(Deloit, IA) – A collision between two pickup trucks in Crawford County, Saturday afternoon, claimed the life of a 73-year-old man from Vail. The Iowa State Patrol reports a pickup driven by a 15-year-old male from Schleswig, was traveling southbound on Boyer Boulevard, and a pickup driven by Richard Healy, of Vail, was traveling northbound on Boyer Blvd.

The first pickup was traveling behind a vehicle not involved in the crash, and because the teen driver had poor visibility from snow and gravel kicked-up by the non-accident vehicle, his pickup and the pickup driven by Richard Healy collided in an offset, driver’s side to driver’s side fashion. The crash happened northeast of Deloit at around 1:15-p.m.

The pickup driven by the unidentified teen came to rest on the roadway. The second pickup driven by Richard Healy, came to rest in the east ditch. The man was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene.

(Atlantic, IA) – A Community For Kids is spreading holiday cheer with the launch of a Fa La La La Lights Finder, an interactive Google Map designed to help families easily find the best Christmas light displays across the area.

The Lights Finder features 100+ festive displays across 13 local communities, all gathered into one easy-to-use map. Find the map within A Community For Kids digital guide at acommunityforkids.com. To find this map in the guide head to the Christmas Season tab, then to Lights Displays or Under What’s Happening tab, then to Featured.

With no guessing and no searching, families can simply load up the car, turn on the Christmas music, and enjoy a stress-free, family-friendly drive filled with twinkling rooftops, glowing inflatables, and full winter wonderlands. You can even find guided tours mapped out for certain towns under the map legend, so you can just follow the soothing sound of google telling you right where to turn to get to the next location.

This community-powered resource was made possible by the digital guide sponsors, local families, organizations, and towns whose contributions helped create a collaborative map that supports communities and spreads holiday joy throughout the season.

Want to add a great display? Send a photo + the address to acommunityforkids@gmail.com

For more information, visit A Community For Kids on Facebook or check out the entire guide at acommunityforkids.com where you can find family friendly happenings and more, right here locally.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Amid a national penny shortage, Casey’s says its penny plan will be more favorable to customers. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa-owned chain says it will round down on cash transactions to the nearest nickel. The company says it will not be able to provide exact change due to a shortage on pennies, which are no longer being produced by the U.S. Mint.

The final coins were minted in November. In a statement provided to KCCI, a Casey’s spokesperson said the change is necessary because many of the chain’s stores may be unable to provide exact change during cash  transactions, due to the shortage of available pennies.

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa woman is accused of stealing three vehicles in about an hour. Ellis Codjoe reports from Ottumwa…

(as said) – The Ottumwa Police Department says 21-year-old Brianna Laird of Knoxville stole a car just after 7:00 a.m. on December 8th and left the vehicle damaged at a different Ottumwa residence at 7:15 where she stole a Jeep. Laird then allegedly drove the Jeep into a ditch near Eddyville and left the scene on foot. The owner of pickup truck says he saw Laird enter his vehicle at an Eddyville construction site at 8:00 a.m. but was able to stop her from driving away. According to court records, Laird escaped on foot and was taken into custody minutes later. Authorities say Laird showed signs of impairment at the Wapello County Jail and had a THC vape in her possession after telling officers she had no contraband.

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Laird has been charged with first degree theft, two counts of second degree theft, operating while under the influence and possession of contraband in a correctional facility.

(Radio Iowa) – G-O-P leaders in the U-S House say a package of health care bills will come up for a vote next week, but it’s still unclear if there’ll be a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits up to 135-thousand Iowans used this year to buy health insurance. Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull is on the House panel that’s been weighing alternative.

Feenstra favors putting any insurance premium subsidies from the federal government into Health Savings Accounts.

Nearly a dozen House Republicans, including Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn of Ankeny, have proposed extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for two years. House Republicans met privately today (Friday) to discuss whether to allow a vote in the House on that proposal.

Democrats in the House favor extending the tax credits for three years. In the U-S Senate yesterday (Thursday), Democrats proposed a three year extension, while Republicans proposed federal funding for health savings accounts for Americans earning less than 700 percent of the federal poverty level. Neither proposal cleared the Senate’s 60 vote threshold for consideration.

(Glenwood, IA) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest Thursday night of 59-year-old Kris Marvin Carver, of Omaha. Carver was taken into custody for Possession of drug paraphernalia, and OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,300.

(Clarinda, IA) – Page County Attorney James L. Varley reports a man from Shenandoah has entered pleas of guilty to charges  of Probation Violation and Possession of illegal substances. 36-year-old Christopher Chane Adkins admitted to violating the terms and condition of his probation. His deferred judgment was revoked, and Adkins was sentenced to 45 days of incarceration with all but two days suspended. He was placed on probation for two years and was ordered to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations.

In addition, Adkins pled guilty to:

• Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, 2nd Offense. He was sentenced to two- years of incarceration and fined $855. The fine and term of incarceration were suspended.
• Adkins plead guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, 2nd Offense. On that charge he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $855. The term of incarceration and fine were suspended.
• And, Adkins pled guilty to one-count of Persons Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail and fined $430. The term of incarceration and fine were suspended. Adkins was placed on probation for two-years and ordered to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations. He was also  was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

The Page County Attorney’s Office said also, 23-year-old Howker Ludwig, of Fort Madison, Iowa, pled guilty to two counts of Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations. He was sentenced to 12 months of incarceration on each count, to run concurrently, but will run consecutively to the sentence Ludwig is currently serving. He was fined $430 on each count, both were suspended and defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Both men’s cases were heard the week of November 24th, 2025, in Page County District Court.

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“All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Osceola, IA) – The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) said a suspect was arrested in connection with a fatal, November, 2025 hit-and-run accident between a vehicle and a horse-drawn buggy. Authorities say a Decatur County man, 41-year-old Jacob Ryan Wright, was arrested without incident at his residence and booked into the Clarke County Jail on Iowa State Patrol warrants. Wright faces charges that include:

• A Class-D felony charge of Involuntary Manslaughter.
• A Class-C felony charge of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, causing Death or Serious Injury.
• Driving While License Denied, Revoked, or Canceled – A Simple Misdemeanor, and
• Failure to Provide Insurance in an Accident (also a Simple Misdemeanor).

Authorities say Wright’s arrest was the result of an extensive investigation conducted by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and other partner agencies, following the Nov. 12th accident south of Murray, that left 16-year old Elmer Borntrager dead. The teen was a member of the Amish community. The Sheriff’s Office says the incident remains part of an on-going investigation, but no other details are being released at this time.

“A Criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” – Sheriff’s Office legal Disclaimer.