(Radio Iowa) – The number of people flying out of the state’s busiest airport went up again last year after cracking the three-million passenger mark for the first time in 2023. Airport spokesperson Sarah Hoodjer  says “We welcomed three million 176-thousand-952 passengers. So it was a two-point-six percent increase from those that we saw last year,” she says. Hoodjer those record numbers came despite the January blizzard that canceled more than 100 flights.

“We actually had to close the airport, and that hasn’t we don’t get to do that very often, which we don’t like to do, but we had that disruption, and then also that crowd strike took out quite a few flights for a couple of days as well, and flights that were incoming as well,” she says. “So with those two kind of huge disruptions, it’s amazing that we still were able to have a record-breaking year.” She says the increase in passengers coincides with an increase in stops.

“Right now, we offer flights to 33 nonstop, so that is also a record for us. So this is the first time that we’ve been able to offer that many nonstop flights. We add Boston, Jacksonville, and then Philadelphia; all three of those will be added this summer,” she says. Hoodjer says they only have a breakdown through the first quarter of last year, and the top destination out of Des Moines was Arizona.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak Monday night, arrested a man on OWI and Assault charges. Authorities say 37-year-old Bryce Michael McKinnon, whose address was previously listed as Clarinda, was arrested at around 10:15-p;m. in the 1100 block of N. 6th Street. He was taken into custody on a felony OWI/3rd offense charge, and a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Assault on a Person in certain occupation (Law enforcement) without injury. McKinnon was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Ames, Iowa) – Soybean cyst nematodes have been present in every Iowa county since 2017 and new survey results show the costly crop pests continue to spread to more counties across the country and in Canada. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Greg Tylka, a nematologist at Iowa State University, led the survey that has monitored the spread of soybean cyst nematodes, or SCN, since 2014, and found 31 counties in 10 states reported SCN for the first time between 2020 and 2023.

“It’s reasonable to conclude that increased soybean yield losses due to the nematode will follow, if not already occurring in these areas,” Tylka said in a press release about the new report. Soybean cyst nematodes are estimated to cost farmers close to $1.5 billion in lost profits, annually in North America.

SCN infestations are not always evident as the fields will often look healthy, even while the nematodes are rapidly generating, infesting the roots of the soybeans and limiting the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and produce beans.

The map, part of the Plant Health Survey on soybean cyst nematodes, shows the known distribution of SCN in the United States and Canada. Those counties and rural municipalities first reported as infested between 2020 and 2023 are shown in blue; those known as infested before 2020 are indicated in red. (Photo courtesy of the SCN Coalition)

SCN can also exasperate the effects of crop diseases, like sudden death syndrome, by causing additional stress to the plants.

Tylka hopes the survey results will alert farmers of the presence in their counties so they know to get a soil test and figure out how to farm with SCN.

There is little a farmer can do to prevent SCN from entering or leaving a soybean field. The nematodes live in the soil and therefore can spread anytime soil moves. Even a dust storm could carry SCN from one county to the next.

There is  also no way to completely eliminate SCN from a field, so farmers have to rely on crop rotations and SCN resistant soybean varieties to minimize the effects of SCN.

Rotating corn into the field helps to manage some of the SCN population since the nematodes will only feed on soybeans.

Soybean varieties with PI 88788 genetics have been the dominant SCN resistant varieties for the past several decades, but SCN populations have begun to develop a resistance to PI 88788 due to its heavy use.

Tylka’s research with ISU showed that the number of SCN resistant varieties using Peking genetics have more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, which he said gives farmers more opportunity to rotate Peking and PI 88788 varieties.  Tylka said at a media event in November 2024 that the rotation of SCN resistant varieties is vital to the long-term management of the nematodes, as it will prolong the time it will take SCN populations to develop resistance.  “I am terrified about losing Peking,” Tylka said, noting that while Peking has good resistance now, it will probably lose effectiveness within five to six seasons.

“My message is, farmers must not abandon 88788, but rotate it with Peking,” Tylka said.

Farmers can also make use of fall soil tests that measure SCN presence and resources from the SCN Coalition, including a profit checker, that estimates a farmer’s losses per field due to SCN factors.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency affirmed its November decision to add seven additional segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters, following a public comment period.  The EPA announced in November it had partially approved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ assessment of surface water quality in the state and called for the inclusion of additional segments on the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa and South Skunk rivers, based on measured levels of nitrate.

Per EPA documentation, a vast majority of the public comments submitted were in favor of the EPA decision. DNR, which monitors and compiles the impaired waters list every two years, per the Clean Water Act, called EPA’s assessment “illegal” since nitrate is not officially listed as a “toxic pollutant” under the Clean Water Act.

Once a segment is designated as impaired, a total maximum daily load, or TMDL, of the excessive pollutant is established and contributing polluters are allocated a share of this load to help bring down the total concentration. Lyon also argued EPA did not provide reasoning, data or methodology for its decision. In its comment, submitted Dec. 19, DNR requested EPA withdraw its decision to add the seven segments, or otherwise establish loads that are consistent with federal code and allow the public to review and comment on it.

The Raccoon River from the Bill Riley Trail in Des Moines on Dec. 28, 2024. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

In the EPA response to DNR, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Fertilizer Institute, which all wrote comments opposing the decision, the agency acknowledged the water quality standards and assessment approaches toward nitrates “vary across states.” The agency points to Iowa water quality standards that say “all substances toxic or detrimental to humans” or to the water treatment process are to be limited to “nontoxic or nondetrimental concentrations.” EPA said it used this water quality standard to justify the additional segments, because water treatment facilities must use “additional treatment” to meet drinking water nitrate standards, per its own code.

EPA said it gathered data from DNR’s own reports and public data from Des Moines Water Works, which was among several public water suppliers that submitted comments supporting the EPA decision. EPA said it “adhered to all legally applicable requirements” in its action.

EPA said it received 83 comments about the decision, 72 of which were in support of including the additional seven segments to Iowa’s impaired water list.

Environmental advocacy groups, including the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, Iowa Environmental Council and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement were among supportive commenters. The same groups submitted a letter to EPA in the fall, urging the agency to take action on protecting drinking water sources from nitrate pollution.

A spokesperson for Iowa DNR declined to comment on the EPA decision.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (KCRG) – A Texas man was arrested in Indianapolis and is facing charges for allegedly threatening former Hawkeye basketball star Caitlin Clark.  ABC reports 55-year-old Michael Lewis is charged with stalking after the Marion County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office said he sent “numerous threats and sexually explicit messages to Clark via his social media accounts.”

The messages were sent over X between Dec. 16, 2024 and Jan. 2, according to an affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

ABC reports investigators were able to trace the messages from the X account to an IP address at an Indianapolis hotel. The affidavit also says Clark does not know Lewis, nor has she responded to his messages, and that she has been fearful for her safety since receiving the messages.

Michael Lewis, of TX

(Winterset, Iowa)  – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Redfield died during a crash Monday afternoon. The accident was reported by a caller to 911 at around 3:50-p.m.  The crash took place in the 1700 block of Pitzer Road.

Authorities say 70-year-old David Boots, of Redfield, the lone occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead. An investigation determined Boots’ vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment. The exact cause of the crash is on-going and a medical issue preceding the crash has not been ruled out. An autopsy with the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny has been scheduled.

Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page photo

Assisting the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at the scene was the Earlham Fire & Rescue, Madison County Ambulance, Madison County Medical Examiner’s Office and Madison County Emergency Management.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has offered very few clues about the policy agenda she’ll outline tonight (Tuesday) in the annual “Condition of the State” speech at the statehouse. In the past, Reynolds has used the speech to unveil tax policies. During a Republican party fundraiser on Monday morning, she reviewed a few of them. “I’m really proud of what we’ve done,” Reynolds said, “and as you all know, we’re not done yet.” But that was it for hints about taxes. Late last year, Reynolds said she would ask legislators to address cell phone use in Iowa schools.

This month, New Hampshire’s new Republican governor used her inaugural address to call for a ban on cell phones from New Hampshire classrooms. Last summer, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved seven MILLION dollars in state funding so Arkansas schools could buy phone storage pouches or locks.

By the end of 2024, at least 19 states had policies in place that ban or restrict cell phone use in schools.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver has delivered his first speech in the Iowa Capitol after announcing last May that he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. “The news recently has been encouraging. The tumor is getting smaller,” Whitver said. “I still have a long ways to go before the tumor is behind me, but I will continue to battle it with everything I have.”

Whitver has led Senate Republicans since 2018 and Republican senators re-elected him as their leader in November. In December, a spokesman for Whitver said multiple scans this fall showed the tumor was shrinking and — after completing radiation treatments — Whitver was undergoing a series of drug therapy treatments. During an interview with Radio Iowa last month, Whitver thanked Iowans who’ve sent him well wishes.

He expanded on those sentiments yesterday (Monday) in a speech on the floor of the Iowa Senate. “I begin my speech today with a thank you to each person in this room and across this state who has taken time out of their day to say a prayer for me, offer a kind word or support me and my family as I continue to battle this brain tumor,” Whitver said. “…I appreciate your continued prayers and support as I keep walking down this path,” Whitver said. “My wife Rachel, my kids…and my mother-in-law…they’re all here as well and I thank them for their love and support over a very difficult year.”

Senator Jack Whitver (official photo)

Whitver acknowledged the standing ovation that followed, but cut it off after half a minute — telling the Senate it was time to get to work. Whitver, a lawyer and small business owner who grew up in Grinnell and played football at Iowa State, is 44 years old. He’s been a state senator for the past 14 years.

(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.