BRIDGEWATER, Iowa – March 6, 2026 – Effective April 6th (2026), if you travel on Iowa 92 near Bridgewater you need to be aware of an upcoming bridge closure that may affect your trip according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Crews will need to close the Iowa 92 bridge over the West Fork of the Nodaway River, 1.6 miles east of Adair County Road N-51, on Monday, April 6, until late October, weather permitting. When the bridge is closed, you will need to follow a marked detour route that uses Iowa 148, Adair County roads G-61 and N-72, and Iowa 92.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously approved a bill that sets some state rules for prior authorization — the process insurance companies and government-run insurance programs use before approving a patient’s medical treatment. It sets new timelines for prior authorization decisions. It also says a patient’s doctor appealing denial of treatment or medication for a patient must talk to an insurance company representative who’s an expert in the same area of medicine. Representative Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton, notes the bill also makes changes that should speed up the process of state approval of health care facility construction.

“It is probably one of the most impactful pieces of legislation that will get down to the governor this year,” Harris said. “It is going to make sure that we expand services and provide quicker care for the people of Iowa.” Senator Kara Warme, a Republican from Ames, says the new prior authorization guidelines are likely to decrease the amount of time doctors spend talking to insurance companies. “We want time for our limited professionals to be in patient care with Iowans,” Warme said.

The bill also makes it illegal for insurance companies to use Artificial Intelligence to authorize or deny medical treatment.

ANITA, Iowa – March 6, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office wants to let motorists know about the closure, beginning March 30th, of the Iowa 148 bridge over Interstate 80 (Exit 70) that is three miles north of Anita. Crews need to close the Iowa 148 bridge for approximately five months, weather permitting, so they can remove and replace the bridge deck. When the bridge is closed, you will need to follow a marked detour route that will take you on I-80 in Cass County to Exit 64 and Exit 75 and come back to reach Iowa 148.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 38-year-old Christopher Alan Pierce, of Creston, was arrested at around 7:35-p.m. in the area of Poplar and Buckeye Streets, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Pierce was released from the scene with a citation, and on a Promise to Appear in Court.

And, at around 8-a.m. Thursday, 65-year-old David Allen Mick, of Creston, was arrested at his home for Failure to Abate a Nuisance. Mick was also cited, and released on a Promise To Appear.

(Indianola, IA) – UPDATED 12:40-P.M. 3/6/26 SHE WAS FOUND SAFE AND ALIVE – DETAILS TO FOLLOW!

The Warren County Sheriff’s Department reported on their social media page, Thursday afternoon, that a vehicle belonging to a woman missing from Cumming (IA) was found about 70-miles southwest of there, in Ringgold County. A white Toyota Sienna registered to 78-year-old Cheryl Anderson, was found stuck Wednesday night near the intersection of 200th Street and 265th Avenue (Liberty Township Section 26), in rural Ringgold County. A single set of footprints was seen in a direction indicated she walked away from the vehicle. Anderson was last seen during the afternoon of March 3rd, heading toward Norwalk. Prior to her vehicle being found Wednesday, it was last seen on a traffic camera heading west on Hickman Road in Clive, which is in the opposite direction of Norwalk.

Authorities say Anderson has not driven in years. She has Alzheimer’s and is in need of her medication. She is likely unaware of where she is. The woman is 5-feet 4-inches tall, weighs about 180-pounds, has white hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing black slacks, black shoes, a brown sweater and a ball-cap with diamonds (see the photo below).  If you have seen her, or know where she is, please call 9-1-1.

Cheryl Anderson (Warren County Sheriff’s Office Facebook photo)

(Radio Iowa) – Two key statehouse Republicans are suggesting is may be necessary to raise a tax on some health insurance companies and use that extra money to reduce the deficit in the state’s Medicaid program. Governor Kim Reynolds says raising a tax on H-M-Os and the private companies that manage the state’s Medicaid program is temporarily available under the One Big Beautiful Bill President Trump signed last summer.

“We have a Medicaid shortfall,” Reynolds said.”I mean, that’s the main driver of this and that would help address that. It’s pretty significant and that would help address that. It’s pretty significant that the bill was going to come due after COVID and this is one of the ways, one of the options that we have and it doesn’t even take care of all of it.” A lobbyist for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield railed against the proposal earlier this week, suggesting it could be the single largest tax increase on a private company in legislative history.

Reynolds says Wellmark’s original calculation of a nearly 50 MILLION dollar impact was incorrect and state officials calculate Wellmark will pay about 25 MILLION dollars more if the premium tax is raised on Wellmark’s H-M-O. House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans aren’t generally interested in raising taxes, but they’re open to considering this temporary tax.”Looking at the current shortfall with around $70 million…Our five years you’re looking at a roughly $600 million shortfall,” Grassley said. “I think this is an appropriate thing at least for us to discuss.”

Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, the Republican from Fort Dodge who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, says lawmakers are looking at ways that might lessen the blow to private insurers, but he notes there’s a March 31st FEDERAL deadline for passing a bill that would raise the premium tax and funnel the money to Iowa’s Medicaid program. “This is one of the things that I was taught as a kid that whenever you’re compromising, nobody’s usually happy at the end,” Kraayenbrink said. “That means you probably hit a good compromise.”

The proposed insurance premium tax would be retroactive to January 1st and end September 30th.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn have announced they plan to be at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware tomorrow (Saturday) for the dignified transfer of the remains of two central Iowa soldiers who were killed in Kuwait last weekend. Nunn led a moment of silence in the U.S. House for the two Army Reservists and the four other members of a unit based in Des Moines who were killed in an Iranian drone strike.

“Out of grief we renew our resolve, out of loss we strengthen our unity, and out of sacrifice we carry forward an obligation to the families, to the survivors, to our nation,” Nunn said, “to every man and woman still standing in the post today.”

Nunn, who is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, is also postponing a campaign fundraiser he had planned for March 14th that was to feature U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as the keynote speaker. A spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says scheduling a campaign fundraiser while American soldiers are at war is callous. Nunn says his focus right now is on Iowa service members who are deployed, supporting military families, and helping American citizens in the Middle East get to safety.

Nunn and over a dozen U.S. House members stood on the House floor yesterday (Thursday) as Nunn read the names of all six members of the Army Reserve Unit based at Fort Des Moines who were killed March 1st. Nunn said 20-year-old Declan Coady, the Army Reservist from West Des Moines who was killed Sunday, was one of the youngest soldiers in his unit and was studying cybersecurity at Drake University.”He was taking classes online, from Kuwait, while he defended our country in order to become an officer,” Nunn said. “Last week, he proudly told his father he’d been recommended for promotion.”

Coady was posthumously promoted from the rank of Specialist to Sergeant. Nunn also talked about 45-year-old Major Jeffrey O’Brien of Waukee, who had a decades’ long career in the military. “He gave his life keeping our forces in Kuwait safe,” Nunn said, “and our Americans at home guarded.”

On Wednesday Nunn announced on social media that nine other soldiers from the same unit had been injured in the attack and were getting medical treatment at a U-S military medical facility in Germany.

(Radio  Iowa) – The four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U.S. House have voted against a resolution that would have constrained the military operations President Trump has authorized against Iran. Second District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

“First and foremost, I don’t support an endless war and I think most members of congress are in that same boat, but Iran is the world’s number one sponsor of terrorism,” Hinson said, “…and we need to keep those dangers from every reaching our shores.” Hinson cites the recent security briefing three top Trump Administration officials gave congress about the decision to attack Iran.

“We know the threat to Americans was and continues to be real,” Hinson says. First District Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa says the mission must remain focused and limited because Americans do not want another forever war, but Miller-Meeks says adopting the war powers resolution would hamstring the Iran operation while pilots are in the air. Third District Congressman Zach Nunn is attending tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) dignified transfer ceremony in Delaware for the two Army Reservists from Iowa who were killed in Kuwait Sunday.

Nunn, who is from Ankeny, says Trump is acting within the constitutional authority granted to presidents of both parties and the resolution’s passage would have put more Iowa soldiers at risk. Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull has not issued a statement after the war powers vote, but earlier this week Feenstra said the United States must remain resolute in confronting those who threaten our service members and our allies.

On Wednesday, Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst voted against a senate war powers resolution that would have limited Trump’s ability to continue ordering attacks on Iran without congressional approval.