(Radio Iowa) – The four UnityPoint hospitals in the Des Moines metro area report a tenfold increase in the number of patients testing positive for the flu in recent weeks, with more than 500 cases confirmed since late December. Flu cases across the region are multiplying rapidly as transmission rates are high, according to Megan Meller, an infection preventionist at Emplify Health by Gundersen. “This year, the virus that’s circulating, H3N2, it’s not a good match for the vaccine, and that’s because during its season it made copy mutations, which is very common for these viruses,” Meller says, “but these mutations allow the virus to evade our immunity just enough to enable it to spread a little bit quicker among people than we would otherwise expect.” She says this season’s flu strain is responding much like in past years, though it is spreading at a faster rate.

“Symptoms are the same. We’re not seeing any indication that illnesses are more severe with this strain than with any other strains, which is very encouraging to see,” Meller say. “We’re not really seeing any increase in complications either, it’s just spreading more rapidly, and we’re seeing many more cases right now than we would typically see in an average flu season.” Meller clarifies that while this vaccine isn’t a “good match” for the flu strain this year, she says it’s still important to get vaccinated, even at this late date.

“The vaccines are still really powerful against this virus and really what that means is you can get vaccinated and you might still get sick with this influenza strain, but the vaccine does a really great job at reducing your risk of either hospitalizations and other severe complications from influenza,” Meller says. “We still highly recommend getting vaccinated because it will offer you that protection.”

UnityPoint says its emergency rooms at Blank Children’s Hospital, Iowa Lutheran, Methodist West and Iowa Methodist report a total of 509 patients testing positive for both influenza A and B since December 21st. Emplify Healthy by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Red Oak, IA) – A teen from Red Oak received a written warning for violating vehicle windshield requirements, after the SUV he was driving struck a legally parked car this (Thursday) morning, causing a police-estimated total of $2,500 damage. No injuries were reported.

According to the Red Oak Police Department, the 16-year-old (whose name was withheld by police) was traveling north in the 1200 block of Eastern Avenue at around 7:45-a.m. The windshield on the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving was covered in frost, authorities said, and he could not see.

The SUV struck a 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has opted Iowa into a federal program designed to financially reward some donors to private school scholarships. Starting in 2027, Iowans who donate to a non-profit that provides scholarships to low-income students in private K-12 schools will quality for a tax credit worth up to 17-hundred dollars. “Next year we can further expand educational options,” Reynolds said, “…empowering Iowa to improve student outcomes.” Since 2007, there has been a similar state income tax credit worth 75 percent of donations Iowans make to a private School Tuition Organization.

U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon mentioned the new federal tax credit during her visit to Denison yesterday (Wednesday). “This is a momentous step to break away from top down mandates and expand ‘School Choice,’ and I know how hard Governor Reynolds worked for ‘School Choice’ over two terms, really battling to get it through, but she did it,” McMahan said. “…Thank you for setting a standard of leadership that inspires the entire nation.”

In 2022, Reynolds successfully campaigned for primary candidates who defeated fellow Republicans who’d voted against the governor’s initial plan to offer state-funded private school scholarships for students leaving low-performing public schools. The next year the legislature passed the governor’s current plan that’s now available for all students enrolled in private schools. This year, nearly eight-thousand dollars is available for each private school student whose parent signs up for a state-funded Education Savings Account.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll oppose today’s (Thursday) scheduled vote on a resolution that would limit President Trump’s power to order any further military action in Venezuela. The war powers resolution would mean the president would need congressional approval before launching more attacks. Grassley, a Republican, says that’s unwarranted. “The president is acting legally,” Grassley says, “based upon the fact that each time these boats are sunk, that you’ve seen on television, they’re generally carrying about $50 million worth of drugs.”

Over the weekend, the U-S military seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a nighttime raid to face trial in New York, while the U-S has taken control of the South American nation’s government and oil infrastructure. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, called for the war powers vote, and says more resolutions are pending, for nations including Columbia, Cuba and Mexico. “It’s a case of Senator Kaine wanting to express Congress’ disapproval of what the president’s done and that he was acting contrary to the Constitution,” Grassley says. “I don’t think he was acting contrary to the Constitution, so I’m going to vote no.”

Grassley says Maduro will face charges for drug trafficking in what he calls “narcoterrorism” that’s claimed many thousands of American lives. Grassley is also standing behind Trump’s orders for ICE agents to conduct immigration raids in the Twin Cities, during which a woman was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday. “They’re law enforcement people and they’re enforcing the law,” he says, “and I think that it doesn’t need to be reviewed. I think they’re carrying out the law.”

Grassley says he listened to last night’s comments from U-S Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said a full federal review of the fatal shooting will be conducted. “We ought to wait until the FBI gets done with this investigation before I make a decision that something wrong was done,” Grassley says. “There is wrong done by law enforcement from time to time, but you can’t stop a whole law enforcement activity in Minneapolis because of this one incident.”

Thousands of people demonstrated in the Twin Cities last night (Wednesday night), hours after the 37-year-old woman was shot in the head in her SUV as she pulled away from a confrontation with ICE agents. Reports say it happened about a mile from where police killed George Floyd in 2020.

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 8, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is asking for the public’s input about the proposed U.S. 30/59 over Union Pacific Railroad dual bridge replacement and associated roundabouts project in Denison. The DOT says hanges include:

• Eastbound U.S. 30/Northbound U.S. 59 bridge replacement
• Westbound U.S. 30/Southbound U.S. 59 bridge replacement
• U.S. 30 & U.S. 59 south bucket roundabout construction
• U.S. 30 & U.S. 59 middle bucket roundabout construction

Construction is preliminary but expected to start fall of 2028 and end fall of 2031. More information is available here: https://iowadot.gov/news/2026-01-08/tell-us-what-you-think-about-proposed-us-3059-over-union-pacific-railroad-dual-bridge-replacement?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Attend Open House to Share Your Feedback

When: Tuesday Jan. 13, 2026, anytime between 5 and 7 pm

Location: Denison City Hall, 111 North Main, Denison, Iowa 51442

Description: You will be provided with information about the project, and you can talk through your ideas with our staff. There will be no formal presentation. The meeting space is accessible for people with disabilities. If you require more support at the meeting, please notify the contact listed below by Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Share Your Feedback by Jan. 26

Learn about the project and share your feedback   You will need to provide your name and email before commenting.

(Red Oak, IA) – A woman from Red Oak suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during a collision Wednesday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak Police report, a car driven by 55-year-old Tanya M. Ross, of Red Oak, was traveling south on N. 6th Street at around 3:10-p.m., while an SUV driven by 36-year-old Steven R. Smith, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Maple Street. The vehicles collided at the uncontrolled intersection, with the SUV hitting the car on the rear/passenger side area. Both vehicles sustained severe damage, according to police, but the SUV was able to be driven away from the scene after the investigation.

Authorities say Ross complained of shoulder pain, and was transported by Red Oak EMS to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Police say Smith was cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability (insurance) – accident related.

Damage from the collision amounted to a combined/police estimated $15,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is launching a series of free online courses today (Thursday) that are designed to help families that are facing the disease or dementia. Chapter spokeswoman Lauren Livingston says the virtual classes will run most Thursday mornings through June. “It’ll start with a five-part series called The Empowered Caregiver, which teaches caregivers how to navigate the responsibilities of care giving for someone living with the disease through the different stages — early, mid and later stages,” Livingston says. “And then we’ll get into some more topics for people who are interested in brain health and the basics of the disease.” She says the courses aim to help families better understand what to expect so they can be prepared to meet the changes and challenges ahead.

“There’ll be a really good program on managing money, a Caregiver’s Guide to Finances, which is a topic that not a lot of people really think about when they think of care giving,” Livingston says, “but that’s a big part of it, having to take over some of the legal and financial responsibilities for someone.” More than seven-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including over 62-thousand in Iowa. Also, more than 11-million family members and friends are serving as caregivers, including over 80-thousand in Iowa. Care giving, she says, can be exceptionally difficult, and the courses can be a big help.

“As they get to those mid and later stages, it can be a little confusing and stressful on how to communicate effectively with the person with the disease, because that changes over time,” Livingston says, “and also understanding some of those changes in behaviors that tend to happen as they progress in the disease, and understanding that and how to respond in the right way that will keep the stress levels down for everyone.”

The courses begin at 11 A-M via Zoom and will continue most Thursdays through June 18th. They’re free to anyone and registration is only required the first time you log in — at alz.org/iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is proposing the first-ever “Iowa Farm Act” that includes a wide ranging of proposals, from targeted tax relief to promotion of agritourism.

“It’s something that you can actually think of as being akin to a Farm Bill like we would see at the national level. There are some other states across the country that have done similar things,” Naig said. “…I think it brings a focus on the farm economy, on farmers, on agriculture and it also represents kind of the broad range, the diversity of our agriculture.” Naig says the bill was developed after discussions with different groups about their priorities.

“We’ve got provisions in here that affect beekeepers and specialty crop producers, row crop producers, livestock and biosecurity and ag businesses as well,” Naig said. “We bring together that diverse array of ag interests in the form of the Iowa Farm Act.” Naig describes one section of the bill as an attempt to modernize zoning exemptions. For example, if an apple grower decides they want to start making apple cider or hard cider on site, Naig says it would be good to clarify whether that’s still a farming operation or a commercial operation.

“We’re trying to increase those types of operations where we’re seeing farmers able to process and sell director to consumers and do more of that activity on their farms. We think now’s an opportunity to kind of clear the way and provide some clarity around what is a farm operation — what’s included and what isn’t,” Naig said. “And it’s not that we’re looking for a new type of exemption for farms, we’re just looking to clarify some of the activities that you may not have previously thought of, like processing.” The bill includes some “agricultural experience” definitions, in order to boost agritourism.

“Meaning events being held on farms, maybe even being able to stay overnight in a cabin or something on a farm,” Naig said. “And how do we continue to clear the way for that, bring clarity, protect consumers and yet allow for this opportunity expand in the state of Iowa?”

The Iowa Farm Act includes a few tax proposals, too, like expanding a tax break for retired farmers and exempting honey bee purchases from the state sales tax. Naig says there’s no sales tax on livestock sales, but beekeepers have to charge the sales tax on the queen bees they raise and sell to clients, many of whom are in other states.

(Radio Iowa) – Police in Manchester conducting an online sting have recently arrested and accused five men of grooming a minor for sex. A 52-year-old central Iowa man was arrested Monday for attempting to meet with an undercover officer in Manchester, an officer who he believed was a minor. Police say over the past few weeks, Michael Patrick Wiezorek had groomed and sent a list of messages to the undercover officer.

Police say he traveled from Nevada, rented a hotel room, and then traveled to the meet-up location. In November, four other men were arrested as part of the online predator sting. Manchester Police say they’re still evaluating cases and working toward other arrests.

Manchester Police started the undercover operation in September. An officer created social media profiles portraying a 15-year-old in an attempt to catch online predators. Manchester’s Police Chief is hosting a forum at the city’s public library on Thursday, January 22nd at 5 p.m. to advise parents about how to protect their children’s safety online.

(Radio Iowa) – The lawmaker who’s led tax reduction efforts in the Iowa Senate for nearly a decade says the legislature has been in a cycle of putting band aides on Iowa’s property tax system. Dan Dawson, the Republican who’s chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says it’s time for a fix that will last for decades.

“Any reform that isn’t sustainable and doesn’t the needle on Iowa being one of the worst states for property taxes in the country isn’t worth doing,” Dawson said. “The reason why we’re talking about this isn’t because it polls well. Iowa is the 10th worst state in the country when it comes to property taxes, full stop.”

Governor Reynolds will soon release her proposal for changes in Iowa’s property tax system, perhaps next Tuesday when she delivers an annual speech to the legislature. Dawson isn’t ready to discuss what Senate Republicans might propose this year, but last April Dawson said the key would be limited how much local government budgets can increase year to year. During a recent interview with Radio Iowa, Dawson would only say whatever bill is developed must be comprehensive.

“If you don’t do that, all you are doing is creating a guerilla warfare system of taxpayer-versus-taxpayer,” Dawson said. “They want quality services, but they also want a fair property tax system and the current system we have right now is absolutely not fair.” Dawson says there are only so many levers state lawmakers can pull, but he says lawmakers have an opportunity during the 2026 legislative session to make wholesale changes in Iowa’s property tax system.