(Atlantic, IA) – The City of Atlantic is advertising on social media, the search for the City’s next City Clerk. Current City Clerk Laura McClean has informed the Council that she intends to move to the Quad Cities in the near future. Information on applying for the position can be found on the City’s Facebook page.

McLean started as City Clerk in September, 2024, following a search to replace the former City Clerk, Barb Barrick, who accepted a similar position with the City of Huxley.

Barrick had succeeded long-time City Clerk Deb Wheatley-Field, who retired in 2017 after 35-years of service to the City.

(Bloomfield, IA) – Classes were canceled for today (Friday, Dec. 12^th) at a southern Iowa school district, after authorities confirmed a case of whooping cough. Davis County Community School District Superintendent Megan Christiansen, in Bloomfield, posted on social media, Thursday afternoon, that the case of whooping cough, also called pertussis, was confirmed at the elementary school.

“Out an abundance of caution,” Christiansen said, classes and activities that were scheduled to take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, were canceled or postponed, while the district investigates and waits on guidance from public health officials. “We will keep families updated with new information,” Christiansen said, “as soon as it becomes available.”

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness. It gets its name based on the “whooping” someone makes while gasping for air after coughing.

(Radio Iowa) – One of southwest Iowa’s largest and most popular holiday light displays will be switched on tomorrow (Saturday) night for the first time this season. After months of preparation, the Baird family display in Montgomery County is ready to brighten the skies and spirits of passers by. It features a large collection of illuminated animated characters, buildings and vehicles. Chris Baird is the son of the late Jack Baird, who spearheaded the display for more than 50 years. Baird says it started small and blossomed over the decades.

“Originally, my grandfather brought home some Christmas lights,” Baird says. “They were hung on the fence near the house. Us kids enjoyed them. It just kind of kept expanding from there. I got into elementary and junior high, and I started putting up more and more Christmas lights, and people started coming by. I think that’s when the traditional started of the Baird Christmas light farm.” Baird says the family elected to continue the tradition following Jack Baird’s passing on Christmas Day of 2022.

“That was one of the things that we promised to him,” he says, “because we knew it was so important to both him and my mom from the early years when we started making it bigger and bigger, and it was important to our family. I don’t know what we’d do if we didn’t do it. For as many years as we’ve been doing it now, it’s just been part of our family.” Baird says one of the challenges is keeping the display fresh each year. “We’ve got several new moving figurines this year,” Baird says. “I guess people have to watch for them so that people can pick them out. We’re getting to the point where we need to maybe not a few things out, and then put out some new things. We move things around. People see different things in different places. That’s kind of the fun of it.”

Baird Christmas display (2020 image)

Work on this year’s display began in October. At one point, Baird says three generations of family members worked on the display. Despite all the hard work, he says the joy it brings visitors each year makes it worthwhile. “My dad’s favorite saying was, ‘With all the bad in the world, it’s nice to give something to the community, that people can drive by and enjoy all they want,'” he said. “It doesn’t cost them anything. There’s a box by the drive. If they want to donate, that’s up to them. But, we do not ask for donations. Whatever we get goes back into the lights. That’s the neat thing. If it brings a little bit of happiness to someone who’s having a tough time, it’s well worth doing.”

Beginning tomorrow (Saturday), residents can view the Baird Christmas lights every night from 5-to-10 p-m through January 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s two Republican Senators voted for the health care bill Thursday they say will lower health care costs, but the bill was blocked by Democrats. Democrats want to extend the Affordable Care Act, but Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says that would be too expensive. “I can tell you what they should not be happy with, and that is the fact that Obamacare has driven costs up for every single American,” she says. “And what our plan does as Republicans, it provides those subsidy payments directly to our Americans directly to them, to invest. In health savings accounts to bring those premium costs down.” Ernst says there is no transparency for insurance companies getting subsidies under Obamcare.

“Anytime you’re subsidizing an activity from the federal government, it actually raises the cost because those companies know that they can charge more and the government’s going to pay for it,” she says. Ernst says the Republican plan makes things more transparent and the insurance market more competitive. “We have found a huge amount of fraud within this Obamacare expanded subsidies market. We want accountability and the Democrats have said ‘no, we don’t care about fraud’, we want it to stay exactly the same way it is. And if we continue to do that, folks, I guarantee those rates are going to keep going up and up and up,” Ernst says.

Ernst says there is talk of another government shutdown in January if an Obamacare extension fails to pass. She says that won’t be Republicans’ fault, and we found out with the recent shut down it’s costly.”It cost our taxpayers over 12 billion dollars, 12 billion dollars in payments that we had to make for employees who were not at work,” she says. Iowa’s other Senator, Chuck Grassley also voted for the plan, saying it would fix a broken health care system.

(Red Oak, IA) – A woman was arrested on an OWI charge this (Friday) morning, following a traffic stop, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, Officers arrested 50-year-old Linda Jean Mayo (no city of residence listed), in the 2000 block of Highway 34. Mayo was charged with OWI/1st offense. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Des Moines, IA)  – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds across the northern two-thirds of Iowa. Outdoor ice enthusiasts are ready to get out ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating or fat-tire bike riding. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.  Larger off-road utility vehicles should wait for seven or more inches of clear ice.

Ice forms at different rates on each body of water depending upon the size and water depth. Once frozen, conditions change constantly and ice thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice. Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice.  Avoid slushy or honey-combed and stay away from dark spots on the ice.  Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a spud bar, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.
• Use extreme caution when snowmobiling on ice. Snowmobiles can be difficult to steer and take a long time to stop with limited traction on ice. Slow down and avoid heavy braking.

(Des Moines, IA) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced several new changes to the State’s parks system effective in 2026, designed to improve visitor experiences.  Among them:

1. Beginning in 2026, most campsites in the Iowa state park system will be reservable through the DNR’s Online Reservation System. The switch will complete a process that started in 2021, and means:

• Reservations can be made online or by phone using a credit card.
• Availability is known immediately and can be made the same day.
• If a cancellation occurs, the site is available for reservation within minutes.
• An increase in convenience and reduction in uncertainty for campers who previously may have traveled to a campground not knowing if sites were open.
• More site availability in every campground .
• Customers can change a reservation until 10 pm on the day of arrival – some limitations apply. Additionally, campers can change a reservation to a different park allowing for more flexibility.
• Ability for staff to spend more time caring for the park, programming and natural resource upkeep, instead of handling cash or check-ins at the campground.

A kiosk in each campground will provide online reservation information for those who come to the park looking for a site. Campers will no longer need to complete paper registration forms or pay with cash; all reservations will be through the Online Reservation System or by calling (877) 427-2757.

2.First Day Hikes: Kick off the New Year by joining a First Day Hike in an Iowa State Park. More than 40 parks are hosting either a guided group hike or suggesting a self-guided hike. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks. Find a complete list on the First Day Hike page.

3. Iowa state parks have been renovating several campgrounds and facilities to modernize and improve visitor experiences. Be sure to check out the Park Alerts and Closures page when planning your trip in case the construction projects impact a park you plan to visit in 2026. In our area:

• Lewis and Clark  State Park – the entire park is currently closed to visitors for hazardous tree removal, with completion in the summer of 2026.
• Waubonsie State Park – the campground will re-open May 15, 2026 after completion of a waterline project. The cabins will be closed through 2026 for waterline upgrades to those facilities.

3. New rates for 2026:

In 2026, campsite rates will increase slightly by $1 to $3, depending on site type and campground location. Additionally, rates will increase by $4 or $5, depending on the campground, during the three major summer holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Off-season rates are not changing (October 16 – April 30). Rates will be updated on the reservation site in early 2026.

State park donation opportunities:

Park visitors can donate online in a variety of ways to support Iowa state parks. All donations go toward operational needs of state parks and forests. Campers, cabin renters and day-use facility renters can donate when making a reservation by rounding up, and anyone visiting the DNR Online Reservation Site can donate by clicking on Make a Donation. Supporters also can donate through the general DNR Donation page.

(Radio Iowa) – A key member of the Iowa House backs a bill to prohibit lawsuits accusing pesticide companies of failing to warn the product could cause cancer, as long as the product’s label meets federal guidelines. The bill does not name glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup — but House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican who farms near Wilton, suggests Bayer’s factory in Muscatine that makes Roundup could close if Iowa lawmakers don’t take action.

“I can tell you what will happen if we don’t get this bill done. What will happen is we’ll be buying glyphosate from China. We just got done seeing what China can do if they choose to squeeze us — whether it’s soybeans, whether it’s (computer) chips — China can put its grip around our throat and particularly around our farmers’ throats,” Kaufmann said during an interview with Radio Iowa. About 70 percent of the glyphosate sold in the North America is made at the Bayer plant in Muscatine.

“Do you want an Iowa company with all of the Iowa guardrails, with all of the Iowa accountability…making a product our farmers have to have,” Kaufmann asks, “or do you trust China?” Kaufmann says while Bayer’s Muscatine plant is just outside of his House district, he represents many of the 400 people who work there. “It’s 15 miles from me,” Kaufmann said. “It’s five miles from my district.”

The Iowa Senate narrowly approved this bill this past May, but it did not come up for a vote in the House. Kaufmann isn’t guaranteeing a vote in the House next year. Kaufmann says he’ll talk with House Republicans to see if there are the 51 votes necessary to pass the bill in 2026 — and he knows there are some House Republicans who are strongly against it. “Some of my closest friends are not for that bill in my (House Republican) caucus and their views are based on real stories and heart-tug stories,” Kaufmann said, “and their views are very, very valid.”

Opponents of the bill say it prioritizes profits over the health and lives of Iowans who’ve been affected by RoundUp and some accuse the company of covering up information about the product’s harmful effects. Tens of thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. with claims that the weedkiller causes cancer. Bayer has spent over 10 BILLION dollars on litigation and jury awards to plaintiffs. New laws in North Dakota and Georgia give Bayer new liability protection from lawsuits over product labeling and Iowa’s governor has signaled she would support of a similar law here.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Rock Island man was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in February 2025, Juwan Attron Johnson, 28, also known as “Chubbs,” possessed a machine gun conversion device. Machine gun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches,” convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm that fires multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. Machine gun conversion devices are classified as machine guns under federal law and are illegal to possess. Johnson is also prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he is a felon, including a 2017 conviction for voluntary manslaughter.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Johnson will be required to serve a two-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a nine-count indictment on December 9, 2025, charging multiple individuals with charges related to a racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit the offense of interstate transportation of stolen property, and money laundering.

As alleged in the Indictment, the charged Defendants committed thefts of used cooking oil, which can be refined into biodiesel fuel and re-sold. Defendants drove trucks to restaurants and stole and attempted to steal cooking oil from oil collection tanks located at restaurants throughout Iowa, and in Tennessee, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kentucky. Defendants then transported the stolen cooking oil to warehouses in Nevada and Ankeny, Iowa; Lewisburg, Tennessee; Dora, Alabama; and Tipp City, Ohio. Defendants subsequently sold the stolen cooking oil and laundered the proceeds.

The following individuals are charged in the Indictment:

• Tianzhu Chen, 33, of Flushing, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, and two counts of money laundering.
• Jingliu Chen, 55, of Flushing, New York, is charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Yong Chen, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.
• Xian Quan Guo, 48, of Des Moines, Iowa, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Jianfa Huang, of Des Moines, Iowa, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
• Fukang Wang, 37, of Staten Island, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Futao Wang, 36, of Des Moines, Iowa, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
• Jie Wang, 30, of Dayton, Ohio, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Xiangjing Wang, 34, of Des Moines, Iowa, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.
• Danrong Zhang, 38, of Flushing, New York, is charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate and money laundering.
• Changxu Zou, 41, of Tulia, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Changyu Zou, 38, of Edmond, Oklahoma, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
• Wenrong Zou, 32, of Edmond, Oklahoma, is charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate

In connection with the case, federal search warrants and arrest warrants were executed today in Iowa, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Xian Quan Guo, Jianfa Huang, Futao Wang, and Xiangjing Wang made their initial court appearances today before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Trial was set for February 2, 2026. The remaining defendants will make their initial court appearances in the Southern District of Iowa on later dates.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Central Iowa Gang Task Force of the FBI Des Moines Resident Agency of the Omaha Field Office is investigating this case, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; Des Moines Police Department; West Des Moines Police Department; Iowa Department of Public Safety; Iowa Department of Transportation; Gahanna, Ohio Police Department; Cullman, Alabama Police Department; Springfield, Illinois, Police Department; 18th Judicial District Drug Task Force in Tennessee; FBI Dayton Resident Agency of the Cincinnati Field Office; FBI Lexington Resident Agency of the Springfield Field Office; FBI Oklahoma City Field Office; FBI New York City Field Office; FBI Birmingham Field Office; FBI Amarillo Resident Agency of the Dallas Field Office; FBI Language Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.