(Sidney, IA) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of multiple juveniles following an investigation into the manufacturing and dissemination of obscene material created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

On November 19, 2025, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports from parents and school officials concerning an image being shared among students at a local Fremont County school. The image depicted multiple juveniles in a state of undress.

Through subsequent investigation, Fremont County Deputies discovered multiple digitally altered photographs on cellular devices in the possession of students at the school. Deputies confirmed that the material, which featured multiple juvenile victims, was being shared between students utilizing social media platforms. The investigation confirmed that the images were non-consensual and digitally fabricated using AI technology.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, Deputies arrested three juveniles: two aged 15 and one aged 16. All three individuals face multiple charges in connection with the creation and dissemination of the material.

Juvenile A (Age 15) and Juvenile B (Age 16) were each charged with:

• 6 counts of Harassment 1st Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• 5 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class D Felony)
• 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Material (Serious Misdemeanor)

Juvenile C (Age 15) was charged with:

• 6 counts of Harassment 1st Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• 6 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class D Felony)

All juveniles have been processed and transported to and placed in the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Formal charges have been forwarded to the Fremont County Juvenile Court for further proceedings. Due to the ages of the parties involved, no further identifying information will be released by the Sheriff’s Office.

Important Information Regarding Iowa Law and Online Safety
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that the use of Artificial Intelligence to create or distribute non-consensual sexually explicit imagery—regardless of whether the depicted content is real or fabricated—is a serious criminal offense under existing Iowa law.

Iowa Code § 709.15 (Sexual Exploitation of a Minor), in conjunction with other statutes related to obscenity and harassment, is aggressively applied in cases involving the creation and dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including material generated through digital means or AI. Creating, possessing, or sharing such images can result in felony charges with severe legal consequences, including registration as a sex offender.

The Sheriff’s Office urges parents and guardians to discuss online safety and digital citizenship with their children.

Key Safety Recommendations:

• Monitor Digital Devices: Know what apps and platforms your children are using.
• Discuss Consent and Consequences: Ensure children understand that creating or sharing non-consensual, explicit, or harassing content—even digitally altered material—is illegal and harmful.
• Report Immediately: If your child is a victim of, or witnesses, inappropriate content sharing, report it immediately to school administration and law enforcement.
• You can learn more on this topic and other ways to keep your children safe online by visiting https://ncmec.org/GAI and https://ncmec.org/netsmartz/home

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting our youth and maintaining the safety and integrity of our community both online and off.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s clear property tax changes will be at the top of the agenda for the 2026 Iowa legislative session, but key lawmakers warn coming up with a proposal is complicated. Senate Republican Leader Mike Klimesh of Spillville says changing a 40-year-old system won’t be easy. “To an extent we squeeze a balloon,” Klimesh said, “….but at the end of the day we need to find a way that we can provide property tax relief to Iowans while maintaining the ability for local governments to provide services that continue to make those communities — especially small communities like Spillville — a great, attractive place to live, work and raise a family.”

Representative Gary Mohr of Bettendorf — the Republican who leads the House Appropriations Committee — says previous discussions about a variety of approaches to redesigning the property tax system were valuable. “What we learned last year is it’s a whack-a-mole game, which we didn’t all know,” Mohr said. “Meaning is you do this with property taxes, it has an affect over here that we didn’t think about.” The top Democrats in the House and Senate say the focus should be on reducing residential property tax rates for the people who need it most, including Iowans on fixed incomes. Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner of Iowa City says policymakers also need to consider the entire tax ecosystem, including incomes taxes and the state sales tax.

“We can’t just pick one piece and fix it without unraveling a thread that’s going to impact many people,” Weiner said. House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer of Des Moines says House Democrats will offer a proposal to redistribute state funding to local governments to make up for reductions in property taxes. “Where are we allocating money in the state budget? For example, the Iowa House Republicans plowed $23 million into a soccer stadium in Des Moines,” Meyer said. “…We don’t need a soccer stadium in Des Moines. We don’t need to be paying for it, but we’re going to look at some of these budget items that they’ve been doing and we’re going to say: ‘We don’t need that and we need to focus on property tax relief.'”

The lawmakers made their comments at a forum organized by the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. The organization represents chambers of commerce in a dozen central Iowa counties, including: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren.

(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents elected a board member who is a construction engineer who builds bridges to take over as president in a meeting this (Wednesday) morning. New president Robert Cramer says he has three goals. “I think our university should be providing an affordable education with a good rate of return on that investment,” he says. His second goal is to improve the performance across the three state universities. ” To provide academic excellence that from the top to the bottom at our universities. That everybody’s striving for better academic excellence and it comes through merit and through just hard work and keeping that always in the forefront of trying to produce better and better students,” Cramer says.

His third goal addresses the ongoing discussion on campuses about free speech. “To provide a fair and balanced place for vigorous debate,” he says, “And that’s what a lot of our work has been this last year is just to create an atmosphere where students can engage. And college is a great place to learn, to learn new things, to find out what you believe, but we just want a fair and balanced place, where students can do that.” Cramer says those three things can address the idea that the cost of college isn’t worth it for students. ” I think we can flip the narrative on higher education, and that is that here in Iowa, a degree from one of our public universities is a great investment. And it’s going to help these students going forward for the rest of their lives,” Cramer says.

Cramer will replace Sherry Bates who became Board president in 2024 and served on the board 11 years. Cramer read a resolution honoring Bates, saying hundreds of millions of dollars in capital projects where approve for the schools and for healthcare and other facilities. And he says there were successful presidential searches were conducted at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa during her tenure. Regent Kurt Tjaden was elected president pro-tem to replace Greta Rouse, who is stepping out of the leadership role, but staying on the board.

The two new Board members officials take over Thursday.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – The Iowa West Foundation board of directors recently approved $2 million in grant and initiative funding to 24 nonprofits and cities throughout southwest Iowa, with a focus on the most basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, said in a news release, “Many in our community face significant financial challenges, which leads to struggles with rent and basic needs, including putting food on the table. These grants allow our partners to help community members move toward financial stability.”

Significant investments include $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs for homeownership and home repair programs as well as $50,000 awarded to the Corporation for Supportive Housing for the Southwest Iowa Supportive Housing Incubator. Both are aimed at addressing the availability of affordable housing, an ongoing need in Council Bluffs and throughout the country. Elly Schofield with Corporation for Supportive Housing, said “The Iowa West Foundation’s support will allow for our organization to equip housing and service providers across southwest Iowa with the knowledge, skills, and connections to create and preserve affordable housing. Specifically, this funding will directly impact up to 50 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our area and will help close critical gaps in available affordable housing. Together, we are building stronger, healthier communities where every neighbor has the chance to thrive.”

Several grants were awarded to organizations that are working to ensure community members are thriving — not just surviving. These include nonprofits such as Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, which received $20,000 to expand food recovery efforts in Pottawattamie County. Food recovery is the process of rescuing a surplus of food that would otherwise go to waste in a landfill and redistributing it to individuals and families facing food insecurity. The addition of a specialized food recovery organization in Council Bluffs will also allow other community partners to focus more on the services they do best, while ensuring that fresh food continues to reach individuals and families in need.

A list of Cycle 3 Grants and Initiatives recipients is shown below:

• Advance Southwest Iowa:; Economic Development Support – $225,000
• Anawim Housing: Supportive housing for families at risk of homelessness – $360,000
• City of Corning: Davis Avenue streetscape – $100,000
• City of Council Bluffs: Community events – $40,000
• City of Emerson: Evans Park project – $18,267
• City of Lenox: Toddler Pool renovations – $26,420
• Corporation for Supportive Housing: Southwest Iowa Supportive Housing Incubator -$50,000
• Corning Public Library: Electrical re-wiring and LED upgrade – $22,500
• Dreamweaver Foundation: Merrymakers program for southwest Iowa senior citizens -$7,500
• Food Bank for the Heartland: Mobile pantry program – $17,500
• Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs: Homeownership and home repair program – $300,000
• Macedonia Firemen’s Association: Equipment – $7,932
• Neola Volunteer Fire Department: Equipment – $10,000
• New Vision Homeless Services: Operating funding – $125,000
• Omaha Performing Arts Society: Southwest Iowa music & arts education programs – $16,000
• Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue: Nourishing People, Nourishing the Planet – $20,000
• Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub: Collaborative furniture project – $30,000
• The CommUnity Project: Leadership Development Program for Women of Color in Southwest Iowa – $25,000
• Timothy Lutheran: Timothy Swaddling Clothes – $5,000
• Union Pacific Museum Association: Railroad Days – Celebrating America’s 250th – $25,000
• United Way of the Midlands: United Housing Network – $50,000
• University of Nebraska Foundation: Samuel Bak Museum Field Trips – $16,431
• Unleash Council Bluffs: Sporting event attraction & retention – $50,000
• Walnut Volunteer Fire Department: Equipment – $8,100

This is the third and final grants cycle for the Iowa West Foundation in 2025. Letters of Inquiry are due by Jan. 2nd to be considered for the first funding cycle in 2026. A free virtual grants workshop is scheduled for Wednesday Dec. 3rd. For more information, visit www.iowawestfoundation.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Don Davis (NC-01) today introduced the Farm Transitions Act, bipartisan legislation to address the impending generational shift in American agriculture and help young and underserved farmers in Iowa carry on their family tradition. In his news release, Nunn said “In Iowa, farming is a way of life that’s passed down from one generation to the next. With over half of U.S. farmland set to change hands in the next two decades, we need to ensure that family farms can stay in the family. This bipartisan bill would give young and beginning farmers better access to the tools, capital, and support they need to build successful operations and keep our rural communities strong.”

Over 95% of Iowa’s 87,000 farms are still family-owned, forming the backbone of a rural economy that contributes more than $159 billion annually to the state. But with two-thirds of Iowa’s farmland now owned by individuals aged 65 and older, experts warn of generational consolidation when these farmers begin to retire. Without a clear path for young and beginning farmers to step in, thousands of farms that have been family-run for generations could be bought up by large corporations or outside investors.

“Strengthening rural America requires real partnerships and lasting solutions,” said Rep. Davis. “These bipartisan bills reflect our commitment to giving rural communities the tools they need to grow, thrive, and prepare for the future. From expanding access to federal rural development resources to supporting the next generation of family farmers, this work is critical to the long-term success of eastern North Carolina and rural communities nationwide. We need more people moving to eastern North Carolina and rural America. These bills will make it easier for eastern North Carolina towns to access rural development technical assistance and for our next generation of farmers to keep our rich agricultural tradition in the east going strong.”

With over 370 million acres of farmland expected to transition ownership in the coming decades, the Farm Transitions Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stand up the Commission on Farm Transitions—Needs for 2050, which was originally authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill but never formally established. The Commission would evaluate the major challenges facing the next generation of producers, including land affordability, access to credit, tax and lending barriers, and the effectiveness of existing USDA programs. It would also assess the role of mentorship, technical training, and foreign ownership in shaping the future of American agriculture—an expansion of the original Commission mandate.

The Farm Transitions Act would require the Commission to deliver a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to Congress within two years, with an emphasis on ensuring young and beginning farmers have access to the land, resources, and support they need to keep family farms strong for the next generation.

(Greenfield, IA) – An historical re-enactor and Iowa book author on the First Trains Robbery West of the Mississippi River, spoke by telephone to the Adair County Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, to request the recovery of railroad rails associated with Jesse James train robbery. Turkey Creek is associated with Jesse James because the first-ever robbery of a moving train occurred near its bridge on July 21, 1873, just west of Adair, Iowa. The James-Younger gang derailed the Rock Island Railroad train by dislodging a rail on the curve near the Turkey Creek bridge

Gene Stevens said he and another James historical enthusiast explored the site together.

An expert looked at the track pictures Steven took, and verified the time period they are from.

Stevens said he hopes the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad will assist in making pieces of the track available to area museums. He thinks pieces of the track will be a great addition to the Jesse James monument near Adair.

Jesse James Historical Park (Adair County photo)

Supervisor Jerry Walker said the ground the track lays on is owned by the Adair County Conservation Department. Adair County Conservation Director Dominic Johnson said he doesn’t have a problem with the request, but he would like a piece of the track for the historical Adair County Historical Museum.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said the group would need to have proof of insurance to cover any accidents associated with the removal of the rails. Stevens said he thinks the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad has the necessary insurance, but will double-check to make sure. The Board unanimously approved the request to recover rails for the specified use.

In other business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors held a Public Hearing on a FY 26 Budget Amendment. Auditor Mandy Berg…

Following the hearing, the Board approved the Budget Resolution as presented, and an associated Appropriations Resolution.

(Glenwood, IA) – The Glenwood Police Department reports one person was arrested late Tuesday night. 40-year-old Troy Stephen Kramer, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested at around 11:50-p.m. in Glenwood. Kramer was charged with Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, and held in the Mills County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Clarinda, IA) – Page County Attorney, James L. Varley’s office has released a report on activities in the Iowa District Court for Page County, covering the week of November 3rd, 2025. Mr. Varley reports:

45-year-old Matthew Ross David Buckridge, of Council Bluffs, appeared in court with counsel, and denied violating the terms and conditions of probation. The Judge found Buckridge in violation of the terms of probation, which was revoked. The original sentence of 5 years of incarceration was imposed.

35-year-old Bradley Aeron Haley, also of Council Bluffs, appeared by counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. Haley’s probation was revoked, and the original sentence of 5 years was imposed. The sentence will run concurrently with his Cass County case and consecutively to his Harrison County case.

42-year-old Joshua Daniel MacVenn, of Braddyville, appeared pro se (representing himself), and pled guilty to Driving While Barred. He was sentenced to 2 days in jail, with credit given for time served and fined $855. MacVenn was also ordered to pay court costs and surcharges.

33-year-old Jessie Marie Patterson, of College Springs, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence, Second Offense. She was sentenced to 2 years of incarceration, suspended and placed on probation. As conditions of probation, Patterson was ordered to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation, attend and successfully complete the Drinking Driver’s School, and reside at the Residential Correction Facility until maximum benefits are achieved. She was ordered to pay a fine of $855, suspended, court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Separately, Patterson admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. Her probation was modified to require the defendant to reside at the Residential Correctional Facility until maximum benefits are achieved.

“All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Sioux City, IA) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, Monday, says two men with lengthy criminal histories were convicted by a jury on November 25th (2025), after a 11-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. 44-year-old Floyd Clifford Coates, Jr., (aka Cliff Coates), from St. Francis, Kansas, was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Possession of Ammunition by a Felon and Drug User, Conspiracy to Conceal Objects with the Intent to Impair Their Availability for an Official Proceeding, and Concealing Objects with the Intent to Impair their Availability for an Official Proceeding. Coates was acquitted of other charges related to threats, and obstruction of justice.

65-year-old Dennis Lawson, from Whiting, Iowa, was convicted of Using Threat of Physical Force Against Another with the Intent to Hinder, Delay, or Prevent the Communication to a Law Enforcement Officer and Judge of the United States of Information Relating to the Commission and Possible Commission of a Federal Offense. Lawson was acquitted of other charges relating to drugs, threats and obstruction.

The verdict was returned following about 2 hours of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial showed that in Spring 2019, Coates was a member of a drug trafficking organization that funneled pounds of methamphetamine from Colorado to Strubel, Iowa, among other places, for redistribution, and that Coates possessed firearms to protect his illegal drug operation. Evidence also showed that on Easter weekend 2019, Coates had arranged a drug run to Kansas City, Missouri. To execute the Easter weekend drug run, Coates had convinced an Iowa woman to drive from Sioux City, Iowa; meet him in Blair, Nebraska; and drive him to Kansas City, Missouri, and back. Coates decided to travel to Blair from Trenton, Nebraska, with another woman, 18-year-old Sunny Sramek. Coates and Sramek left Trenton in his wife’s white Ford Explorer to go on the trip. Officials say there is no evidence Ms. Sramek knew Coates was going to Kansas City; in fact, she told friends and family that she was going to be on a day trip to Omaha.

The pair made it to Blair, where Coates went into a home, but Ms. Sramek did not. Coates’s driver arrived from Sioux City and Coates said nothing of Ms. Sramek to the driver. As the driver and Coates left the home, the driver saw Ms. Sramek’s motionless body. The driver testified it looked as if Ms. Sramek had overdosed, and Coates said he had provided her methamphetamine. Coates cancelled his drug run to Kansas City and told his driver to go to the home of his brother-in-law Dennis Lawson near Whiting, Iowa, on the banks of the Missouri River. The driver testified that after they arrived at Lawson’s residence Lawson and Coates disappeared for a time, when they returned, Ms. Sramek’s body was gone. The driver also testified that she and Coates cleaned out the car, and that Lawson threatened her saying if she told anyone, “it would be her funeral.”

Later, Coates told confidants that Ms. Sramek had overdosed. He told other friends a more violent story. In both versions, however, he told people he had thrown Ms. Sramek’s body into the Missouri River to conceal evidence of his crimes. Coates was confident his efforts at concealing Ms. Sramek’s body would insulate him from accountability. He told one person “no body, no case” and asked another “you can’t get charged with murder if there is no body, can you?” The US Attorney’s Office says Coates’s confidence was misplaced. Law enforcement gathered a significant amount of physical evidence tying Coates to Ms. Sramek’s disappearance. Forensic analysis indicated Ms. Sramek’s DNA and a significant amount of blood were found in the white Ford Explorer. The forensic findings combined with other evidence provided the proof the jury used to convict Coates and Lawson.

U-S Attorney Leif Olson said in a news release, “Sunny Sramek went missing more than six years ago. But the investigators’ dedication kept her case from going cold. Thanks to them, these two criminals now face judgment for Sunny’s disappearance. Those who believe they can escape justice through threats, cover-ups, or the passage of time will discover they are mistaken.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said further, that “The convictions of Coates and Lawson represent years of tireless, unwavering efforts by a dedicated team of FBI personnel who never stopped looking for Sunny Sramek. Despite the defendants’ best efforts to conceal involvement in her disappearance, the FBI persisted in our mission to hold these subjects accountable for their actions. We hope these convictions bring some measure of solace to Sunny’s family. The FBI will always use every tool and technique in our arsenal to seek justice for the missing and attempts to hinder those efforts will be aggressively investigated.”

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a pre-sentence report is prepared. Coates and Lawson remain in custody of the United States Marshal. Coates faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Lawson faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by Hitchcock County, Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office; the Nebraska State Patrol; the Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Criminal Investigation; the Plymouth County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; the O’Brien County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner; the Goodland, Kansas, Police Department; and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

(Creston, IA) – Police in Creston say a woman was arrested Tuesday night, following a traffic stop. 29-year-old Megan Elizabeth Banda, of Creston, was arrested at around 8-p.m., at Cherry and Harsh Streets. She was charged with Operating While Under the Influence (OWI)/2nd Offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Banda was taken to Union County Jail, and has since been released on a $2,300 cash or surety bond.