DAVENPORT, Iowa – A woman from Moline, IL, was sentenced January 20th, 2026, to 139 months (11 1/2-years) in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges out of Iowa. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, 36-year-old Rianne Len Brinker embezzled $551,961.66 from her employer, located in Bettendorf (IA), over a three-year period from October 2020 to October 2023. As part of the fraud, Brinker applied for a credit account that reimbursed funds to her personal bank account and opened a credit card using the identifiers of her employer. Brinker also registered a fraudulent business with the Illinois Secretary of State in an attempt to legitimize her theft from her employer.

In 2008, Brinker was convicted of credit union embezzlement in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Brinker was also convicted in Illinois and Iowa for other theft-related offenses.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Brinker will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Brinker was also ordered to pay $534,461.66 in restitution.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI.

(Radio Iowa) – The elementary school principal for Woodbine in western Iowa was surprised with the national Milken Educator Award Thursday for her teacher mentoring efforts. Jill Ridder says her leadership team and teachers also deserve credit for implementing the personalized learning program that challenges students to move forward. “And I feel like that work has kind of work is different and started to become noticeable around the state and our surrounding communities, and people were starting to ask questions about how it was possible,” she says. Ridder says the approach looks at the broader picture with real data of what was happening in the classrooms.

“We moved from, you know, how we felt students were doing the, cardiac data, to actual, tangible data that we can look at and analyze and then put research based strategies in place to progress our students forward,” Ridder says. She says they kept working and changing the last several years to find the best way to help students. “We had failures along the way that we had to pick ourselves back up and make changes mid year. But we did that all together with always a student centered focus. And I believe that has led us to the results that we are seeing at our elementary at this time,” she says. More than 75 percent of elementary students in Woodbine are performing at least a year above grade level in reading or math.

Ridder started as a special education teacher and taught kindergarten, second and fifth grade before becoming an administrator six years ago. She says her passion is teaching, so she didn’t want to just sit behind a desk after becoming principal. “I have been in other schools where leaders are very, you know, successful in doing that managerial side of things. But I am very passionate about instruction as well and I want to be able to not only grow our students but grow our teachers because I know that we cannot grow our students without great staff,” Ridder says. Ridder says she felt being at all the meetings and working through the issues with everyone was the best way to lead.

“People have asked are you ever going to step out and kind of let the teachers do it? My teachers could absolutely do it on their own, they are great and they have learned a lot over the last few years, bBut I feel like my visible leadership is very important and that is how I know my school in and out. And so I continue to be highly involved in that,” she says. Ridder was told the school was being honored for improved test scores, and says she was very surprised and excited to learn she had won the award.

The award comes with a 25-thousand dollar prize. Ridder says she hasn’t had time yet to decide how she will use that money.

(Radio Iowa) – With wicked winter weather pushing wind chills as low as 40-below zero this (Friday) morning, Iowans are being warned if they don’t absolutely need to go out, to stay home. If you decide to brave the roads and your vehicle somehow slides into a ditch, Brian Ortner at Triple-A-Iowa, offers a few suggestions on staying safe in the extreme cold. “Stay in your car, keep it running, have that heat inside to keep you warm,” Ortner says. “Turn your hazard lights on to increase your visibility. Call for help, obviously with your phone, share your GPS location and even, hopefully before you leave, tell somebody where you’re going and let people know that you’re on your way.” While your life may depend on keeping the car warm, Ortner says it’s likely best if you don’t leave the engine running.

“Do run it sparingly. Don’t let it run continuously. Let it run for about 10 to 15 minutes. Crack a window for ventilation, and layer clothing,” Ortner says. “Have that emergency pack in your car. Make sure you have blankets and coats and most importantly, have a portable charger for your phone.” If your car won’t start in this morning’s frigid weather, your battery may have been taxed to the point it can no longer do its job. “Even in the cold, you can try to give it a jump start. That’s going to be your best bet to get the car up and rolling again,” Ortner says, “but more than likely, with the work your battery’s been doing in this weather, your battery may need a replacement.”

The motor club spokesman offers one other nugget of advice for motorists during this bitter cold spell: “Make sure if you do have to go out, that your gas tank is full,” Ortner says. “Don’t let that gas tank drop below a quarter of a tank, because if you do and you are stranded, having that full tank of gas will help keep your car running and keep you in that warmth for as long as possible until help arrives.”

Winter weather can be deadly. A report from the U.S. Department of Transportation says each year, an average of 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 are injured in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.

OMAHA, Neb. — KETV in Omaha says a watchdog group said the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System put some patients and employees at risk. The inspector general’s report investigated allegations at the inpatient mental health unit. The report found things like not enough lighting, inconsistent staffing, and limited access to restrooms for female patients. VA leaders agreed on multiple recommended changes from the report.

Read the full report here: https://www.vaoig.gov/reports/hotline-healthcare-inspection/review-inpatient-mental-health-unit-environment-care-staffing

(Radio Iowa) – A bill about state regulations for energy projects — like nuclear reactors and battery storage facilities — has cleared a subcommittee in the Iowa House unanimously. However, after fielding a string of complaints about the bill the bipartisan panel is asking critics to submit alternatives they’d support. Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa spoke to a large group of lobbyists after he and the two other subcommittee members met privately to discuss how to proceed.

“We feel we should take this forward, but with the conversation we’ve had with you and your representation of ratepayers and stakeholders, we expect you guys to send us the suggestions that you feel would make this better,” Wilz said. There’s not a single utility company, business association or advocacy group that supports the bill, which includes a few elements of a proposal Governor Reynolds made a year ago. Matt Hinch, a lobbyist for MidAmerican Energy, asked legislators what problem they’re trying to fix with the bill.

“Iowa has arguably one of the best regulatory structures in the nation,” Hinch said. “…Iowa is dead last when it relates to the increases in the average retail rate for electricity. Over the last five years, the average retail rate for electricity has increased by four cents per kilowatt hour on average. Iowa’s has increased by one cent.” Ted Stopulus, a lobbyist for Alliant Energy, suggests removing a section of the bill that he says may require the Iowa Utilities Commission to link its decisions on wind and solar projects with previous decisions on other types of energy generation.

“We believe an all-of-the-above energy strategy is the best strategy and putting the thumb on the scale one way or another hinders that policy objective,” Stopulous said. Two groups object to a sentence in the bill that says it’s the intent of the legislature to encourage development of nuclear electric power. Robert Palmer is a lobbyist for the Iowa Business Energy Coalition which represents 10 of the largest manufacturers in Iowa.

“When that gets over to the Iowa Utilities Commission, that could be interpreted as the Iowa legislature putting more weight behind nuclear,” he said, “and thereby leading potentially it being approved in certain circumstances where other other technologies may be valuable.” Bob Rafferty, a lobbyist for Iowa Business for Clean Energy, says that statement goes on to say Iowa should pursue nuclear energy “to meet local and regional needs.”

“When it says regional needs and that term, it’s going to refer to the MISO footprint. The MISO footprint includes 13 states,” Rafferty said. “I don’t think (Iowa) ratepayers should be on the hook to build nuclear energy for Illinois.”

MISO refers to the MidContinent Independent System Operator which manages the flow of electricity along high-voltage, long-distance power lines in the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent pleaded guilty today (Jan. 22nd) to both charges against him. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said in a news release, 55-year-old Ian Andre Roberts entered guilty pleas to False Statement for Employment and Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm.

According to public court documents, Roberts falsely stated that he was a United States citizen on employment paperwork related to his position at the Des Moines Public Schools in June 2023. Roberts was not and has never been a United States citizen. On September 26, 2025, Roberts knowingly possessed a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle while knowing that he was unlawfully present in the United States. On the same day, Roberts also possessed three additional firearms at his residence, including a loaded pistol, a loaded rifle, and a shotgun.

Roberts is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, and faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison on the firearms charge and up to five years in prison on the false statements charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

CARROLL COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Thursday, said an arrest was made in connection with the May 2, 2020, disappearance of 26-year-old Christian Balke-Thompson, of Carroll, whose family reported him missing to law enforcement.  Since that time, Balke-Thompson has not been found.

On January 22, 2026, 33-year-old Albert John Wolfe, of Lanesboro, Iowa was arrested and charged with Murder in the First Degree for the death of Balke-Thompson.  The arrest stemmed from an extensive investigation conducted by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Iowa Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit.

Albert John Wolfe

The investigating agencies were further assisted by the Rockwell City Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Attorney’s Office, and Iowa SAR K9. No further details are being released at this time.

(Red Oak, IA) – An investigation in Montgomery County into alleged animal neglect in Villisca has resulted in the arrest of two women. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 51-year-old Denise Lea Vacanti and 21-year-old Savannah Christine Vacanti were arrested on two counts of animal neglect resulting in death, an aggravated misdemeanor, and one count of animal neglect resulting in injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Their arrests were the result of a search warrant executed Thursday (Jan. 22nd) at 408 South 2nd Avenue, in Villisca. At the scene, deputies rescued four dogs, four cats, two chickens, and four reptiles that were in poor health and living in “very poor” conditions due to the alleged neglect of the two women. The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Animal Rescue League of Des Moines, which took possession of the animals to assess health concerns, injuries, and hygiene.

The Vacanti’s were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) –  bill that would make it legal for Iowa pharmacists to make over-the-counter sales of two prescription medications some people sought during the pandemic has cleared a House subcommittee, but a key lawmaker says changes must be made in the bill. Ivermectin is a prescription drug the F-D-A has approved as treatment of parasites like worms and head lice. Hydroxychloroquine is prescribed for malaria and lupus. Organizations representing doctors, nurses, and pharmacists oppose the bill.

Iowa Pharmacy Association president Wes Pilkington owns a pharmacy in Evansdale and he says the bill would force pharmacists to dispense the drugs, even when there are concerns. “Pharmacists are not vending machines,” he said. “We’re licensed health care professionals whose role is to ensure medications are safe and appropriate before they reach the patient.” Seth Brown is a lobbyist for the Iowa Medical Society, as well as associations that represent Iowa pediatricians and specialists who treat patients with arthritis.

“There are significant adverse impacts to these medications, particularly hydroxychloroquine,” he said. “There needs to be clinical oversight and regular check-ins to make sure it’s that being used properly.” He says the drugs can cause serious heart and liver issues. Lindsay Maher of Informed Choice Iowa says billions of doses of ivermectin have been given worldwide and other states have passed laws allowing it to be sold without a prescription.

“Federal regulators have unfortunately played gatekeeper in keeping this off-patent, generic drug away from people,” Maher said. “…Requiring doctor’s visits adds unnecessary burdens and delays treatments and increases costs…Many people in rural, underserved communities would have greater access if this was something they could purchase over the counter.” Two of the three subcommittee members expressed grave concerns about the bill.

Representative Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, is a doctor of internal medicine. “This bill is mandated medical malpractice,” Baeth said. “Every single randomized controlled trial showed hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin are both ineffective with COVID.” Representative Brett Barker, a Republican from Nevada, is a pharmacist. “I have some strong concerns about the bill as written as well. To me, it really hones in on two words: shall dispense,” Barker said. “Pharmacists have a corresponding responsibility to ensure the safety and appropriateness of every prescription that they provide to a patient.”

Barker says he does not support the bill as written, however, Barker says he’s willing to have a conversation about making changes to the bill if it’s debated in the House Health and Human Services Committee.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion says she believes President Donald Trump is giving an economic speech here next week because of the state’s economy.  “I think we should be the model to look at in terms of fiscal responsibility. We continue to be the best place to live, work for as a family, and so I think that it’s clear he’s chosen Iowa because it’s where it launched him. But I don’t have all the details yet on his visit,” she says.

Hinson says she’s been working on getting E-15 gasoline sold year-round, and hopes that comes up in Trump’s speech. “This is an Iowa priority, this is a farm economy priority across the Midwest and the corn belt,” Hinson says. “This is about markets. So, what I have continued to communicate to the President and the administration and. He understands this, so I’m hopeful for some sort of a announcement about the agriculture economy and what we can continue to do to help support our farmers.”

Hinson was asked during her conference call with reporters about the importance of the Presidents negotiations over Greenland. “The agreement that he’s reached with our European allies will make it so that hopefully the world is a safer place. We just lost two American soldiers, two Iowa soldiers. The world is a dangerous place, and everything we can do to deter those conflicts around the world is what we need to be doing as a global superpower.”

Hinson says she plans to be there for the President’s visit to Iowa once she finds out more about the details of that visit. Hinson is running for the U-S Senate.