(Radio Iowa) – Researchers at Iowa State University have classified 18 of Iowa’s 99 counties as “legal deserts” because there are not enough attorneys in the area to represent private clients. I-S-U rural sociologist David Peters led the research, which found Lee County in southeast Iowa has a critical lack of attorneys.

“What we found is that a lot of the state’s micropolitan areas — and these are counties that have a city of around 10,000 to maybe 30,000 people — also came up as legal deserts,” Peters says. “We found that Clinton, Iowa, is a legal desert, Fort Dodge is a legal desert as well as Oskaloosa.” Fourteen other counties, many with small populations, were rated as urgent or emerging legal deserts.

The study evaluated data from most every state — Hawaii and Alaska were not included. It found 11 percent of rural counties in the 48 contiguous states are legal deserts. “Our country produces a lot of lawyers, but the majority of them want to live in urban areas,” Peters says. “To get a law degree is very expensive. You incur a very large amount of student debt to accomplish that and a lot of people go into private practice in larger cities where the money is, so that’s one issue.” Peters says while there are a lot of lawyers in the U-S, many aren’t taking private clients.

Map of legal deserts in the U.S. (Map courtesy of Iowa State University)

“They’re really working the government or they’re working for a corporation,” Peters says, “so that also kind of peels off a number of lawyers into non-private practice.” Two Iowa State University students who intend to become lawyers worked with Peters on the study.”Even though at the undergraduate level I have a lot of young college students here at Iowa State that want to go practice law back home, they’re understanding the barriers,” Peters says, “and so that’s part of the reason why we started this project.”

Peters coordinates Iowa’s State’s “Small Town Project” and his research has focused on population decline in rural areas and discovered a surprising lack of access to attorneys in private practice. “I heard in a number of communities, for example, that not having enough criminal defense attorneys or not having enough public defenders put a lot of rural people at risk for longer sentences and even wrongful convictions,” Peters said. “We also heard that not having enough family law attorneys in these small towns really complicated divorce proceedings or child custody or support.”

The study was published in the spring edition of the South Dakota Law Review. Half of the paper reviewed policies to address legal deserts and it found a few states issued licenses for legal paraprofessionals who can handle most legal matters without being supervised by an attorney.  “Just like a physician assistant or P.A. can do a lot of your medical work that doesn’t really need an M.D.,” Peters says.

Peters says the cost of studying to become a licensed legal paraprofessional is far less than law school and he suggests rural communities could recruit local people who’d be more likely to stay once they get the certification.

(Winnebago County, Iowa [UPDATE]  – One person died and three others were injured Saturday afternoon, during a crash in northern Iowa. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a man from Spirit Lake died when the motorcycle he was riding was struck head-on by an SUV. The accident happened at around 4-p.m.

The Patrol says two Harley Davidson motorcycles were traveling west on Iowa Highway 9 from 150th Avenue, as a 2015 Buick Encore SUV was traveling eastbound. For reasons unknown, the SUV – driven by 95-year-old Leroy Weaver, of Buffalo Center, IA – crossed the center-line of the road, and sideswiped a 2010 HD operated by 64-year-old Daniel Raak, of Spirit Lake, before hitting a 2004 HD motorcycle operated by 21-year-old David Raak, also of Spirit Lake.

Daniel Raak’s cycle continued on the road prior to going out of control and stopping on the north shoulder of the highway. David Raak’s cycle was pushed backwards from the point of impact before it came to rest on the north shoulder of the highway. A passenger on David Raak’s motorcycle, 21-year-old Kayla Huddelson, of Belle Fourche, SD, was ejected from David Raak’s cycle and came to rest on the north shoulder of the road.

The SUV entered the north ditch and came to rest in a field. David Raak died at the scene. Daniel Raak, Kayla Huddelson, and Leroy Weaver were transported by ambulance to MercyOne North Hospital in Mason City. The crash remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Firefighters in Atlantic and Cass EMS were dispatched early this (Sunday) morning to a report of a structure fire. The blaze was initially reported at around 2:28-a.m., to be in the area of 4th and Locust Street, but was soon clarified to be behind 311 Locust. When crews arrived, they found a shed and a nearby junction box on fire. AMU was notified to turn-off power to the junction box. Cass EMS was advised to disregard. The shed appeared Sunday morning to be a total loss.

No injuries were reported. Atlantic Police assisted at the scene. Additional details are currently not available.

photo by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Saturday evening, arrested a man on a felony assault charge. Authorities say 60-year-old Gregory Owen Kierstead, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, at around 7-p.m.  He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/choking-causing bodily injury, Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and Interference with Official Acts. Kierstead was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

(Iowa State Patrol crash reports) – One person died, and a total of nine others were injured in crashes on opposite sides of the State, Saturday.

(Winnebago County, Iowa [UPDATE 2-p.m. 7/6/25]  – One person died and two others were injured Saturday afternoon, during a crash in northern Iowa. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a man from Spirit Lake died when the motorcycle he was riding was struck head-on by an SUV. The accident happened at around 4-p.m.

The Patrol says two Harley Davidson motorcycles were traveling west on Iowa Highway 9 from 150th Avenue, as a 2015 Buick Encore SUV was traveling eastbound. For reasons unknown, the SUV – driven by 95-year-old Leroy Weaver, of Buffalo Center, IA – crossed the center-line of the road, and sideswiped a 2010 HD operated by 64-year-old Daniel Raak, of Spirit Lake, before hitting a 2004 HD motorcycle operated by 21-year-old David Raak, also of Spirit Lake.

Daniel Raak’s cycle continued on the road prior to going out of control and stopping on the north shoulder of the highway. David Raak’s cycle was pushed backwards from the point of impact before it came to rest on the north shoulder of the highway. A passenger on David Raak’s motorcycle, 21-year-old Kayla Huddelson, of Belle Fourche, SD, was ejected from David Raak’s cycle and came to rest on the north shoulder of the road.

The SUV entered the north ditch and came to rest in a field. David Raak died at the scene. Daniel Raak, Kayla Huddelson, and Leroy Weaver were transported by ambulance to MercyOne North Hospital in Mason City. The crash remains under investigation.

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The other accident – which also involved three vehicles – happened 12:10-a.m., Saturday, in central Iowa’s Warren County. The State Patrol reports a 2005 Jeep SUV driven by  57-year-old Angela Rae Chapman, of Indianola, was traveling south on County Road R-63, south of G014, when the vehicle crossed the center-line and side-swiped a 2001 Chevy S-10 pickup, driven by 36-year-old Jermey Lee Lawton, of Des Moines. The impact caused the pickup to rollover and come to rest on its passenger side. The Jeep continued south and immediately struck a 2014 Chevy pickup (being driven by 36-year-old Miguel Antonio Espinoza Galindo, of Des Moines), head-on.

Chapman and Miguel Espinoza, and a total of four passengers in the vehicles – all of whom were from Des Moines – were injured transported to Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines. The injured included 36-year-old Leticia Espinoza, 12-year-old Luis Antonia Espinoza (who was flown to the hospital by helicopter), 7-year old Josiah Lawton, and Jazmin Espinoza (age not listed).

Both accidents remained under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The start of the 2025 Cass County (IA) Fair, in Atlantic, is a little less then three-weeks away. Officials with Cass County ISU Extension say Fair week is a celebration of hard work and dedication to 4-H and FFA programs throughout the past year. The week is filled with activities: free entertainment, great food, and projects to view both in the building and barns. Fair week officially kicks off July 24th and ends July 29th, after the livestock sale.

4-Hers have been working hard all year to complete projects and get them ready for this week-long showcase. Their first opportunity for judging starts with the Clothing Event contest along with the Table Setting contest. These events are judged before fair starts and are on display in the building during fair week. Awards for these contests will be given Friday evening as part of the Friday Evening Building Showcase.

Clothing Event involves 4-H’ers across Cass County who will display their skills in purchasing and creating outfits for all purposes. The judging of this contest will take place before the fair starts on July 10th at the Cass County Community Center. Participants competed in three divisions: Fashion Revue, Clothing Selection, the $20 Challenge, and Innovative Design.

Fashion Revue participants made their garments using design elements and principles such as line, shape, color and texture. Members who chose to participate in this event must sew, construct, hand-knit, machine-knit, crochet garment(s). Clothing Selection outfits and are evaluated on overall appearance, as well as their knowledge of selection, including appropriateness, care, and money spent on the outfit. The $20 Challenge is an opportunity for 4-Hers to challenge themselves by purchasing a complete outfit for under $20. Innovative Design is a challenge for participants to create a costume, cosplay, wearable technology, sustainable/upcycled fashion, accessible fashion, or outfits that use unconventional materials.

Table Setting is a fun way to learn how to properly set a table, plan nutritious meals, and express originality and creativity. Exhibitors choose a theme, present to a judge, express knowledge of food, nutrition and food safety, and have fun planning a special occasion meal for entertaining. Exhibitors can enter a casual or formal place setting display, dishes to menus, and decorations to clothing worn during judging! Judging for this event will take place on July 15th at the Cass County Community Center. Entries are photographed and will be displayed at the fair for public viewing in the Community Center.

Awards will be presented during Friday Evening’s Building Showcase in the Community Center. Winners will be chosen from each age division and in each category. Those winners will have the opportunity to advance to the Regional Table Setting Contest in August.

Be sure to check out all the entries from this year’s Clothing Event contest and the Table Setting Contest which will be on display in the Community Center during fair week!

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Emergency crews responded Friday afternoon to reported problem with an incoming flight at Des Moines International Airport. The report was made at about 1:30 p.m. Friday regarding Allegiant Air flight 2066 from Fort Lauderdale.

Airport officials say an engine failure was reported during descent. Allegiant officials told KCCI the flight “encountered a bird strike” upon landing.

The flight landed safely and noone was injured. Passengers used a ramp to disembark from the aircraft.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  Officials with the Red Oak Police Department say a woman was arrested on an assault charge, Friday evening. According to the report, 24-year-old Alisha Lynn Seyler, of Elliott, was taken into custody at around 7-p.m. in the 700 block of Highland Avenue, in Red Oak. She faces a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – a Simple Misdemeanor.

Seyler was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Firefighters from Harlan and Irwin were battling a structure fire late Friday night, in Harlan. According to reports, the blaze occurred at 705 Elm  Street, at around 11:30-p.m. Avoca Fire was requested for mutual aid, as the structure had reached the main part of the residence.

Other agencies assisting at the scene include: The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Shelby County Ambulance; Shelby County Emergency Services Association; The Portsmouth, Westphalia and Shelby Fire Departments.

Additional information was not immediately available. (Photos submitted to KJAN by  Harlan resident)

(Jackson County, Iowa) – A collision between two SUV’s Friday afternoon, north of Maquoketa, left one person dead and another injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser was traveling north on Hurtsville Road at around 4:30-p.m., when the vehicle crossed the center, divided line, for reasons unknown, and collided head-on with a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder.

One of the vehicles’ occupants died at the scene, the other was transported by air ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospital. The person who died was not wearing a seat belt. The names of the crash victims were not immediately released, and pending notification of family.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Maquoketa Fire Department, Jackson County Ambulance and Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office.