(written by Mark Moran; Iowa News Service) – Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was extended.

Tax breaks and rebates encouraging investment in solar and wind power in Iowa were eliminated in the federal spending plan. However, the Trump administration extended an incentive enabling farmers in Iowa to produce more corn. The Hawkeye State is the nation’s top corn producer, much of which is used to produce ethanol.

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for the biofuel trade organization Growth Energy, said grain-based fuels burn cleaner and are more environmentally friendly.

“The credit actually goes for production of lower carbon fuels that are used for transportation,” Bliley explained. “It includes on-road fuels as well as sustainable aviation fuel. And so, the lower in carbon, the higher the credit.”

The Trump administration has made efforts to extract more fossil fuels, which it said will move the U.S. toward energy independence.

Lawmakers in Iowa and neighboring Midwest states have introduced their own tax incentives for biodegradable jet fuel, which Bliley noted will create economic benefits for ag producers.

“To remain competitive, plants in Iowa and Nebraska and throughout the Midwest are investing in some of these key projects to lower their carbon intensity,” Bliley observed.

The commercial airline industry is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Association, which could continue to benefit Iowa farmers who provide corn for ethanol production.

(Lowden, Iowa) – A car struck a legally parked semi early this (Sunday) morning in eastern Iowa, resulting in two people being sent to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 1:40-a.m. in Lowden, when a 2013 Audi A6 driven by 23-year-old Blake J. Johnson, of Aledo, IL, left Main Street in Tipton and struck an unoccupied 2005 Freightliner semi, which was in a parking lot.

Johnson, and a passenger in his vehicle, 20-year-old Adam Dean Duncan, of Lowden (IA), were injured in the crash. Both were transported by ambulance to the UIHC (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics).

The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Tipton Police, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clarence and Lowden Fire Departments.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Dallas County was arrested Saturday night in Red Oak, on a charge of Sexual Assault without injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. Red Oak Police say 42-year-old Aristeo Diaz, of Perry, was arrested at around 11:25-p.m. in the 1800 block of N. 4th Street in Red Oak. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond. Red Oak Police were assisted in the arrest, by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man on a felony charge of assault this (Saturday) morning. 47-year-old Clifford Norman Byrd, III, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1200 block of Summit Street, and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense (A Class-D Felony).

Byrd was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.

(Farragut, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Deputies in Fremont County responded Friday evening to a serious injury accident in the 100 block of Clay Street in Farragut. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a 1953 Allis-Chalmers WD45 tractor had struck a 56-year-old male who was reportedly working on the tractor. The accident happened at around 5:30-p.m. Following the initial impact, the tractor continued across an alley and struck a fence.

The driver of the tractor was identified as 39-year-old Kyle Glen Hale, of Shenandoah. Following an investigation at the scene, Hale was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)/2nd Offense.

Kyle Glen Hale (Fremont County S/O photo)

He was later released on bond, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues. The victim of the accident suffered serious injuries and was transported by LifeNet to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, for medical treatment.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Farragut Fire Department, Farragut Rescue, Shenandoah Fire Department, and Shenandoah Rescue.

It should be noted that a criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Atlantic, Iowa/Cass County ISU Extension) – The 4-H motto is “To make the best better.” One way 4-H members fulfill that motto is by participating in conference judging at the Cass County Fair. All members who exhibit at the fair are awarded ribbons based on conversations with judges, but how can this make the best 4-H member better? Discussions on goals, accomplishments and lessons learned, in a one-on-one setting with trained judges, can help the 4-H’ers grow as exhibitors and individuals.

Throughout fair week, over forty judges will work with 4-H and FFA members during each evaluation process, whether in the show ring, at communication contests, or during static exhibit judging, to help members learn more about themselves and their exhibits. Life skills are emphasized in recognizing 4-H and FFA members who have reached their goals.

All contestants and exhibits are evaluated based on a set of judging criteria, and ribbons are awarded as purple, lavender, blue, red or white to the participants. Ribbon colors are assigned based on the learning of each exhibitor, as well as the quality of the final product.

In all competitions, exhibits are judged based on learning done and expectations met. In some contests, participants also compete against their fellow exhibitors for a placing or rank. During static exhibit judging, participants are competing only against themselves and their ability to present a quality exhibit that is the result of a goal, a plan, and the learning that took place in creating it.

During conference judging, youth have the unique opportunity to talk with a judge face-to-face, explain their project goals and learning, and walk away with the knowledge gained from that judge’s expertise and questions as well. This allows the 4-Her to get immediate feedback from the judge, as well as explain why the project, exhibit or activity was important to them and what was learned.

Fair may only be a once-a-year event for many people, but for local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members, it is a chance to showcase skills and projects they have been working on for the past year. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to view exhibits in the Community Center and tour the livestock barns to see the variety of projects local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members have been working on throughout the year.

(Radio Iowa) – RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa)  will start more than 20 miles away from the Missouri River in Orange City, Sunday, but bikers can still do the traditional tire dip in the Missouri River water.

Orange City is filling their downtown canal in Windmill Park with Missouri River water today (Saturday), symbolizing Iowa’s western border. Bike riders can access the canal in Windmill Park all day Saturday and dip their rear tire, take a photo and commemorate the official start of the annual ride across Iowa.

Radio Iowa file photo

Volunteers will be on site to help capture the photo.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Friday night in Creston resulted in $3,500 damage to the vehicles involved, but no one was injured. According to Creston Police, the accident happened at the intersection of Adams and Elm Streets, at around 8:10-p.m.

Authorities say a 2021 Toyota 4Runner driven by 37-year-old Macos Cardoso Ramirez, of Creston, was traveling north on Elm Street and stopped at the intersection with Adams, before proceeding into the intersection. The SUV was struck by a 2010 Ford Fusion, driven by 37-year-old Lasheena Naomi Drake, of Greenfield, as she was traveling west on Adams Street. Police say Drake failed to stop at her posted stop sign before proceeding west. She told police didn’t see the sign. A witness confirmed Drake did not stop.

Creston Police cited her for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Damage to both vehicles was said to be minor. Both were driven away from the scene of the collision.

(Updated 7/20/25 with name of the fatal crash driver/victim)

(Des Moines County, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol says one person died and another was injured during a single-vehicle rollover crash in southeastern Iowa late Friday night. The accident happened in Burlington, at around 11-p.m., Friday. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2008 KIA Sorento was traveling south on Highway 99 at excessive speeds, when the driver lost control.

The car entered the west ditch near a driveway at 16015 Highway 99 and struck a culvert. The vehicle launched into the air and rolled several times before coming to rest on its top. The driver, who was identified late Saturday night as 20-year-old Kelsey Lou Orth, of Burlington, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. A passenger, 18-year-old Ava Grace McCullough, of Burlington, was injured and transported by Burlington Fire to the local hospital.

The crash remained under investigation.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa [KCCI-TV] – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has dismissed her lawsuit against a county sheriff who made a social media post vowing to “interrupt” federal agents who attempted to act unconstitutionally during immigration enforcement efforts.

In February, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx made a Facebook post saying “we will make every effort to block, interfere, and interrupt their actions from moving forward” regarding immigration enforcement officials who attempted to detain people on a detainer rather than with a warrant.

Marx deleted the post, but Bird’s office elected to file a lawsuit against the sheriff. An investigation from Bird’s office found Marx was, in fact, following state law and complying with detainer requests, but the lawsuit continued because Marx did not post a follow-up message on Facebook with a post written by Bird denouncing his original statement.

Dozens of residents showed up earlier this week to protest in support of Marx at an event attended by Bird. Now, the lawsuit is dismissed. In a statement announcing the dismissal, A-G Bird said “Given that Winneshiek County has now fully complied with 27A, the state law prohibiting sanctuary cities and counties from receiving taxpayer funds, the state is dismissing the lawsuit to enforce 27A. Winneshiek County and Sheriff Marx are in compliance with 27A. They have committed to continue to honor ICE detainers and cooperate with federal immigration authorities.”