(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is taking a wait-and-see approach before commenting on the effectiveness of the federal takeover of the Washington, D.C. police force. The District of Columbia filed suit today against the Trump administration over the action. Congress would have to authorize the takeover if it lasts beyond 30 days, although the president says he could bypass that by declaring a national emergency. Grassley was asked if he’d support the move.

“The answer is yes — if — in these 30 days I see what he is accomplishing is bringing peace to the city,” Grassley says, “because it would be kind of stupid if the president’s actions are protecting people in Washington, D.C. and then after 30 days, go right back to the danger that it is to the people through the criminal element.”

Grassley says there is another factor that may sway how he’d vote, if the issue goes before federal lawmakers. “And that is what changes the mayor of Washington D.C., the city council, and the police department are doing to change things so they have it under control,” Grassley says. “That’s what we really want to happen. We want the city of Washington, D.C., through the city government, to have a safe living environment.”

Grassley says some type of action was needed to bring a halt to the murders, carjackings and other violent crimes in the nation’s capital. “The crime rate is much higher than it was ten years ago,” Grassley says, “There’s been a little bit of reduction in the last couple of years, but still very, very high and people’s lives in danger.”

There’s no constitutional question, he says, that if Congress chose to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973, the federal government could run Washington, though Grassley was quick to add, “We don’t desire to do that.”

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Marshalltown woman was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday, August 14, 2025, for diverting controlled substances for her own use and falsely noting the administration of controlled substances in patient records.

According to public court documents, Amanda Nicole Manatt, 37, was employed as a registered nurse in the emergency room at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital, Marshalltown, Iowa, where in 2023 she diverted controlled substances (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine). She obtained controlled substances in patients’ names, documented them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use. In December 2023, Manatt’s employment ended at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital. In January 2024, Manatt obtained employment as a nurse at the emergency room at Mary Greely Medical Center, where she again obtained controlled substances (hydromorphone) in patients’ names, recorded them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use until her employment ended in April 2024.

Court records reflect that in some cases patients experienced pain due to Manatt’s taking the controlled substances prescribed for them. In other cases, Manatt took controlled substances from patients in excess of what they needed. Manatt’s false statements in the medical records resulted in billing health care benefit programs for controlled substances not actually administered.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Manatt will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Manatt was also ordered to pay $5,258.20 in restitution, a $5,500 fine, and a $300 special assessment.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau investigated this case.

(Altoona, Iowa) – A wrong-way driver on Interstate 80 in central Iowa caused a crash that killed one person and injured three others. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by 19-year-old Zachary Scott Scothorn, of Altoona, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-80 just west of Exit 141 at around 1:35-a.m.  Two other vehicles, a 2023 Dodge 3500 pickup and a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van were traveling eastbound on the Interstate.

The driver of the Dodge pickup, 31-year-old Jason Dason Mapp, of Decatur, GA,was unable to avoid a collision with the Toyota. After the vehicles collided, the Dodge became disabled on the roadway, and was struck by the Sprinter van, driven by 55-year-old Oleksandr V. Moskalnko, of Ormand Beach, FL at almost the same time as the initial crash.

Zachary Scothorn, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The other two drivers, and a passenger in the Dodge, 31-year-old Clinton D. Taylor, of Chicago, IL, were injured in the crash. They were transported by Altoona EMS to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. All three were wearing their seat belts.

The crash remained under investigation.

DES MOINES – On August 15, 2025, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the intent to award contracts to Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest USA Insurance Company, Inc. to provide dental care to Iowa Medicaid members through Iowa’s Dental Wellness Plan and Hawki.

The new contract begins July 1, 2026, Delta Dental of Iowa has been serving Iowa Medicaid members since 2014. DentaQuest USA Inc., is a new contractor for Iowa Medicaid.

Plans will offer diagnostic and preventative services like exams, cleanings, x-rays, and fluoride treatments, fillings, root canals, dentures, crowns, extractions and other benefits. More information is available at https://hhs.iowa.gov/dental-wellness-plan.

The Iowa Medicaid Team now begins work to onboard the two dental plans and ensure they have built out their provider networks and have systems in place to being providing services to members on day one.

There are no immediate changes for current Medicaid members, and members do not need to take any action right now. Iowa Medicaid will communicate with members about their choices as we approach the July 1 launch.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC), today (Friday), announced the promotion of Shannon Archer to General Counsel, effective immediately. Officials say Archer, who previously served as Legal Counsel for the department, has been instrumental in navigating complex legal landscapes and providing exceptional guidance to the DOC.

Archer’s impressive legal career – the news release said – spans over 15 years, with more than 60 jury trials conducted. During that time, she represented the DOC in civil trials as an Assistant Attorney General, the State of Iowa in criminal prosecutions as an Assistant Polk County Attorney, and also contracted with the State Public Defender’s Office to represent indigent clients facing Class A felony charges. She is a nationally recognized expert and educator on topics including domestic violence and sexual abuse. Before joining the DOC, Archer served as both an Assistant Attorney General and an Assistant Polk County Attorney. She holds a law degree with honors from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, cum laude, from Wartburg College.

In her new role, Archer will provide legal expertise to the DOC’s leadership team, staff, and the Board of Corrections. She will also manage legal services for more than 8,500 incarcerated individuals and 30,000 probationers and/or parolees. DOC Director Dr. Beth Skinner says “Shannon has consistently demonstrated the skills, integrity, and dedication needed to excel in this critical role. Her ability to manage complex legal challenges and her unwavering commitment to justice have already made a significant impact on our department. We are incredibly excited to see her lead our legal team and continue to serve the people of Iowa with the same excellence she has always shown.”

Archer said in the news release that is is “…Honored and excited to step into the role of General Counsel for the Iowa Department of Corrections.’ She said also, she is “…passionate about our mission to promote public safety and justice, and [looks] forward to working with [the DOC’s] talented team to uphold the highest legal standards and support the goals of the department.”

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A Potttawamie County man charged in connection with the death of a woman who was struck by a UTV in Oakland, received a suspended prison sentence, Thursday.

85-year-old Gene Fritz, of Oakland, appeared electronically and was sentenced to 10-years in prison. District Court Judge Eric John Nelson suspended the sentence and fined Fritz $1,370, but that was also suspended. Fritz was instead ordered to serve two years of probation.A post-sentence investigation is required to be completed within 90-days.

Any violation of his probation could mean Fritz would be required to serve the original sentence imposed by the court.

Fritz was charged with Homicide by Vehicle – Reckless Driving, following a December 26, 2024 incident in Oakland, that resulted in the death of 83-year-old Sandra Madron.

Fritz did not have a valid driver’s license, and the UTV he was operating was not registered for roadway use.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An attorney in the case of an Atlantic man facing a charge of 1st Degree Murder, requested and was granted a continuance, Thursday (Aug. 14th). Judge Margaret Jane Reyes granted the request by Attorney Monty Platz, who is with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Platz is the prosecuting attorney in the case against 25-year-old Corbin Michael Loudermilk, who, in addition to the First-Degree Murder charge, is also charged with Child Endangerment Resulting in Death. Both are Class-A Felonies.

The trial was scheduled to take place in Cass County District Court on September 23rd, but with the granted continuance, means it will not occur now until April 28, 2026, at 9:30-a.m.

Loudermilk has entered a plea of not guilty to both charges. The charges stem from an incident in early January, when a child under Loudermilk’s supervision was found unresponsive. Medical professionals later determined the baby allegedly died from multiple head injuries believed to be caused by impact or shaking.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds today (Friday) welcomed the announcement that BioMADE, a Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institute, has selected Iowa to establish a bioindustrial manufacturing scale-up facility at Iowa State University’s (ISU) BioCentury Research Farm in Boone, reinforcing Iowa’s leadership in bioscience innovation. A news release from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) said the facility will feature 5,000-liter and 10,000-liter fermenters and downstream processing equipment, enabling companies to scale up fermentation-based technologies using Iowa’s abundant agricultural feedstocks. BioMADE will operate the facility in coordination with ISU Research Park. The announcement was made at IEDA’s board meeting.

“Iowa is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense and BioMADE to build the infrastructure needed to lead in the next generation of biomanufacturing,” said Governor Reynolds. “This facility will unleash new value from our agricultural resources, create high-quality jobs, and ensure Iowa remains at the forefront of bioscience innovation and global competitiveness.”

Established in 2020, BioMADE leads a nationwide program to address a foundational gap in domestic pilot- and demonstration-scale bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure. In 2024, BioMADE announced that Iowa was one of six states named as a finalist for potential project support—recognizing Iowa’s strategic assets in agriculture, renewable energy, and bioscience expertise.

“BioMADE is thrilled to be establishing this facility in Iowa,” said Dr. Douglas Friedman, Chief Executive Officer at BioMADE. “Iowa’s longstanding leadership in bioindustrial manufacturing makes it an ideal site for scale-up capacity. We’re excited to work with our partners at Iowa State University to establish this site, which will secure domestic supply chains for critical consumer and defense products – while also creating new markets for American-grown crops, re-shoring manufacturing jobs, and expanding rural development.”

At a total project value of $40 million, BioMADE has committed at least $20 million, which will be matched by up to $10 million in cost-share contributions from ISU and $10 million in funding from IEDA’s Strategic Infrastructure Program, approved today by the IEDA board  over two fiscal years. The project will support workforce development, startup growth, and technology commercialization, while helping Iowa diversify beyond traditional biofuels and attract early-stage companies to establish permanent operations in the state.

“At ISU Research Park, we believe that the future of agriculture lies in bold partnerships and relentless innovation. Collaborations like the one with BioMADE, IEDA, ISU Research Park and Iowa State exemplify how these entities can come together to accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the next generation of sustainable, resilient ag technologies,” said Rick Sanders, president, ISU Research Park. “We’re proud to be part of a movement that has the potential to secure additional value and products from crops produced right here in Iowa and in turn, strengthen the bioeconomy.”

(Radio Iowa) – A fund drive is underway for a new building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Governor Kim Reynolds says the Agricultural Education Center won’t just be open during the State Fair.  “We’re hoping kids will come there all throughout the year and really talk about ag and what it means to this state and to our economy and to the world,” Reynolds says. “As more and more kids get removed from the farm, we’ve got to do a better job of telling our story and having that interaction.” The center will focus on crop development, Iowa soils, farm equipment and jobs in agriculture.

The state budget plan Reynolds signed this spring includes five MILLION dollars for the building — about a third of estimated construction costs. The Agricultural Education Center will be built next to the “Little Hands on the Farm” exhibit during the State Fair that guides children through a garden, grain bin, tractor shed, apple orchard and livestock barns.

Reynolds says that will create a “kids zone” on the fairgrounds that’s focused on telling the story of Iowa agriculture.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a man from Nebraska was arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder on August 8th, of 19-year-old Dylan Ray Hall, of Council Bluffs. Authorities say Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, Tuesday, applied for and a warrant was issued for, the arrest of 18-year-old Gabriel Michael-Keon Irby, of Omaha, Nebraska, for one count of Murder in the 1st Degree. Irby was taken arrested without incident Wednesday, by the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force, at a location in southwest Omaha. He will be held at the Douglas County, NE,  Corrections Center while the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office arranges for his extradition to Iowa.

Gabriel Michael-Keon Irby (CB-PD photo)

Authorities in Council Bluffs say the charges are not evidence against Irby, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reminds the public that they can help police solve crimes by providing tips and information to the Criminal Investigation Division or the Vice / Narcotics Unit. You can call the Crime Stoppers line at (712) 328-STOP, the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or the Vice / Narcotics Unit at (712) 890-5400, option 6. If no one answers, please leave a message. You don’t have to leave your name and can be anonymous.

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Original Press Release from the Council Bluffs P-D on August 8th:

On today’s date, at approximately 7:31am, Council Bluffs Police and Council Bluffs Fire & Rescue responded to 1629 Ave B for a man down. Officers and medics found the male party to be deceased. Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators were then called to the scene to investigate. Early in the investigation the male party was able to be identified as a Dylan Hall, 19 years old, of Council Bluffs.