Des Moines Register: About three-fourths of Iowa is gripped in either moderate or severe drought conditions, a national report released today shows, expanding from about three-fifths of the state last week as temperatures hovered in the 90s and little rain fell across the state. About 40% of Iowa is experiencing severe drought, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows, growing from roughly 10% last week. Severe drought has expanded from Iowa’s northwest corner to encompass the northern third of the state and Central Iowa, including Des Moines and Polk County.