(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced a bill that would provide the money for a new runway in Sioux City for the 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing. “What I have done is put into the National Defense Authorization Act the funding for the runway in its entirety, so that is in the form of an authorization,” Ernst says. ”

And my provision also requires that the Department of Defense brief congress on how they plan to preserve the 185th.” Earlier this year, the Iowa National Guard’s adjutant general said the project’s total cost would be 95 million dollars. While the National Defense Authorization Act does list spending priorities like this one, the money also has to be included in a separate appropriations bill that’s still being developed.

An Airman of the 185th Air Refueling Wing refastens a cover after checking the oil of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a training event at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, March 1, 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Tylon Chapman)

“I’m going to just keep pushing until we get this activity done,” Ernst said. “…The bottom line is we’ve got this provision, it provides the authority for the runway to be funded completely and this is for those great men and women of the 185th and for the community.”

In 2003, the Air Force switched to having refueling tanker planes rather than F-16 fighter jets based at Sioux City’s airport. The F-A-A has determined the runway has about two more years of unrestricted use in its current condition and after that it will be too dangerous for the massive aircraft and crews to use it.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa man played catch for 24 hours straight to help people with disabilities take part in sports and recreation. Kevin Negaard is the founder of the Miracle League in Sioux City. The league includes a playground, splash pad, and rubber-surfaced baseball field at Riverside Park. Negaard decided to throw and catch for one whole day to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organization and to raise money to resurface the all-inclusive play area.

Negaard started his quest Monday afternoon and hoped to raise $50,000 to help refurbish the Miracle League sports complex. A couple of years ago, he spent a year playing catch with more than 2,000 people in five different counties and raised more than $370,000 for the league.

DAVENPORT, Iowa –  The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports two Muscatine men were sentenced on (Tuesday) July 22, 2025, to federal prison for drug and gun crimes, related to an officer involved shooting in Muscatine on May 29, 2024.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on May 29, 2024, Juan Aldo Beltran Delgado, 34, and Isidro Barajas, Jr., 30, drove to a residence in Muscatine, Iowa, to await the delivery of a package they expected to contain more than 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement observed Beltran Delgado and Barajas pick up the package from the residence and attempted to stop their vehicle. Beltran Delgado was driving the vehicle and drove over 100 miles per hour through Muscatine, drove through multiple red lights, attempting to evade law enforcement. Ultimately, Beltran Delgado crashed into two other vehicles near Highway 61 and Cedar Street. After crashing, both Beltran Delgado and Barajas fled from the car on foot carrying firearms. Officers arrived in the area and Beltran Delgado shot at officers. Officers were able to take both Beltran and Delgado and Barajas into custody.

Beltran Delgado was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and carrying and discharging a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking. Barajas was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, carrying and displaying a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, received a Semi-Annual Report from Adair County Treasurer Brenda Wallace, who summed-up the report…

Afterward, the Board approved publishing of the report. In other business, the Board discussed the formation of a Steering Committee for development of a County Comprehensive Plan. Board Chair Nathan Baier said at least 15 people from a cross-section of the County are needed…

Supervisors Matt Wedemeyer and Jodie Hoadley volunteered to serve on the Committee. The Board will discuss the matter further during their meeting next week During the meeting on July 9^th, the Supervisors approved a Comprehensive Plan agreement between the County and SICOG (The Southern Iowa Council of Governments).

2025 Board of Supervisors
Left to Right: Jodie Hoadley, Jerry Walker, Nathan Baier, and Michael Christoffersen. Not pictured: Matt Wedemeyer. (Official Adair County website photo)

The acted to approve a plan and contractor, for the demolition of the Grandstand at the Adair County Fairgrounds. Nathan Baier commented…

Baier said demolition is expected to start sometime this week or early next week. The grandstand will be razed due to its age and safety concerns. A new grandstand will be erected in its place.

And, the Adair County Supervisors acted to pass a resolution directing the advertisement for sale, and approving electronic bidding procedures, along with the distribution of the Preliminary Statement, with regard to $5-million in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2025. Auditor Mandy Berg said the bonds will fund essential urban renewal projects under the county’s Northwest Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan, including shoulder widening on N51, as well as bridge and culvert replacements. The annual increase in property taxes as the result of the issuance on a residential property with an actual value of one hundred thousand dollars is estimated not to exceed $26.81. However, the actual increase may vary depending on future bonding actions and changes in other levies.

(Radio Iowa) – Thousands of cyclists on the Register’s Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa left Forest City very early this morning to hopefully complete the 70 mile trek to the next host city of Iowa Falls before the most intense heat of the day. Walt Weiland of Fresno, California, was relieving to make it to Forest City yesterday. “I love coming back to Iowa again and just connecting with all the folks from all over the world and it was a great challenge today, Weiland said, laughing. “It was 76 miles and I barely made it, but I’m quite happy to have done it.”

This isn’t a solo RAGBRAI trip for Weiland. “I’m with a group of friends and it’s kind of a party all across Iowa, basically,” Weiland said. “So I’m enjoying the heck out of it.” Weiland added that Iowa’s humidity “is bad,” but he’s used to higher temperatures of 100 to 110 degrees back home in Fresno.

The RAGBRAI route officially opens at 6 a.m. every day. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, starting at noon today that includes the route to Iowa Falls.

ANAMOSA, Iowa – Anamosa State Penitentiary, IA, K9 Bradley has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Bradley’s vest was sponsored by Vested interest in K9s, Inc. and embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always”. The Iowa Department of Corrections says Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

The potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,159 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

Anamosa State Penitentiary K9 “Bradley” (Iowa DOC photo)

The program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $1,050 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lbs., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call (508) 824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

(Report from the Iowa Capital Dispatch; Eddyville, IA) – Iowa grown corn will soon end up in apparel like Spanx, and other products typically made with petroleum-based components, following the opening of a new processing facility. Qore, the joint venture between Minnesota-based Cargill and Germany-based HELM AG, celebrated the opening of the $300 million facility Tuesday in Eddyville, and future growth it represents. The facility will take sustainably grown corn from within the area, then grind it and process it into QIRA, which the company said is an “identical replacement” of 1,4-butanediol, a chemical component used to manufacture various polymers.

Officials with Qore and the partnering companies said the venture is a response to consumer demand for more sustainably produced products, but will also stoke the Iowa corn market and local economy, and pave the way for future partnerships to for bio-based alternatives to petroleum-derived products. Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore, said Tuesday the project “connects” a “global challenge” with the natural process of corn absorbing CO2 and turning light into plant energy. Qore has already partnered with a number of brands, the first of which was Lycra, the original makers of Spandex materials. Gary Smith, Lycra Company’s CEO, said with QIRA, he can provide a high level of product credibility and show consumers exactly where the corn in their yoga pants was grown. Smith said he hopes this is “the first step” in a future with many QIRA facilities around the world.

The Qore facility in Eddyville will create a bio-based alternative to petrochemical components used in clothing and other products. Executives held a ribbon cutting at the plant Tuesday July 22, 2025. From left are Allie Buckvold, Axel Viering, Bruce Leslie, Jon Veldhouse, Anita Heinemann. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

At full capacity, the Eddyville plant will have an annual demand of 100 million bushels of corn. Steve Kuiper, an Iowa corn farmer growing for the facility, said that capacity would take all of his corn “plus a whole lot of other folks.’” Plus, that corn would be sold at a premium since QIRA needs to be made with corn grown under regenerative farming practices, like cover cropping and reduced tillage. Corn farmers have had low market prices the past several years and are looking for new markets that will give them a higher price per bushel, or to grow the market through things like Sustainable Aviation Fuel.  Kuiper said the QIRA market doesn’t fill the same gap as something like sustainable aviation fuel would, but he said “biochemistry is on everybody’s minds” and he said farmers, and consumers, need to advocate for more biochemical solutions.

The plant in Eddyville, which opened 40-years ago, is poised to produce 66,000 metric tons of QIRA annually, but the partners said they all hope demand for the product expands and more facilities will be needed. Once the products hit the shelves, customers will see QIRA branding to identify it in stores.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man and a woman from Creston were arrested on separate Domestic Abuse Assault charges, Tuesday. According to Creston Police, 42-year-old Tiffany Katina Warren was arrested at around 2:15-p.m. at her home. She was seen by a Magistrate and released on her Own Recognizance. And, at around 6:20-p.m. Tuesday, Creston Police arrested 35-year-old Alex Richard Cunningham at his residence.

In addition to being arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Cunningham was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Assault. Cunningham was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Judge.