(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on drug charges Saturday, in Glenwood. According to Glenwood Police, 22-year-old Adison Presley, of Silver City, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance. He was released from the Mills County Jail after posting a $1,000 bond. And, 23-year-old Alexander Nusser, of Glenwood was arrested Saturday for OWI/1st offense, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting a $2,300 bond.

(Radio Iowa [updated 1:10-pm.]) -A House committee will vote later today (Monday) on a bill that would remove “gender identity” from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The legislation was the subject of a sometimes tense hour-long subcommittee hearing this (Monday) morning. Amber Williams of Aplington, a lobbyist for Inspire Life – a group opposed to abortion, says the bill ensures the of safety and privacy of women.

“Women’s rights cannot exist if the very definition of woman is eroded,” Williams said. “As a society, we have a duty to ensure that women’s spaces remain places of refuge, not controversy.” Chris Morse, who testified against the bill, was escorted out of the hearing when he wouldn’t stop quoting a Bible passage. “Whether you like it or not, this body agreed in 2007 to protect gender queer like myself,” Morse said. “..Removing these protection is, in itself, a violation of our civil rights and it won’t hold up in court.”

Tamara Scott, state director for Concerned Women of America, urged lawmakers to remove all references to sexual orientation in state law. “It is not your job to codify feelings; to protect perceptions, pronouns or preferences, but it is to bring justice to all of us,” Scott said. “…No one group should have benefit under any other group under the Constitution.” Diane Crookham-Johnson, an Oskaloosa attorney, said in 2024 she helped eight Mahaska County residents confirm their gender identity on legal documents.

“This bill doesn’t impact some unknown person over there,” she said. “This bill impacts people in your districts..and even your most conservative counties of Iowa.” Opponents of the bill chanted and stomped outside the hearing room, prompting the subcommittee’s chairman to pause the hearing for seven minutes as state troopers pushed the crowd down the hallway to reduce noise in the room.

(Radio Iowa) – A historical marker will be placed at Fort Des Moines this summer to honor the one-thousand black soldiers who trained there to become officers during World War One. Researcher Keith King says they laid the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement. “This was the first and only class of that many black officers that were brought to one place to get commissioned,” King says, “so it happened once, and it’s never happened again.” King says Fort Des Moines’ history draws a parallel to today. Black people, he says, still have to perform above the standard, or else be seen as diversity hires.

Historian Don North requested the historical marker to commemorate the officers who served our country more than a century ago. “So you guys are kind of like the cradle of birthing Army officers right there in Des Moines,” North says, “so that’s the significance.” North says the officers were instrumental in proving that black officers were not only American citizens, but also capable of leadership.

The marker will be unveiled at a ceremony in June.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — Lawyers for a former Des Moines Register pollster J. Ann Selzer have filed a motion. They are asking for a federal judge to drop President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against her. The suit stems from an inaccurate poll The Register published days before the general election. Trump claims the poll was an effort to “influence the outcome of the 2024 election.” Selzer’s lawyers argue Trump is trying to create a new First Amendment exemption for what he calls “fake news.” The motion also claims the lawsuit misunderstands the definition of “fraud.”

A judge has not set a hearing date on the motion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI-TV)— The Caitlin Clark Foundation is partnering with Hy-Vee to raise money for food banks across the Midwest this spring. Throughout March, customers at all Hy-Vee locations can round up to the nearest dollar during checkout. The money raised will be divided up to help Feeding America food banks.

It isn’t the first partnership between Clark and Hy-Vee. The store was the first company to sponsor Clark under her first NIL deal.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT-TV) – Amazon’s new facility in Council Bluffs will allow for same-day delivery consistently in the Omaha metro for the first time. According to a news release from Amazon, the facility in Council Bluffs will be able to enable fulfillment, sorting, and delivery all from the same location.

Amazon officials said that their Council Bluffs site is the first to allow for same-day delivery in the metro, saying that items will be able to be delivered to the Omaha metro area within a four to five hour delivery window. Previous instances of same-day delivery in the metro were due to coincidental inventory in nearby facilities, according to Amazon.

In conjunction with the facility’s opening in December of 2024, Amazon said they donated $15,000 to the Council Bluffs Community School District to support STEM education initiatives.

The new facility in Council Bluffs is the first to serve the Omaha area, but is the 4th in the state of Iowa. Amazon also has a fulfillment center in Papillion, NE.

(Creston, Iowa) – A total of seven people were arrested over the past few days in Creston. Three of them were arrested on drug charges. According to the Creston Police Department, 44-year-old David Junior Richman, of Creston, was arrested Friday evening on a Union County warrant for Possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Richman was taken to the Union County Jail, where he was being held on a bond of $5,300; Friday night, 21-year-old Jayden Ronald Vernon Peavler, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense. Peavler was taken to the Union County Jail and later released after posting $1,000 bond. And, Sunday evening, 36-year-old Tara Lynn Mickael, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine/1st Offense, and Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Meth over 5g Under 5kg. Mickael was being held in the Union County Jail on $26,000 bond.

Creston Police report also:

• 78-year-old Joyce Louise McCubbin, of Creston, was arrested Friday afternoon for Theft in the 5th Degree. McCubbin was cited and released on a promise to appear in court.
• Early Saturday morning, 56-year-oldDonnajo Michelle Aunspach, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended and OWI/1st Offense. Aunspach was taken to the Union County Jail and later released after posting $1,000 bond.
• Saturday night, Savannah Irene McVay, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense – Causing Bodily Injury, and Criminal Mischief 3rd. McVay was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later released of her own recognizance. In connection with the same incident, 45-year-old Gary Steven McVay, of Creston, arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. McVay was taken to the Union County Jail and also later released of his own recognizance.

(Des Moines,Iowa – Iowa DNR news) – An estimated 2,200 students from more than 140 schools from across Iowa will be in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center (Bullseye) and the 4H Building (3D) at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines from Feb 28th to March 2nd, to participate in the 18^th Annual National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament. This is the largest youth archery tournament in Iowa. Iowa student participation in the National Archery in the Schools Program has grown each year beginning from scratch in 2006 to now more than 4,800 participants in 2025.

“The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is one of the finest youth sports programs in Iowa. It teaches discipline, focus, and perseverance while giving students of all skill levels an opportunity to excel. NASP not only promotes physical activity but also fosters confidence, personal development, and an appreciation for the sport of archery,” said Zach Benttine, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Competition begins Friday at 5-p.m., then resumes at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the bullseye and 3D competitions.  There will be 50 targets set up for bullseye, which will allow 100 participants to shoot at a time.  There will be 30 targets set up for 3D, which will allow 60 participants to shoot at a time. Admission is $5 for those 19 and older; 18 and younger are admitted for free.

Atlantic HS & MS Archers participate in a Dec. 2023 event in Orient (file photo from the Atlantic Trojan Archery Facebook page)

Archers Shoot for College Cash & Equipment

Archers participating in the Iowa Archery in the Schools Program can earn money for college. More than $10,000 will be awarded in college scholarships based on performance at the state tournament. An additional $13,000 will be awarded outside of the state competition to archers participating in the program based on academics, essays, and other established criteria. In addition to scholarships, teams receiving placement at the state tournament will also be eligible to receive an estimated $18,000 in equipment for their schools.

Scholarships are provided by Iowa Hunter Education Instructor Association, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Whitetails Unlimited, Iowa Bowhunters Association, Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Haney Family Foundation, Chuck Hallier Memorial, and the National Archery in the Schools Program.

For more information on the Iowa Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) visit www.iowadnr.gov/nasp

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Southwest Iowa Beekeepers organization is inviting any and all beekeepers to their annual meeting on Sunday, March 23 at 1pm at the American Legion Memorial Building in Atlantic, Iowa. The group’s mission is to support beekeepers, share knowledge and build the beekeeping community.

Whether you have 1 hive or 100 hives, Southwest Iowa Beekeepers welcomes all beekeepers and all styles of beekeeping so whether new or old, big or small – join them for exchange of ideas and general bee camaraderie.  Even if you don’t have any hives, that’s ok! The groups members would love to help new beekeepers get started. Beekeeping is both challenging and exciting and much like the bees they tend, bee keepers, they say, are stronger when they lean into each other for support.

The club meets 5 times per year. Meetings are held in March, April, June, August, & October. The summer meetings are typically hands-on field days held on member farms. For more information you can contact Nathan Paulsen by emailing southwestiowabeekeepers@gmail.com.

Southwest IA Beekeepers photo

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Iowa Farmers Union is hosting a series of Cancer Listening Posts, including one in Atlantic on Sunday, March 2^nd. The event will be in the American Legion Memorial Building’s Memorial Hall, from 2-until 3:30-p.m., Sunday. The event is one of four Cancer Listening Posts the Iowa Farmers Union has put together throughout the state. The first was held last Friday in Spencer. The next is this Friday, in Fairfield, followed by a Cancer Listening Post in Charles City on Saturday. ,

The IFU said in a press release, “Recent data highlights Iowa as one of the states with the fastest-growing cancer rates in the country. The Cancer Listening Posts will serve as a platform for individuals to voice concerns, discuss potential causes, and explore solutions to improve healthcare and prevention efforts in rural communities.”

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the country, and is No. 1 in number of new cases per year.