(Greenfield, IA) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has issued a weekly report on arrests. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says 39-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward, of Pleasant Hill, was arrested late Saturday night following a traffic stop for a vehicle with an obstructed license plate, on Interstate 80 westbound at mile marker 93 in Adair County. After speaking with Woodward, it was confirmed he was barred from driving. Woodward was transported to the Adair County Jail, issued a citation and then released from custody.

On Jan. 11th, and Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested 45-year-old Justin Alan Robertson, of Creston, for Violation of Probation. Robertson was released Jan. 16th on a Signature/Recognizance Bond.

And, as previously reported, 36-year-old Alisha Louise Geidel, of Creston, was arrested Jan. 12th on an Adair County felony warrant for Theft in the 1st Degree. Sheriff Vandewater told KJAN News a warrant for her arrest was issued Jan. 9th. She turned herself-in on the 12th, and posted a $10,000 cash/surety bond the same day. According to Iowa Courts Online, Geidel has entered a plea of not guilty, and waived her preliminary hearing.

(Radio Iowa)  – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says she wants to see the Legislature increase the penalties for threats against judges and their loved ones. “Have language I’m suggesting to the legislature that would make threatening a judge or their family member a ten-year felony. I want to treat it very seriously because we don’t want to tolerate that,” Bird says. Bird says judges and prosecutors should also be allowed to seek a professional permit to carry a gun in a courtroom.

“County attorneys can have a professional permit to carry a firearm in court. For example, I think the folks in my office and attorneys in my office, including myself, that would prosecute crime and be involved there. We should also be able to do that as well as judges if they choose to do that,” she says.

Those issues are part of Bird’s overall legislative priorities for this session.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested late Sunday night. 54-year-old Christopher David Draman, of Lenox, was arrested at around 10:18-p.m., at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. He was charged with OWI – 1st Offense. Draman was take to the Union County Jail, posted $1,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith has announced a major expansion of eligibility for IAble, increasing the age-of-disability-onset to age 46. The change will allow thousands more Iowans with disabilities take control of their finances while saving with a tax-advantaged plan, that supports greater independence and financial security.

Previously, only people whose disability began before age 26 were eligible for an IAble account. Under new federal guidelines, individuals with a qualifying disability that began before age 46 may now open and contribute to an account.

“Expanding IAble eligibility is a great opportunity to give people with disabilities more ways to save,” said Treasurer Smith. “By raising the age limit, we’re ensuring more Iowans with disabilities and their families have access to a financial tool that helps them save for today’s expenses and future spending without jeopardizing critical means-tested benefits.”

IAble accounts allow eligible people to save and invest money for qualified disability-related expenses such as housing, transportation, education, employment training, healthcare, assistive technology and more.

For more information about IAble eligibility, benefits and how to open an account, visit IAble.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R says surveys show ospreys, and peregrine falcons are doing well. The birds were almost wiped out in North America in the Mid-20th Century from pesticide use. D-N-R wildlife research specialist Riggs Wilson says the migratory raptors were re-introduced to the state starting in the late 1980’s and 90’s. “That allowed us to get these populations established in the state as nesting populations. And then now that they’re fairly established, they’re kind of doing their own thing and doing well,” he says. The D-N-R has been monitoring osprey nests during the spring and summer with the help of volunteers who collect and share data.

“That continued monitoring allows us to know where they’re nesting in the state, and if there’s any big fluctuations in their nesting,” Wilson says. Osprey nests are largely concentrated in the Des Moines metro, Spirit Lake area and corridor between Waterloo and Iowa City.  “The big takeaways with Ospreys are that their population is doing well. We actually saw a record number of osprey nests monitored in 2025, which is really exciting,” Wilson says.

There were nearly 60 osprey fledglings reported in surveys, while the number of young peregrine falcons held steady. Most of the peregrine falcon nests are near the Mississippi River.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa community college leaders say with additional state funding they could offer some four-year degrees and it would likely increase the number of Iowans who earn a bachelor’s degree. Emily Shields is executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa. “We know from national studies that of the students who when they start college say they plan to transfer only a third actually do,” Shields said, “so that’s some evidence that we’re leaving two-thirds of our potential baccalaureate degree holders on the table because they don’t end up finding that transfer is something that works for them.”

Last year, lawmakers directed community colleges to study the feasibility of offering four-year degrees. The leaders of Iowa’s 15 area community colleges are backing a bill that would give the system 20-million dollars over the next five years to cover start-up costs. Shields says based on the experience in other states that let community colleges to make this move, it costs about 300-thousand dollars to start a new four-year degree program.

“Those expenses come into play before tuition is coming in the door, so there is some need to front load and be able to hire faculty, get equipment and spaces needed — that kind of thing — in order to get things off the ground,” Shields says. “and so we would appreciate the legislature’s consideration of that.” Shields indicates the focus would be on degrees in fields like information technology, health care, and advanced manufacturing. The bill would give each community college authority to decide what four-year degree programs to offer.

“Every Iowa community college serves rural areas where folks may lack access to the type of institution that works for them,” Shields says. Brian Renfro is chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, which has campuses in Clinton, Muscatine and Bettendorf. He says while four-year degree programs are being offered online, a recent survey shows students in the rural areas his community college want to find in-person programs. “There’s a lack of access for bachelor’s degrees for working individuals to be able to move up into higher level positions,” Renfro says. “…They want to be involved in the classroom. They want to be involved in networking and in engaging with each other.”

Dan Kinney is president of the Council Bluffs-based Iowa Western Community College. Kinney says he wants to offer “workforce degrees” because southwest Iowa residents face the choice of moving hours away for a bachelor’s degree or not getting one at all.  “Let’s look at those numbers that we can educate, take to the next level, then attract additional businesses to the state because we’ve got that area or that workforce that they’re needing into the future.”

The study by Community Colleges of Iowa found in states like Florida where community colleges offer four-year degrees, there had been no negative impact on enrollment in public universities or non-profit private colleges.

(Atlantic, IA) – The City Council in Atlantic is slated to meet next Wednesday, Jan. 21st in a regularly scheduled session. According to the tentative agenda sent to the media by City Administrator John Lund, the Council is expected to act on the following Resolutions:

• A Resolution “Authorizing and Approving a Certain Loan Agreement, Providing for the Issuance of General Obligation Corporate Purpose and Refunding Bonds, Series 2026A and Providing for the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Same.”
• A Resolution #03-26 “Authorizing and Approving a Certain Loan Agreement, Providing for the Issuance of Taxable General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2026B and Providing for the Levy of taxes to pay the same.”
• A Resolution #04-26 “Appointing Rich Tupper as Acting City Clerk for Atlantic, Iowa.”
• A Resolution #05-26 “Establishing Signatories to City Checks and Payables.”
• and, A Resolution #06-26 “Approving a New Professional Services Agreement with Barb Barrick to Temporarily Provide City Clerk Consulting Services for the City of Atlantic.”

The City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the City Council’s Chamber inside the Atlantic City Hall building.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – A man from Pottawattamie County died today (Friday), when the semi tractor-trailer he was driving on westbound Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs, was blown-off the road by strong winds. The Iowa State Patrol says 56-year-old Mark Douglas Hayden, of Council Bluffs, was driving a 2004 Peterbilt semi near mile marker 12 in Pottawattamie County, when he lost control of the rig a little after 12-p.m.

The semi tipped-over onto the driver’s in the median and struck a cable barrier before coming to rest facing southwest within the median.

Hayden – who was wearing a seat belt – died at the scene. The State Patrol was assisted by Underwood Rescue and the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office.