BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa – One person died during a collision Tuesday morning between a semi and passenger vehicle. The crash in Black Hawk County happened at around 7:43-a.m. at the intersection of S. Canfield Road and Independence Avenue, south of Dunkerton, when a Chevy Impala traveling east on Independence Avenue pulled-out in front of a semi tractor-trailer that was traveling southbound on Canfield Road.

Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the southeast ditch of the intersection, according to the Iowa State Patrol’s crash report.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Their name was being withheld, pending notification of family. The driver of the semi was not injured. Their name was also not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation.

(Red Oak, IA) – A head-on crash Monday afternoon in Montgomery County resulted in two people being sent to a hospital The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the collision happened at around 4:20-p.m. in the 2500 block of Highway 48, about six-miles south of Red Oak.

Authorities say a Chevy SUV driven by Debra Lafollette, of Red Oak, was traveling northbound on the highway, when a  when a Ford SUV driven by Sean Belgrave, of Shenandoah, for reasons unknown, crossed the center line of the highway before colliding with Lafollette’s vehicle.

Both drivers suffered from serious injuries and were transported to the hospital by Red Oak Rescue. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash. Sheriff’s officials say no citations have been issued at this time, as the investigation is ongoing.

Red Oak Police, Red Oak Fire and Rescue and the Montgomery County Communications Center assisted with the incident.

(Radio Iowa) – Facing a budget deficit of more than 12-million dollars, Cedar Rapids school leaders are considering drastic cost-saving measures after voters rejected a proposed bond issue. Options include lowering the number of consulting contracts, reducing professional travel, and cutting staff. Chad Schumacher, the district’s director of operations, says the biggest savings would come from consolidating schools and separating fifth and sixth grades from the others.

“This model — the 5, 6, 7, 8 model, the intermediate model — allows us to reduce the largest amount of buildings with the least amount of ask for financial help from our community, if that makes sense,” Schumacher says. “We would not need to go out to bond to be able to do this model.” Other grades would be broken up differently. Kindergarten through fourth grade students would be in their own schools, followed by fifth and sixth, then seventh and eighth.

Stephanie Van Hemert is the principal at Grant Elementary School.  Van Hemert says, “It is a new and different thing, but also this could take something that is hard and give us an opportunity to try some new things that we can be excited about.”

The board did not take any action on the recommendations but will consider them soon after it receives more community feedback. If adopted, the proposals could save over 10 million dollars. The district’s 117-million-dollar bond failed last November.

(Radio Iowa) – A man from the small northeast Iowa town of La Motte has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for having an unregistered rifle and sending threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend.

Court documents indicate 34-year-old Steven Michael Conroy sent the threatening texts in July of last year after a child support hearing. Conroy sent his ex-girlfriend a photo of himself with a gun and wrote that he intended to pay the child support in lead. Conroy also sent a text questioning the quality of the bullet-proof vest worn by a person he described as her bodyguard police officer.

During a search of Conroy’s home two days later, officers found several guns, including the unregistered short-barreled rifle that had a homemade silencer attached to it.

(Washington, D.C., January 6, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced a new slate of presidential appointments to key positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Among those named was Starlyn Perdue, who was appointed State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Iowa.

Starlyn Perdue serves as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa. A lifelong resident of southwest Iowa, Starlyn and her husband raise their sons on their family’s Century Farm. With a background in economic development, agricultural advocacy, and program administration, Starlyn is committed to strengthening Iowa’s rural economy through workforce training and business development. She remains deeply rooted in Iowa’s agricultural community and is a strong advocate for policies that support farmers and strengthen America’s rural economy.

Ag Secretary Rollins said in a news release: “Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is building a powerhouse team of Presidential Appointees deeply committed to uplifting rural America and putting Farmers First. With strong experience in agriculture, public service, and national security, this team will protect family farms, expand opportunities, and proudly implement America First policies. I look forward to working together to deliver real results for the American people, particularly the farmers, ranchers, and producers who feed and fuel our nation.”

Others appointed by Sec. Rollins include:

• The Honorable Doug Hoelscher Appointed as Minister-Counselor at the International Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome, Italy.
• Tate Bennett Appointed as Principal Deputy Chief of Staff
• Hailey Ghee Appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
• Mireya Brogan Appointed as Chief of Staff for Risk Management Agency
• Troy Romero Appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Louisiana
• Chris Lyons Appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
• Dominic Restuccia Appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Michigan
• Travis Day Appointed as State Director for Rural Development in New Mexico
• Robert Sullivan Appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Connecticut
• Cory Atkins Appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Delaware
• Philip Cowee Appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Nevada
• Wilmer Stoneman III Appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Virginia
• Patrick Bell Appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Washington
• Kennon White Appointed to Assistant Chief South Region for Natural Resources Conservation Service

Read more, here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/402d41f

(Des Moines, IA) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, today (Tuesday), said nearly $350,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants were recently awarded to 105 Iowa rural fire departments to help their efforts to protect Iowan’s and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment. Requests were received from 180 fire departments totaling over $565,000 in requests, showing a great need across rural Iowa. Since 2021, more than 500 grants have been awarded resulting in an investment of more than $1,612,000 in wildland fire preparedness throughout the state.

In this area, the following fire departments will receive 2025 Volunteer Fire Assistance grants:

• Anita
• Atlantic
• Avoca
• Creston
• De Soto
• Early
• Glenwood
• Harlan
• Logan
• Manilla
• Oakland
• Prescott
• Shelby
• Shenandoah
• Sidney
• Woodbine, and
• Yale.

These grants are made possible through Iowa DNR Forestry, in cooperation with US Forest Service – State and Private Forestry. Jason Walker, fire supervisor with DNR Forestry, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire.

Departments returning these reports receive priority points when the Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting Tuesday morning, in Atlantic. During their session, the Board rescinded a motion set during their meeting on January 2^nd, which pertained to Medical Examiner (M/E) fees, and passed a Resolution setting 2026 Medical Examiner fees. Board Chair Steve Baier:

Supervisor Steve Green said the numbers came together after checking around the state for similar rates, and given the decline in the number of ME’s and ME Investigators.

The Board then discussed an Executive Assistant to the Board position. Once again, here’s Board Chair Steve Baier….

The successful applicant would take some the of load off of County Auditor Kathy Somers, who also serves as the Board Secretary and administrator for the Board. Supervisor Steve Green…

If there are no applicants with the preferred skill set, the position will not be filled. The Board approved moving forward with advertising for the position. The Cass County Supervisors’ next, Regular meeting, takes place at 9-a.m., on January 20^th.

(Radio Iowa) – After significant damage to a soon-to-close school building in northwest Iowa, classes for elementary students in the Harris-Lake Park School District have been moved to other facilities. The boiler system in Harris-Lake Park Elementary malfunctioned Friday, causing steam, water and electrical damage in areas of the building. A new elementary school in the district is set to open within eight weeks. Students in all grades haven’t been in school so far this week, but classes resume tomorrow (Wednesday).

Preschool and kindergarten classes will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Lake Park and ALL classes for first through 12th graders will be held in the district’s building for middle school and high school students.

The building that’s been abandoned was built in the 1970s and school officials say its boiler system was not up to par and needed constant fixes. The building did not have air conditioning either.

(Radio Iowa) – Two suspects arrested in connection with a burglary and fire-related damage at the Lyon County Courthouse in Rock Rapids have been returned to Iowa. Court documents say 39-year-old Brandon High Pipe of Rapid City, South Dakota, and 18-year-old Luciano Sanchez of Denver, Colorado, face multiple charges, including burglary, criminal mischief, conspiracy, and reckless use of fire, stemming from the December 16th incident.

Investigators say the pair caused more than ten-thousand dollars in damage. County officials report no evidence that sensitive records or computer systems were compromised. However, the County Treasurer says 45 out-of-state driver’s licenses awaiting destruction and nearly $3,900 in checks tied to motor vehicle transactions were affected, and staff are contacting residents.

Both men are being held in the Lyon County Jail. They’re due in court January 20th, with bond set at 25-thousand dollars each.

(Glenwood, IA) – The Glenwood Police Department reports three recent arrests:

On Monday, Jan. 5th, 44-year-old Luke Ahrens Jensen, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (Bond $300).

On Saturday, Jan. 3rd, 48-year-old Shayleigh Marshall Julich Howard, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving while license is denied or revoked – OWI related (Bond $1,000).

And on Friday, Jan. 2nd, 60-year-old Rickey Alan Brammer, of Malvern, was arrested in Glenwood for Theft in the 5th Degree (Bond $300).