MUSCATINE CO., Iowa (KWQC) – A Minnesota man charged in a double murder was arrested in Muscatine County after a three-county chase on Sunday. Randy Zimmerman, 45, of rural Courtland, Minnesota, was arrested on suspected double murder after authorities stopped him in southeastern Iowa, said authorities in Brown County, Minnesota. He is accused of shooting 50-year-old Justin Reinarts and 32-year-old Tabitha Trescott in Hanska, Minnesota.

He was charged with second-degree murder on Monday. Only a grand jury can indict someone with first-degree murder in Minnesota. Louisa County Sheriff Brandon Marquardt said Zimmerman was seen in Washington County and deputies followed him into Louisa County.

Deputies chased Zimmerman into Muscatine County, Marquardt said, where a Louisa County deputy rammed into him. He then ran through a field, where he was taken into custody. He said Zimmerman fired at a Louisa County deputy and missed, so no one was injured. Zimmerman is in the Louisa County Jail, but Marquardt said Minnesota authorities were coming to speak with him and try to get more information.

(Radio Iowa) – The camp in eastern Iowa’s Jones County that’s enjoyed by nearly ten-thousand kids and adults with disabilities every year will soon be under new leadership. Monticello native Craig Stadtmueller is being named the new director and C-E-O of Camp Courageous in Monticello. Stadtmueller, who’s currently director of the Jones County Regional Center at Kirkwood Community College, calls the new position a dream come true. “I have the great fortune of coming from one great and exceptional organization to another,” Stadtmueller says. “One of the things in my life that I’ve always been looking for more opportunities is to work with individuals with disabilities. That’s always been something that’s been big on my wish list and on my heart.”

Stadtmueller grew up on a farm about seven miles from the camp, and he notes, his older sister, Kim, is a longtime camper at the facility. He says he’s long yearned to be able to better serve that community. Stadtmueller says, “I never anticipated it would be in this role, but this really is the culmination of a lot of hopes and dreams to be able to bring an impact to individuals and families with disabilities.” He’ll be replacing Charlie Becker, who’s served for 45 years as the camp’s C-E-O and director. Becker says he’s thrilled with the coming changes. “All this is just falling into perfect place like my whole life has, and I think the world of Craig Stadtmueller,” Becker says. “When I asked Craig to please apply because I thought so much of him, between having a a sister that’s a camper and his integrity and his whole family are just wonderful people. I just feel so good that he’s accepted the job.”

Under Becker’s leadership, the camp has grown from five buildings to 35, from 40 acres to 400, and from a few hundred campers to nearly ten-thousand every year. Stadtmueller will take over on January 5th.

(Radio Iowa) – Food banks across Iowa are seeing exceptionally high demand since SNAP payments temporarily ended this past weekend due to the federal government shutdown. Julia Nelson, with the Hamilton County Social Service office in Webster City, says people who are being impacted by the interruption in SNAP benefits should plan ahead for long lines at Iowa food pantries. “Yes, absolutely,” Nelson says. “We do have a lot of low-income people here in Hamilton County and that is a huge impact for those people.” According to the latest study from the group Feeding America, 12-percent of all Iowans and almost 17-percent of Iowa children face food insecurity. That translates to 385-thousand people who don’t know where they will find their next meal, including 120-thousand children. Nelson says the only avenue left for many SNAP recipients is to use community food pantries until the government reopens.

“Honestly, as of right now, I sadly believe that the only help that we can get right now is the food banks that we have around town here,” Nelson says, “which, luckily, we do have quite a few.” Ryan Bobst is the executive director of the North Liberty Community Food Pantry. “I think there’s a lot more neighbors that are seeking assistance now, in anticipation of the SNAP cuts going into effect because of the government shutdown, so now that they are experiencing that, we will see what this week brings,” he says. A woman who gave her first name — Chakia — but declined to give her full name was at the North Liberty Community Food Pantry yesterday (Monday). She had hoped the government shut down would end so she could get enough food to feed her four children, two of who have special needs.

“Of course that didn’t work out, so especially with Thanksgiving coming, it’s not ideal,” she said. The 63-thousand Iowans who receive Women, Infants and Children benefits have continued to receive payments during the shutdown, but the nearly 271-thousand Iowans who received SNAP benefits in September and October are affected. Federal data shows 14-point-four percent of the residents of Des Moines County in southeast Iowa received SNAP in September — the highest percentage of any Iowa county. The unemployment rate in Des Moines County — the Burlington area — was five-point-two percent in August.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Malvern was arrested Monday night in Red Oak, on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Red Oak Police report 49-year-old Lisa Marie Elliott was arrested in the 1600 block of N. Broadway at around 9:50-p.m. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. Red Oak Police were assisted in handling her arrest by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The first November meeting of the Atlantic City Council is set to take place 5:30-p.m. Wed., Nov. 5th, in the Council’s Chambers inside the Atlantic City Hall. On their agenda is a Public Hearing on the Transfer and Sale of 3032 Birch Street, a property owned by the City. City Administrator John Lund says Randy C. Clark has submitted a bid for the property in the assessed amount of $5,600. No other bids have been received to-date. Clark has taken care of the property by mowing it since it was acquired by the City. Following the public hearing, the Council will move to adopt a Resolution executing the sale of the property.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on passing a Resolution “Authorizing Adoption of Amended and Restated Policies and Procedures regarding Municipal Securities Disclosure,” which the City’s Finance Attorney says needed to be updated to reflect laws that were changed in 2019, pertaining to Municipal Bonds.

The Council will also act to pass a Resolution “Assessing Unpaid Fees and Costs to Property Taxes,” with regard to billing for the cleanup of nuisance properties with garbage, junk, tall grass and weeds. The City will formally charge costs relating to the abatement of such nuisances in the same manner as assessed property, if fines and/or cleanup costs are not paid by the property owner after being informed of their responsibility to take care of their property.

City Administrator John Lund will discuss a request by the Atlantic Bottling Company to eliminate all parking on the east side of their plant at 2nd and Walnut, to make semi traffic safer and more efficient. The request includes removal of 11 parking stalls currently in existence on the east side of Walnut Street, north of 2nd.

Each monthly meeting focuses on a key health topic identified in the 2025 Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment and aligns with both the Cass County Community Health Improvement Plan and the Iowa State Health Improvement Plan. The alignment, officials say, ensures that Healthy Cass continues to address local health priorities while supporting statewide goals for a healthier Iowa.

Healthy Cass County logo

• November 10, 2025: Awareness of Community Resources — Rent, utilities, emergency relief, and other supports.
• December 8, 2025: Cass County Cancer Rates — Screenings, prevention, and survivorship.
• January 12, 2026: Community Health Improvement Plan Review — Learn about the 2025–2028 Cass County health priorities and get involved.
• February 9, 2026: Volunteerism Task Force Recap — Hear from the task force about efforts to strengthen volunteerism in Cass County.
• March 9, 2026: Food Equity — Making healthy food accessible for all.
• April 13, 2026: Family-Oriented Full Circle Resource Navigation — From crisis to careers: helping families reach stability.
• May 11, 2026: Senior Services — Redefining senior centers in rural Iowa.
• June 8, 2026: Substance Misuse Resources in Cass County — Local and regional resource awareness.
• July 13, 2026: Mental Wellness: Community Awareness & Resources.
• August 10, 2026: Local Food & Healthy Eating — Nutrition, access, and health promotion.
• September 14, 2026: Health Promotion through Collaboration — Building partnerships that strengthen Cass County’s well-being.
• October 12, 2026: No Meeting (Annual Planning Month).

(Radio Iowa) – Congressman Randy Feenstra says he’ll join other House Republicans to meet by phone this (Tuesday) morning to review the Trump Administration’s response to federal judges who ordered the government to pay SNAP benefits. The administration’s plan is to provide about half of the normal monthly payment to households that qualify for federal food assistance through SNAP.

“We’ve got to get SNAP benefits rolling again,” Feenstra said. “Trump said that, you know, we’re going to get partials done here. I’m saying, ‘Hey, let’s open the government.’ And hopefully we can get that done by Thursday.” The Trump Administration has said there will likely be delays until SNAP benefits are distributed electronically to debit cards SNAP recipients use to buy food. Just over four-and-a-half BILLION dollars in a U-S-D-A contingency fund will be used.

Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) toured the Food Bank of Iowa on Nov. 3, 2025. (RI photo)

“It’s shameful for government to have been shut down. It really is and it puts people in a pinch. We see that with the SNAP program. We see that with people getting furloughed or people not getting a paycheck right now, right?” Feenstra said. “It all comes down to we have to open the government. And it’s painful to see somebody that’s not going to have food or have food insecurity or go to bed tonight going: ‘Am I going to have enough dollars to buy groceries.'” Feenstra, who is running for governor, spoke to reporters yesterday (Monday) after a tour of the Food Bank of Iowa, which serves 700 organizations in 55 Iowa counties.

“It’s concerning that 10% of our population is worried about food and food insecurity and worried about poverty,” Feenstra said. “…We have to continue as a state looking at that and how we can continue to grow.”Feenstra’s campaign announced last yesterday (Monday) that an event will be held next Monday night in Feenstra’s hometown of Hull to formally kick-off his bid for governor.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says downtown Atlantic, which is listed as Travel Iowa’s number one Christmas destination, shines bright each year with nearly 200,000 lights spanning six blocks. It’s a scene straight out of a Hallmark movie, with twinkling streets, warm shop windows, and a community overflowing with holiday cheer. Chamber Executive Direcor Kelsey Beschorner says she looks forward to Christmas in Atlantic every year, because “It’s such a special time for our community. Families come from all over to experience the magic of our downtown, enjoy free holiday activities, and shop our fantastic locally owned businesses. It truly captures the spirit of the season in Atlantic.”

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced Gregg Young of Atlantic is the presenting sponsor for this year’s Christmas festivities. Beschorner says “We’re thrilled to partner with Gregg Young of Atlantic to help bring this beloved tradition to life. Their support helps make each event even more memorable.”

The celebration begins this Saturday, November 8th with the Holiday Open House. Local retailers will open their doors for a festive preview of the season featuring treats, giveaways, and special promotions. For the ninth year, the Chamber will offer AtlantiCash at a discounted rate as part of the Holiday Promotion, sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cappel’s Ace Hardware and Akin Building Centers. Kelsey Beschorner says “Last year $40,000 worth sold in just 45 minutes. Every dollar goes right back into local businesses, which is what makes this program so impactful.”

For one day only, on Saturday, November 8th, discounted AtlantiCash will be available from 9 AM to 12 PM (or while supplies last) at the Chamber. Packs of $100 in AtlantiCash will be sold for $80, with a limit of three packs per person.

The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by Atlantic Municipal Utilities, takes place Thursday, November 20th at 5 PM at the Historic Rock Island Depot. Santa will make a special arrival at 5:30 PM to help light up downtown and visit with children in his cabin from 6 to 7:30 PM at City Park.

The Lighted Parade and Fireworks, one of Atlantic’s most cherished traditions, will be held Saturday, December 6th, starting at 6 PM. Parade entries can be submitted by filling out the form and emailing it to chamber@atlanticiowa.com. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. The parade and fireworks are sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, NISHNANET, McDermott Roofing, and Rush, CPA & Associates.

Before the parade, families can visit Santa’s Cabin for hot chocolate, treats, and horse-drawn carriage rides from 3 to 5:30 PM, sponsored by Lloyd & Meredith, Roland Funeral Home, and Heritage House. Visit www.atlanticiowa.com for Santa’s full schedule. Santa’s Cabin is sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club, Farmhouse & Flowers, Coyote Will Wind, Heritage House, and Akin Building Centers.

The Angel of Christmas Award is another cherished tradition that recognizes a community member, or organization, who embodies the true spirit of giving during the holiday season. This heartwarming honor celebrates those who go above and beyond to spread kindness, joy, and generosity throughout the Atlantic area. Nominations are due to the Chamber by November 29th, and the award is proudly sponsored by Cass Health.

Updates and event details can be found at www.atlanticiowa.com or on the Chamber’s Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat pages. Residents and visitors are encouraged to share the holiday spirit using #MyAtlanticIA on Facebook and Instagram (@AtlanticIowaFan). For additional information, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or 712-243-3017.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Eddie Andrews says if he’s elected governor, he’d push to address water quality issues — but would maintain the state’s voluntary approach to controlling nitrogen contamination of Iowa waterways. “They call it kind of the bully pulpit for a reason. You can have a soft bully pulpit,” Andrews says. “…Everyone needs clean water — it is a basic human need, right? Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, we all need clean water and once we understand the importance of that, I think we can make the case that it will be widely used.”

The voluntary Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was adopted in 2013, to encourage farmers to take steps to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. Andrews is a state representative from Johnston, a Des Moines suburb. The Des Moines Water Works ran its nitrate removal plant for 110 days this summer and banned lawn watering. The utility’s officials say they took that step to ensure there would be enough drinking water for its 600-thousand customers. Andrews says it’s a statewide problem that requires a statewide discussion.

State Representative Eddie Andrews, a GOP candidate for governor, on the “Iowa Press” set at Iowa PBS. (Iowa PBS photo)

“You start with farmers who are doing their best to be good stewards of the land and to simultaneously increase their crops,” Andrews says, “so I think it’s going to take a sit down of all of us, all parties involved.” Andrews says it may require more use of cover crops and other styles of farming and he’s assembled a group of people to come up with a plan that he’d try to implement if elected. “We bring everyone to the table and talk about pros and cons, but really addressing why nitrates are in the water,” Andrews says.

Andrews made his comments during a recent appearance on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.

(Radio Iowa) – Temperatures have already been dipping below freezing in several Iowa cities, prompting some of us to bring our space heaters out of storage to warm up our homes at night. Lieutenant John Nelsen, of the Sioux City Fire Rescue, says it’s a bad idea to leave those devices on 24-7.

“We definitely don’t recommend you leaving on the space heater, especially when you’re sleeping,” Nelsen says. “We encourage you to shut them off when you leave a room if you’re the last one in the room. You never know if you have a pet in there that could knock a blanket or something closer to the space heater that could potentially cause it to start a fire.”

Nelsen says to never run your space heater near combustibles, like newspapers or magazines. He suggests keeping at least a three-foot ring of clearance around the devices. Also, Nelsen says you shouldn’t be surprised if your smoke detector goes off as you switch on your space heater or furnace for the first time.

“Especially in the winter time, we start using those space heaters that have been stored all year, start kicking on furnaces,” Nelsen says. “We’re going to have our smoke detectors start chirping just because from the dust that’s accumulated on those appliances.”

He says it’s also important to snuff out any candles you have burning before heading to bed, noting, a few recent fire calls in Sioux City were due to unattended candles.