(Radio Iowa) – The minority leader in the Iowa House says Democrats will be engaged in trying to resolve the long-running debate over the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer says it’s important to get a bill passed and signed by the governor in early 2026. “I believe that there is a way to get this done that will benefit every farmer in the state and also protect property rights,” Meyer said.

Meyer says PART of the solution could be an idea touted last week by the Senate’s Republican Leader that would give
developers more flexibility in changing a pipeline route — to go around landowners who don’t want the pipeline on their property. “You have to bring everybody to the table and unless you bring everybody the table and get consensus, it just is not going to work,” Meyer says. “There’s everybody all over the place on this thing. It’s not a partisan issue. Democrats, we’re happy to engage. We want a solution. We have friends on all sides of this. We want rural Iowa to succeed, but we want to protect landowners as well.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner isn’t predicting what kind of a compromise package might emerge — but she says Iowan’s private property rights should never been infringed upon for a pipeline developer’s private gain.  “We’re busy talking to various parties to see what the lay of the land is — pun not intended — as well,” Weiner said. Weiner says if the disagreement among Republicans on the pipeline issue isn’t resolved quickly in 2026, she predicts it will be difficult for the legislature move on to other issues.

A dozen Senate Republicans forced a vote and joined Senate Democrats last spring to pass the pipeline bill that Governor Reynolds vetoed. The bill had easily passed the House on an 85 to 10 vote.

(Glenwood, IA) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, today (Monday), released a report on arrests that took place last week (12/16-19):

• On the 19th, 21-year-old Hunter Allen Dunn, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood for Driving Under Suspension (Bond $300).
• Three people were arrested Dec. 17th in Mills County:
  • 46-year-old Eduardo Rojas, of Omaha, was arrested in Glenwood for Failure To Appear on a Felony charge (Bond $2,000).
  • 58-year-old Derrick Lee Dornburgh, of Malvern, was arrested in Malvern for Driving While License Denied or Revoked on an Original OWI charge (Bond $1,000).
  • and, 36-year-old Jason Luis Rowland, of Glenwood, was arrested in Council Bluffs on an Out of County/State warrant (Bond $1,000).
• On Dec. 16th: 32-year-old Zachary Scott Jolley, of Glenwood, was arrested in Pacific Junction, for Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense (Bond $1,000); and, 18-year-old Faedan Floyd McCord, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for Domestic Abuse Assault w/Injury – 1st Offense (Bond $1,000).

(Greenfield, IA) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place between Dec. 14th and the 19th.

On Dec. 14th, Deputies arrested 29-year-old Andrew Montgomery Irons, of Stuart, on an Adair County warrant for: two-counts of Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and Harassment in the 1st Degree,  and on a Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. His total bond was set at $9,000. Irons was released on a cash-or-surety bond that same day.

Separately, 60-year-old Shawn Leroy Enarson, of Massena, was arrested Dec. 14th in Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. He was released with a citation that same night.

The Iowa State Patrol arrested 29-year-old Armain Marguis Pazmino, of Greenfield, on Dec. 17th following a traffic stop near Orient, in Adair County. Pazmino was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was released after posting a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On the 19th of December, 59-year-old Jeffrey Blake Wilbourne, of Corning, was arrested in Bridgewater, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was later released on a $300 cash-only bond. And, 26-year-old Tyler Dean Gist, of Shannon City, was arrested in Greenfield for Domestic Abuse Assault with Injury or Mental Illness/1st Offense. He was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The health care bill passed by House Republicans includes provisions for cost-sharing reductions, Association Health Plans, and transparency around pharmacy benefit managers. It does not include a provision for Health Savings accounts but Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says it isn’t done yet.  “I think there is more to do here, and that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing in the House come 2026 so I’ll continue working on bipartisan solutions here that protect consumer choice, which is exactly what H-S-As help to do,” Hinson says. The bill does not include an extension of enhanced premium tax credits that Democrats have been fighting for.

Hinson represents the Second District and says expanding H-S-As will be a top priority for the new year.  “We have to continue working to lower premiums and health care costs for American families, provide families with more flexibility. So, I would say this week’s vote was a good step to lowering those health care costs,” she says.

Republicans says giving people money directly to put in H-S-A’s is a better solution than the tax credits.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Education reports school enrollment dropped slightly this year. The Department says the number of K-12 students dropped by around five-thousand or one percent from last year. The state says the drop reflects the declining birth rate nationwide. The report shows around nine percent of public school students open enrolled in another public school outside of their home district.

Enrollment at Iowa accredited nonpublic schools was up more than eight percent. The certified enrollment represents students enrolled in school on October 1st.

(Radio Iowa) – While poinsettias have an undeserved reputation for being poisonous, as you’d have to eat a few hundred poinsettia leaves to get sick, an expert says two -other- traditional holiday plants -are- potentially toxic. Janna Day, a nurse and the education and outreach manager at the Iowa Poison Control Center, says mistletoe can be dangerous if consumed by people or pets, and also the red berries in holly should never be eaten. “They can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and upset,” Day says. “We might see things like nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea if somebody ingests those or if a child ingests those.”

Day says those symptoms can show up quite rapidly and may last for 24 hours or more. “If that does happen, we do recommend that you just go ahead and call us at the poison center,” Day says, “because then we can evaluate how many berries were potentially swallowed, and help give you some recommendations on what we want you to do next.” On the subject of berries, mistletoe’s white berries can also be toxic, and while sprigs of the plant are often placed above doorways to promote kissing, Day says the entire plant should be avoided. Keep them out of kids’ reach and away from pets.

“The flower and the leaves, when we’re talking about mistletoe, they tend to be a little bit more toxic than the berry itself, but we do get more calls about the berry,” Day says. “It seems like those are what we have more ingestions of, the berry. Regardless, we still want you to call us if there is any type of ingestion.” If you have questions or concerns about these and other poisons, call the Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center any day, anytime at 1-800-222-1222.

(Creston, IA) – Three people were arrested on separate charges over the past week or so, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, just before 6-a.m. Sunday, 41-year-old Angela Lee Stone, of Oskaloosa, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an Outside Agency Warrant for two counts of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. Stone was taken to the Union County Jail and later transported to the Adams County Jail, where she was being held without bond until making her initial court appearance.

At Around 10:50-p.m. on December 17th, Creston Police arrested 23-year-old Jackson S. Elias, of Omaha. Elias was arrested at the intersection of Highway 25 and Townline, and charged with Possess Drug Paraphernalia. Elias was transported to the Union County Jail, cited, and then released on promise to appear in court.

And, at around 2:10-p.m. on Dec. 12th, Police in Creston arrested 27-year-old Beau Ethan Boswell, of Creston, on an Outside Agency Warrant for Parole Violation on original charges of OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Boswell was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.