DES MOINES—Gov. Reynolds issued a proclamation today (Monday) setting Tuesday, January 28, 2025, as the date for a special election in Iowa Senate District 35 following the resignation of former Senator Chris Cournoyer.

Iowa Code section 69.14 outlines the authority given to the governor to set a special election. Cournoyer was serving her second term in the Iowa Senate before Gov. Reynolds appointed her lieutenant governor on December 16, 2024.

Senate District 35 is located in Clinton County, as well as parts of Jackson and Scott Counties, and includes Clinton, DeWitt, Camanche, Wheatland, Maquoketa, and Princeton.

Two Iowa State University professors recently inducted into a national organization recognizing inventors and their accomplishments said they are proud of the work they’ve done and the impacts that they’ve seen first-hand from projects they’ve led or had a hand in. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Agricultural and biosystems engineering professor Matt Darr and chemical and biological engineering professor Eric Cochran were both chosen to become National Academy of Inventors 2024 fellows, a cohort that Darr said would provide them with more connections and help them open doors for future inventors. “We’re proud of the fact that the work that we do through innovation and inventions, through patents and tech transfer, doesn’t just stop at a research lab, but ultimately does get in the hands of men and women who feed and fuel the country,” Darr said.

The National Academy of Inventors has more than 2,000 fellows in its ranks from all over the U.S., 11 of whom are from ISU, including Cochran and Darr. According to its website, the goal of the organization is to “recognize and encourage inventors with U.S. patents, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and to create wider public understanding of how its members’ inventions benefit society.”

(Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The two professors are credited with 141 patents and technology transfer licenses between them, with Darr having authored or co-authored 88 and Cochran having been involved in 53 finished patents and dozens more currently in the process of becoming official patents. Eric Cochran said he can’t discuss technical details of the patents currently under review, but his body of work so far has fallen into three categories — transforming vegetable fats into plastics, rubbers and other coatings; additives and other products for the asphalt industry, and chemical recycling of plastics.

Darr’s work is in the field of agricultural technology, he said, with his most well-known projects focused on yield data and monitoring. He likened picking his favorite product of his work to choosing a favorite child, but when it comes down to it, for him it’s all about the impact the work makes on the world and the people in it.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that said Orange City’s mandatory inspections of rental properties are unconstitutional. Attorneys for renters and landlords argued the ordinance which required city inspections of rental properties could result in warrants and police involvement if inspectors find suspicious activity. They said that could lead to “unreasonable searches and seizures” that are unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court ruling says the warrants and inspections may be justified in many situations, and the ordinance does allow options, such as private inspectors doing the inspection instead of the city getting warrants.

(Radio Iowa) – A Paton man is being held in the Greene County Jail without bond after being charged in the death of his two-month-old son.  Twenty-six-year old Nolan Roger Wilson called for emergency services back in September, saying his son had blood coming out of his mouth and was not breathing. First responders say the child was dead when they arrived. An autopsy from the state medical examiner determined the infant’s cause of death was head injuries that included multiple hemorrhages on the head and eyes. Wilson is charged with first-degree murder, child endangerment resulting in death, and domestic abuse.

Wilson’s preliminary hearing is set for December 30th.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the time of year when some Iowans like to pack the family into the minivan at dusk, switch the radio to Christmas music, and drive around town taking in the colorful holiday light displays. Triple-A-Iowa spokeswoman Meredith Mitts says if you’ll be making the rounds, remember to follow the rules of the road — and don’t stop dead on the street to take selfies. “As you’re looking at the lights, whether they’re in a residential area or a little bit more high traffic, there are still pedestrians and other drivers around,” Mitts says. “You need to remain focused about driving on the road and if you want to enjoy the lights, make sure you find a place where you can safely pull over.” Some spectacular holiday displays may rival Clark Griswold’s house, but while the lights are beautiful to look at, they can also be a dangerous distraction.

“Make sure everybody in the car is buckled up — you are still out on the road and things happen,” Mitts says. “Make sure the driver is staying focused on the road and that you are constantly scanning the area for bicyclists, pedestrians, any young children who might be playing in the snow. And then, make sure someone other than the driver is taking photos.” Many Iowa communities have professionally-lit light displays in parks, golf courses, arboretums and other locations. Some are walk-through shows, but those that are the drive-through style demand drivers stay vigilant so the jolly mood isn’t wrecked by a fender bender.  “A lot of these places have lots of vehicles so make sure you’re keeping an eye on the vehicle ahead of you and going whatever the posted speed limit is,” Mitts says. “Also, remember to turn your lights back on when you are leaving the park because generally, they have you turn them off as you’re going through the park so you can enjoy the lights better.”

She suggests you make sure to have the appropriate winter gear in the car in the event of a roadside emergency. The kit should include things like: blankets, water and snacks, a flashlight with fresh batteries, tools, a shovel, an ice scraper, jumper cables, sand and a first aid kit.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met this (Monday) morning, and approved a request from County Treasurer Brenda Wallace, for a Driver’s License Clerk wage increase of $1.34/hour, effective January 2^nd.

The Adair County Supervisors received an update from Greenfield Municipal Utilities’ Scott Tonderum, with regard to the Housing Development Committee in the aftermath of the devastating tornado that cut a swath through Greenfield earlier this year. He said they sold a good portion of their property on the south edge of Greenfield, and retained about 1.5-acres for future frontage.

Tonderum said they needed to find a place for a minimum of 100 homes.

Several of the houses that are being rebuilt, it was noted, are bigger than they were before the tornado.

In other business, the Board authorized Chairman Jerry Walker to sign the final voucher for the Section 15 Washington (Township) Culvert Repair Project, as well as the Contract and Performance Bonds for the IN6 Summerset Township Bridge, and W12 Harrison Township Culvert projects.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, today (Monday), discussed County Insurance, with Rick Taylor updating the Board on ICAP (Iowa Communities Assurance Pool). Taylor added some items to the Board’s discussion last week, with regard to damage from this year’s devastating tornadoes.

Taylor also discussed increasing the County’s liability insurance premium.

Liability covers the county if it is sued, and includes auto, general liability, public officials coverage.

No decision was made on the options at this time.The Board also received a weekly Secondary Roads Department report from Roads Superintendent, Loren Taylor.

The Board also approved appointments to County Township positions. Supervisor Donna Robinson read the motion for the Board’s approval.

Later in the meeting, the board approved an additional appointment of Diane McGrew for the Public Health Board. The Board’s next regular meeting is on December 30th at 8:30-a.m., due to the upcoming holiday.

(Creston, Iowa) – Three people were arrested on separate charges, Saturday, in Creston. According to a Creston Police report, at around 1:15-a.m., 46-year-old Cassandra Marlena Davis, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. She was cited at the scene and released on a Promise to Appear (in court).

At around 3-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 53-year-old William Jason Long, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on his Own Recognizance.

And, at around 10:25-a.m., Saturday, Police in Creston arrested 40-year-old Truston Michael Gray, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Failure To Appear on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Gray later posted a $2,000 bond before being released from the Union County Jail.

(Primghar, Iowa via KCAU) — Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa’s O’Brien County report an 18-year-old man died Saturday, after an early morning single-vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Carter Halverson, of Paulina. Authorities received a 9-1-1 call about the crash southwest of Paulina, a little after 12-a.m., Saturday.

Officials say OnStar reported their system showed airbags had been deployed and there was one person in the driver’s seat. OnStar also indicated that the vehicle had possibly rolled over. When deputies arrived on scene they found a 2023 Chevy Malibu. Halvorson – who was ejected from the car – died at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling eastbound on 500th street when it left the road and entered the north ditch. The vehicle appeared to have hit a driveway and rolled at least once.
The accident remained under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) –  First quarter earnings for Winnebago Industries were down 18 percent to 625-point-six million dollars. The company C-E-O Michael Happe (Happy) says they sold fewer units and the average selling price per unit was down to give them a net loss five-point-two million dollars, compared to net income of nearly 26 million last year. Happe says the outdoor recreation products business continues to face a difficult operating environment marked by soft retail demand and a cautious dealer network.

He says that results in lower revenues and profitability for their towable and motorhome R-V segments. Happe says recent recreational vehicle sales trends show some potential positives in the near future.