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.

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.