CARSON, Iowa – March 6, 2026 – Crews from the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office need to close the U.S. 59 bridge over Iowa 92 in Carson on Monday, April 6, until late October, weather permitting, so the bridge can be removed and replaced.

When the bridge and roadway is closed, you will need to follow a marked detour route that uses U.S. 6, Iowa 48, and U.S. 34.

(IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – Bills to prohibit cloud seeding in Iowa, raise the punishment for animal torture and require state prioritization of vehicles with biodiesel fuel capacities were sent to the Senate following House approval Thursday. House File 2640 would prohibit the intentional emission of air contaminants for the purpose of “affecting the temperature, weather, climate or intensity of sunlight.” The bill would prohibit geoengineering practices, or methods to reduce the impacts of climate change by releasing certain properties into the atmosphere. One form of geoengineering, called cloud seeding, involves the release of silver iodide crystals into certain types of clouds to trigger rain or snow.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office holds that while several states utilize cloud seeding technology, its benefits are “unproven.” A similar bill has also advanced in the Senate, though the bills are not identical. The House adopted an amendment that struck the first portion of the bill, which would have required public airports to submit regular reports on aircraft at the terminals with equipment that could emit weather-changing particles into the atmosphere. The amendment also specified that the aerial application of agricultural inputs, like pesticides or fertilizers, would not be affected by the bill.The bill passed with a vote of 59-26 along party lines.

The House voted unanimously Thursday to pass House File 2348, which would elevate animal torture from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class “D” felony in Iowa. The bill alters code to specify that someone is guilty of animal torture if they perform actions that intentionally crush, burn, drown, suffocate, impale or subject an animal to serious injury or death. Class “D” felonies are punishable with up to five years confinement and fines of $1,025 to $10,245, according to the bill

Another bill, passed from the House Thursday, would require that diesel engine passenger vehicles leased by the state be manufactured with the capacity to run high blends of biodiesel fuel.House File 2671 provides that diesel engine vehicles rented or leased by the state must be capable of running on B-20, a blend with 20% biodiesel fuel, or higher blends. This brings biodiesel requirements for leased and rented vehicles in line with state requirements for purchasing diesel engine vehicles.

An amendment was added to the bill and adopted by the House to stop the Iowa Department of Administrative Services from limiting the number of events held at the state Capitol complex to one event. HF 2671 passed with a vote of 85-1 with Rep. Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine, as the sole no.

BRIDGEWATER, Iowa – March 6, 2026 – Effective April 6th (2026), if you travel on Iowa 92 near Bridgewater you need to be aware of an upcoming bridge closure that may affect your trip according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Crews will need to close the Iowa 92 bridge over the West Fork of the Nodaway River, 1.6 miles east of Adair County Road N-51, on Monday, April 6, until late October, weather permitting. When the bridge is closed, you will need to follow a marked detour route that uses Iowa 148, Adair County roads G-61 and N-72, and Iowa 92.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously approved a bill that sets some state rules for prior authorization — the process insurance companies and government-run insurance programs use before approving a patient’s medical treatment. It sets new timelines for prior authorization decisions. It also says a patient’s doctor appealing denial of treatment or medication for a patient must talk to an insurance company representative who’s an expert in the same area of medicine. Representative Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton, notes the bill also makes changes that should speed up the process of state approval of health care facility construction.

“It is probably one of the most impactful pieces of legislation that will get down to the governor this year,” Harris said. “It is going to make sure that we expand services and provide quicker care for the people of Iowa.” Senator Kara Warme, a Republican from Ames, says the new prior authorization guidelines are likely to decrease the amount of time doctors spend talking to insurance companies. “We want time for our limited professionals to be in patient care with Iowans,” Warme said.

The bill also makes it illegal for insurance companies to use Artificial Intelligence to authorize or deny medical treatment.

ANITA, Iowa – March 6, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office wants to let motorists know about the closure, beginning March 30th, of the Iowa 148 bridge over Interstate 80 (Exit 70) that is three miles north of Anita. Crews need to close the Iowa 148 bridge for approximately five months, weather permitting, so they can remove and replace the bridge deck. When the bridge is closed, you will need to follow a marked detour route that will take you on I-80 in Cass County to Exit 64 and Exit 75 and come back to reach Iowa 148.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 38-year-old Christopher Alan Pierce, of Creston, was arrested at around 7:35-p.m. in the area of Poplar and Buckeye Streets, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Pierce was released from the scene with a citation, and on a Promise to Appear in Court.

And, at around 8-a.m. Thursday, 65-year-old David Allen Mick, of Creston, was arrested at his home for Failure to Abate a Nuisance. Mick was also cited, and released on a Promise To Appear.

(Indianola, IA) – The Warren County Sheriff’s Department reported on their social media page, Thursday afternoon, that a vehicle belonging to a woman missing from Cumming (IA) was found about 70-miles southwest of there, in Ringgold County. A white Toyota Sienna registered to 78-year-old Cheryl Anderson, was found stuck Wednesday night near the intersection of 200th Street and 265th Avenue (Liberty Township Section 26), in rural Ringgold County. A single set of footprints was seen in a direction indicated she walked away from the vehicle. Anderson was last seen during the afternoon of March 3rd, heading toward Norwalk. Prior to her vehicle being found Wednesday, it was last seen on a traffic camera heading west on Hickman Road in Clive, which is in the opposite direction of Norwalk.

Authorities say Anderson has not driven in years. She has Alzheimer’s and is in need of her medication. She is likely unaware of where she is. The woman is 5-feet 4-inches tall, weighs about 180-pounds, has white hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing black slacks, black shoes, a brown sweater and a ball-cap with diamonds (see the photo below).  If you have seen her, or know where she is, please call 9-1-1.

Cheryl Anderson (Warren County Sheriff’s Office Facebook photo)

(Radio Iowa) – Two key statehouse Republicans are suggesting is may be necessary to raise a tax on some health insurance companies and use that extra money to reduce the deficit in the state’s Medicaid program. Governor Kim Reynolds says raising a tax on H-M-Os and the private companies that manage the state’s Medicaid program is temporarily available under the One Big Beautiful Bill President Trump signed last summer.

“We have a Medicaid shortfall,” Reynolds said.”I mean, that’s the main driver of this and that would help address that. It’s pretty significant and that would help address that. It’s pretty significant that the bill was going to come due after COVID and this is one of the ways, one of the options that we have and it doesn’t even take care of all of it.” A lobbyist for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield railed against the proposal earlier this week, suggesting it could be the single largest tax increase on a private company in legislative history.

Reynolds says Wellmark’s original calculation of a nearly 50 MILLION dollar impact was incorrect and state officials calculate Wellmark will pay about 25 MILLION dollars more if the premium tax is raised on Wellmark’s H-M-O. House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans aren’t generally interested in raising taxes, but they’re open to considering this temporary tax.”Looking at the current shortfall with around $70 million…Our five years you’re looking at a roughly $600 million shortfall,” Grassley said. “I think this is an appropriate thing at least for us to discuss.”

Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, the Republican from Fort Dodge who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, says lawmakers are looking at ways that might lessen the blow to private insurers, but he notes there’s a March 31st FEDERAL deadline for passing a bill that would raise the premium tax and funnel the money to Iowa’s Medicaid program. “This is one of the things that I was taught as a kid that whenever you’re compromising, nobody’s usually happy at the end,” Kraayenbrink said. “That means you probably hit a good compromise.”

The proposed insurance premium tax would be retroactive to January 1st and end September 30th.