(Story from Radio Iowa) – Organizers say there were rallies in at least 45 Iowa cities and towns on Saturday — part of a nation day of protest against Trump Administration policies. State Representative Rob Johnson of Des Moines greeted thousands at the state capitol in Des Moines.”In 10 years our children will look back and say, ‘You did something to protect our future, and I think thank you for it,'” Johnson said, to cheers. It was the second time this year a national coalition of progressive groups organized “No Kings” rallies.

“They told me that this wasn’t patriotic,” Johnson said, “but I’m here to tell you this is the most patriotic thing we’re going to do today,” Johnson said, to cheers. Renee Lietz is with Operation Grassroots, which helped organize a protest in Maquoketa that drew dozens of people.

There have been two ‘No Kings’ rallies at the Iowa Capitol this year.

“We’ve got our small group here and if you start getting a small group everywhere, pretty soon you’ve got a big group,” she said. Republican lawmakers criticized the gatherings. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the events “Hate America Rallies” and on Sunday during an appearance on A-B-C Johnson said if Trump were a king, the government would be open.

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(Atlantic, Iowa; KJAN) – Cass County Democratic Party Chair Denise O’Brien, Sunday issued a statement to the media, saying: “Saturday morning brought nearly 200 people together to celebrate their right to assemble and to free speech. People gathered at the Atlantic City Park on both sides of Hwy 6. There were also events in Red Oak, Creston, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Oakland and Council Bluffs. Southwest Indivisible, one of the sponsors stated that the number of protests increased from two in June to 7 on Saturday.”

O’Brien said also, “The No Kings protests took several weeks to plan and implement. Online training was provided covering topics of safety, know your rights and making sure that the actions were peaceful. Prior to the protest several news outlets and politicians stated that the attendees were paid protesters. Hamas, antifa, marxists and socialists. Most protests were peaceful, joyful and family oriented with people wearing costumes while marching through the streets. There were very few arrests and acts of violence during the October 18^th events.”

The statement quoted one participant as saying “We are not paid to be here today. We are concerned about the direction our country is taking. I was present at the June event and will participate in future gatherings if necessary. On my own time.”

O’Brien’s news released concluded by saying “The First Amendment of the Constitution protects the freedom of speech. The No Kings rallies across the United States was an expression of that right.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County, today (Sunday), said one person was arrested following an incident Saturday afternoon, in Villisca. Deputies responded at around 4:50-p.m. to an alleged assault in the 400 block of 5th Street, and following an investigation placed 62-year-old Eddy Lavon Keppler, of Villisca, under arrest for Assault – a Simple Misdemeanor, and Assault with intent to inflict serious injury–an aggravated misdemeanor.

Keppler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Sioux County, Iowa) – A collision late Saturday night west of Boyden, in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County, left one person dead and another injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports an SUV driven by 21-year-old Enrique De Leon Martinez, of Sioux Center, was traveling east on Highway 18 at around 11:10-p.m., just west of Jay Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center line and into the westbound lane, where it collided with a van driven by 63-year-old Brian Dean Bouma, of Hull.

Bouma – who was wearing his seat belt – died in the crash. Martinez – who was also wearing his seat belt -was injured and transported to the Stanford Sheldon Hospital by Sheldon Ambulance. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

And, in eastern Iowa’s Marshall County, two people were injured during a crash early this (Sunday) morning. The State Patrol says a Honda Civic driven by 18-year-old Boe Meh, of Marshalltown, was traveling east at a high rate of speed on East Olive Street in Marshalltown, when the car went out of control at the intersection with South 12th Avenue. The vehicle struck a fairgrounds sign and rollover over. The accident happened at around 1:15-a.m.

Meh – who wore a seat belt – was injured and transported to the Marshall County Hospital by Marshalltown Rescue. A passenger in the car, 18-year-old Kiana Gricelda Zamora, of Marshalltown – who was not wearing a seat belt – was injured and flown by LifeFlight helicopter to the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Marshalltown Police assisted at the scene. The crash remained under investigation.

(Des Moines) The latest gasoline price report from AAA (as of Oct. 19th), indicates motorists are seeing some relief at the gas pump. The average price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 10 cents per gallon from the week before, to $2.69 per gallon. Prices are now 30 cents lower than a year ago. The price of diesel in Iowa is average $3.47/gallon in Iowa, which is 4 cents cheaper than a week ago, and about two pennies less than a year ago at this same time.

The highest price recorded for regular, unleaded gas in Iowa was June 15, 2022, when Iowans were paying an average of $4.76 per gallon, according to AAA. The highest price at the pump for diesel was $5.44/gallon on June 22nd, 2022.

Nationally, the average price of unleaded gas is currently $3.03/gallon, down 9 cents from last week. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline could reach the 3-dollar mark for the first time in 4 years. Several factors are behind the drop, including falling crude oil prices, lower gasoline demand, and cheaper winter-blend gasoline at the pump. The tropics have been relatively quiet, and storm activity hasn’t had an impact on gas prices.

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.64), Hawaii ($4.48), Washington ($4.44), Oregon ($4.05), Nevada ($3.87), Alaska ($3.86), Idaho ($3.45), Arizona ($3.43), Utah ($3.37), and Pennsylvania ($3.23).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.56), Arkansas ($2.63), Texas ($2.64), Mississippi ($2.64), Wisconsin ($2.65), Louisiana ($2.67), Ohio ($2.67), Kentucky ($2.68), Missouri ($2.70), and Tennessee ($2.72).

(Winfield, Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a hog manure spill into a Louisa County creek near Winfield, following a pumping incident. According to a DNR news release, a crew from the manure application business Catnip Ridge was applying manure to a field Thursday when a break in a line caused an unknown amount of manure to spill into a tributary of Roff Creek.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a hog manure spill into an unnamed tributary in Louisa County. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)

DNR said the applicator team took “immediate action” to stop pumping and to clamp the line once the tear, which DNR later discovered was from friction against an iron fence post hidden in some vegetation, was discovered. The spill occurred in a road ditch northeast of Winfield at the intersection of Q Avenue and 65th Street. The Catnip Ridge crew placed dams in several areas along the tributary and plugged a nearby culvert to keep the manure from entering the creek, DNR reported.

Fresh water was added to the spilled area to help the crew flush the tributary and pump out the spilled manure. When DNR staff assessed the scene Thursday, initial water monitoring tests showed elevated levels of  ammonia, but staff did not observe any dead fish.

According to the release, when staff returned Friday morning to the site, “a small number of dead fish were observed” in the tributary, but the plugged culvert had prevented further downstream migration of the manure. The DNR said it will continue to monitor the cleanup efforts and investigate the incident to determine if further enforcement action is necessary.

It was the second manure spill reported the DNR reported last week, the first was also contained to an unnamed tributary in Carroll County.

ADEL, Iowa — Construction is set to begin Tuesday on a new firearms training and evidence storage facility in Dallas County. KCCI-TV reports the Dallas County Board of Supervisors says it will be located on U.S. Highway 6 just west of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office in Adel.

The facility will offer a range of training scenarios using virtual reality technology and will also serve as a secure impound lot for storing and processing evidence like cars and other larger items.

The project is expected to be completed by August 2026.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa)  – Police in Council Bluffs say a juvenile operating a motorcycle was critically injured late Saturday evening after the cycle was struck from behind. Authorities says the accident happened a little before 7-p.m., in the 1200 block of North Broadway Street. The driver of the truck fled the scene but was later located by responding CBPD officer. Alcohol is considered to be a contributing factor to the collision.

The juvenile on the motorcycle was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, with critical injuries.

Police had not released any names as of their Sunday morning press release, while the collision remained under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department Traffic Unit. No charges had been filed as of this report.

(Elk Horn, Iowa)  – Officials with the Museum of Danish America, Saturday, said in a press release, “After sixteen years of dedicated service,

Tova Brandt

will conclude her tenure as Executive Director of the Museum of Danish America on October 31, 2025.”

Brandt began her career at the museum as the Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture in 2009 and stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2020. Her leadership has guided the museum through national recognition, expanded exhibitions, and enriched educational programs.

Reflecting on her time at the museum, Tova shared:

“It has been an honor to serve the Museum of Danish America and to witness its growth and evolution over the past sixteen years—from my early years as curator through my time as executive director. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together and the dedication of this remarkable staff. For personal reasons, I am seeking opportunities that will allow me to spend more time closer to my family. Thank you for your commitment to the museum’s mission and for the support and collaboration I have experienced throughout my time here. I look forward to seeing the museum thrive in the years ahead.”

The Museum of Danish America Board of Directors and staff extend their deepest gratitude to Tova for her dedication, leadership, and vision. Information regarding a farewell celebration will be shared soon.

Erik Andersen, who previously served as President of the Board of Directors, will act as Interim Executive Director, while Philip Lund, formerly the Board of Directors’ Vice President, was elected Board President. The museum will undertake a comprehensive and thoughtful search process to define and fill the position of Executive Director in alignment with its mission and strategic goals.

The Museum of Danish America remains committed to honoring our mission of celebrating Danish roots and American dreams through exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural partnerships.

(Des Moines, Iowa; KCCI-TV) – Federal authorities have added another charge against Ian Roberts, the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts, already charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. Roberts was arrested and detained by ICE on Sept. 26, and he resigned from DMPS the next week.

According to court documents, he was charged Thursday with falsely claiming that he was a US citizen on an employment form. In his indictment, federal authorities wrote: He “used a false attestation on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, knowing that the said attestation was false, in that he attested he was a United States Citizen, knowing he was not in fact a United States citizen.”

DMPS hired Roberts in May 2023 and he started in July 2023. The indictment says he made the false claim on the I-9 form “on or about” June 5 that year. The Department of Homeland Security released the full criminal history of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts. Roberts’ criminal record spans decades and multiple states:

• On July 3, 1996, DHS said he was arrested in New York for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of narcotics, and possession of forged instruments.
• Then, on Nov. 13, 1998, investigators said Roberts was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York. The charge was dismissed in 1999.
• DHS said on Nov. 1, 2012, he was ticketed in Maryland for reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding.
• On Feb. 3, 2020, Roberts was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree weapon charges. DHS did not tell KCCI what state these charges originated in.
• In November 2021, Roberts was given a citation for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in Pennsylvania. Documents sent to us from the Pennsylvania Game Commission state that an officer searched Roberts’ vehicle following a hunting trip. The officer said he found a rifle in a case in the back seat of the vehicle. The officer writes in the citation that there was a round in the chamber and four rounds in the magazine. Roberts pleaded guilty the following January.

Roberts’ immigration history reveals two student visas, denied green card applications, and deportation orders. He first entered the U.S. in 1994 on a B-2 tourist visa and later returned on an F-1 student visa in 1999. Despite multiple attempts to secure permanent residency, all four of his green card applications were denied.

In 2024, an immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, ordered Roberts removed from the U.S. in absentia. Roberts’ motion to reopen the case was denied in April 2025. Roberts was arrested by ICE officers on Sept. 26, 2025, and has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

Roberts is now in custody with the U.S. Marshals.