and overnight will bring snow chances back into the picture as the second system passes over. This is starting to favor the southeastern half of the state with measurable snow, but accumulations are still staying less than 2 inches. Additional scattered snow showers will be possible with breezy conditions Saturday which could lead to slick travel and brief drops in visibilities. Wind chills will be in the teens.

DAY BY DAY:

Today: Sunny and warm. High 59F. Winds SSW 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph.
Thursday: Clouds, then rain showers expected around mid-morning onward, especially south and east. High 47F. Winds shifting from SE to N at 10 to 15 mph.
Friday: Rain leaves early, then some partial clearing. Clouds increase again second half of the day leading to snow possible Friday night. High 41F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday: A few more snow showers, otherwise partly sunny and breezy. Winds NW at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 32F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.