(Radio Iowa) – Security camera footage from the Iowa Capitol would only be available by court order under a proposal that’s cleared the Iowa Senate. The list of people who swipe a security card badge to gain access to the building would also be kept private. Senator Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, says the information could be used to track state officials and other people who work in the building and shouldn’t be subject to open records requests.

“People who threaten the lives of legislators and staff members should not have access to the comings and goings of the people they’re threatening,” Webster says. Republican senators supported the proposal. Democrats voted against it. Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines says taxpayers should be able to find out what transpires in the Capitol. “If the public wants to know if their lawmaker is showing up for work every day by checking a key pad, that doesn’t impact our security,” Petersen said. “…If some shenanigans happen out there in the rotunda at a protest, shouldn’t the public be able to request those videos?”

Webster says body worn camera footage from state troopers and police would be available if a crime is committed in the Capitol, but the video from stationary cameras in the building shouldn’t be available to the public. “If they, the people wanted to cause this harm to the Capitol building — the people’s building, wanted to find out and go through all the camera footage to figure out where the blind spots might be in this Capitol, they could do it through an open record (request),” Webster said.

“We are eliminating that availability right now, which makes everyone in this building safer.” This proposal on access to Iowa Capitol security videos was added to a bill that significantly raises the penalties for government officials in Iowa who deny access to public records. The bill is championed by Republican Representative Gary Mohr of Bettendorf. He says the bill’s needed because Davenport officials delayed answering important questions from the media and citizens after the collapse of a six-story Davenport apartment building nearly two years ago.

Mohr says the Davenport city council also failed to vote in a public meeting about paying three Davenport city officials two million dollars to settle their allegations of workplace harassment.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend says the March unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percent to three-point-four percent.  “Which is consistent with what we saw on the national level, because it also went up basically a tenth of a point in March as well. The good news was we had 17-hundred new folks in our workforce,” she says. Townsend says the additional workers kept the workforce participation rate the same in March. The construction, education and health services, trade, transportation and utilities areas added 15-hundred jobs. Townsend says Iowa firms lost 15-hundred jobs in March, mostly in private service industries.

“The temporary agencies probably, you know, that loss is an indication that there’s not as great a need. Employers are not in a crisis mode anymore in terms of finding help, probably not a need for short term surging with employers, you know, they have sufficient staff already,” Townsend says. Townsend says the turnover in the job market has slowed. “You know overall the job market has been tightening the past few months and we know that a lot of the low-skilled jobs that you would normally see a lot of turnover those jobs are no longer available meaning people are already in them and are not giving them up so we’re not seeing the churn that we were post pandemic,” she says. Townsend says things have continued to even out when it comes to job loses and additions.

“So even though we’ve lost around eight-thousand manufacturing jobs in the past 12 months, we’re seeing some increases in healthcare. So that’s a good sign. It’s gained 39-hundred jobs in the last six months in healthcare,” Townsend says. “So I think what we’re seeing, and I was very consistent with what we’re seeing around the country. There was a lot of uncertainty pending the outcome of the election.” Townsend says the new administration didn’t take over until mid January, so new policies have not yet started to impact the labor market. There have been several announcements of layoffs in manufacturing, but Townsend says the number of weeks of unemployment paid out is still around nine.

“If that number were going up and increasing pretty rapidly, that would mean that it’s taking longer to find the next job. And the fact that it’s remained relatively consistent at about nine weeks for the last, you know, almost probably since last July, we’ve been at the nine week point. That’s a good indication that we’re still able to help people get to the next job in the same amount of time as we were maybe when we had more jobs available last year,” Townsend says. Iowa allows a maximum of 16 weeks of unemployment. The U-S unemployment rate increased to four-point-two percent in March.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she spent a whole lot of time praying as she weighed whether to run for reelection.”This was an internal battle and sometimes those can be the most challenging to overcome,” Reynolds said. “…God knows what we need before we even ask for it and his answers are always right, even when they mean leaving what you love behind for the promise of something greater.” Reynolds spoke this (Thursday) morning at the annual Iowa Prayer Breakfast. Reynolds thanked the crowd for praying for her husband, Kevin, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2023. The governor announced nearly a year later that her husband’s cancer was in remission. Kevin Reynolds delivered the opening prayer at today’s (Thursday) event.

“Dear Heavenly Father, you are good and holy,” Kevin Reynolds said. “Thank you for bringing us together today to celebrte the power of prayer.” The governor got a standing ovation from the crowd when she was introduced. Reynolds spoke for less than five minutes and her remarks were centered on the topic of prayer. “Prayer anchors us. It slows us down in a fast world,” she said. “It softens our hearts in hard moments and it reminds us that we’re never alone.” The event’s keynote speaker was Ervin Lutzer, a retired minister from the Chicago area who’s the host of two syndicated radio programs — “Running to Win” and “Songs in the Night.”

“Not all the governors of the various states would be comfortable at a prayer time like this…Give her a hand, OK?” Lutzer said, and he led the crowd in applause. Several legislators, state agency directors, Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer and State Auditor Rob Sand attended the event.

CLIVE, IA – Is the breaded pork tenderloin your go-to when eating out? If so, it’s that time of year again, when the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) asks for your help to uncover the 2025 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin! The IPPA is on the hunt for the tastiest, juiciest, most mouthwatering breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in the state. Nominations for the 23rd annual Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest are officially open from April 17 to June 1, and you can throw your favorite restaurant into the ring. Whether it’s a small-town café or a local go-to spot, now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. Each person can nominate one restaurant, and if your pick takes the crown, you could win $100 just for showing your love! New restaurants pop up around the state all the time, each with their own take on the breaded pork tenderloin. So, tell us, do you have one you’re loyal to or do you have a newfound love?

The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is a quintessential Iowa dish, enjoyed by Iowans and visitors alike. It’s an extremely popular item on the menu in small-town diners and restaurants across the state. Iowa leads the nation in pork production, and this contest is a fun, flavorful way to celebrate both culinary pride and local agriculture. Here’s How It Works:

• To qualify, a restaurant must serve hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches as a regular menu item and have consistent, year-round hours that are open to the public. Sorry, no food trucks, seasonal spots, or catering-only businesses are eligible.
• After the nomination period, IPPA will narrow entries down to the top 40 restaurants, including the top five from each of its eight districts. Then, undercover judges will hit the road to taste and score the finalists based on pork quality, flavor, appearance, and overall deliciousness.
• The top five will be revealed in October during National Pork Month, and the winner will snag $500, a plaque, and some serious bragging rights. The runner-up gets $250 and a plaque too!

In 2023 alone, more than 9,000 nominations came in for 774 different restaurants.

Recent Winners:

• 2024 — Dairy Sweet in Dunlap
• 2023 — Cliff’s Place in Manning
• 2022 — Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon
• 2021 — Victoria Station in Harlan, which has since closed
• 2020 — PrairieMoon On Main in Prairieburg

Click here for the full list of past winners dating back to 2003. IPPA also invites food lovers to conquer the Iowa Tenderloin Trail by June 1 and win a T-shirt.

HARRISON COUNTY, Iowa — A western Iowa cold case suspect accused of murder will not see his bond reduced. KCCI-TV reports last week, Robert Davis asked a Harrison County judge to lower his $3 million bond. His attorney says Davis has stage IV cancer and needs to get out of the Harrison County Jail to get treatment. On Monday (April 14th), a judge denied that request.

During an hour-long phone hearing on Monday, Davis’ attorney argued he is losing weight and his health is deteriorating. However, the Harrison County Jail administrator said Davis has access to all his medication at the jail and that he was caught on camera making himself vomit on multiple occasions.

Robert Allen Davis

Iowa’s Cold Case Unit charged Davis with first-degree murder in the 1989 disappearance of Barbara Lenz. Lenz went missing from the town of Woodbine in western Iowa.

Lenz’s daughter tolds KCCI she is relieved and happy that Davis will remain in jail.

(Harlan, Iowa)  – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports six recent arrests:

• On April 15th, 28-year-old John Jack Soloman was arrested for Violation of Probation. The Sheriff’s website shows he was not booked into the Shelby County Jail, but no other information was presented.
• On April 11th, 46-year-old Joseph Daniel Scybert, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred (An aggravated misdemeanor). He was released a short time later.
• April 9th, Shelby County deputies arrested 36-year-old Casey Allen Sheehan, of Harlan, for Keeping a Premises or vehicle for a controlled substance violation, and Possession of marijuana/1st offense. He posted bond and was released, with a preliminary hearing set for May 5th.
• On April 8th, 35-year-old Jessica Nicole Tudahl, of Earling, was arrested on a warrant for alleged Insurance Fraud/application. She was released later that same day.
• And, on April 7th, 26-year-old Gloryana Grayce Erlemeier, of Harlan, was arrested on three-counts of Child Endangerment, and 1st offense OWI. She was later released, with a preliminary hearing set for April 24th; And, 35-year-old Benjamin Michael Deal, of Marne, was arrested in Shelby County for Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

All subjects are considered innocent until/unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Elliott was arrested at around 12:11-a.m. today (Thursday), in Elliott. 40-year-old Cory Ross Smith was taken into custody on an Adams County warrant for Failure To Appear, on an original charge of Driving While Barred. Smith was transported to the Montgomery/Adams County line and transferred into the custody of Adams County Sheriff’s deputies. He was being held in the Adams County Jail without bond, until seen by a Judge.

[Updated] (Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a new tool Wednesday that she says could help solve cold case murders.  “Today, I’m announcing the launch of the new Iowa Cold Case playing cards,” she says. Bird says the decks of 52 cards include information on some of the people in the cold cases. “Primarily, they’ll be going to prisons and jails because, often times, whether it’s someone in a jail setting or in a prison setting, they might know or have heard something about a cold case,” Bird says. “So that’s where they’re going first, and we’ll also go out to county jails as well.” Bird says a special committee reviewed the more than 400 Iowa cold cases to select the ones to go on the cards.

“And cases in this deck, they range from unsolved homicides to missing persons cases to unidentified remains cases. And these are the cases that continue to cast a shadow over our communities,” Bird says. Bird says they hope seeing the information will bring in some clues. “Our goal is simple. We want to start a conversation. We want to start or spark a memory, and Someone might recognize a name. They might overhear or remember a conversation, or they might even feel that weight of a long-held secret that they never should have kept,” Bird says. The Attorney General launched the cold case unit last year. Steve Ponsetto is the lead investigator for the unit and says other states have had some success with using cold case cards.

Iowa AG Brenna Bird unveils the new Cold Case deck of cards (4-16-25)

“My last information was Connecticut, for example, had these cards for approximately a decade, and they’ve solved 20. Kansas recently got these cards within the last couple of years, and I know of at least one they’ve solved,” Ponsetto says. The Attorney General says various groups involved in solving cold cases paid for the cold case cards.

The cards include:

• The 10 of diamonds is realtor Ashley Okland. In 2011, she was holding an open house in Des Moines and was shot twice.
• The three of hearts is Bill and Kay Wood. In 2011, their home in rural Norwalk was set on fire. Bill was found dead inside, and Kay has never been found. Their truck was later found in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Ruthie Kingery-Pohlmeier’s case is on the six of diamonds. In 2004, she was found brutally beaten to death and wrapped in a blanket next to the former AMF Bowling Alley on East 14th Street in Des Moines.
• The two of clubs is Bobbi Crawford, of Hampton. She was found beaten to death in her home in 1999.

To submit a cold case tip, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-242-5100 or email ColdCase@ag.iowa.gov.

(Creston, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County say no injuries were reported following a rollover accident Wednesday evening. Authorities say 27-year-old Nathanael Harding, of Wray, CO, was traveling south on the High and Dry Road at around 6:34-p.m., when the accident occurred.

Harding told deputies he nearly missed his turn west onto 210th Street, as he was following his GPS. When he attempted to turn onto 210th Street, he turned too hard, causing the wheels of his 2010 Chevy pickup to enter a steep ditch on the northwest corner of the intersection, and rolled over.

He told authorities he was not hurt, and that he didn’t realize the ditch was that deep. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $3,000. No citations were issued.