Latest news with #DallasCounty
CBS News
11-05-2025
- CBS News
Two bodies recovered from Joe Pool Lake after reported drownings, Grand Prairie FD says
Two bodies were recovered Sunday morning after a report of drowning at Joe Pool Lake, the Grand Prairie Fire Department announced. A little before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Grand Prairie Public Safety Dive Team was called to the lake after witnesses reported seeing two men fall off a boat and never resurface Grand Prairie FD said neither victim was wearing a life jacket. The dive team searched until dark but was unable to find either victim. Search operation resumed Sunday morning, and the two men's bodies were found, the fire department said. The identity of the victims will be released by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office once the next of kin is notified. Grand Prairie FD urges the public to wear a life vest or an appropriate personal flotation device near or in the water.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Where's that smell of fuel from? Diesel spill in Little Walnut Creek
A diesel fuel spill in Dallas County reached a creek near Waukee recently. Residents in Waukee reported a strong smell of fuel near Little Walnut Creek extending to 156th Street on May 3, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. How much diesel spilled near Little Walnut Creek? The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a report of an above-ground storage tank leak releasing around 4,000 gallons of fuel at an agricultural site near Dallas Center. The spill was initially contained on the site and in a nearby pond. The DNR placed absorbent booms in Little Walnut Creek in an attempt to limit the spread, the news release said. Were any fish killed by the diesel spill? No dead fish have been reported in the affected section of the creek, according to the news release. The Iowa DNR is investigating the cause of the spill and monitoring the situation. The public should stay out of the creek at this time. Even though residents may smell fuel, there is no health threat to the public. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Where's that smell of fuel from? Diesel spill in Little Walnut Creek
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Des Moines man charged with allegedly releasing 4,000 gallons of diesel on farm
A Des Moines man was arrested and charged for allegedly causing 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto a farm property in Dallas County earlier in May. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office was notified of the spill early in the morning May 3, Sheriff Adam Infante said in a news release. The suspect had accessed an above ground diesel fuel storage tank and intentionally let the diesel spill onto the farm property, authorities said. The spill was initially contained on the site and in a nearby pond. But later, residents in Waukee reported a strong smell of fuel near Little Walnut Creek extending to 156th Street, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Investigators were able to identify the 36-year-old suspect through cameras and witness corroboration, the news release said. The person arrested was a former employee of the farming company on U Avenue. He's charged with theft, criminal mischief and trespassing. The Dallas County Emergency Management Agency and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are working with multiple agencies on mitigating the spill, the news release said. No fish were reported dead as of May 4. José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines man charged with allegedly spilling 4,000 gallons of diesel
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Dallas County launches innovate program to address child care crisis
Dallas County is making a historic investment in early child care to support working families and boost economic vitality. Studies show the child care crisis in Texas costs the state more than $11 billion a year in productivity and revenue losses. Dallas County's new Employer Child Care Match Program is one of the first of its kind in Texas and across the United States. "A lot of people are being kept out of the workforce because it costs more for child care for an infant, per year, than it does for tuition and books at an in-state university here in Texas," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. Dallas County is investing $1 million into the program. Participating employers can provide up to $1,500 annually in child care assistance to their employees. The county will then match that amount dollar-for-dollar, bringing the total potential benefit to $3,000 per family each year. "It's a win-win-win because the employer gets better retention rates, less absenteeism, and a happier workforce," Jenkins said. "The county gets help from the employer to fix a problem that is a growing major problem, the economic vitality here in the county. And, of course, moms and dads get a win because they've got two sources other than themselves helping pay for child care." Data from the Boston Consulting Group suggests that companies that invest in child care benefits can see returns of up to 425%. "I think if employers would give it a shot, their employees would have less time off due to child care issues," said Evern Speers, who runs Storytime Overnight Childcare Services out of her home in Cedar Hill. "They would be happier. I think their productivity would be up." Speers knows the importance of reliable child care firsthand. Her center offers overnight services, catering to parents working late shifts in industries like nursing and retail. "It's really a lot of parents that are working two jobs or maybe single mothers, single fathers, and they need someone they can count on so they can go to work and support their families," Speers said. She believes this program will help many families, with near-endless ripple effects. "Parents are relieved and they're happy parents, which makes happy children, which makes educational opportunities," Speers said. The program is run through TOOTRiS, the nation's largest child care network, which includes more than 230,000 providers. The technology platform connects parents directly with care providers and will also handle the administration of the subsidy funds. "Dallas County is setting a national precedent by showing what's possible when local government, employers, and communities come together to support working parents," said Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO and chair of Child Care for ReadyNation, in a statement. "This isn't just about solving the child care crisis — it's about workforce stability, economic growth, and empowering families in real-time." Employers of all sizes and across all industries in Dallas County are encouraged to enroll in the program. With the support of TOOTRiS, employers can offer their teams a flexible and scalable benefit that helps retain talent, boost productivity, and build a stronger, more resilient workforce. "The hope is that it is a model for other employers who don't join immediately, but look at it and say, well, the people who did join are having really good success and retention and their absenteeism is way down," Jenkins said. "And maybe this three-party payment plan is something that can work on a broader scale, either throughout the state or in a different county or city other than Dallas."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Criminal investigation underway into fuel spill near Dallas County creek, says Sheriff
DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa – A fuel spill near a creek in Waukee is under investigation by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said an above-ground storage tank began leaking diesel fuel around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Approximately 4,000 gallons were released, some of which made its way into Little Walnut Creek. Officials were alerted later in the day after residents began to complain of a strong smell in the area. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said an above-ground storage tank began leaking diesel fuel around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Approximately 4,000 gallons were released, some of which made its way into Little Walnut Creek. Officials were alerted later in the day after residents began to complain of a strong smell in the area. Sheriff Adam Infante confirmed to WHO 13 that a criminal investigation into how the leak started is 'open and active.' He did not immediately have any additional details to provide, but hoped to have an update in the future. Mitigation efforts, including Booms, large, pillow-like tools that stretch from one side of the creek to the other to absorb the oil, were installed in the water, said Ted Petersen, with the DNR. A third-party contractor would be brought in to continue mitigation efforts on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Peterson told WHO 13's Katie Kaplan that the impacted area had not changed since the spill, which was a good indicator that there would be no long-term impacts to the local environment. There were no reports of dead fish or harm to local aquatic life, he said. To report a release after hours, Iowans can call the DNR's emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. More information about spill reporting requirements can be found on the DNR website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
