(Jefferson County, IA) – A collision west of Fairfield Saturday night left a teenage female dead and two adults injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2009 Lexus E350 driven by 18-year-old Emmelia Miller, of Fairfield, was traveling north on Hemlock Avenue at around 10:20-p.m. near Cedar Creek, when the car went out of control due to weather conditions.

The vehicle was struck on the side by a 2025 Dodge truck driven by 20-year-old Morgan Anderson, of Fairfield. Miller – who was not wearing a seat belt – died at the scene. 25-year-old James Lyman, of Fairfield, and 24-year-old Ashlyn Hotchkiss, of Urbana (IA) were injured. The Patrol says Hotchkiss was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by Jefferson County Ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospital. Lyman was not transported to a hospital.

The crash remained under investigation. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Ambulance, Fairfield Police and Fire, as well as the Libertyville Fire Department.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Crews from across Woodbury County responded to search for an aircraft that made an emergency landing, Saturday morning. The non-commercial, single-engine plane with six seats departed the Sioux Gateway Airport at around 7:14-a.m., and was forced to make an emergency landing due to engine issues. The aircraft was located about one-half mile south of the airport in a field, near the intersection of Andrew Avenue and 225th Street. The Iowa State Patrol said there were two people on board at the time of the emergency landing. They had exited the aircraft safely and declined medical treatment at the scene, according to a press release from Sioux Gateway Airport. The aircraft’s registered owner was listed as a Mulaii, LLC, a company in Delaware.

Some of the agencies involved with searching for the plane included the Iowa State Patrol, the 185th Air Refueling Wing’s fire crews and Sergeant Bluff Fire. A helicopter was also used during the search for the plane.

In a press release, the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) said the initial investigation was completed and the aircraft would be towed back to Sioux Gateway Airport and secured for a follow-up investigation.

(Des Moines, IA) – Officials with the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) ©, Saturday, announced the route for their 53rd ride seven-day. The road trip begins with the dipping of bicycle tire in the Missouri River at Onawa on July 18th, before making overnight stays in Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, and Dyersville, before the arrive, in Dubuque, where participants will dip their bike tires into the Mississippi River to conclude their experience on July 25th.

According to the official RAGBRAI website “It is the oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.This rolling celebration of Iowa attracts participants from all 50 states and many foreign countries. It has covered thousands of miles through the years, and hundreds of thousands of riders have hopped in the saddle to pedal part of those miles.”

• Day 0 – Onawa: Riders will dip their tires in the Missouri River and begin their ride from the town of Onawa.

• Day 1 – Harlan:After 58.5 miles of riding and 3,465 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their first overnight stop in Harlan.
• Day 2 – Guthrie Center: After 53.9 miles of riding and 3,544 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their second overnight stop in Guthrie Center.
• Day 3 – Boone: After 59.5 miles of riding and 1,503 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their third overnight stop in Boone.
• Day 4 – Marshalltown: After 62.2 miles of riding and 3,465 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their fourth overnight stop in Marshalltown.
• Day 5 – Independence: After 81.4 miles of riding and 2,713 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their fifth overnight stop in Independence.
• Day 6 – Dyersville: After 42.2 miles of riding and 1,441 feet of elevation climb, riders will have their sixth overnight stop in Dyersville.
• Day 7 – Dubuque: After 33.7 miles of riding and 1,788 feet of elevation climb, riders will dip their tires in the Mississippi River and end their ride in Dubuque.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department report one person died following a two-vehicle accident late this (Saturday) morning. Authorities say emergency crews were dispatched at around 11:15-a.m. to Interstate 80 westbound at mile-marker zero, where two vehicles had collided.

One of the drivers suffered serious injuries, and later died. Traffic on Westbound I-80 was reduced to one lane for just short of three-hours while the accident was being investigated. All lanes were cleared at around 2-p.m.

At this time, no names are being released, as the accident investigation was ongoing investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Traffic Unit.

(Cedar County, IA) – A person who was apparently struck by one or more vehicles, was found deceased on Interstate 80, this (Saturday) morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Troopers were called at around 5:45-a.m. to mile marker 277 of westbound I-80 (The Durant Exit), were a pedestrian was found on the roadway.

The name of the individual was being withheld pending identification and notification of family. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s lab in Ankeny. The incident remains under investigation.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene.

Mahaska County, IA – A woman from Oskaloosa was arrested Thursday and booked-into the Mahaska County Jail in Oskaloosa, following an investigation into her having allegedly trying to sell her one-month-old baby. KCRG-TV reports court documents show that in August, 2025, 33-year-old Tiffany Smith willingly gave her one-month-old child to a family member of a potential buyer.

The family member had the child for two and a half hours when Smith allegedly demanded $10,000 or that they give the child back. The documents say the family remember returned the child. The potential buyer then showed police officers text messages exchanged with Smith detailing the purchase of the baby.

During an emergency removal of the baby by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Smith was asked about the incident. Court documents say she told officers she needed financial help. Officers found text messages on Smith’s phone between her and her mother that involved information about this case.

Smith’s bond is set at $10,000 cash or surety bond.

(Redd Oak, IA – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Red Oak was arrested at around 8-p.m. Friday on a Federal U.S. Marshal’s warrant. 50-year-old Robert Eugene Glassgow was taken into custody on the warrant for Violation of Supervised release, on the original charge of Receipt of Child Pornography.

Glassgow was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Malden, Massachusetts man was sentenced on January 20, 2026, to eight years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.

According to public court documents, Michael Thomas D’Orlando, 47, sent packages with a powder containing fentanyl to a person in the Southern District of Iowa. On November 27, 2023, the Norwalk Police Department located a deceased victim. Further investigation showed that the victim ingested the powder D’Orlando sent to Iowa and the fentanyl caused the victim’s death.

After completing his term of imprisonment, D’Orlando will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains committed in its collaboration with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who distribute lethal doses of fentanyl are held accountable,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This sentencing emphasizes the impact of fentanyl distribution in our communities and our commitment in relentlessly pursuing those responsible for distributing the deadly drug.”

Greg Staples, Chief of Police for the City of Norwalk, said “The distribution of narcotics presents a severe risk to the community and resulted in the death of a community member in the City of Norwalk in November 2023. Thank you to our partners, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa for assisting with this investigation. These partnerships are crucial to maintain public safety, quality prosecutions, and justice for the citizens of Norwalk.”

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and City of Norwalk Police Department investigated the case.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Tourism Council’s annual meeting will be held at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Wednesday February 4th 9AM. The schedule is four meetings per year, with meetings at 9:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the following months: February, May, August and November. Meetings will take place at the Atlantic Chamber unless otherwise noted, this will also be published on the Council’s webpage at: https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/tourism/ . A new slate of officers will be elected for the 2026 year.

According to a report from Travel Iowa, the economic impact of visitors in Iowa is significant, including our own Cass County! Visitor spending in the State of Iowa for 2024 (the most current economic impact statement) was a whopping $7.5Billion, a 2.8% increase over 2023. We (Cass County) had $2.84 Million in Sales and Lodging tax collected in 2024. Sales and Lodging tax collected in 2024 in Cass County was slightly lower, as well as our total growth rate over all for 2024 was 5% lower. Our Retail and Transportation spending was higher in Cass County in 2024. Despite the losses, our share of the state in visitor spending remained the same. In Cass County, local sales taxes collected amounted to over $1,100,000! And state sales taxes collected in Cass County for the year was $1,620,000! Tourism is much more than fun and games…it means business!

“This year’s numbers reflect the continued strength of our tourism economy and the enduring appeal of our state’s destinations,” said Amy Zeigler, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office. “To keep this momentum going, we’ll continue to focus on understanding the evolving motivations of today’s travelers and helping Iowa communities connect with them in the most impactful ways.” The entire report is available at traveliowa.com.

If you’re interested in the future of Tourism in Cass County, please plan to attend the next Tourism Committee meeting Wednesday, February 4, 9:00 a.m. at the Atlantic Chamber.

DES MOINES, IOWA [Submitted by an Atlantic FFA reporter] —On Wednesday January 21st 6 members of the Atlantic FFA Chapter along with FFA members from across Iowa converged on the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines to build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism, and patriotism.

Atlantic FFA members Lauren Comes, Maddy Anderson, Hayden Kleen, Keston Schmitt, Frank Freund and Kayedance Sturm along with more than 500 high school students wearing blue corduroy from 88 schools visited the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines on January 21st. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom and learned the importance of citizenship. This was all part of the 41st Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol.

Left to right: Lauren Comes, Kayedance Sturm, Frank Freund, Maddy Anderson, Senator Shipley, Hayden Kleen, Keston Schmitt

Atlantic FFA members met with Senator Tom Shipley to discuss a variety of topics ranging from school funding to Eminent Domain and how it could affect Iowa agriculture. Representative Moore was unable to meet with us due to a committee meeting, but we did meet with his clerk Ella Stafford to discuss a few different legislative topics and how an FFA member could become a Clerk or Page in the future.

During the morning, FFA members gathered at the Downtown Embassy Suites for a brief greeting and tutorial. The program provided opportunities for FFA members to hear from Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, about the importance of agriculture in Iowa and abroad. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Vice President, Brian Feldpausch, then delivered a message about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the agriculture industry. Jake Swanson from High Yield Strategies then spoke about the importance of advocating for the agricultural industry.

Seated Lauren Comes. Back row left to right: Frank Freund, Hayden Kleen, Keston Schmitt, Maddy Anderson Kayedance Sturm

The 41st Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol was made possible with support from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

(Photos submitted w/the story)