(Radio Iowa) – More than 500 Iowans have already requested tickets from the U-S Navy to witness the commissioning of the nation’s newest submarine — named for the state of Iowa. Mat Tanner, a retired Navy Chief submariner and executive director of the U-S-S Iowa Commissioning Committee, says former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack is the sub’s sponsor and she’ll preside over the event, scheduled for April 5th at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut.

“She’s going to get up there in front of everybody and bless the boat, have the crew man the rails for the first time, and they’re going to drop the commissioning pennant,” Tanner says. “It’s a traditional Navy ceremony. They’ll do a 21-gun salute. The navigator will get a spy class presented by one of our sub vets. It’s going to be a good day.” Officials say the three-billion dollar submarine will have a crew of 120 enlisted personnel and 14 officers. The nuclear-powered Iowa is 377-feet long and was delivered to the U-S Navy in late December. It’s continuing to be put through its paces before it’ll be ready for missions, which may take it virtually anyplace in the world.

USS Iowa near the historic Pequot Lighthouse, New London, CT (Photo from the Iowa Commissioning Committee)

“She’s going to go out and do some additional sea trials and testing for the Navy, and then she’s going to going to be out to sea for a couple months doing her thing,” Tanner says. “Can’t really go into detail about that, but she’s going to be out there doing what submarines do.” Prior to the commissioning, there will be dinners and receptions where Iowans can meet the crew. During the event where the warship “comes alive” in April, Tanner says there won’t be a bottle of champagne smashed on the bow, as that was done by Mrs. Vilsack at the christening event in June of 2023. The pier can accommodate about 18-hundred people for the commissioning ceremony, and Tanner says those attending will include members of Submarine Veterans of Iowa and other veterans groups, officials with the Battleship Iowa, government officials, and members of the general public. There’s another option if you can’t make the trip to Connecticut.

“They’re going to be doing watch parties from Iowa and multiple locations throughout the state,” he says. “So we’re going to do a live broadcast from out here and anybody that’s in Iowa that cannot make it, there will be watch parties available and they can attend those.” Tickets to the commissioning are free and must be ordered through SSN797.com. The submarine will become the fourth U.S. Navy vessel in history to be named after the state of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – The final monthly survey of supply managers for 2024 in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds the state and regional economies continuing to struggle. The Creighton University survey for December scores the economies on a zero-to-100 scale, with 50 being growth neutral. Iowa’s score fell below 41, which shows the state’s economy is slumping. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the survey tried to gauge thoughts about the looming recession.

“Forty-five percent of the supply managers indicated that we were in a recession or we’d begin a recession in the first half of 2025,” Goss says. “Another 46.3% said no recession with slow growth, while only 8.7% indicated no recession and strong growth, so only slightly less than 9% was full steam ahead.” December marked the seventh time during the year that the Midwest’s overall Business Conditions Index fell below growth neutral, and it was the third straight month that the wholesale price inflation gauge rose. The U-S dollar is starting the new year very strong, which Goss says means American manufactured goods are less competitively priced.

“We’re seeing it in terms of exports. Exports are just not looking good,” Goss says. “Of course, that tends to limit the ability of President Trump to place on tariffs. You place tariffs on top of a strong dollar, you will have some fairly significant and negative impacts on the manufacturing sector.” Goss says the nation and the region rounded out the year with widespread manufacturing job losses. The region’s employment index fell below growth neutral for the 12th straight month during December.

“The U.S. lost 73,000 jobs in 2024, that’s six-tenths of one-percent,” Goss says. “If you look at our region, the Mid-America region, it lost 4,500 jobs, or about four-tenths of one-percentage point. So both the U.S. and the regional manufacturing sector are not doing well.” Goss says concerns are rising over the potential of a January 15th longshoremen port strike and how the Midwest will be impacted. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, Iowa experienced a $1.4 billion drop in 2024 year-to-date manufacturing exports compared to the same period in 2023 for a 9.9% decline.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources remind hunters and anglers, that 2024 hunting and fishing licenses expire on Jan. 10, 2025. All hunters and anglers will need a 2025 license to hunt or fish beginning Jan. 11th.

And, Iowa’s pheasant, late muzzleloader and archery deer, and archery fall turkey seasons close on Jan. 10th. Squirrel, quail, partridge and grouse remain open until Jan. 31st. Furbearer seasons and rabbit season is open until Feb. 28th. Crow season is Jan. 14th to March 31st. Beaver trapping season closes on April 15th.

For waterfowl, the north zone dark and light goose season closes on Jan. 11th, the central zone dark and light goose season closes on Jan. 18th, and the south zone dark and light goose season closes on Jan. 25th. The light goose conservation order season is open Jan. 26th to May 1st statewide; additional regulations apply.

Don’t forget also, the Iowa DNR is hiring seasonal positions for summer 2025 in the Iowa state park and forest system. Work alongside conservation professionals building skills for careers in natural resources. Seasonal workers primarily work in the outdoors performing hands-on duties in natural resource management, park operations, visitor engagement, and/or law enforcement. Each park has unique needs depending on its natural areas, recreational opportunities and amenities.

Learn more about summer 2025 job opportunities and find out how to apply at: www.iowadnr.gov/employment

(Creston, Iowa) –  Police in Creston arrested a man Thursday night on assault and weapon charges. Authorities report 39-year-old John David Foster, of Creston, was arrested at around 7:15-p.m. at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or Subsequent Offense, and Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. Foster was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a judge.

PERRY, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the deadly shooting at Perry High School, a national organization has announced a vigil to honor the lives lost in the shooting. A scholarship fund named for one of the young victims of the tragedy has also been established. Five students and three staff members were shot by a 17-year-old student, who died by suicide following the January 4, 2024 shooting. Ahmir Jolliff, 11, died after being shot multiple times. Principal Dan Marburger died 10 days later, from injuries received in the shooting.

The One In Five Foundation For Kids, formerly The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, has announced a vigil to mark the one-year anniversary of the Perry shooting. The foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed after the deadly May 2022 shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. The non-profit is holding a nationwide vigil and a “blackout halt” to all of its operations on Saturday, January 4 beginning at 7:35 a.m., the reported starting time of the shooting in Perry.

“Our foundation continues to stand with the Perry School community as we not only remember principal Dan Marburger, but also those lives lost and altered forever following that tragic day. This hero will always be recognized for his ultimate sacrifice to his students and community – His very life,” stated a news release from One In Five Foundation For Kids.

The non-profit also announced a new scholarship fund in remembrance of Ahmir Jolliff, called “Ahmir’s Hope.” “This special scholarship available to Perry HS students will honor, remember and serve as a reminder to this nation of the impact of gun violence and the future hopes it extinguishes such as those of young Ahmir. Ahmir will not be forgotten & deserves as such. The scholarship, named in Ahmir’s honor, will be awarded annually every summer to a deserving student who shows promise in academics but moreso, who demonstrate leadership amongst their peers and communities,” stated foundation officials.

Nominations for the scholarship are open and the fund will only benefit Perry High School students. To learn how to contribute to the scholarship fund you can contact the One In Five Foundation For Kids here.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV]— Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart is seeking the role again, which is a two year term, after first winning the internal election in 2023. Iowa Democrats are coming off an election cycle where the party lost it’s already thin numbers in both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. The party failed to flip any of the four Iowa congressional seats from red to blue.

The party is holding a meeting on Saturday in Ankeny to have the Iowa Democrat Central Committee vote on who should be the party spearhead. Based off of recent election performances, there are some challengers for the spot. One is Alexandra Nikolas-Dermody from Davenport. Nikolas-Dermody has been involved in organizing political campaigns in multiple states. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Iowa Democratic Progressive Caucus, which means she is on the central committee that votes for a new chair.

Nikolas-Dermody said there needs to be an investment again in young voters and getting them engaged in the party. She also doesn’t like the lack of democratic candidates running in every corner of the state, regardless of how conservative of an area may be.

DES MOINES, Iowa/KCCI — The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting involving an officer on the city’s south side on Thursday evening. The shooting was reported just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2100 block of Meadow Court on Des Moines’ south side.

Sgt. Paul Parizek, with the DMPD, said officers went to the home to do a wanted check on someone believed to be in the home with felony warrants for domestic abuse assault and felon in possession of a firearm. Parizek confirmed officers located a man they believed to be the wanted person in the home and said the man ran from officers.

Officers followed and yelled at the man to stop and show his hands, Parizek said. He said there is video evidence from body-worn cameras that shows the man fired a handgun directly at an officer. Two officers returned the gunfire, striking the man. A third officer was on scene and did not fire a weapon, Parizek said.

There were others inside the home at the time of the incident, Parizek said. Officers began lifesaving measures and called for medics, but the man died at the scene. Parizek said the officers involved are physically OK. Per department policy, the involved officers are now on administrative assignment. The names of the individual shot and the officers have not yet been released.

The investigation is ongoing. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has brought in to lead the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined other states in a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration to stop a “green mandate” for homes. Bird says the green mandate forces strict regulations for home building and estimates show that home buyers will be forced to foot the bill for nearly 32-thousand dollars more for each new home. She says newly built homes are already designed to significantly improve energy efficiency– far surpassing the standards for older homes and the green mandate makes homes too expensive for many families for next to zero environmental benefit.

The Utah and Texas-led lawsuit says the Biden-Harris mandate is unconstitutional and exceeds the authority set by Congress. Other states in the lawsuit are: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and the National Association of Home Builders.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 7:10-p.m. Thursday, in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. According to Red Oak Police, 21-year-old Mason Dean Franzen, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Franzen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The incoming chairman of the Iowa Senate Education Committee says he supports anything that expands access to preschool. Republican Senator Lynn Evans is a retired superintendent from Aurelia. “If we’re serious about improving early childhood literacy in this state, we need to ensure our five year olds are hitting our classroom doors kindergarten ready,” Evans says. Most children, by the age of five, recognize about 10-thousand words, but research indicates children who come from low-income households tend to have a smaller vocabulary.

Some school districts are offering full-day preschool, but charging tuition to cover the hours not financed with state tax dollars. “A structured, research-based curriculum in a preschool setting for four year olds would make good sense in increasing the access for those who don’t have the financial means to do so on their own,” Evans says, “and is something that I would support.” Last year, Evans proposed that the state cover the costs of full-day preschool for children from households with an annual income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty rate. Evans says he’s been tweaking that proposal and is waiting to see what Governor Reynolds proposes. The governor will reveal her 2025 legislative agenda on January 14th.

“She also is very concerned about early childhood literacy and making sure that we have appropriate preschool environments for people that want to use that and she’s also concerned about our daycare in the state and child care access,” Evans says. “I’m going to hold off on mind and let her have an opportunity to roll out what her vision is and then maybe we can come to agreement between the two, but I would support anything that improves access to preschool.”

The state’s voluntary preschool program for four year olds provides state funding for 10 hours of instruction per week. A coalition of public and private school organizations recently formed to urge lawmakers to take the step of making a full day of preschool available to children from low income households.