(Red Oak, IA) – The Red Oak Police Department, late Tuesday (Dec. 2nd), said additional charges were filed that day against a Nebraska man who was arrested  early Tuesday morning on a Felony charge of Grooming, as well as a Sex Offender registry Violation and being a Fugitive from Justice. Authorities say 22-year-old Jauson Ray Schriner, of Adams, NE., was additionally charged Tuesday with Assault/Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. The latter is a Class-C Felony. The charge of Assault w/intent is an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

Schriner remains held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $7,000 bond, for the previous charges. Police officials say additional charges are pending at this time.

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(Previous story from Tuesday morning)…

Red Oak Police officers conducted an investigation into a man who claimed to be 20-years-old, and was staying with a minor child. The man gave police a fake name, but officers were able to determine his identity as 22-year-old Jauson Ray Schriner, of Adams, NE. Schriner is on the State of Nebraska’s Sex Offender Registry.

He was wanted on a warrant out of Nebraska for Probation Violation, where he was previously arrested and convicted for posing as a teenager online, in order to have sex with a 13-year-old. Schriner was arrested in Red Oak, on a Class-D Felony charge of Grooming, a Simple Misdemeanor charge of Providing False ID to law enforcement, and an Aggravated Misdemeanor charge of Sex Offender Registry Violation/1st offense. He was also arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice.

Additional charges are pending. Red Oak Police extend thanks to the Lincoln and Beatrice, NE, Police Departments for their help in the investigation. Red Oak Police are also reminded the public about the dangers that social media can pose.

(West Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) website reports Wells Fargo will lay off 14 more employees at its West Des Moines location on Jordan Creek Parkway next month. It’s the third round of job cuts at that location since October.

According to Iowa WARN, the layoffs will occur on Jan. 23, 2026.

In October, Wells Fargo announced 63 workers would lose their jobs at the same office on Dec. 26. Twenty-six more are scheduled to be laid off Jan. 2, 2026.

(Creston, IA) – Police in Creston, today (Wednesday), released information about a single-vehicle accident that took place early Sunday morning. Authorities say a 2015 Mercedes C300 (passenger car) was traveling east on Highway 34 at around 12:50-a.m., Sunday, when – due to icy road conditions – the vehicle went out of control while negotiating a curve.

The car spun on the roadway before striking a curb on the north side of Highway 34. When it hit the curb, the right rear side wheel of the car broke off of the axle, causing the car to become disabled. The driver of the vehicle, 31-year-old Djany Makosi, of Lexington, NE, was not injured.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated by police to be $1,200.

HAMILTON COUNTY, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock of about 18,000 birds in Hamilton County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Iowa has had nine detections of the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has impacted more than 184 million commercial and backyard birds since February 2022.

IDALS reported a case of the bird flu in a Calhoun County turkey flock in October. The October case was the first detection in the state since April. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Hamilton County following the HPAI detection. The proclamation makes state resources more available as officials work to dispose of birds exposed to the virus and monitor, contain and further detect the bird flu.

IDALS asked producers to exercise heightened biosecurity around their flocks to help prevent the spread of HPAI, which is usually deadly for exposed poultry. Producers who notice sudden deaths in a flock, lethargy, decreased egg production, or birds with swollen heads and difficulty breathing, should contact their veterinarians, according to the agriculture department.

Turkey, chicken and egg products remain safe to consume during the current HPAI outbreak, IDALS said.

(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Ringgold County complained of pain and possible injury, following an accident that occurred at around 10:20-a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 2nd), on Highway 34 near S. Sumner Avenue. The Creston Police Department reports a 2013 Volvo semi-tractor trailer driven by 33-year-old Dakota Stanton, of Bethany, MO., and a car driven by 61-year-old Randie Kaye Ross, of Kellerton, were both traveling westbound on Highway 34, when the semi attempted to merge into the inside lane due to vehicles that were stopped at the traffic light, in the semi’s lane of travel.

Authorities say Stanton looked, but did not see Ross’ car in his side view mirror prior to attempting the merge. The passenger side of the semi’s trailer collided with the driver’s side of the car, causing severe, disabling damage to the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville.

Randie Ross was checked at the scene by medics following the collision, but was not transported to the Creston hospital. There were no citations issued. The accident caused a police-estimated $2,000 damage to the car.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says after flooding hit communities in his district in mid-2024 he’s been meeting regularly with FEMA officials to talk about progress — and Feenstra says he’s pushing FEMA to approve federal funding for buyouts flood-damaged properties.

“We’ve got to get these dollars passed out, so you have Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Hawarden — all these other communities. We’ve got to get them whole,” Feenstra says. “We’ve got to make sure that they’re on the right path so they can grow economically and help not only the businesses and schools, but also the families that lost their homes.” Under FEMA’s buyout program, 75 percent of the funding from the federal government. The state is required to provide 10 percent and the remaining 15 percent is the responsibility of the local government or city.

Sioux County, along with the cities of Spencer, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley, Hawarden and Correctionville have submitted applications for federal funding to help buy homes that are unlivable due to last year’s damage or in an area that frequently floods. Estherville and Cherokee are working on their applications. Feenstra, a Republican who’s running for governor, says if he’s elected, he’d set goals for how his administration would respond to Iowa disasters.

“We want to make sure that we are ready for anything, whether it be a tornado or a flood,” Feenstra says. “that we can get boots on the ground within 12 hours of the event happening and making sure that we resolve and help the problems that are happening through that disaster.” Feenstra says he has a meeting with FEMA officials tomorrow (Wednesday). He’s also asked to meet with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who oversees FEMA. Feenstra is in Washington, D.C. today (Tuesday) where congress has reconvened and is wrestling with what to about Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month.

“We are not going to shut down government again, but we are working collaboratively to get this done,” Feenstra says. “To me, it’s all about how…do we make sure that we reduce premiums and not continue down this same path of growing and expanding and increasing the cost through the Affordable Care Act.” Americans with an annual income below 400% of the poverty line will still receive federal tax credits next year, but without congressional action the health insurance subsidies expanded to other Americans in 2021 will expire December 31st.

In October, Feenstra said those subsidies that were established during the pandemic are too expensive for the federal government and congress should find other ways to reduce health care premium costs.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s not sure yet if he’ll be included in the select group of lawmakers who will hear an admiral’s classified briefing Thursday on the deadly attack on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea by U-S forces. The boat was suspected of carrying drugs and all on board were killed in the September strike. Grassley says he has concerns about the legality of what happened, as details on the incident are still sparse.

“Those concerns are related to what the law says,” Grassley says. “I would expect law to be followed. I have seen so many things that other presidents have done, like Obama in Libya.” A White House spokeswoman has said the Caribbean attack was carried out in accordance with all laws governing armed conflict, but lawmakers from both parties expressed worry Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issued the verbal attack order.

“I expect all American law to be followed,” Grassley says, “and in the case of this being on the international waters, I would expect international law to be filled.” Some Democrats suggest the attack could be considered a war crime, but Grassley, a Republican, says he still needs more facts about the incident.  “I probably could answer your question a little bit better after I get some information from my judiciary staff,” Grassley says, “because we’re all seeking more information from the administration on this subject.”

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is demanding his panel be granted full access to the military’s audio and video of the attack. The September strike is one of several by U-S forces in recent months which reports say have claimed more than 80 lives.

(Radio Iowa) – A Creighton University index puts Iowa’s manufacturing sector in slightly positive territory, but Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the manufacturing and supply managers surveyed in Iowa and eight other states region indicate tariffs, inflation and slowing business activity continue to put stress on the region’s economy. Goss oversees the monthly survey and calculates a Mid-America Business Conditions Index. “Not good,” Goss said. “It’s moving sideways,” Goss said. Creighton’s Business Conditions Index for Iowa was rated highest in the region, while Missouri’s plummeted, according to Goss. The survey found declines in neighboring Nebraska and South Dakota as well. Goss says the region’s manufacturing sector seems to be holding up in the midst of major challenges.

“It could have been worse,” Goss said. “The negatives are getting less negative, I can say that.” Creighton’s regional survey indicates November production levels from manufacturers — including manufacturers in Iowa– were below what Goss calls growth neutral. “John Deere just announced that their sales are down, their profits are down and…that’s just emblematic of what’s going on across the region,” Goss said. Goss cites one of the supply managers surveyed, who said their business outlook has moved from positive to cautious. “The outlook is slower growth in the economy. Now does that mean a recession? Not at this point,” Goss said. “There is a recession for certain parts of the economy — that would be the rural areas heavily dependent on agriculture, that would be housing where we’re seeing a recession in certain parts of the country.”

Iowa’s overall housing market shows home prices and sales have been up in 2025, according to the Iowa Association of Realtors.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is going to start a major bathroom improvement project this summer in one of its residence halls. U-I Vice President Rod Lehnertz says they are going to renovate the bathrooms on the six floors of Burge Hall. “It’s a 20-point-three million-dollar project and is part of student life and the housing and dining continued effort to keep our residence halls modernized,” Lehnertz says. He says the update continues other work that has been done to the residence hall.

“Burge Hall is a building that was built in 1957 and remains popular, and our second largest residence hall in the main campus, and the needs in this case, as has been done in other residence halls, is to modernize the restrooms into a pod system and also new plumbing,” he says. Lehnertz says the renovations will take several years as they will do the work in the summer. “To maximize the amount of work we can do when students are not on campus. So it would be completed in 26, 27 28, 29 and 30,” Lehnertz says.

The Board of Regents approved the designs and budget for project at their recent meeting.