(Radio Iowa) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors has given final approval to a nuclear energy ordinance. It creates a new zoning district where nuclear energy could be generated and nuclear waste could be stored. The move comes as NextEra Energy investigates restarting the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant near Palo. The plant was shut down after it was damaged in the August 2020 derecho. Supervisor Kirsten  Running-Marquardt says federal regulators will ultimately decide if the project’s a go, but the ordinance gives the county some oversight. “The Linn County Board of Supervisors does not have a final say in whether or not a nuclear power plant is turned on or off here in the county,” Running-Marquardt said, “but what we have done here with this ordinance is allow for an application.”

A “host community agreement” must be developed and Running-Marquardt says it will protect the county’s taxpayers. “We are not going to be taking on the burden for any costs the company should be paying for,” Running-Marquardt said. “Things like trainings…having the sheriff’s office and their team ready, having our (Emergency Management Agency) ready and having Public Health (ready). Those are just some of the departments that all need to have infrastructure while we have a nuclear plant running in Linn County.”

The Duane Arnold nuclear power plant is about nine miles northwest of Cedar Rapids. It opened in 1974. NextEra — the plant’s majority owner — is conducting an engineering evaluation and hope to restart the plant by the end of 2028. NextEra officials say it will help meet an increasing demand for electricity in the area.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four Glenwood residents were arrested last week. On August 29th, 34-year-old Tyler Jason Chambers was arrested on 272nd Street in Glenwood. Chambers was arrested for: Theft in the 4th Degree; Trafficking of Stolen Weapons, and on three counts of Control of a Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon. His total bond was set at $21,000. Chambers was previously arrested August 27th on two counts Violation of Probation, with a combined bond of $10,000.

On Aug. 26th, 32-year-old Lindsey Joanne Krause was arrested in Glenwood for Domestic Assault with Intent/1st offense. Her bond was set at $2,000.

And, there were two arrests in Mills County on Aug. 25th: 51-year-old Daniel Michael Wiley was arrested for Public Intoxication ($300 bond); and,  49-year-old Nickie Marie Kott was arrested for Public Intox. and Trespassing/1st offense ($600 bond).

(Radio Iowa) – The Archdiocese of Dubuque is in the midst of a major planning initiative to reshape how the Catholic Church meets the needs of parishioners. Archbishop Thomas Zinkula says they surveyed parishioners last fall and then brought in a consultant to set up some models of possible changes. “We gathered data and did all this stuff and we have these models now that have been vetted. They’re reasonable, but they’re not the final thing, it’s just something to start with. Now we need to hear get the input of the parishioners,” he says. Zinkula says the changes in the demographics of northeast Iowa is one of the factors that led to the effort.

“There’s been a big shift in, in population and then also in the ages of the folks in the pews. There’s also been culturally we’re becoming more increasingly secular. and the pandemic sort of kind of didn’t help that, you know, in terms of less people going to church because during the pandemic and not all of them came back,” he says. Zinkula says they also don’t have as many priests as they used to have to cover all the parishes. He says they’ve talked about these issues for years and now are moving ahead to make changes to adapt. “We’re organized and structured and staffed in a way that’s not working for us as well these days for us to evangelize. I mean, at the heart of it is our mission. You know the Great Commission go out to all the world and tell the good news,” Zinkula says.

Zinkula says it’s the type of review that many organizations have to do. “So it’s kind of reading the signs of the times and let’s go act together so we can better evangelize,” he says. Zinkula says they will hold listening sessions this fall to gather input on the proposed models for the parishes. “They’re on the ground, they know more about their parish than I do in terms of lived experience. And so just what do you think about these groupings? How would you draw those lines? ? What parishes would you put together. A then they ‘ll give us their feedback. Anybody can give their feedback, on the website there’s a feedback button,” Zinkula says. Zinkula says they will make a decision on what models to use by the spring.

“Ultimately it will be my decision as to kind of how we’re going to group parishes. But you know, I’m listening to the people, but also listening to the Holy Spirit. And that’s just as important or more important than where is the spirit leading us and how can we go wrong if if we truly do this in the spirit, he’s not going to steer us wrong. So that’s kind of going to be very, important.” Zinkula says. Zinkula says they will not be closing any parishes with the decision. They will make changes and decide later on if there needs to be parishes closed.

You can find out more about the process and how to give your input the Our Journey in Faith website at dbgjourneyinfaith.org.

(Radio Iowa) – State tax collections in August were nearly 42-and-a-half million dollars below the total taxes paid to the state in August of last year. That six-point-seven percent drop is mainly due to a decline in the amount of income taxes Iowans are paying after a series of tax cuts enacted over the past few years. A report from the Legislative Services Agency shows that in the months of July AND August, state income tax receipts fell over 18-and-a-half percent (18.6%). In March, a state panel estimated total state tax revenue will fall by well over half a billion dollars during the current fiscal year.

Corporate income tax payments and sales tax revenue grew in August, but not enough to offset reduced income tax payments from individuals and couples.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County, today (Wednesday), continued discussion held last week, with regard to the sharing with Adams County, of a County Engineer. Last week, Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman said he was contacted by the Adams County Supervisors Chairman two-weeks ago, and requested he look into what it would look like to share the position between the two counties. Kauffman put together some figures if his time would be split 50-50, the cost would be split in an equal amount. Adair County would provide a vehicle and collect the mileage.

He said any agreement could stipulate either party can end the agreement with 30-days notice, if things weren’t working out, or, if Adams County were to hire a full-time Engineer. During last week’s meeting, Adams County Supervisors Leland Shipley and Scott Akin said were still actively seeking to hire an engineer, and they need someone in place so they can access the state and federal funds. Kauffman said with an agreement in-place, Adams County could let a federal aid project out for bid without having to risk losing their federal aid funding.

During today’s (Wednesday’s) meeting, Adams County Supervisor Board members reminded the Adair County Board that the position, if approved, would only be temporary.

Adair County Supervisor Jodie Hoadley reiterated her opinion that costs are a concern.

At the end of the discussion, it was decided Kauffman should have a draft 28-E agreement be reviewed by Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson, and have it ready for the Board’s possible approval next week. The position, if ultimately approved, would begin on or about November 5th. In other business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors approved: the addition of an Ad-Hoc position to the Adair County Tourism Council; A Copier Contract for the Adair County Attorney’s Office; and, a Depository Resolution for the Adair County Treasurer’s Office.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman provided the Board with his weekly report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance activities and projects.

Kauffman said also, their hydro-seeder will be busy in Adams and Cass Counties.

A hydroseeder is a machine that sprays a slurry of water, seed, fertilizer, mulch, and glue onto large areas to establish turf or control erosion.

(Radio Iowa) – Harvest season hasn’t even started in Iowa yet and forecasts for bumper crops are driving prices down, as soybean farmers in particular fear the value of their commodity will be well below what it cost to produce it. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says disruptions in international trade may share part of the blame. “Record production, I think has more to do with it,” Grassley says, “but it isn’t just soybeans, it’s corn that’s losing money, too.” Even with a powerful, damaging derecho in July and near-record rains this summer, the U-S-D-A projects Iowa growers are on target for what promises to be the biggest-ever corn crop. That good news is also bad as the rules of supply and demand dictate a record crop will mean free-falling prices.

“It’s just kind of a fact of life that farmers make profits maybe two or three years out of seven or eight,” Grassley says, “and you’ve got to save money to get through the rest of the time. That’s just the way farming is.” Trump administration tariffs prompted many other nations to enact retaliatory tariffs, some of which were later reversed, however, crucial agreements with a few key trading partners have yet to be ironed out. “Since the first of the year, China hasn’t bought anything from us,” Grassley says. “I don’t have a report yet, but the Chinese ambassador was over here a week ago yesterday and today, and I think for three days, and soybeans was going to be one of the negotiations.”

Iowa is the nation’s leading corn producer, and it’s among a dozen states which the U-S-D-A projects will haul in bin-busting crops this fall. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says he’s working to find new international markets for Iowa’s top commodities, with trade trips to India, Indonesia and Vietnam all planned in the coming weeks.

CORALVILLE, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report a man serving a life sentence for crimes in Harrison County, has died. Brian Scott Winchester was pronounced dead at 7:30-p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 in a hospice room of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. Winchester was 65 years old at the time of his death.

Winchester’s sentence began on June 19, 2025.

(Corning, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Adams County have issued a report on recent arrests.

On August 28th: 24-year-old Michael Durant, of Corning, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA); 53-year-old Christopher Tisler, of Afton, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)/Methamphetamine-1st offense, and Driving While Suspended. His arrest followed a traffic stop, during which the Ringgold County K-9 was requested for assistance.

On August 29th: Adams County Deputies were called to investigate suspicious activity, and upon further investigation, arrested 46-year-old Justin Beckwith, of Corning, for PCS/Meth-3rd offense, Possession with the Intent to Deliver-Meth, a Drug tax Stamp Violation, and Violation of a No Contact Order; 62-year-old Frankie Armstrong, of Corning, was arrested on an Adams County warrant stemming from a traffic stop on May 31st (2025). Armstrong was charged with OWI/drug-related; and, 25-year-old Devin gray, of Corning, was arrested on the 29th for PCS-Marijuana.

On Aug. 30th, 38-year-old Christina McDonald, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop in Adams County. McDonald was charged with PCS/Meth-2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Aug. 31st, 56-year-old Michael Newsome, of Corning, was arrested following a traffic stop in Adams County. Newsome was charged with Driving While Revoked. And, on Sept. 1st, 55-year-old Scott Davis, of Lenox, was arrested in Adams County for: OWI/1st offense; PCS/Marijuana-3rd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s Disclaimer: “Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report 31-year-old Tyler Wayne Kimball, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday morning at his residence. Kimball was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Disorderly Conduct. He was taken to Union County Jail and later released on his Own Recognizance. Sunday evening (8/31), Creston Police arrested 44-year-old Christopher Michael Fasce, of Colo, was arrested on three counts of Assault, Interference with Official Acts, and Public Intoxication. Fasce was taken to Union County Jail and later released on a $1,500 bond.