(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.

DES MOINES, Iowa- Deed theft, also referred to as seller impersonation, title fraud or title theft, has risen sharply nationwide as scammers become increasingly sophisticated. The scammer fraudulently claims ownership of your property to sell or rent it. A product from Iowa Title Guaranty (ITG) offers both new and long-term homeowners an accessible, affordable layer of security for their most important asset. State officials say through this coverage, ITG will provide no-cost legal defense and cover related expenses if deed theft occurs and the title must be defended.

• New Owner’s Endorsement, issued at the time of purchase, protecting buyers if someone later impersonates them and fraudulently transfers or encumbers the property.
• Existing Owner Endorsement, offering the same forward-looking protection to current homeowners seeking added security.

  

  IA Economic Development/IFA photo

(Radio Iowa) – For the third straight Saturday, more snow is in the statewide forecast, along with what could be the coldest temperatures of the season so far. National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Dodson says this very snowy December is about to get even snowier with the approaching storm system. “Generally, we’re going to be seeing around one to three inches with that, but there could be a band in there that we could be looking at anywhere from three to five,” Dodson says, “so definitely more snowfall and much colder temperatures.”

This front will bring in exceptionally cold air from the arctic, and Iowans may need to toss another quilt on the bed tomorrow night. “We’re looking at just low temperatures in the single digits below zero to teens below zero in northern Iowa and we could even see a few locations get near minus-20 in northwest Iowa,” Dodson says. “We’re also going to be looking at wind chills with those. We’re going to be seeing a pretty good area of minus-20s to even minus-30 in far northern Iowa.”

After the frigid weekend, the forecast calls for a warm-up next week with highs possibly back in the 30s and 40s by Tuesday or Wednesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a 13-count indictment Wednesday, December 10, 2025, charging a Des Moines man with offenses related to sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says, as alleged in the Indictment, 32-year-old Tyler Boyd Pavlick produced and attempted to produce sexually explicit visual depictions of minor victims at two cross-country meets for middle school and high school athletes in September 2025 held in Marshall and Clarke counties and one arts and crafts festival in October 2025 held in Polk County.

The Indictment also alleges that Pavlick possessed a computer containing child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Pavlick could face up to thirty years in prison on each of the charges involving production or attempted production of the visual depictions. Pavlick made his initial court appearance yesterday (Thursday, 12/11/25)) before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Trial is set for February 2, 2025.  Pavlick remains in custody pending trial.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s one of the snowiest Decembers in years and record numbers of Iowans are predicted to leave the state for the year-end holidays to thaw out someplace warm. Triple-A-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says the forecast for the seven-state region that includes Iowa shows more than nine-million residents will be traveling between December 20th and January 1st. That’s a one-percent increase from last year, while the national figures are up more than two-percent. “People are eager to travel — is the biggest thing, and that’s kind of the trend that we’ve seen over the last couple of years,” Ortner says. “We can say that we’re still exiting from COVID, coming up on six years later, but that is the the reality. The mental shift for folks has made them see travel as a need-to-do instead of a want-to-do.”

Four of the top ten domestic destinations for the holidays are in Florida, along with other sunny cities like Honolulu, Maui, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Ortner says the preferences are starting to change for international travel. “There is a little bit of a shift. You’re seeing more Caribbean and trips to Mexico topping the list in our region for Iowa and our neighboring states,” Ortner says. “One of the biggest changes we’ve seen is the growth in what AAA considers ‘other’ modes of transportation and that’s cruises, and that’s for any age, young people, families, singles.” While most Iowans who are traveling for the holidays will be going by motor vehicle, those who are flying can expect to pay more for their plane tickets.

Deicing a jet at Des Moines International Airport (DSM photo)

“Domestic flights are averaging about $890 roundtrip, and that’s up 7% over last year. Hotel stays are up about 13%, and rental cars are up about 1%,” Ortner says. “One area where it’s down is if you’re taking those international trips. International flight costs are down about 14%, with an average of about $1,400 for a roundtrip flight.” Iowans who will be driving to their holiday destinations should be spending less, he says, when stopping to fill the tank. “The national average for the first time in over four years is below $3 per gallon, and we’re at least 10-cents or more per gallon less across the state on an average when we’re looking at prices this week than we were to 2024,” Ortner says, “so definitely an advantage for those of us hitting the road for the holiday.”

The statewide average for gasoline is now two-52 a gallon, compared to the state average a year ago of two-70, and the current national average price of two-94.