(Radio Iowa) – The Trump Administration has granted Iowa’s waiver request, giving state officials authority to roll federal funds designated for a variety of education programs into one block grant — and state officials will determine how the money is distributed. U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon made the announcement today (Wednesday) in Denison.

“If we were operating under the old rules, it would take according to the figures that were done in the state about $8 million to comply with the regulations of this $9.5 million grant, so in essence you’d get about $1.5 million to go to the schools,” McMahon says. “With this new waiver, that $8 million will go to the schools.” Governor Kim Reynolds says the waiver lets Iowa focus federal funds on the right work. “The secretary believes like I do that states are best positioned to serve families,” Reynolds said, “and we’re committed to reducing barriers that stand in the way.”

McMahon says the waiver fits the Trump Administration’s vision of returning responsibility for educating children to the states. “It’s breaking up the education bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. — a system that we’ve found that enriches adults, while stifling progress for students,” McMahon says. Iowa is the first state to apply for and get this kind of a waiver. It combines into a single block grant federal funding that had previously been designated for teacher training, English language learners, after-school programs and classroom efforts to improve student achievement.

(Photo: Broadway Elementary School library in Denison courtesy our sister station KDSN)

McMahon’s agency has also granted state officials authority to waive some federal requirements for career and technical programs in Iowa school districts. “This approval cuts through federal red tape, eases compliance burdens for districts, and empowers them to implement strategies that best meet the needs of their students,” McMahon said.

The Education Secretary and Governor Reynolds made their comments after touring an elementary school in Denison and visiting with students. Test scores at Broadway Elementary in Denison show the literacy rate of students has jumped seven points after the first year of using what’s known as “the science of reading” curriculum.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate in November was three-and-a-half percent. That’s a two-tenths of a percent drop from September — the last month data is available due to the federal government shutdown this fall. Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend says the number of Iowans in the workforce was basically the same in November compared to September. “Which indicates that all of those folks that we had coming back into the labor force, a lot of them are getting jobs and so that’s a really good sign.” The government’s estimate indicates 67-and-a-half percent of Iowans above the age of 14 who are able to work had a job in November. That remains below pre-pandemic levels. Townsend says there’s no Iowa-specific data, but national reports indicate women are working at about the same rate now as they did in early 2020.

“We have seen more women return to the workforce since the pandemic than we have seen in previous years, but young men generally are…the largest percentage of unemployed,” Townsend said, “and that’s true nationally. That’s a national trend.” In total, about 27-thousand more people were working in Iowa in November compared to the same month in 2024. “We saw job gains in education and health services, in trade, we saw an increase in construction and we saw in professional and business services,” Townsend says. However, about five-thousand more Iowans were unemployed this past November compared to November of 2024. “We saw decreases in jobs in leisure and hospitality, financial activities and manufacturing,” Townsend said.

Nearly one-point-six MILLION Iowans were working in non-farm jobs in November. Iowa Workforce Development’s report indicates there were about 74-hundred more private sector jobs in November compared to November of 2024.

(Mount Ayr, IA) – The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information with regard to individuals who were reportedly seen in the Mount Ayr area, between December 14th and 20th. The individuals may be associated with Riley Culbertson and/or MG Construction.

If you have any information that may assist law enforcement, you’re asked to contact the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office at 641-464-3921, and ask to speak with Sheriff Rob Haley, or Chief Deputy Nathan Nickle.

Additional information related to the sheriff’s request was not provided in their press release.

(Greenfield, IA) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved the signing by Board Chair Jerry Walker, of plans for the MidAmerican Energy Center Paving Project near Orient, which will incorporate a major natural gas-fired power plant, as part of an “all-of-the-above” strategy to meet Iowa’s growing electricity demand, and is intended to complement existing wind farms (like the massive Orient Wind Farm) and future solar projects. The Energy Center Project is expected to cost around $600-million, and generate an additional 465 megawatts of power for the utility, beginning in 2028.

Company officials have stated the Orient Energy Center is expected to operate when load is at its peak and when customers need it the most, estimated at less than 10% of the year. The facility will provide more than 400 jobs during construction, approximately $7 million in property tax revenues over its service life and will bring up to five skilled craft jobs that pay between $100,000 to $125,000 annually, according to the company.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman described the scope of paving project.

It will take approximately two-years to complete, with another overlay at the end of that time frame to fix any imperfections on the road surface, MidAmerican pays for all materials and related costs. On a related note, the Board approved the Road Use Agreement for the Orient Energy Center Project.

Kauffman provided the Board with his weekly Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities report. They then received FY2027 Funding Requests from representatives with the Adair County Historical Society, MATURA, and Adair County Tourism.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 3:20-p.m., Tuesday (Jan. 6th), of a woman from Thayer. Authorities say 32-year-old Hayley Joan Vandel was arrested on a Driving While Barred charge. She was taken to Union County Jail. Vandel posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond and was released from custody.

(Red Oak, IA) –  A traffic stop late Tuesday night (Jan. 6) in Montgomery County, resulted in a felony drug arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the Montgomery County K-9 Unit conducted the traffic stop at around 11:10-p.m., in the 1100 block of 110th Street. During the investigation, K-9 “Riddick” was deployed, and a search of the vehicle resulted in the driver, 65-year-old Terry Joe Halvin, of Red Oak, being taken into custody.

Halvin was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine/3rd offense, a Class-D Felony offense. Halvin was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Most Iowans likely haven’t started filling out their tax forms yet, but they might be more eager to do so this year. Stacy Engle, a spokeswoman for the Internal Revenue Service, says projections point to higher refunds ahead, thanks to increased standard deductions under the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that passed Congress last July. “When that change happened, most people did not make any changes to their withholding, and most employers did not adjust the withholding for the change,” Engle says. “That is going to increase the amount of standard deduction people get, which will increase the amount of overpayment they made based on withholding.”

It could be the biggest tax refund season in U-S history, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projecting refunds averaging between one- and two-thousand dollars. Iowa’s small businesses and farmers will also see tax changes, as Engle says the standard mileage rate is rising for cars, vans, and panel trucks — including electric and hybrid vehicles. “Anyone that’s in business as a small business, self-employed contractor or a farmer will get the increased mileage rate,” Engle says, “and it went up 2.5 cents, the highest mileage rate that’s been on record of 72.5 cents per mile.” Engle notes this change won’t affect the 2025 tax return, as it kicks in for the 2026 tax year, giving businesses and farmers time to plan ahead.

Engle says another change allows workers who earned overtime above time-and-a-half to deduct the extra half-rate — up to 12-thousand-500 dollars.“Until the end of this year, most employers have been doing withholding based on what you make rather than excluding the $12,500 in your overtime,” she says, “so that’s going to hopefully increase the amount someone would owe in tax or increase their refund.”

For more information on the changes, visit IRS.gov.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Tuesday the Iowa Farm Act, a legislative plan to support Iowa farmers and rural communities. “The Iowa Farm Act is about meeting today’s challenges while preparing for the future. It brings together ideas we have heard directly from farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities across the state,” said Secretary Naig.

Key Provisions of the Iowa Farm Act:

Tax Relief:

• Expands retired farmer rental income tax exemption to partnerships, S corporations, trusts and estates.
• Eliminates grain excise tax for cooperatives and grain handlers.
• Exempts honeybee purchases from sales tax.
• Exempts above-ground storage tanks under 91,000 gallons from property tax.

Transportation & Logistics:

• Modernizes agricultural equipment transportation standards for improved safety.
• Increases truck weight allowances for dairy products to reduce hauling costs.

Biosecurity and Protecting Producers:

• Protects producer confidentiality during disease outbreaks to encourage early reporting.
• Authorizes the Department to store disease response equipment.

Modernizing Department Functions and Improving Government Efficiency:

• Streamlines Iowa Code by eliminating outdated language and reducing duplication.
• Provides flexibility in large-scale inspections with alternative methods.
• Clarifies Grain Indemnity Fund updates.
• Expands marketing opportunities for Iowa-made agricultural products.

Naig is also requesting a $1.335 million budget increase to maintain essential operations in animal health, food safety, consumer protection, and water quality initiatives as part of the Department’s FY27 proposal.

Ag leaders across the state say they are thankful for Naig’s efforts in strengthening Iowa’s farming community.

TAMA COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The body of a missing Tama County man has been found in Newton County, Arkansas, according to officials. Nicholas Collins has been missing from Tama County, Iowa, since December 19. He was reported missing after 10 days of friends and family not being able to contact him.

His white Mini Cooper was found on January 1 at a trailhead in the Ozark National Forest region in Johnson County, Arkansas, with its license plates removed. The Tama County Sheriff’s Office previously said Collins left a note when he left his home in Garwin that he was “going away for a while.”

Officials said there is no evidence of foul play and an investigation into his death is ongoing.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is calling on the legislature to pass a law requiring the collection of D-N-A from adults arrested for felonies or aggravated misdemeanors. “No family should have to wait years for answers about what happened to their loved one and no criminal should ever get away with murder, rape or other violent crime,” Bird said. “We need to give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and to bring violent criminals to justice.”

All 50 states require D-N-A testing of adults CONVICTED of felonies. Over 30 states have also passed D-N-A collection requirements from those ARRESTED for violent crimes. They’re all named “Katie’s Law,” for a 22-year-old woman who was brutally attacked and murdered in New Mexico. Suzana Martinez, the former governor of New Mexico, joined Bird at a statehouse news conference yesterday (Tuesday).

“DNA…is the 21st century fingerprint,” Martinez said. “…Upon arrest, when we take your fingerprints, we should be taking the DNA as well.” Martinez was the district attorney who tried the case against the man who killed Katie Sepich — once the D-N-A he submitted following a CONVICTION for a different crime matched the D-N-A material found under Katie Sepich’s fingernails.

Martinez says by requiring D-N-A collection at the time of an arrest, Katie’s Law turns every booking station into a doorway to justice for a cold case. “It brings a level of scientific certainty to our justice system that gut feelings and that line-ups just don’t do,” Martinez said. “Katie Sepich’s death was a tragedy, but the three-year’s delay in identifying her killer was a failure of the system.”

Bird’s also proposing a bill that would let children and adults who are victims of sex crimes get a lifetime no-contact order. “One particularly troubling case that I will never forget where…a woman with children of her own ran into the person who sexually assaulted her as a child in a grocery store and didn’t realize the no-contact order didn’t exist anymore because she didn’t realize she had to extend it,” Bird said.

Under current law, criminal no-contact orders usually last a year. Bird also wants to change confidentiality rules and let a crime victim’s counselor notify law enforcement if they believe there’s an immediate risk of harm to their client or someone connected to their client. Mary Ingham is Executive Director of Crisis Intervention Services, which serves crime victims in 15 north central Iowa counties. “This is about fairness, this is about balance and it’s about time,” Ingham said. “For decades, defendants have had pages of rights guaranteed by law. Victims deserve the same commitment.”

Bird’s also seeking a tougher felony charge against some accused of threatening an Iowa judge or their family.