(Radio Iowa) – More Iowans are saying “Seize the day!” and they’re booking more vacations at a much faster pace than in past years, according to a survey from Triple-A-Iowa. Spokesman Brian Ortner says the survey shows a sharp rise in vacation intent and increased multi-trip planning.

“A lot of people are saying they’re taking milestone trips now, whether it’s a wedding, a graduation, or just those things they want to do with family and friends for a milestone,” Ortner says. “That’s driving people to travel.” The global pandemic of COVID-19 forced many of us to spend months in isolation, and when it was all over, there was a huge surge in travel. Ortner says it helped coax some Iowans to shift their thinking, and put a bigger emphasis on pleasure trips.

“The reality of COVID, now six years out, showed us how short life can be,” Ortner says. “When you have these opportunities to spend with family and friends, it’s something you need to do.” The survey shows 33-percent of Iowans are planning more vacations this year than last year, and 34-percent say they’ll be taking multiple getaways in 2026.

“When you look across Iowa and our region, the number of people going on cruises and the increase that has had, to get larger groups together in a place where everything’s included, you show up, you get on board, you don’t have to worry about anything else the rest of the time,” Ortner says. “Travel’s become easier for folks.” The survey found Spring Break getaways are just as important to Iowans as vacations over Christmas and New Year’s. It showed 24-percent of Iowans say they’ll be taking off for warmer shores for Spring Break, and 24-percent also said they’d be gone for the year-end holidays.

“Kids are out of school, in addition to have that time off of work, which around Thanksgiving, yeah, there’s a Thanksgiving break, but it’s typically not as long as a Spring Break or a year-end holiday timeframe,” he says, “that would allow to be away from work and school at the same time.” Where are Iowans going this year?

The Triple-A-Iowa survey found 47-percent are taking road trips, 33-percent will head for beach destinations, and 23-percent opted both for major metro areas or state or national parks.

Council Bluffs, Iowa – Zachary Russell White, convicted of Robbery 2nd in Pottawattamie County, failed to report back to the Council Bluffs Residential Correctional Facility as required on February 27th, 2026.

White is a 25-year-old, 5’7″, 167-pound White Male. He was admitted to the work release facility on October 14th, 2025.

Persons with information on White’s whereabouts should contact local police.

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910.

(Atlantic, IA) – The trial for a Cass County (IA) man charged with felony 1st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment Causing Death, will no longer take place on April 28th, as scheduled. That’s because – according to online court records – 26-year-old Corbin Loudermilk, of Atlantic, entered a written plea of guilty Feb. 27th, to the charge of Child Endangerment Resulting in Death – a Class B Felony. The plea agreement calls for the Class-A felony charge of Murder in the 1st Degree, to be dismissed. The maximum possible punishment for a conviction under Child Endangerment Resulting in Death is an indeterminate term of imprisonment not to exceed fifty years. The State and Corbin Loudermilk agree that the court will impose a mandatory minimum of three-tenths of the total sentence, for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15-years.

According to a criminal complaint, Loudermilk was the parent of a child identified only by the initials “K.E.L.,” and that by an intentional act or series of intentional acts in early 2025, he used unreasonable force that resulted in the death of the child. Online court records currently don’t show when Loudermilk will be sentenced.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County met in a regular session this (Tuesday) morning (March 3rd), in Atlantic. The Board heard a presentation from Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee, with regard to Cass County Day of Service Training and Implementation Fund. McAfee said $4,000 grants are available to as many as 20 organizations in Cass County. She explained in order to qualify, organizations must have at least two representatives complete 12 hours of training, followed by a “Day of Service.”

The deadline for all non-profit organizations, schools and government agencies to apply for the funds is April 1st. There are no stipulations on the organizations selected, as to how and when the funds are spent. Her presentation was informational only, so no action was taken. The Supervisors approved the release of responsibility for the maintaining of the Crooked Creek Watershed site in Benton Township, to Glen Ellen Farms, Inc. (Dave Hansen). Board Chair Steve Baier explains…

In other business, the Board reviewed and authorized Board Chair Steve Baier to sign a 28-E (cost sharing) agreement with Southwest Iowa Juvenile Emergency Service. Baier said it was basically the same agreement that’s been in-place since 1994, and which has worked out well for all parties involved. They agreed to set Tuesday, March 24th at 9-a.m., as the date & time for a Public Hearing on the proposed FY2027 Tax Levy, and Tuesday, April 14th at 9-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the proposed FY2027 Cass County Budget. Their final order of business was to pass a Resolution Implementing a Temporary Vacancy Review Procedure to fill positions, as allowed under the Code of Iowa. Steve Baier explains…

Whenever a vacancy occurs in a position in any County Department or elected office, the department head or elected official is required to submit a a request to fill vacancy form to the Supervisors for approval, prior to posting the job opening. The Board will then evaluate the request, taking into account the County’s financial condition, service levels and statutory obligations. A temporary suspension of automatic approvals is now in effect until further notice.

(An IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH report) – A western Iowa teacher who was fired after publicly commenting that she wouldn’t miss activist Charlie Kirk after his death last year has been awarded jobless benefits. Jana Aldrich of Council Bluffs was a special education teacher who last year worked for the Omaha-based Child Saving Institute, a nonprofit with a mission of helping children with behavioral, mental and social needs. According to state records, on Sept. 10, 2025, shortly after conservative activist Kirk was shot and killed in Utah, Aldrich posted a comment to Facebook. The post included a widely circulating meme that included Kirk’s April 3, 2023, statement in response to a question about gun deaths: “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

Above the meme, Aldrich added a comment of her own: “He was wrong…it’s not worth it! I won’t miss him!!!” Aldrich posted the comment on her personal Facebook page during off-work hours, although her Facebook profile listed her employment as a special education teacher at Children’s Square, the name of an organization that was acquired by CSI. Aldrich’s supervisors at CSI learned of the post after 12 members of the public contacted the organization and complained. According to information CSI later provided at a hearing, two of the complainants were out-of-state residents and none of the 12 had children attending CSI or had any other direct involvement with the organization. Some of the complainants suggested they would attempt to jeopardize the organization’s funding if CSI didn’t terminate Aldrich’s employment.

CSI subsequently determined Aldrich’s post violated the organization’s social media policies in that they exhibited a lack of empathy and humanity, which directly contradicts the organization’s core mission and values. Aldrich disputed those findings, arguing that her post showed empathy and humanity by stating Kirk’s rhetoric on gun deaths was wrong and that suggesting that no deaths — including Kirk’s — are worth the protections granted under the Second Amendment. CSI disagreed, and Aldrich was fired on Sept. 12, 2025. She subsequently filed for unemployment benefits, which CSI challenged, arguing she had been dismissed for work-related misconduct that would disqualify her from collecting benefits.

The matter recently went to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Jasmina Sarajlija, who ruled in Aldrich’s favor and awarded her benefits, finding there was no evidence her off-duty conduct was connected to her work. Sarajlija also found that CSI had provided insufficient evidence that Aldrich’s conduct had caused any harm to the organization. Even if CSI has provided evidence of work-related misconduct that was damaging to the organization, Sarajlija stated, there was no evidence to indicate Aldrich’s Facebook post violated the organization’s policy calling for workers to represent CSI in a positive manner in their online activity. “The post itself made no reference to the employer or claimant’s employment with the employer,” Sarajlija ruled. “Her post also did not contain any hateful or violent language that could be interpreted as condoning the shooting death of the activist.”

Aldrich said Monday she was pleased with the ruling and is still weighing her options as to any further legal action she might take. “I will say that this decision made me feel vindicated with regard to knowing in my heart that they did the wrong thing at CSI, that it wasn’t right what they did to me,” Aldrich said. “So it made me feel vindicated in that sense. Right now, I’m just wondering whether I should take this any further.”

Other cases include that of Melisa Crook, a high school English teacher from Creston, who sued the Creston Community School District in federal court after being told she was facing termination for her comments about Kirk. Crook had written of Kirk: “He is a terrible human being … terrible. I do not wish death on anyone, but him not being here is a blessing.” In her lawsuit, Crook cited a series of pro-Republican posts by Superintendent Deron Stender and school board president Don Gee. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger granted Crook’s motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction blocking the district’s plans to terminate her. In her ruling on that issue, Ebinger concluded “Crook spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern when posting her Facebook comment… Crook posted her Facebook comments on her personal time, at home, from her personal Facebook account. She did not purport to speak as an employee of the Creston Community School District.”

The school district has appealed that ruling while the underlying case proceeds toward trial.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously approved a bill designed to expand access to intensive mental health services outside of a hospital setting. It applies to facilities that help stabilize patients in a mental health crisis while a long-term care plan is developed. If the bill becomes law, insurance companies could not require prior authorization for admission. Representative Ron Johnson of Des Moines says the bill is a step in the right direction.

“Iowa is in a really rough place when it comes to mental health care,” Johnson said. “…I’m really glad to see listed in this bill the prior authorization because far too often we are allowing insurance companies to make medical decisions and not the medical professionals themselves.” Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says the bill would also get rid of a state rule that insurance companies have cited when limiting coverage for these services to just 10 days. “It also establishes a bed tracking system for (each) Pediatric Mental Institute for Children,” Meyer said.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

An eastern Iowa native is preparing to take to the ice at the Paralympic Winter Games which begin this week in Milan, Italy. Kevin McKee grew up in Davenport. He was born with a rare spinal condition and has used a wheelchair his entire life. McKee says he started playing sled hockey at around 10 years old. He says he plays other adaptive sports but loves the speed and physicality of sled hockey.

(As said) “What makes this sport so hard is you have to use your hands to not only skate but then to puck handle, pass, shoot,” McKee says, “and also maneuver so you don’t get your head taken off when people are trying to hit you.”

McKee won gold medals in sled hockey in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He says the sled hockey team hopes to repeat in 2026, especially after the American women’s and men’s hockey teams won gold last month.

(As said) “So there’s a little bit of pressure, but I think it’ll be good too,” he says, “because I don’t think our team’s had that kind of pressure over the last four years. I mean, we’ve been pretty dominant at the world level.”

Speaking on Iowa Public Radio’s “Talk of Iowa,” McKee says he feels fortunate to be on the 2026 Paralympic team. He had emergency surgery on a broken femur in October after breaking it in practice in the Czech Republic.

HASTINGS, IA — Aspiring chefs, bakers, and food entrepreneurs in Southwest Iowa will soon have a space to call their own. The SWITCH – Lakin Foundation Training Hub is proud to announce the opening of its new Commercial Kitchen, coming in April, a shared-use space designed to transform culinary dreams into thriving local businesses. The SWITCH Commercial Kitchen will serve entrepreneurs across Mills, Fremont, Page, Montgomery, and surrounding counties. By providing affordable, licensed kitchen space and removing the high overhead costs of traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts, SWITCH is effectively lowering the barrier to entry for the local food industry.

This kitchen is a cornerstone of the SWITCH campus, prioritizing equity, accessibility, and community. Through strategic partnerships, the hub offers comprehensive support that goes beyond the stove. Members can access ServSafe certification, mentorship, and entrepreneurship workshops to ensure their businesses are as sustainable as they are delicious. “Our goal is to build a vibrant, resilient local food system,” says SWITCH Director, Kattie Lewis. “By providing the tools, the space, and the education, we are empowering underserved populations and rural entrepreneurs to turn their passion into a paycheck.”

To accommodate everything from experimental startups to established catering operations, SWITCH offers a variety of rental structures:

Hourly Rental
Half-Day & Full-Day Blocks
Monthly Memberships
Individuals and businesses interested in utilizing this space are encouraged to fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfr6xiKlTjVZjQ8Koag68CuerW3N0cMNIJKafHt4ik-U7sfsg/viewform?usp=header

About SWITCH – Lakin Foundation Training Hub:
The SWITCH – Lakin Foundation Training Hub is dedicated to creating educational partnerships that enhance vocational training opportunities. They believe collaboration with educational and industry leaders and local businesses fosters a learning environment that benefits students and the community. SWITCH’s mission is to provide accessible training solutions tailored to meet the needs of Iowa residents. Through its focus on quality, sustainability, and support, SWITCH provides the infrastructure necessary for local residents to flourish in a modern economy.

(Des Moines, IA) – Information provided to KJAN News by Iowa Freedom of Information Council President and Chief Executive Officer Randy Evans, sheds more light on the termination of former Atlantic High School Guidance Counselor Jesse McCann. The detailed list of events leading up to McCann’s discharge was provided to Evans from Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, and confirms McCann was fired for alleged inappropriate conduct. The timeline leading to his termination, according to Dr, Johnsen, is as follows:

A report was made to the District on January 18, 2026, alleging that Mr. McCann engaged in inappropriate conduct. Following an investigation, the District determined that Mr. McCann engaged in the following conduct:

• Sent unwelcome and inappropriate messages to one or more students;
• Engaged in unwelcome and inappropriate conduct toward one or more students;
• Engaged in a pattern of conduct which directly or indirectly significantly and adversely affects the District’s efforts to provide students with high quality instruction;
• Failed to take responsibility for actions towards students and/or failed to cease engaging in harmful conduct towards students and staff;
• Engaged in conduct that violates one or more of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners standards of ethical conduct for individual licensed as a teacher including Standard VI(c) and (d) and Standard VII (a) and (b);
• Engaged in conduct toward students which is inconsistent with any reasonable standards of conduct applicable to teachers or student support services in the District;
• Failed to maintain reasonably safe and productive professional learning environment for students at school;
• Engaged in conduct which has directly or indirectly significantly and adversely affected ability to serve as a trustworthy employee, including one responsible for supervising students and/or resolving student issues;
• Engaged in conduct which directly or indirectly significantly and adversely affects ability to be a positive role model for students in the District;
• Engaged in conduct which directly or indirectly significantly and adversely affects ability to maintain trust and respect of parents of students in the District
• Engaged in conduct which directly or indirectly significantly and adversely affects confidence in judgment and fitness to serve as a teacher or guidance counselor;
• Engaged in conduct which is inconsistent with the commonly expected standards of professional conduct applicable to teachers and guidance counselors in the District, in violation of District Policies 400 (Role and Guiding Principles for Employees), 401.4 (Employee Expression), 404 (Employee Conduct and Appearance), 404-R(1) (Employee Conduct and Appearance – Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics Regulation) and 404-R(2) (Employee Conduct and Appearance – Code of Rights and Responsibilities Regulation).

The Board of Directors terminated Mr. McCann’s employment effective February 11, 2026. To date, NO FORMAL CHARGES have been filed against McCann.