(Radio Iowa) – The unseasonably warm weather we’re having is likely going to put an end to the ice fishing season in most of Iowa. D-N-R spokesman Mick Klemesrud says it hasn’t been a great season up to this point either. “We had a lot of places, including on the Iowa Great Lakes, like on Big Spirit Lake, where we had open water. There’s a pocket of open water, it seemed like it would just never freeze over,” Klemesrud says. “And now that we’ve got these warmer temperatures and these high winds, it’s starting to chew up a lot of the existing ice and making some pretty tenuous situations up there.” He says continued days of above freezing temperatures make more and more ice disappear.

“Southern Iowa is going to be, the ice fishing season is probably going to be over by this weekend if the forecast holds. And in places like central Iowa, Big Creek Lake had an open pocket on it that didn’t freeze all winter and so that’s going to expand and chew up some ice and work Twin Lakes, same thing. Three mile and 12 Mile (Lake) had open water on them and it’s just kind of the same scenario,” he says. There are a few areas in north Iowa where the ice is still nice for fishing. “Clear Lake’s get good ice, there’s parts of Spirit Lake that have good ice, you just have to kind of avoid those open water areas,” Klemesrud says. He says you should do a little research on ice conditions before you head out.

“There’s a lot of good resources online. There’s a lot of good social media networks out there where people post how they did fishing, what they’re catching, where they’re going, that sort of thing,” he says. Klemesrud says remember the safety guidelines wherever you go to ice fish. “Check the ice often, don’t go alone, give yourself a big buffer around any open water. Bring a throwable flotation device and about 50 feet of rope, the worst case should happen,” Kelmesrud says.

Klemesrud says they had reports of nine Off Highway Vehicles or A-T-Vs breaking through the ice. Seven were at the Iowa Great Lakes and two were at Lake Rathbun. He says they were lucky there were no injuries reported.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report card on Iowa’s smoking policies gives the state an abysmal grade point average. In the five categories, Iowa earned one B, one D, and three Fs. Kristina Hamilton, director of advocacy at the American Lung Association in Iowa, says one of the state’s failing grades comes under the category of state cigarette taxes, which she says are far too low. “Iowa’s tax per pack of 20 cigarettes is $1.36,” Hamilton says. “We would like to see that significantly increased, definitely by $1.50 but at least by $1. We haven’t increased the cigarette taxes in Iowa in 18 years.”

The association also wants to see electronic cigarettes taxed at the same rate as other tobacco products. Hamilton says they plan to focus efforts on urging Iowa lawmakers to establish a tax on e-cigarettes during this legislative session, as she says those taxes would have a dual impact. “We know that individuals who are price sensitive, when prices go up on products like tobacco products, we do see consumption go down, but there also will be some increased revenue, because that tax will be on those products for those who still purchase them,” Hamilton says, “so it’s a win for public health, and it’s a win for income for the state.”

Iowa earned another F for the amount of money the state spends on smoking prevention and cessation programs. “We advocate for funds that come into the state from tobacco settlement dollars and taxes to go towards tobacco prevention,” Hamilton says. “Unfortunately, over $200 million in tobacco related revenue came to Iowa last year, and barely any of that went for tobacco control programs.”

American Lung Assn photo

Only about $4-million dollars out of that 200-million-plus went into state programs that help Iowa adults overcome tobacco addiction and to prevent youth from starting. The lion’s share, she says, went into the state’s general fund. Iowa’s third F came for not ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, which includes flavored cigarettes, cigars and vape products. The 2025 State of Tobacco Control report gives Iowa a D in the category of coverage and access to services to quit tobacco, and a B for strength of smoke-free workplace laws. Iowa passed the Smoke-free Air Act in 2008, but it doesn’t extend to casinos, so Hamilton says the grade isn’t an A.

New figures show fewer Iowans are lighting up: “The smoking rate is 13.7% which is a little lower than last year,” she says. “I believe it was around 15% so we still have work to do.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police arrested a man in Red Oak this (Wednesday) morning, on Simple Misdemeanor – Domestic Assault/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts – charges. Authorities say 31-year-old Zachery Michael Vaughan Cox, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:40-a.m. in the 100 block of E. Summit Street. Cox was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two women from Red Oak were arrested overnight Tuesday into early this (Wednesday) morning. According to Red Oak Police, 55-year-old Claudette Abraham and 45-year-old Holly Rider were taken into custody in the 200 block of E. Valley Street. Both were charged with one-count each of Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Disorderly Conduct-Loud Noise. Both women were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

SIGOURNEY, Iowa — The Iowa State Patrol has named the teenager killed in a deadly crash southeastern late last week. According to the crash report, 16-year-old Kyle Burk, of Sigourney died after being hit on Highway 92 around 6:30-p.m. Friday (Jan. 24th). The Patrol say Burk was traveling west on 92, when the car he was in lost its wheel. When Burk left the car and ran across the highway to try to get the wheel, he was struck by another car also heading west on the highway.

In a post on social media, the Sigourney Community School District canceled school on Thursday for students and staff to attend his services. They are also selling T-shirts in his honor. All of the proceeds are going to the family to pay for expenses. Orders are open until Thursday.

As of January 28th, 16 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That number is sevn more than at the same point in 2024. Over the last five years, an average of 353 people have been killed in statewide crashes annually.

(Radio Iowa) – A Democratic candidate has won the state senate seat previously held by Republican Chris Cournoyer, who resigned in December to serve as lieutenant governor. State Senate District 35 covers all of Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott Counties. Cournoyer won the district by a 22 point margin in 2022. President Trump won it last November by 21 points.

Unofficial results from yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) special election show Democrat Mike Zimmer finished with nearly 52 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Katie Whittington of Clinton. Zimmer, a retired teacher and coach, is president of the Central DeWitt School Board. Zimmer says since it was a special election, the race had the full attention of Iowa Democrats.

Mike Zimmer, a retired teacher and coach who is president of the Central DeWitt School Board, has won the special election for a seat in the Iowa Senate.

“We had people making phone calls, writing postcards, coming over and helping knock doors — everything that you have to have to have a winning campaign,” Zimmer says. “I was just blessed to have all of that.” When Zimmer is sworn into office at the statehouse, there will be 16 Democrats and 34 Republicans in the state senate.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says President Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans is meant to give his administration time to make sure funding isn’t going to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

“They’re looking in to make sure that maybe we aren’t inadvertently allocating funds to programs that we shouldn’t be,” Reynolds said. Reynolds made her comments in eastern Iowa yesterday (Tuesday). About an hour later a federal judge blocked Trump’s directive from going into effect until Monday.

Reynolds told reporters her chief of staff will be in a meeting today (Wednesday) with Trump Administration officials to learn more about the freeze on federal grants and loans and how it might affect states.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Governor Terry Branstad is urging legislators to pass a bill that would establish a School of Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa.  “The future of our country is dependent on citizens that are well informed and celebrate the American heritage,” Branstad said, “…especially in this day and age when we see…a lack of respect for other viewpoints.”

Branstad was at the Capitol yesterday (Tuesday) to testify at a subcommittee hearing on the bill. M Denney, a recent University of Iowa graduate, testified against the bill.  “I find this a laughable and ridiculous waste of money, time and resources,” Denny said. “…This is a pure ideological exercise because you disagree with whatever you’ve labeled DEI, which in my experience is black people, trans people, women being represented in education and being represented in any position of authority or having any of their history taught.” Branstad replied.

“Let me tell you I graduated from the University of Iowa a long time ago in political science,” Branstad said. “I know most of the teachers are socialists, but I think all political views should be represented.” The bill calls for hiring four political science professors for a School of Intellectual Freedom and creating a new, nine-member council to oversee the operation.

Former Governor Terry Branstad listens to testimony during subcommittee hearing at Iowa Capitol on Jan. 28, 2025. (RI photo)

A university spokesman told lawmakers a plan a Center for Civil Dialogue and Leadership at the University of Iowa will be presented next month to the board that oversees the three state universities. It would be similar to centers at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

The Board of Regents approved creation of U-N-I’s Center for Civic Education in September. In November, Iowa State University administrators announced a “Cyclone Civics” initiative.

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(Radio Iowa) A bill to establish surgical castration as a penalty for sex offenders convicted of abusing a child was introduced in the Iowa House this year, but will go no further. Amy Campbell, a lobbyist for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says 96 percent of children who are assaulted know their attacker. “Research has shown that the more harsh the penalty, the less likely a family is to report that,” Campbell said. It appears the Czech Republic, Nigeria and the state of Louisiana are the only jurisdictions that have laws allowing surgical castration of convicted sex offenders.

Lisa Davis Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Justice, says the policy could set the state of Iowa down a dangerous path.”This is giving the government the ability to surgically alert someone’s body,” Davis Cook says, “and we kind of wonder: ‘Where does that stop?'”

Iowa is among 11 states where those convicted of serious sex crimes against children may be sentenced to undergo a type of hormonal therapy referred to as chemical castration. The Iowa law was passed in 2003 and was for a variety of convictions of sex abuse, assault or exploitation of a child under the age of 12.

(Craig, Iowa) – A collision Tuesday afternoon in northwest Iowa resulted in the death of a man from Illinois, and a field fire. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by 28-year-old Mohammed Wajid, of Chicago, IL, was traveling north on Plymouth County Road K-18 west of Craig at around 12:40-p.m., when the truck failed to stop at the posted intersection with County Road C-12.

A 2024 Kenworth semi hauling a grain trailer and traveling east on C-12 was struck on the rear of the trailer by the northbound semi, causing the trailer to split in-half. The frame of the northbound semi came to rest in the north ditch, while the cab came to rest in the south ditch. The eastbound semi, driven by 49-year-old Timothy Wilken, of Akron (IA) came to rest in the intersection.The surrounding fields caught fire as a result of the crash, but the flames were quickly extinguished by responding fire departments.

The Patrol says Mohammed Wajid was transported by Akron EMS to the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, where he died from his injuries.