(Radio Iowa) – While 2025 wasn’t an especially terrible year for natural disasters in Iowa, a new report finds it was one of the most expensive years nationwide, with 23 major weather-related incidents that cost more than a billion dollars each. University of Iowa finance professor Martin Grace, an expert on risk management, says new home construction has to meet the latest codes, but Iowans living in older homes may find themselves facing expensive upgrades in the years to come. “Most homeowners who have older houses are going to have to make their houses resilient,” Grace says, “and you don’t remodel your house every seven years, or you don’t remodel your house maybe once in your in your lifetime of owning a house.”

In 2024, northwest Iowa saw historic flooding, while the entire state was raked by a record 125 tornadoes. The multi-state derecho wind storm in 2020 destroyed some seven-million Iowa trees and overall cost more than 11-billion dollars, the bulk of it in Iowa to houses, businesses and crops. Grace, a past president of the American Risk & Insurance Association, says climate change predictions call for these severe weather events to worsen and become more frequent. Iowa homeowners, he says, will have to act to make their homes more durable. “I think over time, what’s going to happen is that we’re going to remodel houses to have more resilient roofs,” Grace says. “We’re going to have property that is going to be a little bit more flood tolerant. We’re going to do other things that the homeowner is going to have to essentially manage to reduce the risk.”

While Iowa is in middle of what’s considered the nation’s tornado alley, other states face significant threats from both tornadoes and hurricanes, like Alabama. “With the industry’s help, they have formed a program that helps people make their homes more resilient,” Grace says. “I think this is the next transition for homes and buildings around the country, especially in wind and cyclonic areas where we have tornadoes and hail. This is going to be a more important thing in the future, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Even though no hurricanes made landfall in the U-S last year, for the first time in a decade, the study from Climate Central found weather-related disasters in 2025 nationwide cost more than 115-billion dollars, led by the Los Angeles wildfires.

https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2025-in-review

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved funding for roadways improvements to help businesses in Waterloo, Sioux Center and Huxley. The D-O-T’s Deb Arp says Waterloo is getting more money for roadway improvements in its South Business Park. “An 80-thousand square foot Edge Data Center is planning to locate on 12 acres later this year at the far south end near an existing MidAmerican substation,” she says. “The data center is anticipated to employ 80 to 20 professionals.” Arp says the city requested more funding from what is know as a RISE grant for the Iowa Economic Development Authority certified site.

“Based on the potential capital investment and future job creation, staff recommends the Commission approve the modifications of the previously awarded Rise grant to commit additional rise funds of 697-thousand-508 dollars for the additional roadway improvements for a new total award of four-million-495-thousand-306 dollars,” she says. That would be up to 60 percent of the total eligible project costs. Sioux Center was also awarded RISE funds for roadway improvements to 12 acres on the northwest side of town. “The proposed rise improvements will provide access to the proposed relocation and expansion of Malinga Inc, a manufacturer of customized bulk feed, transportation and pneumatic conveying equipment,” Arp says.

The Transportation Commission approved a RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) Grant for half of the cost of the nearly 553-thousand dollar road project. “The initial development is anticipated to include construction of a 30-thousand square foot facility and include nearly seven million dollars in capital investment and the creation of 12 full time jobs,” she says. The third and largest award is going to the central Iowa town of Huxley for a roadway and intersection improvements at Iowa Highway 210 and 160th Avenue on the southeast side of town. “The proposed rise improvements will provide access to the proposed site of Project Lion.

The development is anticipated to include construction of a 300-thousand square foot cold storage and warehouse facility committed to a single firm in the food production industry. The project is anticipated to result in over 100 million dollars in capital investment and the creation of 129 full time jobs,” Arp says. The road project in Huxley is estimated to cost nearly four-point-two million dollars and the RISE Grant is for approximately half of that cost.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Nebraska man described as an “unruly passenger” was sentenced Tuesday after causing an emergency landing on a flight diverted to Cedar Rapids. KCRG reports 23-year-old Mario Nikprelaj was sentenced to more than a year in prison and a two-year supervised release after causing an emergency landing at the Eastern Iowa Airport on a SkyWest flight from Omaha to Detroit on July 17, 2025.

In October 2025, Nikprelaj pleaded guilty in federal court to interference with flight crew members and attendants. According to a federal complaint, the captain was told about Nikprelaj and flight attendants described him as an “unruly passenger” before take off. Flight attendants told the captain that Nikprelaj was leaving his seat against orders. He flipped off the flight attendants and returned to his seat. He was sat in the plane’s exit row.

According to a criminal complaint, he later tried to open an emergency exit door and fought with other passengers. At one point, he threatened to kill a flight attendant. The flight attendant told him to remain in his seat and he grabbed her arm. The captain called the Eastern Iowa Airport and said he needed to make an emergency landing. The call took place about fifteen miles from the airport. Passengers helped subdue Nikprelaj until the plane landed at the Eastern Iowa Airport, where he was detained.

After landing, officers conducted a search and found a prescription bottle containing 41 suspected Xanax pills that was not issued in his name. In 2020, when Nikprelaj was 18 years old, he was charged after hitting his girlfriend before stealing a snow plow from a business near Detroit, Michigan. Video shows him climbing inside the plow shirtless before realizing the keys are in the ignition. He got about eight miles before he was pulled over and arrested.

(Jackson County, IA) – A single vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon near Nashville, in eastern Iowa, claimed one life and resulted in injuries to two others. According to the Iowa State Patrol, an eastbound pickup truck driven by 20-year-old Kaleb D. Carder, of Clinton, was traveling on a 33rd Street (a gravel road), just west of the junction with 84th Avenue at around 2:10-p.m., when it came upon a non-contact Jackson County Secondary Roads vehicle, that was mowing the ditch.

When Carder tried to slow down as he approached the mower, he lost control of the pickup, causing it to rollover over. A passenger in the vehicle, 24-year-old Alexus Woodford, also of Clinton, was injured in the crash. Authorities say Woodford was not wearing a seat belt.  A third, unidentified person died. Their name was being withheld by the Patrol, pending notification of family.

Carder – who was wearing his seat belt – was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic. Woodford was transported to the Jackson Regional Hospital. The Patrol was assisted at the accident scene by Anamosa Fire and Ambulance, Aircare, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner, and Iowa DNR.

(Radio Iowa) – Some elements of the the governor’s property tax proposal are similar to a plan released Monday by Senate Republicans. House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans will release their plan next week. “I think it gives us true momentum,” Grassley said, “and shows Iowans that we’re taking the issue of property taxes very seriously.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh notes the Senate G-O-P plan would completely end property taxes for older Iowans who own their homes, while Reynolds plan is a freeze.

“It’s good to see that we’re aligned in the same direction,” Klimesh said. “…I think those conversations play out over time as we kind of take a look at the nuts and bolts of the proposal and measure where we were at.” House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer says the governor’s property tax plan is interesting, but lawmakers need to go over the details.  “Our goal is to protect first responders on the local level, fund schools and make sure our local governments can actually do the work they need to do,” Meyer said, “but we also recognize that we need to lower property taxes.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says Republicans have been in charge at the statehouse for nearly a decade and she’s skeptical they’ll provide a meaningful reduction in property taxes for Iowans who really need it.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing a property tax plan and new spending on cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Reynolds outlined these and other initiatives in the annual “Condition of the State” message Iowa governors deliver to legislators. Reynolds is calling for a two percent cap on property tax revenue growth for city and county budgets.

“Spending is what drives taxes — always has, always will — and the most reliable way to protect taxpayers is to limit the growth of government itself,” Reynolds said. “…When we were kids, our parents would tell us that money doesn’t grow on trees. Well, it’s time that government learned that, too.” The governor’s proposing a property tax freeze for Iowans above the age of 64 if their home’s value is less than 350-thousand dollars. “Because no one should be taxed out of their own front door,” Reynolds said.

And Reynolds is proposing tax-deductible accounts for Iowans saving for their first home, along with an expansion of Iowa’s beginning farmer tax credits.”Whatever their dream, let’s make sure it’s within their reach so more young Iowans will choose to build their future here,” Reynolds said. The state just received federal funding for rural health care initiatives and Reynolds is promising to dedicate 50 million dollars of it to expand cancer screening tests and treatment of cancer.

“We’re making early detection the norm, not the exception,” Reynolds said, “replacing fear with hope and making sure if families hear the word ‘cancer’ they also hear: ‘We caught it early and we can treat it.'” Reynolds began her speech by honoring Staff Sergeants Nate Howard of Marshalltown and Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines, the two Iowa National Guard soldiers who were killed a month ago in Syria. “Our fallen soldiers served their state and their country with honor. As respected leaders they were models of courage, commitment and character,” Reynolds said.

“We don’t speak their names only in grief, but in honor…Please join me in honoring Staff Sergeant Howard, Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar and their families with the applause of a free and grateful people.” Staff Sergeant Howard’s family was seated in the House gallery for the speech and they wiped tears from their eyes as the ovation lasted for well over a minute. The governor then revealed the two Iowa National Guard soldiers who were seriously wounded in that attack in Syria have been released from the hospital and are in outpatient treatment.

Reynolds says only 29 percent of the nearly 180-thousand veterans who live in Iowa are receiving the federal benefits they’re owed — and only six other states have a lower grade. “An outdated system that provides little accountability is leaving too many veterans and well-meaning county officials without the tools, training and consistency they need,” Reynolds said. She’s proposing that the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs take over training of all 99 county Veterans Service Officers and that the state no longer provide 10-thousand dollars to each county to pay these employees.

That money would be pooled into a competitive grant program to reward counties based on how many veterans, per capita, have secured the benefits they earned. The state would also set up a computerized claims system that would be used for all 99 counties. Reynolds, who has been Iowa’s governor since mid-2017, is not seeking reelection. “As I enter into my final legislative session as governor, I do so deeply grateful, fully committed and determined to finish strong,” Reynolds said. “There’ll be time to look back and time to say, ‘Thank you,’ but tonight our focus is on forward, on what still needs to be done and doing it together.”

Reynolds has forwarded her state spending recommendations to legislators — for an overall budget that’s slightly less than two percent bigger than this year. It includes a two-and-a-half percent per pupil spending increase for Iowa’s K-12 public and private schools, along with a recommendation that state spending for community colleges and the three public universities increase one-and-a-half percent.

(Radio Iowa) – A discount airline flown by many hundreds of Iowans every week is announcing its merger with another carrier. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Allegiant is buying Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines in a one-and-a-half billion dollar deal. Kyle Potter, executive editor of the Thrifty Traveler, says Sun Country has been a bright spot among low-cost carriers for the past three years, and Allegiant is also in solid shape.

“When airlines want to grow, they need to grow in order to continue generating more revenue and try to increase their profitability,” Potter says. “The easiest way to grow is just to buy another airline. You get those planes, you get those pilots, you get those routes. I think that is what is really driving this acquisition from Allegiant.” The merger is expected to be finalized in the second half of this year.

The combined company will continue under the Allegiant name. Potter says a worst-case scenario is that Allegiant will scale back over time. Right now, Sun Country prides itself as a competitor to larger airlines like Delta. “Offering travelers a cheaper fare than Delta will sell them for, and in many ways, that has kept Delta in check and has forced Delta to be at least more competitive on price than they otherwise would be,” he says. “Allegiant just doesn’t do that. Allegiant’s entire business model is built around flying from smaller cities.”

Together, the airlines will operate more than 650 routes, 551 from Allegiant and 105 from Sun Country. Allegiant flies from cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Omaha and the Quad Cities.

(Radio Iowa) – Data from the U-S-D-A shows Iowa set some records for the 2025 harvest. The report shows a record corn harvest of two-point-seven-seven (2.77) billion bushels, topping the previous record of two-point-seven-four billion bushels in 2016. The average corn yield was the second highest ever at 210 bushels, just behind the 211 bushels in 2024.

The average yield for soybeans set a record at 63-and-a-half bushels an acre, one half bushel above the previous record set in 2021. Overall farmers harvested 596 million bushels of soybeans, the third most ever.

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig released a statement saying farmers delivered record yields despite conditions that varied from being too wet to too dry, and in a time when there is stress on the ag economy from high input costs and low commodity prices.

(Radio Iowa) – Wade Dooley, a 43-year-old Democrat who farms northwest of Marshalltown, is running for state agriculture secretary. He says leadership in Des Moines is too focused on helping big businesses and political insiders. “We have the best soils in the world, the most innovative people and some of the best technology on the planet,” Dooley says. “We can do a lot. All we need is a little support and, for the folks that hold us back, to get out of the way.”

Dooley, a sixth generation farmer, rotates soybeans and rye on his family’s Century Farm. He also sells cover crop mixes and does custom seeding. “I’ve been trying to find more profitable, more environmentally sustainable methods to farm,” Dooley said. “We’ve done cover crops, I raised watermelons for a while, popcorn, you name it. We’re tried a lot of different things.” Dooley says he’s running to lead the Iowa Department of Agriculture because while there’s a lot of talk about helping farmers make changes to boost their income — and improve water quality — there’s not a lot of actual support at the state level for it.

“Farmers are on debt treadmills for the most part. They’re all trying to do what’s best for their family, they’re also trying to do what’s best for their land, they’re also trying to do what’s best for their community, but at the end of the day, they’ve got to make their bank payment,” Dooley says.”…It’s really frustrating, then, to hear people in the Democratic Party blaming farmers saying, ‘Well, it’s their fault they’re doing it.’ They’re doing it, in part, because they’re forced. They’re trying to save their farms.”

Dooley says it’s time to end the blame game about Iowa’s water quality issues and for the Iowa Department of Agriculture to lead the effort to figure out a resolution. Dooley is a graduate of Iowa State University and has served as a board member of Practical Farmers of Iowa. Another Democrat has indicated they’ll run for state ag secretary this year. Chris Jones, an author and retired University of Iowa researcher, is expected to officially launch his campaign later this week. Republican Mike Naig has been serving as State Agriculture Secretary since 2018 and is seeking reelection.

(Oakland, IA) – A woman from Cass County and another from Pottawattamie County were injured during a collision late this (Tuesday) morning, in Oakland. According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened just before 10:30-a.m. at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 59.

Authorities say an SUV driven by Donna Lee Smith, of Atlantic, was traveling westbound on Highway 6, when an eastbound SUV driven by Joy Elaine Van Zee, of Oakland, attempted to turn northbound onto Highway 59. The two SUV’s collided in the westbound lane. Following the impact, the SUV driven by Smith left the road and struck a tree. The other SUV came to rest on the highway.

Both drivers suffered serious injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Officials say their investigation resulted in Van Zee being cited for failure to yield and driving under suspension. Authorities say her license had been suspended after she was deemed incapable of operating a motor vehicle.