(Radio Iowa) – The 2025 Iowa legislative session is underway. All 100 members of the Iowa House have taken the oath of office for their two year terms. Two dozen senators, who serve four year terms, have been sworn into office. A 25th senator will be sworn into office a few weeks from now after a special election to fill the vacancy created when Governor Kim Reynolds appointed State Senator Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire Lieutenant Governor.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley administered the oath of office to his grandson, Pat Grassley, who was reelected Speaker of the Iowa House. The legislature’s opening day is full of traditions, including speeches from leaders. Speaker Grassley said lowering taxes and addressing concerns about immigration and social issues are why Republicans won big in November. “The results of the election both here in Iowa and nationally served as a wake up call for many,” Grassley said. “Iowa House Republicans woke up a while ago and, as we listened to Iowans, we were confident in our agenda.”

Senate President Amy Sinclair of Allerton said for the past eight years Republicans have focused on “conservative values,” and that’s why Republicans hold “supermajorities” in the House and Senate today. “Last November, Iowans made a choice and they chose common sense,” Sinclair said. “…I look forward to enacting more policies this session that help put people back to work, like work requirements for able bodied Iowans on our public assistance programs, improved work search requirements for those on unemployment.”

All 100 members of the Iowa House stood this morning to take the oath of office. (RI photo)

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner of Iowa City said Iowans want policies that promote fairness. “Look back on the work this chamber has done in the past eight years, can we really say it’s been done with all Iowans in mind, considering each and every one as our neighbor?” Weiner asked. “…No one person and no single party has all the answers.”

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said she’s “not confident” the legislature will be able to escape the political divisions that doom some solutions. “We need to look out for every Iowan in this state, not just those who are at the top,” Konfrst said.

House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, said listening to Iowans has been the key — and will be going forward. “Iowans spoke loud and clear and I know there was a lot of rhetoric out there,” Windschitl said. “Iowans have approved of the agenda Republicans have moved through this chamber.”

Tomorrow night, Governor Kim Reynolds will outline her priorities for the legislature. The governor’s annual “Condition of the State” Address will begin at 6 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – An arrest has been made in the cold case murder of a woman in Sioux City four decades ago. Thomas Duane Popp is charged in the shooting death of 18-year-old Terri McCauley in 1983.

A grand jury convened in Woodbury County last week and indicted the 62-year-old Popp for first-degree murder and he was arrested this weekend in Washington State. No other details have been released on what led to the arrest. Former Sioux City Police Detective Tony Sunclades says he recommended that Popp be arrested in 1983, but the county attorney at the time didn’t think there was enough evidence for a conviction. “I’m just so happy for the family. They’ve been suffering, and they still have a tremendous loss, but at least there’s closure now, and we’ll have to see what happens in court,” he says.

A memorial to Teri McCaulley in Sioux City. (KSCJ photo)

McCaulley was reported missing after a night out with friends in September 1983. Her mother filed a missing person report on October 5th and her body was found less than 24 hours later. Sunclades believes there will be a conviction in the case. “I’m confident that our current county attorney’s office is going to be able to convince a jury that, yes, he did this, and there is no reasonable doubt,” Sunclades says.

Popp is being held on a $3 million cash only bond as he awaits extradition to Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A new study from the World Health Organization finds two-thirds of baby foods on grocery store shelves in Iowa and nationwide are safe to eat, but they aren’t healthy.

Ellen Compton, a registered dietician with the Gundersen Health System, says that’s discouraging news for time-strapped parents who are often looking for quick, nutritious ways to feed their kids.

Ellen Compton (Gundersen photo)

“A lot of our food marketing, kind of across the board, can be deceptive, especially to busy parents who just want to grab and go and have a variety of food for their kids,” Compton says. “There are claims on some packaging that can be somewhat deceptive.”

Read the label, she says, as many foods that may appear to be a smart choice could prove otherwise when you delve through the fine print, with all sorts of sweeteners and additives.

“Just because something says that it’s organic or wholesome or BPA-free does not necessarily mean that it’s going to be considered like a health food,” Compton says. “Many, many things can be organic. Sugar can be organic, right? And you don’t want to be giving your baby lots of sugar.”

When adults are in a rush, they might pop into a fast food drive-through, even though they know it may not be the healthiest choice, but parents need to be especially wary of a newborn’s diet.

“The pouches that are on the grocery shelves, take those claims with a grain of salt for sure, and make sure that you are using them kind of in moderation,” Compton says, “like a quick grab-and-go-type snack or something like that, and not relying on them completely to feed your child.”

It’s not the end of the world to use those pouches on occasion, she says, just don’t make a practice of it.

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested Friday, on separate charges. 44-year-old Katie Church, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI 1st offense and driving while revoked. She posted a $2,000 bond and was released.

And, 61-year-old Richard Morrison, of Bennington, NE, was arrested for OWI 1st offense and possession of a controlled substance. He also posted a $2,000 bond and was released.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports there were four arrests this past week. Two people were arrested Saturday:

26-year-old Gordon McKenzie Carroll, Jr., of Creston, was arrested at around 8:30-p.m. Saturday in Orient, for: OWI/1st offense; Escape from Custody, and Open Container-Driver, 21-years of age of older. Carroll, Jr. was released later that night on a $2,300 bond. His arrest followed an investigation into a vehicle that was reported to be in a ditch in the 3200 block of Henry A. Wallace Road. An Adair County Deputy located the vehicle, a Chevy pickup truck.

While transporting the subject to the Adair County Jail, the Deputy noticed Carroll was not in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, where he was placed in handcuffs. Additional units were requested to help search for the man. At the jail, a review of the cage area of the cruiser through the in-car camera, showed Carroll. Jr. managed to open the back door and got out at around 6:38-p.m. Multiple agencies responded and initiated a search of the area using a K9 and a drone. At around 8:25-p.m., the Adair County Communications Center received a 911 call about a man who was at the back of their house in the 2700 block of Adair-Union Street. Law enforcement arrived on the scene to find Carroll, Jr. standing on the front porch. He was placed by in a County patrol vehicle and transported to the jail. Carroll, Jr. told the Deputy that he was always getting in trouble, and that he just wanted to get back home.

At around 4:45-p.m., Saturday, Stuart Police arrested 38-year-old Steven Cory Brown, of Stuart, for Domestic Assault w/bodily injury-1st offense, and two counts of Child Endangerment. The charges followed a domestic disturbance investigation in Stuart. Brown was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

On Jan. 7th, 39-year-old Grant Harold Wheeler, of Stuart, was arrested by Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies on an Adair County warrant for Driving While Barred. He was taken into custody at around 7:20-p.m. and released a few hours later on a $2,000 bond.

And, on Jan. 5th, 20-year-old Tyler Nolan McVay, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Fontanelle at around 12:05-a.m., for OWI/2nd offense. He was taken into custody after a Deputy spotted a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed into Fontanelle. The Deputy lost sight of the vehicle but later located the 2003 Chevy Tahoe on a side street to the north of Highway 92. He would later find the same suspect vehicle stopped at 4th and Main in Fontanelle, where McVay was urinating in the intersection. Following standard field sobriety and breath alcohol testing (which showed a .168% level of intoxication), McVay was transported to the Adair County Jail and released about 3 hours later on a $2,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – One person was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Creston, Saturday evening, following a head-on collision at the intersection of Adams and Sumner Streets. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2016 Jeep Patriot SUV driven by 29-year-old Shandi Brown, of Creston, was traveling north on Sumner at around 5:45-p.m., and entering the intersection with Adams. The SUV was in the outside lane. Brown told Police the traffic light was green, therefore she proceeded through the intersection. A 2018 GMC van driven by 56-year-old Brenda Ewing, of Creston, was on Sumner, facing south in the intersection, and attempting to turn left onto Adams.

Authorities say Ewing told Officers there was a green arrow. When the vehicles collided, Brown was injured and transported to the hospital by EMS. The driver and passenger side airbags in the van deployed. Both vehicles sustained a Police estimated $7,000 damage, each. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Republican Party leaders celebrated “super majorities” in the legislature early this (Monday) morning during a fundraiser, calling it a mandate for the G-O-P’s policy agenda. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford will lead a 67 seat majority in the House. “You keep hearing, ‘Oh, Republicans are struggling in the suburbs all across the country. Republicans are struggling in certain areas,'” Grassley said. “Well, it feels so good for us to be winning in Dubuque like we did…knocking off a long-time Democratic incumbent. We represent Mason City for the first time in 20 years, so we continue to expand our map all across the state,” Grassley said. House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl says the election results show Iowans approve of Republican policies.

“Katie bar the door!” Windschitl said. “Here we come! The 91st General Assembly.” The crowd at the breakfast recorded a celebratory dance video that Iowa G-O-P chair Jeff Kaufmann said would be sent to President-elect Trump. “We want people to know that Iowa Republicans are fired up. We want people to know that Iowa Republicans like Donald Trump,” Kaufmann yelled as the tune YMCA started playig in the room.

Governor Reynolds was next at the microphone, promising Republicans would deliver a bold, conservative agenda in 2025. The Iowa Democratic Party held a private fundraiser Sunday night.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests occurred over the past week. Sunday night, 21-year-old Tyler James Grubb, of Henderson, was arrested for Domestic Assault with Bodily Injury/1st offense, and Child Endangerment. Bond was set at $2,000. At around 5-a.m., Sunday, Mills County Deputies arrested 28-year-old Aguilar Rito Casteneda, of Council Bluffs, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct/Threat. His bond was set at $600.

Friday afternoon, 33-year-old Sarah Marie Wentz, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested by Mills County Deputies, for Violation of Probation. And there were two arrests last Wednesday in Mills County: 39-year-old Nicholas John Horgdal, and 29-year-old Paige Marie Clark, both of Henderson, were arrested at around 12:15-a.m.  Horgdal was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. Bond was set at $7,000. Clark was charged with Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa – State Treasurer Roby Smith announces 2024 was a new record-breaking year for reuniting unclaimed property from Great Iowa Treasure Hunt with individuals and businesses.

“In 2024, we returned more than $30.9 million in unclaimed cash back to rightful owners and beneficiaries – shattering the previous record set in 2022 by more than $6.5 million,” said Smith. “As the State’s Banker, one of my favorite things to do is return unclaimed property and money back to Iowans. With more than $587 million currently in safekeeping, I encourage all Iowans to search for their name at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov and see if they have something to claim – even if you’ve done so before.”

Coins and property abstract from unclaimed safe deposit boxes.

Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property. Each year, millions of dollars in abandoned property are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office after financial institutions and businesses lose contact with the owner. Examples include forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds and safe deposit box contents. The State Treasurer’s Office safekeeps these assets and works to reunite owners and heirs with their unclaimed property through Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.

To see if you have unclaimed property in Iowa, visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up-to-date on all areas of the office.

(Radio Iowa) – Blood from eastern Iowa donors is now helping struggling hospitals in the Los Angeles area, as the still-burning wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives. Amanda Hess, spokeswoman for ImpactLife in Davenport, says they’re part of a national coalition of blood centers that routinely share supplies wherever they’re needed. Hess says, “Our responsiveness in disaster situations, whether we’re talking about severe weather or whether we’re talking about wildfires, that is possible because of volunteer blood donors.”

Blood collection efforts in L-A and the surrounding region are very limited by the fires, but for patient care to continue, hospitals are seeking outside support. It’s the second time this month ImpactLife has been asked to support the blood supply in response to a major crisis. The first time was following the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

She says, “It’s the volunteer blood donors that give blood routinely in the days and the weeks in advance of these disaster situations that save lives when moments matter.” Hess urges Iowans to donate blood, as all blood types are needed. ImpactLife is headquartered in Davenport with offices in Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine and Ottumwa.

https://www.bloodcenter.org/