(IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) -All state university students would be required to pass specified U.S. history and government classes under legislation that is headed to the Senate Education Committee for further debate. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Senate File 2033 would, if passed, require the Iowa Board of Regents to establish rules stating universities must require three-credit-hour, general education courses in American history and government for graduation, and provide credits for students transferring with similar courses already under their belt.

The board of regents would also need to review all general education requirements and core curricula for a report due to the General Assembly by the end of 2026. The bill advanced from a three-member Senate Education subcommittee today (Tuesday). The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa, Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State University and Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa would be required to create courses satisfying the new general education requirements, as well as establish ongoing lecture and debate series.

They would also have to submit annual reports of their achievements and the opportunities, challenges and obstacles they’ve faced to the board of regents, General Assembly and governor. Iowa Board of Regents State Relations Officer Jason Chapman, echoing comments he made during the subcommittee on the legislation’s House companion bill, House Study Bill 543, said the board is registered undecided on the bill but has concerns about transfer credits and how they’ll work with high school, community college and international students.

Connie Ryan, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa executive director and lobbyist for the organization’s action fund, also reiterated her concerns on the House bill, that it is an overreach of the Legislature that will negatively impact students as higher education costs continue to rise. She also said there should be allocations provided by the state to the centers of civic education if the Legislature expects them to develop and put on ongoing lecture and debate series.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said no one questions the fact that American history and government are “clearly very important” topics, but requiring them as part of general education would be a huge lift for colleges, in terms of both finances and manpower. Quirmbach also raised questions about language in the bill prohibiting courses he said focused on the study of “subgroups of Americans or other nationalities,” and the fact that this mandate would be at the college level and only for universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents.

(Radio Iowa) – A missing Kossuth County child is back with his mother after he was found Monday at his grandparents’ home in Wisconsin. Five-year-old Douglas Jonathan Zane Roth was reported missing in November of last year, as law enforcement officials believed he had been taken to Wisconsin by his father as part of a custody dispute.

Thirty-three-year-old Douglas Jonathan Roth, formerly of Titonka, and his parents, 59-year-old Emil Roth and 59-year-old Audrey Roth, were all arrested on Monday by officials in Rusk County, Wisconsin after a search warrant was executed at the Roth’s residence.

Douglas Roth will be extradited back to Iowa to face charges of Third Degree Kidnapping and Violation of a Custodial Order. His parents have been charged in Wisconsin with Interfering with a Parental Custody Issue and Being Party to a Crime for allegedly helping to conceal the location of their son and the child.

The five-year-old boy was returned to his mother, who had received physical custody of the child following a court order in June of 2025.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa man is in custody after a search this fall allegedly found children and animals living in unsafe conditions. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says that 53-year-old Rick Reifenrath of Le Mars was taken into custody last week during a traffic stop, when authorities learned he had several warrants out for his arrest.

Reifenrath is facing over 20 charges of child endangerment and animal neglect in connection to a September search of a rural Plymouth County property that resulted in three children and 111 dogs being removed from the property.

Reifenrath was booked into the Plymouth County Jail on a $10,000 bond, and he remains in custody.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans know ordinary people who make an extraordinary impact on their community and it’s time to recognize them. The deadline is next week to make nominations for the American Red Cross’ annual Heroes of the Heartland awards. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ Nebraska-Iowa region, says every town in the state likely has a few people who’d qualify.

“It’s somebody who recognized a need and acted,” Holley says. “It might be someone who responded to a medical emergency and helped save a life. It could be a volunteer at a community organization or within a faith community who continues to make an impact every day. Or it could be a first responder or service member who far exceeded expectations.” This award offers Iowans an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those people who are making a difference.

“These are people, ordinary Iowans, who reflect the best of our communities,” she says, “and they leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents.” Holley says it’s a quick process to nominate someone for the award. “You can nominate somebody online. Folks can visit redcross.org/IA to fill out a nomination form, or they can also mail a written nomination,” Holley says. “Make sure you include your contact information.”

Mail entries to: American Red Cross, care of Emily Holley, 2016 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312. The nomination deadline is January 28th. The winners will be announced during Red Cross Month, which is March.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa farmer who has agreed to let the Summit Carbon pipeline run through his family’s land is part of a group lobbying legislators today (Tuesday) — urging passage of the proposal that would give the company more leeway to re-chart its pipeline route around landowners who won’t sign a voluntary easement. Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Primghar is a former member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and an investor in the Siouxland Energy ethanol plant.

“This project will create a lot of growth in demand for the corn producers across the state of Iowa, so trying to get the project done,” Nieuwenhuis said. “Do our best to get as many voluntary easements as possible. 100% would be awesome, but we’re in today’s work, so I don’t know how that’s going to happen.” Nieuwenhuis was president of Siouxland Energy’s board of directors when it signed the contract to hook up to Summit’s pipeline to export carbon from the plant in Sioux Center.

“At that time I thought: ‘Wow, boy, this is going to be a slam dunk. The benefit for the ethanol indusry that’s going to come from this project is going to be huge,'” Nieuwenhuis said. “And so it’s been more of a challenge than I anticipated, but I think the message is getting out that it is beneficial.” Nieuwenhuis points to Nebraska, where a natural gas pipeline was converted and in September began shipping liquefied carbon from a dozen ethanol plants to Wyoming. Eleven of those plants are in Nebraska. One is on Iowa’s western border.

Nieuwenhuis says Nebraska’s operation shows what could happen for every Iowa ethanol plant. “Having a pipeline like Summit Carbon Solutions lowers the carbon intensity of ethanol by 30 points,” Nieuwenhius said. “That’s huge.” Nieuwenhuis spoke with reporters after posing for a group photo with dozens of like-minded people who’re at the statehouse today (Tuesday). Based on his experience with pipelines and other utility projects, Nieuwenhuis told reporters he had no qualms about signing a voluntary easement for Summit’s pipeline.

“I’ve got four natural gas pipelines through our farms. We’ve got the Dakota Access pipeline through one of our farms. I’ve got wind turbines with MidAmerican. I’ve got electrical transmission lines that go diagonlly across one of my farms,” Nieuwenhuis said. “…I’ve never had an issue with any of them.” Nieuwenhuis farms with two brothers and all their corn is sold to produce ethanol. He’s a current member of the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board, a group that supervises the organization’s activities and serve as public advocates for its goals.

(Glenwood, IA) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on drug charges, Monday night, of 22-year-old Camryn Jesse Conn, from Glenwood. He was taken into custody at around 10:30-p.m. in Glenwood, on charges that include Possession of Marijuana – 1st offense, Poss. of Drug paraphernalia, and OWI/1st offense.

His bond was set at $2,300.

(Iowa DNR News) – The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers opens Feb. 1 and goes through April 30 (sunrise to sunset). Anglers fishing for paddlefish must have a valid Iowa fishing license, along with a special paddlefish license and unused transportation tag(s).

Keep track of your effort and catch throughout the paddlefish season. Complete the electronic survey when the season ends whether you harvested a fish or not. The information collected will help the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) evaluate the success of the season and determine what potential changes or modifications may be needed.

If you catch a jaw-tagged fish (numbered band in the lower jaw), call the phone number on the tag to report the tag number, date of capture, capture location and eye-to-fork length. Iowa DNR and other state fisheries agencies tag paddlefish to better understand and manage populations. Tagging provides valuable information to estimate population size, fish movement and growth.

Low river levels might affect Missouri River boat ramp access.

For more information about Iowa’s special paddlefish season regulations, visit the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/paddlefish.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested. “We want people to come out to these meetings, listen to the seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Comments received during previous listening sessions have resulted in regulation changes, including modifying and removing areas closed to Canada goose hunting, establishing later goose season dates and increased bag limit, expanding the raccoon hunting and trapping season on private land, modifying Iowa’s antlerless deer quotas in north central and western Iowa, and extending the regular trapping season through the end of February.

(Area) Meeting date, time and locations:

• Creston, March 3, 6 p.m., Performing Arts Building multi-purpose room (124), 1201 West Townline Street
• Council Bluffs, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive

Any person attending the public meeting that has special requirements, such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, should contact the Iowa DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Lottery saw an increase in revenue through the first six months of this fiscal year, but its anchor product has been lagging in sales. Chief Revenue Officer Jon Roth says scratch ticket sales were down one-point-seven percent through November, which goes against the national trend. “When we look at the comparison, the industry overall is actually has a small increase of one percent,” he says. Roth says Iowa’s scratch ticket sales are better than other states with Iowa’s same profile.

“When you compare it to those states that are more similar to us, they’re down by three-point-five percent (3.5%), so it is a challenge out there in the marketplace with regards to scratch tickets,” he says. Roth says the new arrangement the Iowa Lottery Board recently approved where the Lottery will share the risk with their ticket vendor is one step toward addressing the lagging scratch ticket sales. He says the arrangement will allow them to look at scratch ticket sales in a different way. “It’s going to be a shift in terms of what we’re what our focus is and then what we’re going to be able to deliver and expand in terms of new offerings and new capabilities,” Roth says.

Scratch tickets are still the to selling product of the Iowa Lottery, but big Lotto game jackpots have been the driver in pushing sales up overall.

(Guthrie Center, IA) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports an unknown vehicle struck a legally parked car late Friday night or early Saturday morning, causing an estimated $2,500 damage to the parked vehicle. Authorities say the 2012 Chevy Impala was legally parked facing the right-of-way southeast of 401 North Street, between the hours of 10:30-p.m. January 16th and 10-a.m. January 17th, when an unknown vehicle drove west through an unnamed alley north of the parked vehicle.

The unknown vehicle drove south in the yards between the houses positioned in the 400 block of North 4th and North 5th Streets, before striking the Impala. The unknown vehicle then backed-up and went around the Chevy before exiting through the yards onto North Street.

The parked vehicle sustained extensive damage to the driver’s side rear door. If you have information with regard to the incident, please contact the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.