Dana Searles

Minnesota

Reporter and Multi-Skilled Journalist at WOI-TV (Des Moines, IA)

Reporter @weareiowa5news 🎤• @UofOklahoma alum ☝🏻• MN - OK - IA •

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Articles

Crisis Canines of the Midlands trains Crisis Response K-9 teams in Iowa

2 weeks ago | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

NEWTON, Iowa — A local nonprofit organization is giving back to the community by training to deploy Crisis Response K-9 teams in Iowa. The week-long academy brings in teams of K-9 handlers and their canines to become certified to respond in crisis situations. Crisis Canines of the Midlands is currently the largest program nationwide offering this type of training. In the academy, canines are put in real life simulations to prepare them to be first responders.
Webster Theater still rebuilding after 2023 fire, facing obstacles along the way

Jan 7, 2025 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa — The doors are closed and frost builds up outside, but indoors, it's been over a year of ups and downs at the Webster Theater. "It's been a roller coaster, is what it's been," said Jeff Pingel, president of Hero, the nonprofit running the theater. In November 2023, the building next to the Webster Theater caught on fire. The fire left smoke and water damage to the theater, forcing it to be completely gutted.
Jury rules former Des Moines bar owner must pay $277K in unpaid rent

Nov 15, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

DES MOINES, Iowa — A former Des Moines bar owner will now have to pay $277,250.86 of unpaid rent after a jury found the building's owner was not responsible for the missed payments. Eric Hartung, the former owner of Downtown Tap and Patio, sued the Court Center building owner. Hartung argued the building owner failed to keep the property safe, which violated the lease agreement.
Iowa-based LGBTQ nonprofit, advocacy group sees rapid increase in requests

Nov 14, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

IOWA, USA — An Iowa nonprofit that offers representation, advocacy and referrals for LGBTQ Iowans is seeing a rapid increase in requests following the 2024 election. Lavender Legal Center prioritizes LGBTQ youth and those with low incomes. The organization was founded in 2020 to fill in the gaps on day-to-day struggles the LGBTQ community faces. Lavender Legal Center served just over 70 people in its last fiscal year.
Iowa's 1st Congressional District race still too close to call, was deemed 'toss-up' to begin with

Nov 7, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

IOWA, USA — Two days after Election Day, Iowa's 1st U.S. Congressional District has still yet to be officially called by the Associated Press. The race is between current U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Christina Bohannan. It was deemed a toss-up from the beginning and now it could play a role in shaping who holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The race is no stranger to coming down to the wire.
Iowa's county by county analysis: Harris underperforms in all but one county

Nov 6, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

IOWA, USA — Donald Trump won the state of Iowa by nearly 14 percentage points over Kamala Harris and Local 5 is finding Harris significantly underperformed in each county compared to Joe Biden's performance in 2020. Harris polled worse than Biden did in 2020 in every county in Iowa, except for one. Story County is the only Iowa county the Democratic party saw improvement in polls since the 2020 election.
Iowa's 1st Congressional District candidates make final pitch to voters before Election Day

Nov 4, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

IOWA, USA — Iowa's 1st Congressional District race could go either way as incumbent U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks is seeking her third term, while Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan looks to unseat her in a rematch of the 2022 race. Bohannan comes into this race once again, with experience unseating a 20-year incumbent in Iowa House of Representatives District 85 back in 2020, while Miller-Meeks has another term of U.S. congressional experience under her belt.
Earlham childcare center suddenly closes leaving parents, employees scrambling

Oct 30, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

EARLHAM, Iowa — Frustrations are high in Earlham after a local childcare center announced it would be closing its doors, giving little notice or explanation to parents and employees. Little Leaps Learning Academy in Earlham will officially close on November 1st. Employees and parents at the childcare center in Earlham told Local 5 they were notified of this closure on Tuesday, October 29th.
Planned Parenthood speaks on Iowa's abortion law three months after taking effect

Oct 28, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Monday, local advocates shared the impacts they have seen from Iowa's abortion law that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Tuesday, October 29th marks three months since the law took effect after a yearlong court battle. Planned Parenthood of North Central States (PPNCS) says its ability to give abortion care in the state is "severely limited" because of the law.
Polk County Board of Supervisors approves additional $10 million in funding towards pro soccer stadium

Oct 22, 2024 | weareiowa.com | Dana Searles

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Polk County Board of Supervisors is more than doubling its funding contributions for a project to bring a professional soccer stadium and entertainment plaza to Downtown Des Moines, following a Tuesday vote. The board voted 3 to 2 to add $10 million in funding towards the project. The board had previously approved $7 million for the project already. It has been about a five-year process to replace the old Dico Superfund site, and now the project is one step closer.