(Radio Iowa) – Police in Manchester conducting an online sting have recently arrested and accused five men of grooming a minor for sex. A 52-year-old central Iowa man was arrested Monday for attempting to meet with an undercover officer in Manchester, an officer who he believed was a minor. Police say over the past few weeks, Michael Patrick Wiezorek had groomed and sent a list of messages to the undercover officer.

Police say he traveled from Nevada, rented a hotel room, and then traveled to the meet-up location. In November, four other men were arrested as part of the online predator sting. Manchester Police say they’re still evaluating cases and working toward other arrests.

Manchester Police started the undercover operation in September. An officer created social media profiles portraying a 15-year-old in an attempt to catch online predators. Manchester’s Police Chief is hosting a forum at the city’s public library on Thursday, January 22nd at 5 p.m. to advise parents about how to protect their children’s safety online.

(Radio Iowa) – The lawmaker who’s led tax reduction efforts in the Iowa Senate for nearly a decade says the legislature has been in a cycle of putting band aides on Iowa’s property tax system. Dan Dawson, the Republican who’s chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says it’s time for a fix that will last for decades.

“Any reform that isn’t sustainable and doesn’t the needle on Iowa being one of the worst states for property taxes in the country isn’t worth doing,” Dawson said. “The reason why we’re talking about this isn’t because it polls well. Iowa is the 10th worst state in the country when it comes to property taxes, full stop.”

Governor Reynolds will soon release her proposal for changes in Iowa’s property tax system, perhaps next Tuesday when she delivers an annual speech to the legislature. Dawson isn’t ready to discuss what Senate Republicans might propose this year, but last April Dawson said the key would be limited how much local government budgets can increase year to year. During a recent interview with Radio Iowa, Dawson would only say whatever bill is developed must be comprehensive.

“If you don’t do that, all you are doing is creating a guerilla warfare system of taxpayer-versus-taxpayer,” Dawson said. “They want quality services, but they also want a fair property tax system and the current system we have right now is absolutely not fair.” Dawson says there are only so many levers state lawmakers can pull, but he says lawmakers have an opportunity during the 2026 legislative session to make wholesale changes in Iowa’s property tax system.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic City Council’s first meeting under the leadership of newly elected and sworn-in Mayor Rob Clausen, Jr., took place this (Wednesday) evening. During their first session of 2026, the Council heard comments from Atlantic resident and parks & recreation advocate Frank Saddlemire, who urged the new administration to revisit the idea of having a Parks Director oversee the Parks and Rec Department.

The last time the City had a full-time Parks and Recreation Department Director, was in May, 2023, when Wyatt Adderton abruptly resigned, citing the work environment and alleged harassment. Saddlemire said previous Park and Rec Directors were instrumental in making the parks what they are today, a place for all to enjoy.

The grants secured by previous Directors have resulted in the development of the Schildberg Campground and sparked continued interest by private citizens to making the Splash Pad a reality. Since that time the Parks and Rec Board was disbanded and replaced with a Parks and Rec Advisory Commission, guided by Coordinator Jeff Christensen, whose title was formerly Assistant Parks and Rec Director.

Atlantic City Council meeting, 1-7-2026

The Council also received a presentation/update from Atlantic Cemetery Board representative Rod Deter, who said 11,000 people are buried in the cemetery. The Board is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, regulated and audited by the Iowa Insurance Division.

In 2025, Deter said, they only sold 10 plots, which is a decline from years past. He said Board’s number one expense, is personnel, which is 66-percent of their costs, or $64,000 per year. Equipment and maintenance expenses amount to $11,000 per year. Grave opening and closing, and utilities are additional expenses. Deter said their number one source of revenue is from the opening and closing of graves. The City is the second most source of income for the Cemetery Board.

Challenges ahead include finding additional personnel to due the necessary work, keeping equipment running, dead tree removal, flagpole and building maintenance. City Administrator John Lund notes the Atlantic Cemetery receives an annual $30,000 subsidy from the City, the appropriation for which comes from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress Fund.

The Atlantic City Council approved the appointment of Roger Poulsen to the Planning and Zoning Commission, who was sworn-in by Mayor Clausen. The Mayor nominated Poulsen to the Commission, which consists of seven members, and serves as an advisory body to the City Council. Members serve five-year, staggered terms. The Commission’s main responsibility is to review and adopt the City’s comprehensive plan, which outlines the long-range development of the community. They also review and make recommendations on matters including: Rezoning; Ordinance amendments and regulations, and other issues, as requested by the Council.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed orders:

• Approving First Whitney Bank & Trust as the City’s Official Bank for the City Checking Account for 2026.
• Approving the Atlantic News Telegraph as the City’s Official Newspaper for Legal Publications in 2026.
• and, a Pay Application #5 for $94,872.79 to TK Concrete for the West 22nd Street Improvement Project.

The Council also passed a Resolution (#01-26) “Authorizing Certain Parameters for the Acceptance and Approval. City Administrator John Lund says a parameters resolution allows the debt issuers to finalize a Bond Purchase Agreement within clearly defined limits. The Council approved the structure and boundaries of the bond issues, including: How much can be issued; How long the bond can run; and, the maximum cost, while authorizing Lund to complete the sale, once the bonds are priced. Once the bonds are priced, the final terms are fully documented and incorporated into the City’s financial records. The parameters approach was recommended by the City’s finance attorneys, Dorsey & Whitney.

In his report, Mayor Clausen thanked the citizens of Atlantic for their confidence in electing him to the position, and said he looks forward to serving his first term.

He reminded the public about the City’s Snow Ordinance, and that the Camblin Hills Housing Development Project – which currently has 40 workers on site – is closed to the public.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – The Council Bluffs Police Department is seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed an incident or observed suspicious activity, in the area of 1st Avenue this (Wednesday) morning, that resulted in a woman being shot.

Authorities say at around 8:45-a.m., hospital staff at CHI Mercy Hospital notified police that a woman who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, had been dropped-off at the facility. Reports indicated a man and a woman left the victim at the hospital before leaving the premises.

An investigation determined the original incident occurred at 602 1st Avenue, in Council Bluffs. Investigators secured the scene and executed a search warrant. During the search, detectives recovered a discharged round from a weapon, a casing, and forensic evidence consistent with the victim’s statement.

As of the most recent press release from the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division, no suspects were in custody. The name of the victim was not being released, and the case investigation remains active. If you have information that may help solve the case, please call one of the following numbers:

• Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigation Division: 712-328-4728
• Anonymous Tips (CrimeStoppers): 712-328-7867, or, submit your information online to:
  • CouncilBluffs CrimeStoppers Portal.

(Radio Iowa) – The forecast calls for parts of southwest Iowa to have high temperatures this (Wednesday) afternoon in the low 60s, but water temperatures will be much colder, so an expert says to leave your canoe or kayak in the shed, for now. Todd Robertson, the Iowa D-N-R’s river programs water trails coordinator, says it’s easy to be fooled by the sunny, unseasonably warm weather and he reminds, it may feel like April, but it’s still January.

“There’s no way the water’s going to be heating up to a safe level,” Robertson says. “If you don’t have a dry suit, if you’re not experienced in winter paddling, being out there on really cold water in a cold environment, it’s not a good time to go. I know it’s real tempting and you’ve been cooped up all winter, but we just need to wait a little bit longer.” Most Iowa lakes, rivers and streams are still registering water temperatures in the 30s, and seasoned paddlers know to plan for the worst case — which means getting wet.

“When the water temperature is below 60°, that puts you at automatic risk for hypothermia or worse,” Robertson says. “We know it’s really cold. It’s deceiving because you feel like you want to go out there without a jacket and just think you can paddle, but as soon as you hit that water, you’re going to feel cold water shock and it’s going to be a big problem.” The D-N-R offers a series of paddling courses during the warm weather months, and Robertson says they’ll touch on cold weather precautions, but the best way to learn is from another expert.

He says there are plenty of veteran winter kayakers around Iowa who are willing to share their knowledge. “If you can find those groups, whether it be social media or through local paddling clubs, get hooked up with the right people, because you don’t want to paddle alone anyway, you want to go out with three or four really experienced people,” Robertson says. “Just get out there, put your feelers out on social media, you’ll come across some people.” He recommends paddlers always wear a life jacket, let a friend or loved one know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and bring a dry bag with extra clothing to change into should you get wet.

Find the DNR’s interactive paddling map HERE:
https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-do/paddling-river-recreation/where-paddle

(Radio Iowa) – A Mason City woman is now jailed on charges she went on a naked rampage last month, causing thousands of dollars in damage at a local convenience store. Mason City police accuse 32-year-old Cheri Decker of going into a Casey’s General Store on the morning of December 19th nude and covered in blood. While in the store, Decker is accused of knocking over a shelving unit, breaking glass bottles from the shelves, pushing an employee, and throwing items at employees.

Along with breaking items, multiple consumable items and product packages were covered with blood and had to be destroyed. Due to the amount of blood in the store, on products and on food machines, the store had to close and be professionally cleaned.

Decker is also accused of slapping a person inside the store causing injury. Decker was arrested on charges of first-degree criminal mischief, a Class C felony, as well as assault causing bodily injury and disorderly conduct.

(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.