(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.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Cass County, today (Friday) released a report on arrests that took place from July 11th through the 18th. Most recently:

On Friday (July 18), Deputies in Cass County arrested Derrick Michael Moorman Spencer, on charges of sexual abuse 2nd degree, and sexual abuse in the 3rd degree. Moorman Spencer was transported to the Cass County Jail booked-in and held.

There were two arrests Thursday (July 17) in Cass County: 36-year-old Samantha Jo Christensen, of Lewis, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was later released on her own recognizance; And, 61-year-old Brian Joseph Iwersen, of Atlantic, was arrested for a controlled substance violation, possession of less than 5-grams of methamphetamine, and drug trafficking (5-grams to 100 kilograms) of meth. Iwersen was being held in the Cass County Jail.

The past Wednesday (July 16), Sheriff’s Deputies in Cass County arrested 43-year-old Nathen Scott Teneyck, of Atlantic, on a warrant for not complying with his sex offender verification. Teneyck was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked-in, and later released on bond.

On the 14th of July, 50-year-old Richard Dale Wood, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County arrest warrant charging him with: Theft in the 1st degree (embezzlement >$10,000); fraudulent practice in the 1st degree; fraudulent practice in the 2nd degree; and unauthorized use of credit card over $1,500 under $10,000. Wood was being held in the Cass County Jail.

On July 13th, 34-year-old Johnathan Aaron Hartsfield, of Lake City, FL, was arrested in Cass County on charges of possession of schedule IV/V controlled substance, and drug tax stamp violation. Hartsfield was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked-in, and later released on bond.

And, on July 11th, 38-year-old Joshua Kenneth Wolcott, of Atlantic, was arrested for driving while barred and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wolcott was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and also later released on bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision in Afton this (Friday) morning, resulted in two people being transported to the hospital in Creston. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2015 GMC Acadia SUV driven by 37-year-old Danny Alan Fry, of Creston, was traveling east on U-S Highway 34 at around 10:50-a.m., at the same time a 2014 Jeep Compass SUV driven by 17-year-old Alexis Goodemote, of Thayer, was traveling westbound.

As the Jeep moved into the turn lane from Highway 34 onto southbound U-S Highway 169, Goodemote failed to see the GMC SUV, and pulled in front of the vehicle. The teen failed to yield the right-of-way, her vehicle was struck by the oncoming SUV. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the eastbound lane of Highway 34.

Two passenger’s in Fry’s vehicle were injured, and transported by medics to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. They were identified as 39-year-old Stephanie Todd, and 46-year-old Kylie Clayton, both of Creston. No other injuries were reported.

Damage from the crash amounted to $20,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are sometimes bugged by bugs, and if you come across a creepy crawler you’ve never seen before, the experts can likely identify it at the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University. Zach Schumm, an insect diagnostician at the clinic, says there’s been concern this summer with very small critters called springtails.

Iowa’s had plenty of rainy days interspersed with hot, dry days, and that can sometimes prompt springtails to find a way to invade our homes.

Iowans who plan to be spending time outdoors over the coming weeks might be wise to heed a few words of Schumm’s advice.

And if you’ve been nibbled by a flying pest that was out for blood, he notes there are 57 species of mosquitoes in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s congressional delegation is hailing House passage of bills that establish a new set of federal rules for the cryptocurrency industry. Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says it’s about unlocking potential.

Feenstra says the legislation sets clear roles for federal agencies that regulate digital assets.

U.S. Capitol Building (RI file photo)

Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, says the CLARITY Act ensures it’s U-S — and not adversaries like China — writing the rules of the road for digital assets. “This is truly a bipartisan opportunity to help America deliver as a crypto capital for the entire planet,” Nunn said.

All four Iowa Republicans voted in favor of three crypto-related bills that passed the House late this week. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport says the bills give clear rules, protect privacy, and help the U.S. out-compete the Chinese in digital innovation. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says the legislation will prevent a central bank currency, protecting Americans’ privacy, and will reinforce American leadership in global finance.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, today (Friday),  approved assistance for startup businesses in Ames, Des Moines and Urbandale. The board also approved Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant awards in Des Moines, Floyd, Harlan and in Hardin County.

The City of Harlan was awarded $402,667 to build the Dream Playground, which will feature accessible and inclusive equipment, shades, gathering structures and educational equipment. As the first step in a larger plan to revitalize and expand recreation opportunities in Harlan, the playground will serve as the central feature of their public park. The total project cost is nearly $1.6 million.

The CAT program provides financial assistance to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the CAT Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

(Story from the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A civil lawsuit alleges an Iowa State Patrol trooper has a history of bullying citizens and initiating illegal searches. Dominic Tangen of Black Hawk County is suing Trooper Bryce Bilharz, alleging he’s guilty of “humiliating and bullying” citizens, and Trooper Michelle Beck of the Iowa State Patrol in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. In his lawsuit, Tangen alleges that on the afternoon of July 12, 2023, he was northbound on Highway 63 in Bremer County when he was pulled over by Bilharz, who correctly suspected Tangen’s car windows were tinted darker than allowed by Iowa law. During the stop, Bilharz allegedly asked Tangen “about the red tint inside his mouth,” and Tangen replied that he had acetaminophen tablets dissolving on his tongue, adding that he often used the pain reliever to help manage pain related to sciatica in his legs. A bottle of acetaminophen tablets was sitting in plain view in the passenger seat, the lawsuit claims.

At that point, the lawsuit alleges, Bilharz frisked Tangen, searched him, placed him in his patrol car and asked him to submit to field sobriety tests. Tangen agreed but allegedly told Bilharz he might be unable to keep his balance due to his sciatica. In his police report, Bilharz said he observed indicators of impairment during Tangen’s performance of the “walk and turn test” and the “one-leg stand test” — although, the lawsuit claims, a preliminary breathalyzer test administered at the scene indicated Tangen had a blood-alcohol level of 0.000. Bilharz allegedly handcuffed Tangen and transported him to the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department for a urine test. At the sheriff’s department, Tangen consented to a second blood-alcohol test that allegedly indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.000.

While being detained for roughly three hours, Tangen alleges, he was only allowed to use the bathroom once, when Bilharz and Beck collected a urine sample for a drug test. Tangen alleges he was then arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, was stripped and placed in a holding cell. The lawsuit claims “Tangen was released after 9 p.m., after being held for almost six hours, and was given his keys and a note as to where he could find his truck.”  Court records show that on Sept. 28, 2023, the Bremer County Attorney’s Office filed a motion to dismiss the OWI charge against Tangen, informing the court the state lacked “sufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution.”

According to the criminal court file, county prosecutors acknowledged the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s laboratory had “made three examinations or evaluations” of Tangen’s urine and “all three resulted in a determination that no detectable level of controlled substances was present in the defendant’s body when the sample was taken.” The records also indicate Bilharz’s decision to arrest Tangen was based in part on Bilharz’s status as a drug recognition expert and his alleged observations of Tangen being talkative, “constantly sniffling his nose,” and displaying body tremors during the traffic stop. Throughout Tangen’s encounter with Bilharz, the lawsuit states, the trooper “bullied” Tangen and behaved in a “condescending” manner.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for unlawful search and seizure, false arrest and abuse of process. According to the Iowa State Patrol’s Facebook page, Bilharz graduated from the Iowa Department of Public Safety Academy in 2020, has worked with the patrol’s District 10 team in Oelwein, and is a field training officer and defensive tactics instructor.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans who serve in the U.S. House joined other Republicans early this (Friday) morning in giving final approval to a nine BILLION dollar package of federal budget cuts. First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the bill cutting waste, fraud and abuse identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is a win for the American people. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she’ll never stop fighting alongside President Trump for a smaller, more efficient and accountable government and the bill will stop funding for things like Sesame Street in Iraq and propaganga at N-P-R and P-B-S.

The bill withdraws over a billion dollars in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In Iowa, that amounts to an 18 percent budget cut to Iowa P-B-S and a 10 percent cut to Iowa Public Radio.

The bill also ended about eight BILLION dollars in previously-approved funding for the U-S Agency for International Development and other foreign assistance.