DES MOINES, Iowa – Two Des Moines men were sentenced last week (July 11, 2025), to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says aaccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in the summer of 2023, 43-year-old Ajang Malou Wour, began trafficking fentanyl pills, shortly after he was discharged from a term of federal supervised release.  By September 2024, Wour began bringing trafficking fentanyl powder. Within an 18-month period, Wour obtained and distributed over 60,000 fentanyl pills and 40 ounces of fentanyl powder. 22-year-old Omar Mohamed Nurani received fentanyl pills from Wour frequently and sold the pills to other distributors and customers.

In June 2024, Wour sold Nurani fentanyl pills, which Nurani then to a customer. The victim used the pills, overdosed, and died. After the victim’s death, Wour and Nurani continued to sell fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder. Nurani obtained and distributed over 2,000 fentanyl pills and eight ounces of fentanyl powder. Wour was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Nurani was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, with assistance from the Ankeny Police Department and the Mid-Iowa Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Authorities say Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl deaths for youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports the arrest of a woman on a trio of charges. 38-year-old Ashley Dawn Davis, of Creston, faces charges that include: Assault; Child Endangerment, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Davis was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m., Tuesday. She was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Judge.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The 2025 Montgomery County Fair continues through Sunday, in Red Oak. The fair began its full run on Monday. Here’s a look at the schedule for the next few days.

Wednesday, July 16
6:30-7:30 AM Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Meat & Dairy Goats—Sheep/Goat Barn
7:30-8:00 AM
Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Market & Breeding Sheep – Sheep/Goat
Barn
8:00-9:30 AM Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Swine – Livestock Pavilion
8:30-10:00 AM: Enter Open Class Flower Show, Baking, Garden, Photography, Arts & Crafts – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
10:00 AM: Open Class Judging: Flower Show, Baking/Cake Decorating, Garden, Photography, Arts/Crafts – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
11:00 AM-1:00 PM Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Poultry – Livestock Pavilion
Noon-9:00 PM 4-H Exhibit and Commercial Building Open
2:00 PM 4-H Pet Show Check In – Livestock Pavilion
2:30 PM 4-H Pet Show – Livestock Pavilion
5:30 PM: 4-H Night—Fairgrounds Auditorium; State Fair Static Awards; Top Communications Acts & Share the Fun; Clover Kids Graduation
6:00-7:00 PM Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Rabbits – Livestock Pavilion
7:00-9:00 PM Bingo – Gold Fair Building (West Side)
7:00-8:00 PM Enter and weigh-in 4-H/FFA Market & Breeding Beef – Beef Barn

Thursday, July 17
7:00-9:00 AM Montgomery County Farm Bureau Breakfast for Exhibitors/Families
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Sheep Show – Livestock Pavilion
Morning – Cookies & Drinks from Farm Credit Services for Exhibitors
9:00 AM–9:00 PM 4-H Exhibit Building Open
30 mins following sheep show: 4-H/FFA Meat & Dairy Goat Show – Livestock Pavilion
Noon-9:00 PM Commercial Building Open
Noon-10:00 PM Amusement Associates (Inflatables) – Near the Grandstand Arena
1:00 PM 4-H/FFA Poultry Show – Livestock Pavilion
Throughout the Day: Meyer’s Petting Zoo; Kid’s Zone; Kiddie Train; Chainsaw Artist
2:00-4:00 PM Balloon Creations – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
4:30 PM Register for 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest – Livestock Pavilion
5:00 PM 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest – Livestock Pavilion;  Magic Show – Gold Fair Building (West Side)
7:00-9:00 PM Sip & Paint with Corky Canvas and Pudgy Pumpkin Patch – Fairgrounds Auditorium
7:00-9:00 PM Bingo – Gold Fair Building (West Side)
7:30 PM ATV Race – Grandstand Arena

Friday, July 18
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Swine Show – Livestock Pavilion
Morning – Cookies & Drinks from Farm Credit Services for Exhibitors
9:00 AM–9:00 PM 4-H Exhibit Building Open
Throughout Day: Crier Close-Ups – 4-H Exhibit Building (11:00, 1:00, 3:00); Meyer’s Petting Zoo; Kid’s Zone; Kiddie Train; Chainsaw Artist
Noon 4-H/FFA Rabbit Show – Livestock Pavilion
Noon-9:00 PM Commercial Building Open
Noon-10:00 PM Amusement Associates (Inflatables) – Near the Grandstand Arena
1:00-3:30 PM: Senior Citizens Day Bingo – Fairgrounds Auditorium; Sponsored by Montgomery County Fair Board & Montgomery County YMCA – An afternoon of bingo with prizes, entertainment and refreshments. All senior citizens are welcome to come join for this free afternoon!
2:00-5:00 PM Caricature Artist – 4-H Exhibit Building
4:30-6:30 PM Balloon Creations – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
5:00-7:00 PM Mills/Montgomery Cattlemen’s Association steak supper – Fairgrounds Auditorium
6:00-10:00 PM Mechanical Bull Ride – Grandstand Area
7:00-9:00 PM Bingo – Gold Fair Building (West Side)
8:00 PM FREE Bull Ride – Grandstand Arena , DJ Immediately following

(Audubon, Iowa) – Activities at the 2025 Audubon County Fair got underway Tuesday, and continue through Sunday. Here is a list of events for the next few days:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
7:00-8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Swine check in
8:00- 9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat check in
8:00-9:30 AM Farm Bureau Exhibitor Breakfast-Hoop
9:00-10:00 AM 4-H/FFA Beef check in
9:00 AM-3:00 PM Commercial Exhibit set-up
9:30AM-11:00 AM 4-H/FFA/Open Class Rabbit/Poultry check in
11:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horses must be stalled
12:00 PM Open Class static must be entered
1:30 PM 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Meeting
3:00 PM Open Class exhibits must be in place
5:30 PM Sponsorship Dinner-Tent by Agrihall
4-H Pie Auction
4-H Hall of Fame
Little Miss Audubon County
Queen Coronation

THURSDAY, JULY 17
9:00 AM Judging Open Class Entries
10:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show
12:30 PM Clover Kids Stuffed Animal Show-Hoop
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Touch-a-Truck – Infield Pitts- Sponsored by OSLC
3:00 PM Cornhole Tournament-Livestock Pavilion
4:00 PM-9:00 PM Inflatables-Sponsored by Fair Sponsors
5:00 PM Survivor Game Show – Bob Bohm
5:00 PM Clover Kids Rabbit Show
4-H/FFA & Open Rabbit Show
5:30 PM Mini Motor Madness – Race Track
7:00 PM FARMily Feud Ag Show – Bob Bohm
8:30 PM Magic Show – Bob Bohm
9:15 PM Fireworks

FRIDAY, JULY 18
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Swine Show
10:00 AM Rondini’s Magic & Family Fun Show
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Inflatables-Sponsored by Fair Sponsors
11:00 AM Magic Show – Bob Bohm
Noon – 1 PM Rondini’s Bombastic Bubble Fun
Noon Clover Kids Sheep Show
4-H/FFA Sheep Show
Clover Kids Goat Show 4-H/FFA Goat Show
PeeWee Goat Show
1:00 PM Survivor Game Show – Bob Bohm
2:30 PM Rondini’s Magic & Family Fun Show
3:00 PM Hay Throwing Contest

(Radio Iowa) – The Winneshiek County sheriff K-9 Drago is credited with disarming a suspect who was carrying a shotgun on Monday. Authorities say sheriffs deputies were called to perform a welfare check on 29-year-old Jordan Schaller of Decorah. The sheriff’s office say moments after deputies arrived on the scene, Schaller was walking across the lawn with a 20-gauge shotgun towards the deputy, discharging the gun into the ground and refusing to comply with the deputy’s commands. The sheriff’s office says Drago was able to bite the shotgun out of Schaller’s hand, disarming him. Authorities say no one was injured in the incident.

Schaller was charged with assault on a peace officer-using or displaying a firearm, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, assault while participating in a felony and second degree harassment.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s estimated a single weekend of NASCAR racing generates 100-million dollars for central Iowa’s economy, and one of the sport’s top drivers — who’s won the checked flag twice at the Iowa Speedway — believes the top-level races will continue in Newton. Christopher Bell, who drives the number-20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing on the circuit, says he’s very much looking forward to coming back for the Iowa Corn 350 the first weekend in August.

NASCAR has owned the Newton facility for more than a decade and has sold out the 30-thousand seat stadium for next month’s weekend of contests. The 30-year-old Oklahoma native says the Iowa Speedway is an ideal short track, which Bell calls his “bread and butter.”

Bell is ranked 6th overall in the Cup Series with three wins and eight top ten finishes. He won back-to-back Xfinity races at the Iowa Speedway in 2018 and 2019, and finished fourth in last year’s first Cup Series race at the track. Bell started his racing career in micro-sprints and sprint cars, and did plenty of racing in Iowa in his early days.

The Newton track is right along Interstate 80, about 35 miles east of Des Moines. Iowa boasts having more dirt tracks per capita than any other state.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, suggests he and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds have something in common when it comes to rejecting bills to restrict the use of eminent domain. Reynolds vetoed a bill last month, saying it would impose new regulations on more than just a proposed carbon pipeline.

“The decision she made, if I understand it properly, is that there were deep concerns about the way in which the legislation was crafted and the unintended consequences of such legislation,” Vilsack said, “which is precisely the same reason I vetoed the legislation I vetoed.” In 2006, during his last year as governor, Vilsack vetoed a bill designed to make it harder for cities and counties to use eminent domain authority to acquire land for economic development projects.

Vilsack discussed his veto during a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. “I think there’s a balance between individual property rights, which are really important to protect, and the need for a community to have economic opportunity and the kind of infrastructure that’s necessary for folks to have a quality of life in all parts of the country,” Vilsack said. Vilsack suggests the lack of growth in Iowa’s rural areas is factor in the push back against the carbon pipeline.

“I think if we had a healthier economy for small and mid-sized farming operations, we might not have quite the angst that we have in the countryside today,” Vilsack said, “which reflects itself in the push back on eminent domain.” And Vilsack, who served a dozen years as the U-S Secretary of Agriculture, says the pipeline is about ensuring a future for the ethanol industry.

“Our aviation industry is absolutely intent on having sustainable aviation fuel,” Vilack said. “You cannot make that fuel…cost-competitively unless you basically incent…the ability to basically capture the carbon that’s produced from developing that fuel and redirecting it someplace else.”

A bill President Biden signed in 2022 included 12 BILLION dollars for projects to capture, transport and store carbon. The tax and policy bill President Trump signed this month changed some clean energy tax credits, but the carbon sequestration credits from the Biden era were preserved.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a man from Red Oak was arrested Tuesday evening, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. 22-year-old Jose Hunter Portales was arrested at around 6:30-p.m. in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, in Red Oak

Portales was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

(Winterset, Iowa) – The Madison County Attorney’s Office, Tuesday evening, reported he had received a letter from Madison County Treasurer Amanda DeVos, indicating she had resigned, effective immediately. Attorney Stephen J. Swanson said the notice from DeVos stated, “…on the advice of counsel, and admitting no wrongdoing,” was resigning from her office as Madison County Treasurer, effective as of the date of the letter, which was July 14, 2025. DeVos had been relieved of her duties on February 5th.

Attorney Swanson said “On January 31, 2025, in Madison County, Iowa, Amanda DeVos was arrested and charged with Felonious Misconduct in Office, Tampering with Records, Third Fraudulent Practices, and Third Degree Theft. A subsequent Petition for Removal from Office and Petition for Injunction was filed against Amanda DeVos, asking the Court to remove [her] from office. A hearing on the matter was set for July 18, 2025.”

The statement from County Attorney Swanson went on to say, “Due to the Resignation of Ms. DeVos, there is no longer a need to hold a hearing regarding her removal from office, and the matter has been continued pending acceptance of her resignation by the Madison County Board of Supervisors at the next scheduled meeting on July 22, 2025.”

Swanson thanked the efforts of Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes and Acting Madison County Treasurer Kylee Barber. “Their effort in exposing and investigating this matter made this possible, and the people of Madison County should be proud to have dedicated public servants who are willing to do what needs to be done when they see something improper,” Swanson said.

Criminal charges are still pending against DeVos, but Swanson reminds the public the woman “…has admitted no wrongdoing, and that charges are an accusation, and individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” He will offer no additional statements at this time.