(Red Oak, IA) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest of a man early this (Sunday) morning, on a Public Intoxication charge. Authorities say 32-year-old  Joshua Dean Jones, of Red Oak, was taken into custody on the simple misdemeanor charge at around 12:18-a.m. in the 1200 block of Senate Avenue, in Red Oak.

Jones was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash or surety bond.

(Mason City, IA) – A person walking in the traveled portion of a grocery store parking lot  in Mason City, was struck by an SUV Saturday afternoon. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened at around 2:40-p.m., as a 2004 Chevy Tahoe was traveling south in a parking lot. The pedestrian was transported by Mason City Ambulance to the hospital but died from their injuries.

The name of the pedestrian was being withheld by authorities, pending notification of family. The name of the SUV driver was also not immediately released. The incident remained under investigation.

Mason City Police assisted State Patrol at the scene.

(Des Moines, IA) – [KCCI-TV] – Officials with the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CASA)  announced this week that after more than 40 years of advocacy work in shaping Iowa’s response to sexual violence, Iowa CASA’s Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization, with Friday marking the final day for most of its work.  The decision also brings to an end to a national program it led to strengthen sexual assault survivor services across the country.

IowaCASA provided training, policy advocacy and technical support to rape crisis centers and victim service providers statewide.

The closure also ends IowaCASA’s involvement in the Resource Sharing Project, a national initiative designed to help state and territorial sexual assault coalitions build capacity, share best practices and improve services for survivors. It is the primary resource that similar sexual assault advocacy organizations rely on to build training and guidance. RSP materials addressed complex and emerging issues facing survivors, including access to housing, services for underserved populations and how agencies can respond when sexual violence intersects with other forms of victimization.

IowaCASA previously announced that its legal advocacy program will continue operating during a wind-down period before ending March 31, 2026.

Sexual assault resources:

• Text: IOWAHELP TO 20121
• Iowa Victims Hotline: 1-800-770-1650
• Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence: 402-476-6256
• National Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
• National Domestic Victim Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

•   Estimated Total Award Amount: $66,002,161.76

• Imaging Systems: Multiple MRI systems, CT scanners, PET/CT systems, nuclear imaging (SPECT), digital X-ray systems, and a digital mammography unit with advanced imaging and compliance features.
• Robotic Surgical Systems: Multiple da Vinci 5 robotic systems (single and dual console), Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgical System, Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy System.
• Other Advanced Equipment: Linear Accelerator for radiation therapy and Olympus Endoscopy System.

• Estimated Total Award Amount: $12,600,000.00

• Physicians: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, and Cardiology.
• Advanced Practice Providers: Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
• Physician Assistants: Primary Care, Pediatrics, Surgical specialties.
• Registered Nurses: Clinical, OB, Oncology, Emergency Department, and specialized care roles.
• Specialty Providers: Radiology and Behavioral Health.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections reports Richard Wayne Shaul, convicted of Theft 2nd Degree in Henry County, Burglary 2nd Degree and Unauthorized Use of Credit Card $1K Theft 2nd Degree in Marion County, and Habitual Offender, Failure to Affix Tax Stamp, Theft 1st Degree, and Robbery 2nd Degree in Polk County, failed to report back to Fort Des Moines – Bldg. 70, as required on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Shaul is a 55-year-old, 5’11”, 216-pound White male. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 30, 2025.

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

Richard Wayne Shaul

(Radio Iowa) – Four of the Republican candidates running for governor say they support a ban on vaccines developed with m-R-N-A technology, like the Moderna and Pfizer COVID vaccines. The subject came up during this week’s debate sponsored by Moms for Liberty. Zach Lahn says he would pull all COVID shots off the market in Iowa — and end all childhood vaccine requirements connected to enrollment in Iowa schools.

“We cannot trust the medical establishment in Iowa anymore. They have lost our trust,” Lahn said, getting applause and whistles from the crowd, “and they have done nothing to earn it back.” Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, says he absolutely would consider a ban on m-R-N-A vaccines.

“My father passed away three and a half years ago,” Steen said. “He was healthy as a horse, he got the COVID shot, ends up with diabetes, ends up with cancer, now he’s passed away.” Brad Sherman, a former member of the Iowa House, says his son-in-law, who’s a doctor, refused to take the COVID vaccine and faced losing his job before he was granted a religious exemption. “All we have to do is take a stand,” Sherman said. “We need medical freedom. We need to make sure we have it in this state.”

And State Representative Eddie Andrews says he wants a state law that would allow Iowans to sue the companies that made the COVID vaccines. “I remember in the early days of COVID, it didn’t take long to realize they’re just lying through their teeth,” Andrews said. Congressman Randy Feenstra, the other Republican running for governor, declined the invitation to debate Tuesday night and flew back to Washington, D.C. on Air Force One with President Trump.

Last May, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the C-D-C would no longer recommend COVID shots for healthy children and pregnant women and, in August, Kennedy ended federal funding of m-R-N-A vaccine development.

Five associations that represent doctors in the U.S. say they’re dismayed and alarmed by that decision because research using m-R-N-A technology is showing promise in developing treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court is siding with the Davenport Public Defender’s office in dealing with an overloaded court system. The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the district court exceeded its limited role in determining whether the Davenport Public Defender should be allowed to withdraw from six cases.

The district court wanted a hearing detailing the office’s workload instead of accepting Public Defender’s determination they don’t have enough lawyers to handle the six cases where the defendants can’t afford their own lawyers.

The Supreme Court acknowledged the shortage of public defenders is an epidemic in the state, but said its ruling is limited to the Davenport situation and the role the district court plays in deciding if there is a temporary overload of cases.

(Radio Iowa) – Brian Meyer — the leader of DEMOCRATS in the Iowa House — says says a silent majority of Iowans want the carbon pipeline built and he says the Senate’s REPUBLICAN leader has proposed a resolution that will end the stalemate.

“I think it’s probably the most likely to pass, with maybe some tweaking around the edges,” Meyer said. “It’s my personal opinion that actually would be a way forward.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh is offering a bill that would expand the proposed pipeline corridor, so Summit Carbon Solutions could go around unwilling landowners and find people who’d let the pipeline run through their land. Meyer is one of 21 Democrats in the House who voted against a bill this month that would completely ban the use of eminent domain to seize land along the pipeline route.

“It’s just not a real bill,” Meyer said. “…At some point we need to sit down and have a conversation and negotiate a way forward on this pipeline.” Some Republicans like Adam Steen, who’s running for governor, have suggested the push to protect the property rights of landowners who oppose the pipeline is among the top campaign issues of 2026. Meyer says the Senate G-O-P leader’s bill is the best way to resolve the issue.

“I think there’s a lot of people in rural Iowa that want the pipeline and you have to look at everybody,” Meyer said, “not just 250 people that show up at the Capitol with red shirts on.” That’s a reference to landowners and their supporters who’ve gathered at the Iowa Capitol most Tuesdays during the past few legislative sessions, urging legislators to either block the pipeline or at least give them the right to say it can’t be on their property.”That’s certainly something to take into account and it’s very important that we address those issues with eminent domain and we protect property rights,” Meyer said, “and I think the Senate bill does its best to do that.”

But Meyer says it’s time to get the pipeline started. “There’s a lot of people in rural Iowa who are kind of the silent majority that want this to get done,” Meyer said, “because we need to address the economic realities in rural Iowa with corn and ethanol.”

Meyer made his comments today (Friday) during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.