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Gov. Reynolds signs executive order establishing America 250 Task Force

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES— Today, Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order launching the Governor’s Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to honor a quarter millennium of the United States of America marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The task force, led by Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, will plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The task force will recognize Iowa’s integral role in American history and the impact of Iowans on the country’s past, present, and future.
“I am honored to officially sign an executive order launching Iowa’s Task Force Celebrating 250,” Governor Reynolds said. “Ever since President Donald Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off the 250th celebration, my administration has been working to coordinate our own year-long celebration. I look forward to showcasing the incredible contributions Iowans have made throughout our nation’s history.”
“Iowa has a prominent place in American history more than deserving of displaying for our country’s 250th birthday,” Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer said. “I want to thank Governor Reynolds for appointing me to lead this task force with the goal of acknowledging Iowa’s impact on American excellence over the years.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead Iowa’s America 250 Task Force and showcase our agricultural heritage,” Secretary Mike Naig said. “America 250 is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the people who have and continue to make our nation exceptional, as well as the values that built this country – faith, family and freedom. I look forward to working with partners across the state to highlight Iowa’s important contributions to our nation’s history over the last 250 years.”
Governor Reynolds has appointed 21 Iowans to serve as members on the Task Force Celebrating 250. They are as follows:
  • Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer
  • Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
  • Secretary of State Paul Pate
  • Department of Administrative Services Director Mark Campbell
  • Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen
  • Department of Economic Development and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham
  • Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow
  • Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon
  • Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Director Todd Jacobus
  • Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons
  • Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
  • The FAMiLY Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats
  • RMA Armament Founder and CEO Blake Waldrop
  • Stellar Industries President and CEO Dave Zrostlik
  • Cambrex (Charles City) President Joe Nettleton
The remaining four ex officio members of the task force will include one Republican and one Democrat from both the Iowa House and Senate appointed by their respective leaders.  The task force will issue a final report no later than 120 days after the issuance of the executive order.

City election results update from Adair County

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, IA) – Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg reports the City Election results have been updated to include write-in candidates that must be reported on the County abstracts. Those changes are highlighted in yellow (In the attached PDF). No write-in names need to be reported for the School election results.

Again, these results are unofficial until canvassed by the Board of Supervisors.

Unofficial Election Night Results – City with Write-Ins

Corning, Guthrie Center & Manning are among 10 communities to receive $950,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

November 6, 2025 (DES MOINES, IA) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $950,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities across the state. The grants help rehabilitate underutilized downtown buildings to stimulate economic growth and further investment in Iowa’s historic main streets.

Projects include:

  • Corning — The City is receiving a $100,00 grant for a local match of $437,530 toward a total project cost of $537,520, to rehabilitate an historic building to house a health-focused grocery store, addressing local demand for fresh, wellness-oriented foods. The project will create new jobs and serve as a model for improving food access in rural communities.
  • Guthrie Center is receiving a $50,000 grant toward restore a vacant historic building with a renewed brick façade, new windows and doors, updated systems and a refreshed interior. The finished space will be ready for a future tenant, supporting reinvestment and renewed activity in the downtown core. The grant requires a local match of $70,000 for the $120,000 project cost.
  • Manning is receiving a $100,000 Main Street Challenge Grant with a $137,200 local match toward the total project cost of $237,200, for the second phase of a project. Following a full interior renovation that brought new businesses
    to the space, the second phase will repair the building’s deteriorated exterior and add a daylit basement apartment.
    Specialized masonry work will ensure the building’s historic character is preserved

“These projects are examples of the creativity and persistence we see in communities across Iowa,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “When we invest in our main streets, we’re investing in the places where people come together — where entrepreneurs get their start, where families build memories and where the character of our communities truly shines.”

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed to the selected projects in the form of matching grants to their local Main Street programs. The estimated total cost of these 10 projects is nearly $3.6 million.

“These grants give a significant boost to excellent ideas that might not get off the ground otherwise,” said Jim Engle, director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center. “Each completed project lifts the entire district — when you see lights back on in an upper floor or a storefront filled again, it sends a strong signal that good things are happening, and more are on the way.”

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, more than $16.5 million in funding has leveraged nearly $73.5 million in further investment. Read about the other cities and their projects here: file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/MSI_2025ChallengeGrants_FINAL-1.pdf

One dead in Sergeant Bluff house fire

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – One person died in a house fire early this morning (Thursday) in Sergeant Bluff. Fire chief Anthony Gaul says they were called out to the house fire at 4:36 a-m. “Upon arrival, we did find a two-story residence with flames coming out all windows and all doors on the main level, and the second story,” he says. Gaul says they had already called for additional assistance before arriving.

One person died in a house fire Thursday in Sergeant Bluff. (photo from Sergeant Bluff PD)

“Got some additional assistance from Woodbury County Emergency Services and South Sioux City fire. We divided the fire up and unfortunately we did have a fatality in this and that is being further investigated by the medical examiner’s office,” he says.

Two investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are looking for the cause of the fire. The home is considered a total loss.

2 arrested on drug charges in Cass County (IA)

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested recently on drug charges. On Monday, Nov. 3rd, 66-year-old Tracy Brent Turner, of Elliott, was arrested in Cass County for Possession of Controlled Substances, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Turner was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on bond.
On November 2nd, 2025, 27-year-old Alexis Daominique Primathedi, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on charges of OWI 1st-Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Primathedi was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and later released on her own recognizance.
On November 3rd, 2025, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 40-year-old Thomas Lee Curtis, of Griswold on an open warrant for Violation of Probation. Curtis was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

Another GOP candidate enters race for governor

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Another Republican has entered the race for governor and it’s a candidate who says he’ll be the biggest donor to his own campaign. Zach Lahn kicked off his campaign this afternoon at his family’s century farm near Belle Plaine, which he bought in 2014 and where his family now lives. Lahn is the son of a pastor who grew up in Sioux City, got a degree in political science from Colorado University and got a job working for a member of Colorado’s state senate. He’s led campaigns for Republican candidates in Iowa and other states and has worked for the political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity.

Lahn now runs an investment business and says he’s not a politician, will be his biggest donor and can’t be bought. As governor, Lahn says he’d pursue an “Iowa First” agenda because the people who built Iowa are being pushed aside by greed and corruption. Lahn is calling for the break up big ag and big pharma monopolies that he says have rigged the system against farmers and poisoned Iowa families for generations.

Glenwood woman arrested for Domestic Assault w/injury

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, IA) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year-old Jessica Elaine Harvey, of Glenwood, was arrested Wed. night. Harvey was taken into custody in Glenwood, on a charge of Domestic Assault-Bodily Injury/1st offense. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Tom and Dianna Williams Donate to Vision Atlantic

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Vision Atlantic report Tom and Dianna Williams, of Atlantic, recently made a generous $1,000 donation to support Vision Atlantic’s transformative community development project. Having called Atlantic home for more than 45 years, the Williams family says they have seen firsthand how collaboration and community spirit can shape a thriving hometown. Their commitment – Vision Atlantic says – reflects both a love for this community and a shared belief in investing in its future growth and vitality.

(Photo: Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman alongside Tom and Dianna Williams. – Submitted by Vision Atlantic)

In a news release, Tom and Dianna Williams said “Atlantic has been home to our family for over 45 years. Our children were born and raised here, and now two of them are raising their own families in this same community. Dianna’s work in elementary education for over 36 years has fueled her passion for providing the best possible care for children and families. We’re proud to be a small part of this incredible group of visionary leaders working to expand and strengthen Atlantic. Communities can only grow and prosper when we all come together to make positive changes for the future.”

Vision Atlantic project includes a new housing development, child development center, and YMCA expansion.Read more about it at www.visionatlantic.org.

No injuries reported following an accident Wed. afternoon, in Creston

News

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say two vehicles sustained a total of $4,500 damage, but no injuries were reported following a collision Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Mills and Spruce Streets.

Authorities say a Ford SUV driven by 67-year-old Phyllis Shilling, of Greenfield, was traveling south on Spruce Street at around 2:20-p.m. As Shilling approached the intersection, she failed notice a Jeep SUV driven by 37-year-old Maggie Stuart, of Creston, who was traveling east on Mills Street. When Shilling failed to yield at the posted intersection, her SUV was struck by the Jeep on the right front side.

No citations were issued.

Forecast: Northern Iowa may get 3″ of snow on Saturday…or just rain

News, Weather

November 6th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowans could see their first snowflakes of the season this weekend. Meteorologist Dylan Dodson, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says there are still a lot of uncertainties in the forecast, especially across northern Iowa. “Because the temperature differences at the surface are going to matter a lot,” Dodson says. “One to two degrees could be the difference between rain or snow for you with this system as these typically are towards the beginning of the season.”

While today (Thursday) and Friday should feature unseasonably warm weather, the storm front will move in on Saturday, though the only sure thing is — it’ll be dropping some form of precipitation. “It’s tough to say how much we’re going to get,” Dodson says. “You could see some areas that just get all rain. There could be some areas that look at one to two, maybe even three inches of snowfall. It definitely is going to vary depending on where you’re at and what the temperature is in that area.”

While the forecast calls for parts of the state to experience low temperatures in the teens by Sunday night, highs could be back to near 60 by the middle of next week.