DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Education released the latest enrollment numbers showing public schools continue to lose students while private schools gain enrollment across the state. Public school and public charter enrollment dropped about 1.5 percent from last year, while private school enrollment increased about 6.5 percent.

The uptick at private schools in recent years comes as Iowa launched its education savings account program in 2023, which pays qualified private school expenses, like tuition. These vouchers pay private schools up to about $8,000 per student this school year. This is the first year where all students qualify for ESAs.

About 98 percent of private school students used an education savings account voucher this year, the first year the program opened to any student in kindergarten through 12th grade regardless of income.

DES MOINES – The State Historical Society of Iowa and the University of Iowa have announced a new agreement that will maintain public access to the state’s historical collections. Public access will now be maintained by the University of Iowa Libraries.

Under the newly established memorandum of understanding, members of the public will be able to access select historical documents and images from the State Historical Society’s collection. Requests can be made to SHSI starting Jan. 1, 2026.

The agreement is similar to an interlibrary loan in practice, where requested materials will move from one repository to another upon request from a researcher or member of the public for a limited and defined period of time. The focus enables a mechanism to logistically streamline access to select materials from the State Historical Society’s Archival collections.

Leaders from both institutions say the agreement facilitates access to the State Historical Society’s collections.

Requested collections will be available during UI Special Collections and Archives Reading Room hours (M-F, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m), with access guidelines provided by SHSI. Additional details, including the process for requesting materials, will soon be posted to both institution’s websites.

DES MOINES—  Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), announced the appointments of Steve Lacy and Peter Cownie to the Iowa Board of Regents.  Steve Lacy is the former CEO of Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation. Lacy joined Meredith in 1998 as the media company’s chief financial officer before he was named chief executive officer in 2006 and executive chairman in 2018. After retiring in 2020, he became Chair-CEO Advisor and Executive Peer Board Leader at Vistage Worldwide, Inc. where he coaches and advises small and midsize businesses on the fundamentals of growth and success.

Lacy graduated from Kansas State University with a Master of Business Administration degree in 1977. In 2024, he and his wife Cathy Wiltfong Lacy were awarded the Kansas State University Medal of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed on KSU alumni, for their service and contributions to the university.

Peter Cownie served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2008 to 2018 and was a member of several legislative committees during his time in the State House, including Education, Ways & Means, State Government Efficiency, and more.

Cownie also has extensive experience in the private sector and civic leadership, with a proven record of collaboration and innovation. He has been actively involved in efforts that support economic growth, workforce development, and community advancement across Iowa.

Cownie served as President of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa from 2008 to 2013. In 2013, he was named Executive Director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, an organization that since its inception has raised more than $200 million to support more than 40 projects throughout the fairgrounds. The Des Moines Business Record named Cownie to its “40 Under 40” list in 2016.

Peter is a Des Moines native and graduate of Dowling Catholic High School. He attended the University of Virginia for an undergraduate degree and received a Master of Public Administration degree from Drake University.
Both appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she and members of the Iowa House and Senate are laser focused on taking action on property taxes during the 2026 legislative session. “Total cost of government — that’s what we’ve really focused on and the impact it has on taxpayers,” There’s a lot of duplication out there. We’ve streamlined at the state level. It’s our expectation that local governments find a way to streamline as well. There’s a lot of that going on already, but there’s a lot of opportunity out there to scale those practices as well.”

Reynolds hosted an hour-long public hearing online today (Friday) and heard suggestions from a variety of interest groups. Iowans for Tax Relief President Chris Hagenow says state officials need to “right size” local government budgets and impose a two percent yearly cap on property tax growth. “There can’t be any loopholes or carve outs for that because as we have seen over and over if you create an escape hatch, local governments will find that often. They’ll find another way to collect that revenue,” Hagenow says. “and it gets back into the problem of how much Iowans are being asked to pay. What is their total cost of government? And that’s what needs to be addressed in this system.”

Hagenow spoke earlier today (Friday) during an online budget hearing hosted by Governor Reynolds. “Property taxes is incredibly complicated and we all understand that,” Hagenow says, “but the solutions here lie not in how we pay property taxes, but how much we pay in property taxes.” Governor Reynolds and key members of the Iowa House and Senate have said property tax changes are their top priority in 2026. Some have floated ideas like freezing taxes for Iowans 65 and older, but Hagenow says that favors one class of taxpayers over another.

“That’s why we think a hard, across-the-board revenue limitation benefits everyone, whether it’s seniors or any other kind of tax type,” Hagenow said. “Let’s just provide a benefit for everyone.” The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is urging the governor to end a state property tax break for fruit orchards and timber areas. The association’s Kelli Klink says 830-thousand acres are enrolled statewide in this particular exemption. “When land comes off the tax rolls due to the fruit and forest tree reserve exemption, it places a greater tax burden on the Iowa cattlemen who own pasture and do live and work in this state and their communities.”

Representatives of other groups like the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Business Council told the governor they’re ready to work with her on property tax changes, but did not make any specific suggestions during the public hearing.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Economic Development Board approved a two-million dollar forgivable loan and tax benefits today (Friday) to help the Sioux Honey Association with 130 million dollar expansion. I-E-D-A director Debi Durham calls it a legacy project for the company and for Sioux City.

“It is an incredible investment and it really does secure their future in Iowa for the next hundred years,” she says. Siouxland Chamber president Chris McGowan told the Board the site includes the purchase of an existing warehouse and adjacent property north of the Sioux Gateway Airport. He says the city is part of the investment in the project.

“The City of Sioux City has invested or will invest more than 15 million dollars in this project. They’re leading the way in a very significant way and I believe that underscores the commitment that they have in retaining a company that has been in our community for over a hundred years,” he says. The company intends to renovate the office space in the existing warehouse and construct a new processing plan and raw goods warehouse on the adjacent property.

Sioux Honey will also relocate its Anaheim, California operations to Sioux City and create 39 new jobs and retain 75 jobs. Sioux Honey has grown to become the largest beekeeper co-op in the world.

The I-E-D-A also approved tax benefits for Morrison Weighing Systems to move its operation that produces high-speed weighing and labeling systems from Illinois to Coralville. They plan to invest nearly one-and-a-half million dollars with the creation of 11 jobs. Electro Freeze was also awarded tax incentives to relocate from Illinois to Davenport. The company manufactures food service equipment and will expand operations with the move. The seven million dollar capital investment is expected to bring 200 jobs to Davenport.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the last weekend before Christmas and the upcoming holiday gatherings could be hazardous, even life-threatening, for Iowa kids who have serious food allergies and food restrictions. Dr. Samantha Knox, a pediatric allergist at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says before you enter what could be a danger zone, contact the party’s host and be up-front in discussing any concerns.

“There could be hidden foods. There could be tree nuts or other nuts and peanuts, tree nuts mixed into things like pie crusts, cookies,” Knox says. “Milk and egg mixed into casseroles and mashed potatoes and a lot of things that are kind of hidden in a way, so we have to make sure that we are discussing with parents and that we are aware of that.” Knox says parents have to be the advocates for their own children, and that may mean preparing and taking your own food to gatherings.

If you’re throwing the party, Knox says to be responsible and plan all snacks and meals accordingly. “As a host, you may want to ask that, of any families, parents, family members, are there any food allergies?” Knox says. “I think increasingly, as I’ve been with family and friends, that is something that we all do, because food allergies can pop up. We’ve got younger kids, we’ve got older, there’s different types of food allergies, or food restrictions, too, and intolerances.” Those intolerances could include restrictions involving dairy or gluten. Knox says it’s important to be vigilant, and it may take a little extra work to keep everyone safe.

“I think it’s always best to either label it, so if you’re crafty, you can make a little sign that says what it contains, so parents can read it, but obviously the kids that might be around mobilizing just keeping it out of reach, and then also making sure that people just know,” she says. “You’ve got to let them know what’s in the food.” It may be easier to put all foods that may contain allergens on a separate table. Knox says a simple rule is, if you don’t know what’s in the food, don’t eat it.

Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa D-N-R State Veterinarian Rachel Ruden says the cold weather freezing up waterways likely led to the deaths of Canada geese in southwest Iowa from avian influenza. Dr. Ruden says the birds grouped together on the remaining open water at Green Valley Lake and Lake of Three Fires. “A lot of places really closed up in terms of the open water, closed up in the past week with all the cold weather. Now that it’s warming up again, we can expect that the birds won’t have to congregate in as high of numbers, at least they maybe will distribute, you know more across the landscape, which can really help quell an outbreak,” she says. She says the forecast is calling for warmer temperatures, which would keep the water open and spread the birds out.

“We just have to kind of see where the winter goes, but if this year operates anything like last year, by early January, we really saw. outbreak activities subside,” Ruden says. Ruden says she first heard of mass deaths of snow geese in the Dakotas from avian influenza at the end of November. She says the pattern has been for deaths then happening in Missouri, and these deaths in Iowa are rare. “We have a lot of just eyes on the ground in the Des Moines metro, so we’re usually getting reports out of there. But southwest Iowa and really even southeast Iowa, we just don’t get many reports of mass mortality events south of I-80,” Ruden says. She asks the public to report any sick birds or dead birds.

“Either to the local wildlife biologist for that county or the county conservation officer so we can track those impacts, you know what species are being impacted,” she says. “We primarily see Canada geese, but we certainly see others animals that might be consuming the affected carcasses. So things like Red Tail Hawks are quite common to see also involved in these influenza outbreaks.” Ruden says you shouldn’t handle or touch sick or dead animals. “A lot of people have that impulse to help an animal in need, which is a wonderful impulse, but when there’s a infectious disease that can actually infect people as well, we really we advise you to keep your distance, report it,” she says. Ruden says once you report it the professionals will take over and handle it.

At least 60 geese died at the two southwest Iowa Lakes and testing confirmed it was from bird flu.

(Atlantic, IA) – A Special Meeting of the Atlantic School Board will take place beginning at 8:30-a.m. Monday, Dec. 22nd, in the Middle School Conference Room (1100 Linn St.). During their meeting, the School Board will act on the following matters:

a. Consideration of authorizing the Superintendent to publish the Notice of Intent (NOI) to enter into a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract with a Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR), as presented [with regard to District facilities].

b. Consideration of authorizing the Superintendent to publish a Request for Statements of Qualifications (RFQ) for Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) services on January 7, 2026, pending review by legal counsel.

The next REGULAR meeting of the Atlantic School Board, is on January 14th, 2026, beginning at 6-p.m., in the High School Media Center.

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Ankeny man was sentenced yesterday, December 18, 2025, to three years’ imprisonment for making false declarations in a bankruptcy proceeding. Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa say, according to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, 61-year-old Louis Grant Peterson, also known as “Chip Peterson,” was the former owner of Legacy Siding and Windows, an exterior construction company based in Ankeny. While operating that company, Peterson engaged in a pattern of taking customer deposits—hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth—and not completing work as promised. Peterson later admitted to the FBI that he spent the victims’ money on “gambling” and “irresponsible spending.” Peterson had been criminally prosecuted for similar conduct in the past, including a 2024 conviction for theft in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County in which Peterson received a more than $50,000 down payment and then failed to complete the work.

After accumulating nearly $1 million in unsecured debt, Peterson filed for bankruptcy. In those bankruptcy proceedings, Peterson lied about his employment, businesses, income, bank accounts, tools, equipment, electronics, and jewelry, among other things. Peterson later admitted to the FBI that he had “no idea” where he got the numbers he claimed as income. Peterson further admitted that he had not paid taxes for several years.

Even after being federally indicted, Peterson accepted a $17,000 deposit for a window installation that he never completed. He eventually paid the money back after the victims filed a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors welcomed Coyote Willow Wind, a wind energy project based in Cass and Audubon Counties, as a new Chamber member on Thursday, December 18th, 2025. The Ambassadors visited with representatives from Apex Clean Energy, the developer exploring the feasibility of the Coyote Willow Wind project, to learn more about the initiative and its potential benefits for the local community. Coyote Willow Wind is a proposed wind energy project designed to generate clean, renewable electricity while supporting economic growth in southwest Iowa. The project is designed to work alongside existing agricultural operations, allowing landowners to continue farming while receiving stable, long-term lease payments that support family farms and rural businesses.

Jared Beckstrom, Senior Development Manager with Apex Clean Energy, shared that landowner partnerships are central to the project’s success. Participating landowners are compensated for turbines as well as access roads and infrastructure, creating additional income while preserving productive farmland. The project is expected to bring local investment during construction and provide long-term jobs to support ongoing operations and maintenance. In addition to landowner benefits, Coyote Willow Wind is expected to generate increased tax revenue that can support local schools, infrastructure, and public services. The project emphasizes transparency and community engagement through open communication, informational meetings, and ongoing outreach to ensure the project reflects local values.

Ambassadors Pictured (Left to Right): Emily Kennedy, Jen McEntaffer, Melissa Ihnen, Lana Westphalen, Sue Liston, Elaine Otte, Kathie Hockenberry, Chris Park, Brittani Santee, Dolly Bergmann, Jennifer Lowers, Kelsey Beschorner, Bre Preis, Grace McAfee, Jeff Christensen, Bryan Pearson, Corey Eberling, Jared Beckstrom – photo courtesy of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Ambassadors appreciated learning how renewable energy development can strengthen rural economies while respecting landowners, the environment, and community priorities. As a new Chamber member, Coyote Willow Wind looks forward to building partnerships and being an active participant in Cass County.

The Coyote Willow Wind office is located at 405 Market Street in Audubon. For more information, visit https://www.coyotewillowwind.com/