(Radio Iowa) – This year’s Iowa legislative session is underway, with Republicans in control of the House and Senate for the 10th consecutive year. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford opened House action shortly after 10 a.m. “Today marks the starting line for the 2026 legislative session,” Grassley said. “It kicks off about a four month sprint to accomplish the goals the people of Iowa laid out for us over the past year.” Grassley says the chief goal will be reducing property taxes.

“Iowans have made it known the current property tax system is not working for them,” Grassley said. “Seniors on fixed incomes are being priced out of their homes, the high cost of taxes are causing young people to delay homeownership and every day Iowa families are seeing their taxes rise with no predictability.” Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, are unveiling their alternative today (Monday).

“Over the next hundred days, we will be addressing property tax reform to help bring relief to Iowans who have decided to build their lives, grow their families and dedicate their careers to our state,” Klimesh said. House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer of Des Moines says Democrats have three primary goals. “Our agenda is rooted in what we hear every day from families across this state,” Meyer said, “public education, affordability and quality of life.”

Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, began her remarks with a call for civility. Sinclair says it was shocking and horrifying that two Democrats from the Minnesota legislature were shot in their own homes and prominent conservative Charlie Kirk had been killed on a college campus. “When people disagree, it has become disagreeable,” Sinclair said. “The debate no longer stops with policy descriptions, it spiraled into slurs dehumanizing the opposition. Calling people facists, scum, deporables, bigots and a host of things I cannot and will not repeat on the Senate floor cannot be embraced as the status quo here.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner of Iowa City says recent political violence in Minnesota and in Mississippi, where a Jewish synagogue was attacked, has shaken the country to its core. “We Iowans, we take care of our neighbors,” Weiner said. “We are tolerant and we stand up for the rights that are our rights, too, because we all know ‘Love thy neighbor,’ comes with no exceptions.”

Two women who won special elections in December have taken their seats in the state legislature. The 50th member of the Iowa Senate took the oath of office this (Monday) morning. The seat had been vacant since Senator Claire Celsi’s death in October. Democrat Renee Hardman is the first black woman to serve in the state senate. The 100th member of the House was sworn into office, too. Republican Wendy Larson of Odebolt won the seat that had been held by Mike Sexton of Rockwell City, who resigned after President Trump appointed him state director of U-S-D-A Rural Development.

(Glenwood, IA) – Officials with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office have issued a report on arrests that occurred over the past week. Sunday night (Jan. 11), Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 27-year-old Dylan Brendon James Miedl, of Pacific Junction. He was arrested in Silver City for Violation of a No Contact Order – Domestic related. Miedl was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

At around 1:40-p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 8), deputies in Mills County arrested 23-year-old Cole Jacob Bergantzel, of Council Bluffs, in Glenwood, for Failure to Appear in court. His bond was set at $5,000.

On Jan. 7th, at around 1:20-a.m., Mills County Deputies arrested 26-year-old Jonathan Jo Arrick, of Glenwood, for Domestic Assault – Choking or Bodily Injury. Arrick was arrested in Glenwood and held on a $5,000 bond.

And, on Jan. 5th, 34-year-old Damian Blain, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Des Moines, for Violation of Probation His bond was set at $2,000.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, today (Monday), said in light of events around the country, the Council Bluffs Police Department (CBPD) has received a number of questions about ICE and immigration enforcement over the past few days. To address these questions, provide guidance, and alleviate apprehension in the community, [Police] Chief Matt Davis has issued the following statement:

“At this time,’ Davis said, “there are no enforcement changes at the CBPD as it pertains to immigration status of individuals. To date, the CBPD has not been requested by our federal law enforcement partners to assist with any immigration enforcement efforts.

“If requested, the CBPD will cooperate with our federal law enforcement partners on their immigration enforcement efforts as permitted under Iowa law. The cooperation could consist of information sharing, logistics, scene security, and coordination with local resources in and around the City of Council Bluffs.

“The CBPD’s main concern,” according to Chief Davis, “is the safety and security of all people in the City of Council Bluffs.” He said, “We strongly discourage anyone to actively interfere with law enforcement or immigration enforcement efforts. While publicly observing and recording law enforcement officers is lawful, actively impeding them is not. The CBPD asks that if you are observing/recording law enforcement activities in public that you remain a safe distance from officers performing their duties. The CBPD also strongly encourages everyone exercising their civil liberties to do so in a safe and lawful manner.”

The statement concluded with Council Bluffs Police Chief Davis saying, “As with all our enforcement efforts, the CBPD will ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect and their civil and constitutional rights are protected.”

(Atlantic, IA) – A trial for the former Atlantic Chamber Director who faces multiple felony charges, has been continued for another month. 33-year-old Bailey Linn Smith had been set to stand trial January 27th, will instead appear before a jury in Atlantic on February 24th. Online court records show Judge Michael Hooper granted the requested continuance today (Monday). Smith’s pre-trial conference scheduled for today (Jan. 12th, will instead be held February 9th.

Bailey Smith faces a Class-B charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct – unlawful activity, and Class- Felony charges, that include Theft in the 1st Degree, Fraudulent Practice in the 1st Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000. Smith entered a written plea of not guilty back in November, and has waived her right to a speedy trial.

Bailey Smith resigned from the Chamber on September 15th. She turned herself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on October 8th and was released on bond. According to a criminal complaint, between January 2020 and August 2025, Smith allegedly made 761 personal transactions with Chamber funds totaling $26,913.22, of which $6,632.38 was admitted by Smith. She was charged with Theft in the First Degree for allegedly misappropriating over $10,000.

Smith also allegedly orchestrated a scheme from November 2022 to August 2025, making 47 fraudulent transfers between Chamber bank accounts to cover up her theft. The loss amounted to $76,215, and resulted in the charges of Fraudulent Practice in the First Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

Additionally, Smith allegedly used Chamber-issued credit cards for approximately $25,065.71 in personal expenses, with $6,632.38 acknowledged by her in a letter to the Chamber Board. She was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000.

(Guthrie Center, IA) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports there were three, non-injury accidents in the County, last week. Authorities say on Jan. 6th, at around 2:35-p.m., a vehicle driven by 61-year-old Deana Arends, of Bayard, was stopped facing eastbound on State Street/Highway 44, waiting to turn north on 7th Street, when her SUV was struck from behind. The driver of the other vehicle, 39-year-old Ali Abdulmehdi Alhussaini, of Ankeny, told deputies he failed to notice the SUV was stopped in the roadway, prior to his pickup striking the SUV. Deputies cited Alhussaini for Failure to Reduce Speed to a reasonable and proper rate. Damage from the collision amounted to an estimated $13,000 altogether.

Another accident January 6th in Guthrie County caused a combined, estimated $2,000 damage to a van and an SUV. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says the registered owner of a 2021 Chevy Blazer came to the Sheriff’s Office to report a fender bender that had occurred earlier in the day in the courthouse parking lot. The witness said she saw a 2022 Chrysler Voyager van driven by 27-year-old Charlie Quinn Walker, of Menlo, back out of a parking space and strike the legally parked SUV. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m. Walker was cited for No insurance – accident related.

And, on January 8th, a 2013 Nissan Juke driven by 36-year-old Rachael Tenk, of Manning, was traveling on Highway 141 at around 11:47-p.m., when a deer came out of a ditch and crossed in front of her vehicle. When the vehicle hit the deer, the driver’s side airbags deployed. Tenk, who was wearing her seat belt, and not hurt. The vehicle was disabled in the collision. Authorities estimated the damage at $3,000.

(Greenfield, IA) – A man from Adair County was arrested Jan. 5th at the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, by officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections. According to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, 57-year-old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, was arrested on the warrant for Violation of Parole. Davis was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond.

(Creston, IA) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say four people were arrested on separate charges between late Friday morning and early Saturday evening. Three of the arrests took place on Friday:

• 19-year-old Ava Nicole Sales, of Cedar Rapids, was arrested late Friday morning at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an Outstanding Warrant by an Outside Agency, on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. Sales was released from the Union County Jail after posting 10% of her $1,000 bond;
• 49-year-old Liliana Cabrera Castro, of Lenox, was arrested Friday afternoon in the 1300 Block N. Cherry, in Creston. She was charged with Interference w/Corrections Official Acts, and Public Intoxication/1st offense. Castro was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted a $300 cash bond;
• And, 26-year-old Jairon Darien Oliva Bernal, of Osceola, was arrested Friday afternoon in the 200 block of S. Maple Street, in Creston. Bernal was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense – Causing Bodily Injury. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Judge.

And, at around 5:25-p.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 56-year-old Charles Leon Harris, of Creston. He was taken into custody in the Creston Walmart parking lot, for Driving While License Denied/ Suspended/Cancelled or Revoked. Harris was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

(Atlantic, IA) – The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission will hold  a public hearing beginning at 5:30-p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 13th, in the City Hall Council Chambers. The hearing is with regard to the 2025 City of Atlantic Comprehensive Plan, which includes Design Standards for Single-Family Dwellings.

A Comprehensive Plan, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s paper on Planning and Zoning and the Purpose of the Comprehensive Plan, is “…a document designed to guide the future actions of a city or county. The Iowa Supreme Court has stated that the legal purpose of the comprehensive plan is to ‘direct use and development of property by dividing it into districts according to present and potential uses.’ The comprehensive plan also presents a vision for the future with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect the local government. This includes guidance on how to make decisions on public and private land development proposals, the expenditure of public funds, and issues of pressing concern (such as farmland preservation for counties, or the rehabilitation of older neighborhoods in cities). Most plans are written to provide direction for ten to twenty years after their adoption.”  It is recommended such plans be reviewed and possibly updated every five years.

Following the public hearing, the Commission will act on an “Order to Approve the 2025 Comprehensive Plan.” Other P&Z business, Tuesday, includes the introduction of new Planning & Zoning Commission member Roger Poulsen, who was sworn-in by Atlantic Mayor Rob Clausen during the Jan. 7th City Council meeting, and, discussion on a questionnaire regarding regulation for non-traditional housing.

(Radio Iowa) – The is one of the slowest times of the year for the American Red Cross to recruit blood donors in Iowa, so the agency is making a special offer in hopes of scoring a touchdown for hospitals. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ Nebraska-Iowa region, says everyone who donates blood between now and January 25th will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip to the Super Bowl next month in San Francisco. Holley says, “The winner and the guest will receive two tickets to the Super Bowl, access to day of in-stadium pre-game activities, round-trip airfare, and three nights of hotel accommodations.” She says it’s often difficult to find blood donors during these early weeks of winter.

“The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure right now, following a busy holiday season when winter weather impacts schedules, making it tougher to ensure that hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care,” Holley says. “That’s why we’re encouraging helping individuals to donate now and throughout the winter to help patients who are counting on blood transfusions.” Holley urges Iowans to roll up their sleeves and donate a pint. “It’s very easy to find a blood drive near you and make an appointment,” she says. “All you have to do is go to redcrossblood.org, type in your ZIP code, and all of the upcoming blood drives near you will show up and you can make an appointment.”

All blood types are needed. You can safely donate blood every 56 days and the process typically takes less than an hour, while the actual collection just lasts about ten minutes.

(Radio Iowa) – The only Iowa State University graduate to walk in space is thrilled to see NASA is planning to send humans into lunar orbit next month for first time in more than a half-century. The Artemis Two mission is scheduled for launch as soon as February 6th, and former astronaut Clay Anderson says it’s an important test of the spacecraft and systems for future lunar ventures. “The Artemis I mission was to test the vehicle, test the idea, make sure everything functions, but now you’re going to put humans in there,” Anderson says, “so you have to worry about things like air conditioning, and exercise, and the toilet system, and the food system, and all those things that humans require when we travel to the moon and eventually land on the surface.”

The plan calls for an Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts to orbit the moon as part of a 10-day mission. It’s the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17 in December of 1972. Anderson says some colleagues are concerned about a flight to the moon without more tests of the Orion capsule, the European service module and S-L-S rocket. He says there are always risks involved with any spaceflight. “It’s like anything,” Anderson says. “There’s always going to be a concern, and you can’t test everything so much that you’re perfectly certain that nothing’s going to go wrong. That’s why we explore. That’s why we do this thing in the first place.”

If this mission is successful, NASA hopes to launch Artemis III to land on the moon next year. Plans call for using Space X’s Starship vehicle to transport astronauts to the lunar surface. Anderson says it’s hard to predict whether the lunar landing will take place in 2027. “You have to plan, you have to put it out there, you have to have a schedule you’re working toward,” Anderson says. “Then, as long as things go well, and systems are working, and when they come back from this mission, and they feel comfortable they’ve knocked out a lot of the problems that need to be solved, who knows? They could very well go then.”

After several failures, the Starship finally flew a successful test mission in October. Anderson, a Nebraska native, flew two missions aboard the International Space Station, spending a total of 167 days in orbit. He received a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University in 1983, and had returned to ISU as a distinguished faculty fellow in 2013 to teach aerospace engineering.