(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Fire Department was dispatched at around 12:20-p.m. today (Saturday), to a reported fire underneath a trailer home. The incident took place at 1205 E. 4th Street. All residents and household pets evacuated prior to the fire department’s arrival. When KJAN News Director Ric Hanson arrived on the scene moments later, no smoke or flames were visible.

Ric Hanson (photo)

It appears a neighbor used their garden hose to help prevent the spread of any flames. Additional information was not immediately available. Atlantic Police, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were on the scene, in addition to Atlantic Fire.

MADISON COUNTY, Iowa [KCCI-TV]  — A former Madison County official will not face charges for entering a contract with a consulting firm. Teri Kaczinski was under investigation by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The investigation was part of a case regarding a contract into which Kaczinski, in her role as Madison County auditor, entered with consulting firm RMG.

The investigation found “insufficient evidence to find that Ms. Kaczinski had the requisite intent to violate the Code of Iowa,” according to a news release.

No charges will be filed.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — A second University of Iowa employee is on paid administrative leave following an online video that appears to show the employee discussing recent diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) laws and ways faculty members can get around the laws. KCCI-TV reports a video posted to conservative news site Townhall appears to show a University of Iowa employee — identified in the story as Cory Lockwood, the senior associate director of the Iowa Memorial Union — talking about how the university has complied with recent DEI laws enacted by the state legislature.

The University of Iowa confirmed Lockwood was on paid administrative leave as of Thursday. Lockwood is at least the second University of Iowa employee to be placed on paid administrative leave after a video surfaced in which they discussed enforcement of Iowa’s DEI laws. Another employee, Drea Tinoco, was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday.

The video of Tinoco also drew an official complaint from Gov. Kim Reynolds to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which subsequently launched an investigation.

(This report was researched and written by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is solely responsible for its content) –

A Cass County assisted living center is one of several care facilities recently fined by the state in the wake of medication errors, injuries and a death. State records indicate that on July 8, a male resident of Allen Place, an assisted living center in Atlantic, was left unattended in the shower where he slipped and fell, suffering a head injury. He was taken to by ambulance to a hospital, where he died a short time later. According to the state inspectors, a non-skid bathmat was not in place in the shower at the time of the incident, and the worker tasked with showering the man was not properly trained and wasn’t assisting the man in the shower.

The worker in question had been on the staff for roughly one month. In a written statement referenced by inspectors in their report, the worker indicated he didn’t understand that the resident needed physical assistance standing and showering and so he sat a few feet away from the bathroom while the resident showered. Within a minute of the resident entering the shower, the worker reportedly wrote, the man fell.

“I lacked the proper training on the proper stand-by procedure,” the worker allegedly wrote in his statement. “Due to this lack of training, I thought the shower mat that’s normally down — but was up that day — should remain up.” … and “once [Tenant C1’s] in the bathroom, I leave the bathroom as to what I was taught before and leave the door half open while I sit in a nearby chair … Around a minute into the shower he falls.”

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing fined Allen Place $10,000.

Other Iowa care facilities recently fined by the DIAL include:

— Hallmar Village, a Cedar Rapids nursing home where a resident sustained two broken legs while being transferred to bed in a mechanical lift, was fined $20,500 by the state. The resident was facing amputation of one leg before being assigned to hospice care a few days later, according to state records.

Inspectors reported that one employee of the home, a certified nursing assistant, indicated the staff at the home had been using a modified method of using the mechanical lift with the resident that involved the use of a pillow and avoided the use of leg straps intended for safe transfers. The CNA reportedly told inspectors she felt the modifications by the staff posed a risk to the resident and said she relayed her concerns to a nurse.

The CNA also told inspectors that because the transfer process looked unsafe, she asked to work a different floor at the home. A state review of training records indicated the nurse and two CNAs at the home “did not have training on the use of a mechanical lift,” according to inspectors.

— Bickford Cottage I, a Sioux City assisted living center, was fined $7,000 after a resident wandered from the facility on July 5 and wasn’t found for several hours. The resident was admitted to a local hospital due to acute kidney injury, dehydration and elevated creatine levels.

— Windsor Manor, a Grinnell assisted living center, was fined $5,000 after a male resident of the home was given seven separate medications intended for someone else. The resident who was mistakenly given the drugs became unresponsive and was admitted for a short time to a local hospital.

— Azria Health-Longview, a Missouri Valley nursing home, was fined $7,000 after a resident fell on June 30 and sustained a serious head injury. Inspectors noted the facility was to have placed non-skid strips near the resident’s bed, but the work order calling for that to be done included the wrong bed number. The resident suffered multiple facial fractures and had to be hospitalized. As of July 16, the resident was still hospitalized.

— Bickford Cottage, an Iowa City assisted living center, was fined $5,000 after a female resident wandered from the facility about 8 p.m. on June 1. About one hour later, an off-duty paramedic found the woman 1.3 miles from the facility.

(Radio Iowa) – A book festival this weekend in central Iowa is featuring all Iowa authors. Jan Danielson Kaiser, events coordinator for Beaverdale Books in Des Moines, says the Local Author Fair will focus on five fantastic writers of books for both adults and children. “We just look at it as a great way to introduce customers to new writers and new stories, but also the authors end up loving it because they get to network,” Danielson Kaiser says. “They spend some time visiting, and I think they really do enjoy it as much as the customers.”

Novelist Winter Austin lives in the Van Buren County town of Birmingham. Austin’s bio says she grew up listening to captivating stories told by relatives around a table or campfire. Her newest book is called “Ride a Dark Trail” and she serves as Board President of the Sisters in Crime Iowa Chapter. Author and world traveler Elizabeth Donne, who now lives in Pleasant Hill, is described as a student of literature and a teacher of linguistics.

“She has a series which I can’t wait to hear more about,” Danielson Kaiser says. “She’s an amazing lady and she spent most of her life in Cape Town, South Africa and she’s been to all five continents.” Writer John Donovan, of Adel, says in college, he majored in English and got a minor in “not taking things seriously enough.” “He’s written seven novels. This new one is called, “Confessions of the Tenth Smartest Person in the World (and Other Delusions),” she says, “and his bio says he lives with his wife, four dogs, some chickens, and what seems to be an infinite number of cats.”

Two children’s authors are also being featured this weekend: Emma Fust of Runnells, whose book “1,000 Balloons” she wrote and illustrated, and Jackie Reinig, from the Shelby County town of Portsmouth. “She is a grandma and she has a magical forest on her farm that she shares with her grandkids,” Danielson Kaiser says. “She was a nurse, she retired and then started writing magic stories.”

The free event is being held at the book store from 1 to 3 PM on today (Saturday).

(Harlan, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report into a death investigation in Shelby County, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office early Saturday morning said a man  and a woman have been arrested in connection with the incident. Winston “Joe” Leal was arrested Friday on a warrant for 1st Degree Murder – a Class A Felony, related to the death of 32-year old Theresa Kenkel, in Earling, on Thursday.

Winston Leal

Kenkel was found after deputies made entry into her home, following a requested check on her welfare. Leal was being held in the Shelby County Jail without bond.

Authorities say a woman – Ashley McWilliams – was also arrested on a warrant connecting her to the incident. McWilliams is charged with Accessory after the fact – a Class D Felony. Her bond was set at $50,000.

Ashley McWilliams

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Council Bluffs Police Department in handling the investigation.

(Atlantic) The Atlantic Police Department, today (Friday), released a report on arrests or those who were cited, between July 13th and July 29th.

Two people were arrested July 21st for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor: 23-year-old Sam Ysam and 24-year-old Mym Attan, both of Atlantic, were both booked into the Cass County Jail.

Two people were arrested on Assault charges in Atlantic, July 26th. 32-year-old Patrica Myler, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault, and 32-year-old K.C. Harper, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Assault.

Three individuals were arrested in Atlantic for OWI/1st offense: 28-year-old Christopher Martin, of Atlantic, was arrested July 29th; On July 23rd, the A-PD arrested Taimichy Ichin, of Atlantic, for OWI, 1st Offense; and on July 23rd,  76-year-old David Anderson, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI, 1st Offense.

An Atlantic man was arrested twice last month on Public Intoxication charges. 62-year-old Craig Lang was arrested July 18th and on the 25th.

And, a man from Elk Horn was arrested July 13th by Atlantic Police, for Theft in the 5th degree theft (Shoplifting). 30-year-old Asa Mckinney was cited into court and then released.

DES MOINES, IA — (From a Press release) –  Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today announced a series of investments in the Perry community from Tyson Foods following months of advocacy and coordination efforts. Tyson’s commitments will provide direct support to local families, students, and first responders impacted by the company’s decision to wind down operations of its pork production plant in June 2024.

“Perry is a strong, tight-knit Iowa town that deserves accountability from its corporate partners. Businesses, like Tyson Foods, that serve rural communities have an obligation to honor the commitments they make,” said Rep. Nunn. “From day one, we’ve worked with the City of Perry and Dallas County leadership to ensure the community is receiving the support they need in a time of uncertainty. These investments are a step in the right direction, but there is still more work to be done. I will continue to partner with Perry’s local leaders and residents to advance new opportunities and sustain the community’s growth and success.”

As a result of Congressman Nunn’s continued engagement with city and county officials, as well as advocacy on behalf of local institutions, Tyson Foods has committed to the following immediate contributions:

• A $20,000 donation to the Perry food pantry, supporting approximately six months of critical food assistance for local families
• A truckload of Tyson products donated to the Iowa Food Bank, with priority access for the Perry community
• Meal carts for all three Perry schools, established in partnership with GenYouth
• A six-month supply of breakfast sandwiches to keep school carts fully stocked for students

“The Perry community is grateful for the energy and dedication Congressman Nunn has put forward to support us through the past two years,” said Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson. “Together, we will all continue to work as a team with Tyson Foods to support our community members with their needs and forge a path with Tyson Foods to find the highest and best use for the Perry Facility to ensure a stable future, not only for Perry and our residents, but for the state as a whole.”

“Congressman Nunn’s immediate and continued commitment to addressing the community’s concerns following the Tyson closure has been critical as Perry’s public services, schools, and economy work to recover from this devastating loss and repair the damage created by the ripple effect of losing nearly 1300 jobs,” said Greater Dallas County Development Alliance Executive Director Rachel Wacker. “His efforts to hold Tyson accountable and urge the company to be part of the solution are both essential and encouraging. Nunn’s advocacy has brought meaningful momentum to Perry’s economic recovery, with a clear focus on supporting the families and businesses that call Perry home.”

These critical investments are a direct result of community-focused advocacy to ensure Perry isn’t left behind in the wake of Tyson’s closure. Congressman Nunn remains actively engaged with local and county leaders to support both this short-term transition and long-term economic development.

(Radio Iowa) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the drought-busting rains of July pushed the month to near the very top of the state record book

He says it will be a July many people will remember for the big storms.

He says we were another big rain event away from the July record.

Glisan says the early dry months of the year kept 2025 from being another flood year like 1993.

July was the second wettest on record behind 1993. (RI photo)

Glisan says there were two main sources of moisture that led to ample July rain.

Glisan says he gets asked a lot about the so-called “corn sweat” where moisture comes off the 13 million acres of corn in Iowa. He says it is another source of water that leads to rain.

Glisan says the heat dome that set up around the third week of July led to heat indexes in the triple digits, but not record heat.

Glisan says that heat did spawn storms, including the derecho that barreled across the state.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa native astronaut Peggy Whitson says her two main goals were met during the recent Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Whitson says she wanted to create not only a high-performing crew, but also one with bonds that would last a lifetime. During today’s (Friday) Axiom Space news conference to “debrief” the mission, she touted how the four-member crew performed more than 60 experiments while aboard the orbiting research lab that represented the scientific interests of more than 30 nations.

Whitson commanded the mission that included first-time astronauts from India, Hungary and Poland, three nations that haven’t sent a person into low-Earth orbit in four decades. In addition, it marked the first time astronauts from those nations conducted a mission together on the I-S-S.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Whitson and crew lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25th, and after 18 days docked at the space station, splashed down off the coast of southern California on July 15th.

Commander Peggy Whitson (from Axiom video)

Whitson, who grew up on a farm in southern Iowa near Beaconsfield, says even though they all came from much different places and followed varied paths, “we go farther when we go together.”

This is Whitson’s second mission for Axiom Space, a private Houston-based firm which aims to assemble its own space station in the next few years. She flew three previous missions for NASA before retiring from the agency in 2018. It was Whitson’s fifth mission to the I-S-S and she’s now amassed 695 days in space, the most of any American. At 65, she’s considered the United States’ most experienced astronaut.