(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of health care workers gathered along the Mississippi River in Fort Madison Wednesday to protest the state’s request for private companies to take over health care in its prisons. Todd Copley is the local president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.  “The state and its political majority have chosen to honor the hard work and dedication of the medical staff by valuing profit and greed over its employees by calling it reform,” he says. Copley says the label doesn’t fit what’s happening.

“This isn’t reform. It’s reckless and the state employees across this state deserve better,” Copley says. The Department request says roughly 300 employees care for the inmates in Iowa’s nine prisons. Between 60 and 70 percent of inmates require ongoing medical treatment. Iowa Federation of Labor president Charlie Wishman says Iowa doesn’t need another fail privatization scheme. “Iowa needs safe, accountable, public health care in its prisons done by trained, well-paid people with benefits, with a pension; people who want to be there doing the job, who are good at it.”

The Iowa Department of Corrections filed the proposal, saying it faces staffing shortages and rising pharmaceutical costs.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — John Deere is making job cuts at two Iowa locations. The agriculture machinery manufacturing giant announced layoffs on Wednesday at its Des Moines Works and Waterloo Operations. In total, 141 employees were notified that they are being laid off. A statement from Deere said the layoffs are a result of decreased demand and lower order volumes.

The final day for the 40 employees affected at the Des Moines Works is October 31st. The 101 Waterloo Operations workers who were laid off will work their last shift on October 17th. The Waterloo operations affected by the workforce reductions include: Tractor Operations, Drive Train Operations, Drive Train West, and Engine Works.

Deere said laid-off employees are eligible for recall for a period equal to their length of service. They will also receive monetary benefits, healthcare benefits, and other benefits, such as tuition reimbursement and job-placement assistance.

JESUP, Iowa (KCRG) – The Jesup Police Department issued a statement regarding harassment that results from “TP-ing” activities. The Jesup Police Department says “TP-ing” is now banned and anyone caught doing it will face legal charges, including fines and community service. The annual Homecoming tradition of “TP-ing” involves decorating homes and trees with toilet paper. Police say this has turned into harassment targeting the same non-participants every year.

Police say multiple people have been identified and are under investigation for trespassing, criminal mischief, illegal dumping, and disorderly conduct. The Jesup Police Department has announced on Facebook that it is enforcing a new zero-tolerance policy for this practice.

The post said:

(Radio Iowa) – Oskaloosa’s school board voted unanimously to fire a teacher over a social media post praising the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. High school art teacher Matthew Kargol allegedly shared a post last week reading: “1 Nazi down.” School personnel and the district’s legal counsel launched an investigation shortly after and placed Kargol on administrative leave. Superintendent Mike Fisher says free speech is allowed — until it causes disruptions at school. “I’m all about free speech, and I think that is really proven in case law and different things,” Fisher says, “but I think it’s also shown in much of the case law that when you have substantial material disruptions, that becomes a concern.”

Fisher says the board’s decision was based on facts. “It’s about our investigation and finding a fact and policy,” Fisher says. “Through our investigative pieces, we just go where the investigation takes us, and we apply to our policies and look through legal facts with our legal counsel and make the best recommendation based on policy, law and our vision culture.”

The Wednesday vote followed a closed session which was requested by Kargol. Earlier in the day, the Iowa Board of Regents directed the state’s public universities to place employees on leave while they investigate posts shared on social media about Kirk’s death.

RED OAK, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – A western Iowa nursing home has been cited by the state for failing to provide adequate nursing services for a woman whose leg was later amputated. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has cited the Good Samaritan nursing home in Red Oak with failing intervene when a female resident’s condition worsened, and with failing to properly assess the woman’s impaired circulation in her leg despite a diagnosis related to gangrene.

According to inspectors, the resident was crying and complaining of serious pain in her right leg early in the afternoon of Aug. 3, 2025. The staff provided pain medication through the night and the next morning. By the afternoon of Aug. 4, the staff was documenting that the woman’s leg had turned purple and was cold to the touch, with the woman continuing to experience “extreme pain” in her leg.

Upon admission to a local hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition and she was transported by air to another hospital where she could be seen immediately by a vascular surgeon.

The surgeon’s physician assistant later told inspectors the woman underwent a “through-the-knee amputation” of her leg on Aug. 7, 2025. When asked whether it would have made any difference had the Good Samaritan staff sent the woman to the hospital earlier, the physician assistant allegedly told inspectors the woman “would not have had to suffer as many days in significant pain.” A family member told KJAN the woman passed away on September 14th, due to complications and getting an infection from her amputation.

The inspections department has proposed, but held in suspension, an $8,500 state fine against the Good Samaritan home for failing to provide residents with the required nursing services. The state fine is being held in suspension while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines whether a federal fine will be imposed.

Currently, the 64-bed Good Samaritan home has a two-star, “below average” overall rating from CMS. In April 2025, during the home’s most recent annual inspection, Good Samaritan was cited for regulatory violations related to environmental hazards, failure to implement resident care plans, services that failed to meet professional standards, treatment of bedsores, tube feedings, food services and infection control.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach the home’s administrator, Mike Early, for comment Tuesday.

DUBUQUE, Iowa [KCCI] — Three students from Cascade High School in West Dubuque are facing charges in juvenile court after allegedly using artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates, according to reports from several female students in April. The number of images generated and the number of victims remain unknown. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law last year that makes creating AI-generated sexual content of minors a crime.

The Dubuque County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, and Dubuque Police Department will make a presentation to students and parents about the situation. Those departments aim to make parents aware of the dangers faced by students from bad actors on the internet and help parents identify what to look for in their children’s internet activity.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is predicting this year’s soybean harvest in Iowa will be the third-largest on record, but the country that at one time bought about 60 percent of all U-S soybean exports isn’t buying at all. China has booked purchases from South America instead. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says that’s putting pressure on soybean farmers.

“It’s really death by a thousand cuts for our farmers right now which is they’re spending more for their inputs — for land, for equipment, for seed…for labor, for fuel — and they’re not getting the prices that they need,” Naig said, “and we’re coming into what by all expectations will be a sizable, if not historic size of a crop.” Naig says recent U-S negotiations with China about TikTok’s future might lead to a breakthrough on soybean exports.

“And frankly, they need the U.S. as a supplier. They can’t entirely rely on South America, so we need to get to reality here,” Naig said. “I am hopeful that we will in fact see some movement in that regard.” U-S soybeans are normally shipped to China from September through January, but experts who track sales say Chinese buyers haven’t booked any sales this fall. U-S soybeans are now far cheaper than Brazilian soybeans, but any Chinese buyer would have to pay a 23 percent tariff on U-S soybeans. Naig says increasing domestic use of soybeans for biofuels is part of the answer.

“But also let’s go play offense on trade,” Naig said. “Governor Reynolds and I just got back from India — huge market potential. Obviously some friction between the U.S. and India right now, although even as we were there it softened, the president and Prime Minister exchanging messages, and so we know that negotiations are ongoing.” Naig and Governor Kim Reynolds and 18 other Iowans returned Sunday after spending a week in India. The group met with leaders in India’s government as well as its manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

There were stops in India’s capitol of New Delhi and in Mumbai (mum-BY), India’s largest city and it’s financial center. The group’s other stop was in Pune (POO-nay), one of the most industrialized areas of India. Reynolds signed a partnership agreement with the region’s chief minister to expand trade ties between the two states and foster cooperation in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and renewable energy.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests took place between Sept. 2nd and Sept. 13th:

On or about September 13th, 2025, at 8:29 pm, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 25 & 275th. Upon further investigation, Kathryn Wyant, age 23, of Unionville, MO, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marjuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On or about September 12th, 2025: At approximately 10:00pm, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 34 & Quince Ave. Upon further investigation, Yarioska Cama, age 41, of Osceola, was arrested and charged with Driving while Barred, Operating Vehicle w/out Interlock Device, and Failure to use a Child Restraint; Adams County Deputies arrested Jefferson Mendez, age 21, of Des Moines. Mendez was charged with Failure to Appear.

On or about September 11th, 2025, at approximately 8:56 pm, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 34 & Dogwood Ave. Upon further investigation, Talora Frisbee, age 22, of Lebanon, MO, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On or about 9-10-2025, at approximately 3:41 pm, Adams County Deputies arrested James Brown, age 69, of Corning. Brown was charged with Sexual Abuse-3rd Degree.

On or about September 7th, 2025, Eric Shinn, age 36, of Altoona, was arrested and charged with Failure to Appear.

On or about September 6th, 2025, Adams County Deputies/Jailers observed Justin Beckwith, an inmate being held at the Adams County Jail, violating an active no contact order by texting the victim numerous times with a county issued jail Ipod. Justin Beckwith, age 46, of Corning, was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order.

On or about September 4th, 2025, at approximately 7:51 pm, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 34 and Orange Ave. Upon further investigation, Erron Bolinger, age 50, of Lenox, had an active arrest warrant and was arrested and charged with Contempt of Court; At approximately 7:32 pm, Adams County Deputies arrested Coltin Hatfield, age 30, of Kellerton. Hatfield was charged with Failure to Appear.

And, on or about September 2nd, 2025, 42-year-old Steven Lamar, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:11-p.m. and charged with Failure to Appear.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office, today (Wednesday) reports two additional candidates have filed to run for city offices as of the end of business today: Mark Harris is running for a seat on the Anita City Council, and Betty Auten is running for a seat on the Lewis City Council.

A reminder: The deadline for candidates to file their papers ahead of the November 4th City/School Elections is Thursday, Sept. 18th, at 5-p.m.  With today’s filings, the complete list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in Cass County, for city offices in Cass County (as of 4:30-p.m., Sept. 17th) include:

Anita City Council (Vote for 3):

• Deanna Andrews (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)
• Shelly Hogueison
• Kim Miller
• Eyon Steffensen
• Mark Harris

Atlantic City Council Ward 2 (Vote for 1):

• Jim Behrens (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)

Atlantic City Council Ward 5 (Vote for 1):

• Dana Halder (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)

Atlantic City Council At-Large (Vote for 1):

• Jeremy Butler

Atlantic – Mayor:

• Rob Clausen

Cumberland City Council (Vote for 3):

• Tatiana Thielen
• Randall Anderson Jr
• Matthew Dolch

Cumberland City Council – To Fill Vacancy (Vote for 1):

• Dori A Borras

Cumberland Mayor:

• Rachel McCann

Griswold City Council (Vote for 2):

• Troy Nicklaus
• Jesse Doty
• Nick Demanett

Griswold Mayor:

• Brad Rhine (Incumbent)

Lewis City Council (Vote for 2):

• Russell Miller
• Jim Triller
• David Raymond
• Betty Auten

Massena City Council (Vote for 2) :

• Doug Venteicher
• Jackson Bissell (Incumbent)

Wiota City Council (Vote for 3):

• Charles Bechtold