MORE than 38,000 residents in 26 Iowa communities were evacuated from their homes yesterday.

National Guard troops worked with residents to stem the damage from the widespread flooding in Iowa that killed at least three people, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and severely damaged the state's corn crop.

Receding water revealed widespread damage today in Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, caused by a record flood peak, while other Iowa cities faced rivers that were still rising, following a series of storms that left at least 15 people dead.

The Cedar River, which burst its banks after torrential rain, has forced at least 20,000 people from their homes in the US state of Iowa, officials said today.

Dieters in Iowa are turning to the Good Book for weight-loss tips.

United Airlines is to axe 1,250 jobs and close three reservation centres as part of cost-cutting efforts aimed at saving the troubled US carrier about $100m (€102.7m) a year.