(Sioux City, Iowa) – Briar Cliff University in Sioux City will offer full or partial tuition coverage for certain students through new scholarship programs. The private university announced Monday in a news release that it has launched two new scholarships aimed at Pell-eligible and Catholic students — The Iowa Commitment and the Catholic Connection Scholarship.

Students who qualify for maximum federal aid through the Pell Grant program and meet Briar Cliff’s admissions requirements will have their tuition and mandatory undergraduate fee covered through The Iowa Commitment, according to the release. The scholarship will renew for students who remain at the university full-time, stay in good academic standing and maintain their Pell Grant eligibility. The Catholic Connection Scholarship provides a 60% tuition discount to students who identify as Catholic, according to the release. Students can receive the discount for up to four years as long as they keep a minimum 2.0 grade-point average. According to the release, The Catholic Connection Scholarship’s goal of supporting Catholic students “aligns with the University’s mission to nurture academic excellence and spiritual growth rooted in Catholic faith and Franciscan values.”

(Photo courtesy of Briar Cliff University via the Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Both scholarships reinforce the college’s “unwavering commitment to fostering educational opportunities and building a supportive environment for students,” according to the release, by lowering barriers and investing in students’ futures.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two young adults were arrested late Tuesday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 19-year-old Dea Rose Anderson, of Creston, and 20-year-old Brayden Eugene Johnson, of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 4:20-p.m., in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, in Red Oak. Both were charged with Theft in the 5th Degree. Johnson was additionally charged with being a Minor In Possession (MIP) of alcohol.  Anderson and Johnson were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond, each.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is raising concerns about Iowa’s cancer rate and about cell phone use in schools and vehicles — and proposing legislation. Governor Reynolds delivered the annual “Condition of the State” address last (Tuesday) night at the Capitol, outlining her policy priorities for the year. She’s asking legislators to require that public schools, at a minimum, ban students from using cell phones while they’re in class. “Of course there’ll be common sense exceptions, like during an emergency, but the evidence is in and it’s time to act. Let’s make sure the classroom is a place for learning, growth and connection,” Reynolds said. “Let’s pass this bill and give students their best chance at success.”

Reynolds says it’s time for legislators to require motorists to only use a cell phone in hands-free or voice-activated mode while driving. “Cell phones are a distraction in the classroom. They’re deadly on the highway,” Reynolds said. “…Let’s finally pass legislation that requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and away from their phones.” Later in the speech, Reynolds told the crowd her husband’s lung cancer is in remission and she praised Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver for his fortitude as he undergoes treatment for a brain tumor.

“Every case of cancer is a tragedy and I’m concerned by the data showing that these tragedies disproportionately affect Iowans,” Reynolds said. “Our state has ranked second for new cancer cases two years running and we’re one of just two states with rising rates.” Reynolds is asking lawmakers for a million dollars to support University of Iowa research into the factors that may play a role in Iowa’s cancer rates. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but we need to get to the bottom of this,” Reynolds said. “Iowans don’t need more speculation. They need answers.”

Reynolds submitted her overall state budget plan to lawmakers yesterday (Tuesday). It includes nearly 14 million dollars for disaster aid. Most would go toward repairing homes hit by historic floods and powerful tornadoes last year. “I’ll never forget the devastation and the heartbreak, but I also witnessed Iowans lifting each other up,” Reynolds said, “volunteers clearing debris, residents comforting neighbors and first responders and local officials working around the clock.” The governor is proposing a tax exemption for developers building homes in communities hit by those disasters.

Gov. Kim Reynolds in her Condition of the State address Jan. 14, 2025 (RI Photo)

The governor is again recommending a cut in the tax Iowa businesses pay into the state trust fund that pays out unemployment benefits, but she is NOT making a recommendation on how legislators should approach their debate about property tax relief. However, the governor is issuing an executive order to create a task force to find more efficiencies in both state and local government. “Because to pass meaningful property tax reform, we also need to be lean at the local level,” she said.

House Speaker Pat Grassley isn’t surprised Reynolds did not offer her own plan to limit property tax growth, but Grassley says the governor will be a partner as Republican legislators review options. “She just knows, like we do, it’s a very complex, complicated issue that may take a couple of different versions,” Grassley says. Democrats like House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst say the governor failed to address long-term housing needs throughout the state or how to make child care more affordable for Iowa parents.

“I don’t think that we need to be talking about giving corporations another tax cut right now,” Konfrst said. “What we need to do is talk about how we can help the thousands of Iowans that have been laid off in the past year.” Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says rather than cutting the taxes businesses pay to support unemployment benefits, the number of weeks Iowans are eligible for unemployment should be extended. “It seems like every other day you pick up a newspaper or you listen to the news and you hear of another layoff,” Weiner said. “…How are they going to get back up on their feet?”

Last year, Governor Reynolds signed a bill that cut the maximum number of weeks someone is eligible for unemployment from 26 to 16.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she will support Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the U-S Defense Department. Ernst issued a written statement of support after Hegseth appeared yesterday (Tuesday) at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ernst says our country’s next commander-in-chief selected Hegseth to serve in this role. And after speaking with Hegseth and hearing from Iowans, she will vote to confirm him as Secretary of Defense.

Senator Joni Ernst. (photo from Armed Services Committee video)

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is the first female combat veteran elected to the U-S Senate and she initially raised concerns about Hegseth’s views on women in the military. Yesterday, Hegseth told senators he supports women serving in combat roles as long as they meet the same standards as men.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver the annual “Condition of the State” address tonight (Tuesday) and unveil her 2025 agenda for lawmakers. During a recent Radio Iowa interview, Reynolds hinted she’ll propose more streamlining in state government. “We did DOGE before DOGE was cool. We started it way ahead of Elon and Vivek,” Reynolds said. “I’m hoping they look to Iowa. We’re a great role model of what you can do and, you know, we’re just getting started.”

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are leading Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE for the federal government. Two years ago, Reynolds oversaw a reorganization plan that shrunk the number of state government agencies from 37 to 16. Last year, she dramatically reduced the number of state boards and commissions.

“There’s a lot of money in the system is what I’m finding out as we do realignment and as we look at the inefficiencies and we look at the duplicated efforts. I’ll talk a lot about that in the priorities I’m putting forward in my 2025 program,” Reynolds said. “When you look at state dollars and federal dollars — a lot of duplication there. Are we using those appropriately?”

Reynolds says taking advantage of the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, will help make state government more efficient.Her speech begins at 6-p.m. and can be seen on Iowa PBS.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags at the state capitol and all state buildings to be raised to full staff from sunrise to sunset on Jan. 20 in honor of the presidential inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. In social media posts, the Governor said “On Monday, President Donald J. Trump will be officially sworn into office as the 47th President of the United States,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Iowa will celebrate and recognize this historic change in our country’s leadership by raising our flags.”

Flags are expected to be lowered to half-staff again from Jan. 21 to Jan. 28 in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter.

(Creston, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County report the arrest on Jan. 7th, of 22-year-old David Lee Parcher. He was taken into custody on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), Possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a drug house. Parsons was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at 301 1st Street in Lorimor.

Union County Deputies arrested 31-year-old Brandon Joseph Stone on Jan. 8th. He was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County Warrant for two-counts PCS/3rd or subsequent offense.

Saturday night, 18-year-old Kolten Lee Marler was arrested at Townline and Osage in Creston. He was charged with Driving While Barred. And, 18-year-old Antoine Walter Lillie, was arrested at the same location. He was also charged with Driving While Barred.

And at around 5-p.m. Monday, Union County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31-year-old Hayley Joan Vandel at Highway 34 and Clarke-Union Ave. Vandel was charged with Driving While Barred.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A man from Cass County was cited following a single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning, in Guthrie County. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Korben Wayne Brunt, of Anita, was traveling south on Frontier Road at around 1-a.m. Saturday, when he lost control of the 2013 Chevy Impala he was driving. The vehicle entered the west ditch and came to rest.

Damage to the car was estimated at $3,000. Brunt was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and Leaving the Scene of a property damage accident. No injuries were reported.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst questioned President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense today (Tuesday) in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak says the Department of Defense is only federal agency to never pass an audit, and she asked nominee Pete Hegseth about that. “What are those steps that you will take to ensuring the Pentagon has a clean audit by the year 2028?,” she asked. Hegseth responded.

“Previous secretaries of defense, with all due respect, haven’t necessarily emphasized the strategic prerogative of an audit. And myself, my deputy secretary and others already know that a Pentagon audit, the comptroller, others central to ensuring we find those dollars that can be used elsewhere legally under the law inside the Pentagon. So you have my word. It will be a priority,” Hegseth said. Ernst is a retired veteran of the Iowa National Guard and also asked Hegseth about women serving in combat.

“They should be very, very high standards. They must physically be able to achieve those standards so that they can complete their mission,” Ernst says. “But I want to know, again, let’s make it very clear for everyone here today as Secretary of Defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles.” Hegseth says he will.

“Yes, exactly the way that you caveated it. Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat roles, given the standards remain high, and will have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded,” he says. Ernst has worked to get rid of sexual assault in the military, and also asked Hegseth about how he will handle that issue.

“As Secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?,” Ernst asked. “Senator, as we have discussed, yes, I will,” Hegseth responded. Senator Ernst faced backlash from Trump supporters after saying in December she was not yet ready to say how she would vote on Hegseth’s nomination after allegations of sexual indiscretions as well as financial irregularities at non-profit veterans groups he led.

Ernst later said they have had “encouraging conversations” and she looked forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources. Hegseth addressed the allegations during questioning at the hearing, saying he has faced a concentrated campaign by the media to try and discredit him with unnamed sources.