(Radio Iowa) – As more measles outbreaks are reported in the U-S, a partnership in Iowa is starting a vaccination awareness campaign to connect refugee and immigrant communities with doctors. Refugee and Immigrant Voices in Action, or RIVA, is working with small businesses and local healthcare providers to prevent misinformation about measles. RIVA’s Christina Fernandez-Morrow says they learned how to navigate public health communications during the COVID pandemic.

In addition, she says providers are re-learning how to spot symptoms, and she notes it’s important to tell people what to look out for to counter any medical bias that may be looming.

RIVA is also coordinating with translators who will reach out to Iowa communities where English is not the dominant language in a broader push to create healthy habits.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two juveniles were cited in connection with a structure fire Friday, in Elliott. The two -unidentified – juveniles were charged with Reckless Use of Fire. They were cited into court and released to their parents.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report an Adams County man was charged following the pursuit of a UTV, Sunday. Trevor Michael Dixon, of Nodaway, faces a charge of Eluding–25 miles per hour over the speed limit–a class D felony.

Dixon’s arrest occurred after deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on a UTV in Villisca. The Sheriff’s Office says the UTV eluded law enforcement, but deputies identified Dixon as the driver. Authorities say deputies went to Dixon’s residence later that day where he was arrested. His bond was set at $5,000.

5-2-2025 @ 4:34pm

Thomas James Blobaum, 38, 504 N Pine St was arrested at 504 N Pine St. Blobaum was charged with a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear OWI 1^st Offense. Blobaum was taken to the Union County Jail where where he is being held on no bond.

5-4-2025 @ 3:52am

Zachariah Ray Ikenberry, 20, 907 W Townline was arrested at 907 W Townline. Ikenberry was charged with Public Intoxication – 1^st Offense. Ikenberry was taken to the Union County Jail where he was later released of his own cognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowan will become chief executive of the world’s 8th most valuable company. Berkshire Hathaway C-E-O Warren Buffett, who is 94 years old, made the announcement at a shareholders meeting in Omaha this past weekend that was broadcast live on C-N-B-C.

Greg Abel is a long-time executive at Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy, which Buffett’s company acquired 25 years ago. Abel currently oversees all of Berkshire’s non-insurance companies. In 2021, Buffett announced Abel would be his successor, but Buffett revealed the date for the transition Saturday.

Buffett says Berkshire Hathaway’s 11 member board of directors will meet in a couple of months and he predicts they will unanimously approve Abel’s new role as the company’s chief decision-maker.

Buffett spent very little time at Berkshire Hathaway’s headquarters in Omaha and Abel, who is 62, is expected to continue living in Des Moines. He will oversee Berkshire’s massive stock portfolio, which includes companies like B-S-N-F Railroad, GEICO and Pilot Flying J Travel Centers. Abel was born in Alberta, Canada. Abel won the Horatio Alger Award in 2018 and, in comments posted on the organization’s website, Abel called Buffett a mentor who has a positive view on life and focuses on sharing and teaching.

(Waukee, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a diesel fuel spill at Little Walnut Creek in Dallas County. On Saturday, May 3rd, the DNR Field Office in Des Moines was notified of a diesel fuel spill at an agricultural site near Dallas Center. An above-ground storage tank containing diesel fuel began leaking around 2:30 a.m., releasing approximately 4,000 gallons of fuel. The majority of the fuel was initially contained on-site, in a nearby pond and the immediate area surrounding the storage tank.

Later in the day, residents in Waukee reported strong fuel odors near Little Walnut Creek. Local officials confirmed that an unknown amount of diesel fuel had entered the creek, which outlets to Walnut Creek in the Clive area. In response, absorbent booms were placed in Little Walnut Creek to limit the spread of the contamination.

The DNR and local officials are actively monitoring the situation. No dead fish have been observed along the affected section of the creek. The public is advised to stay out of the creek at this time. The DNR will follow up with the city for further assessment. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report a woman was arrested late Sunday morning on assault charges. 60-year-old Ruth Kristine Burns, of Red Oak (but with no known address), was arrested at around 11:45-a.m. in the 1500 block of N. 8th Street, in Red Oak. She was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, and Assault. Both charges are simple misdemeanors. Burns was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

(Hamburg, Iowa) – A man from Missouri is dead after he was struck by a semi early Saturday morning (May 3rd), in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2024 Freightliner semi driven by 63-year-old Ken Hermann, of Norfolk, NE, was traveling north on Interstate 29 near mile-marker 1 (the Hamburg Exit), when from reasons unknown, the semi struck a pedestrian who was within the traveled portion of the road. The accident happened at around 1:30-a.m, Saturday.

The person who was struck was identified as 46-year-old David Lindsey McClean, of Kansas City, MO.  McClean died from his injuries on the scene. His body was transported to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for an autopsy. The Accident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal court has blocked an Iowa law that would have imposed new regulations on e-cigarettes and vaping products sold throughout the state. KCCI-TV reports House File 2677, which was passed last year, would have required those products to have marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration between 2016 and 2020. Industry leaders argued the requirements would have restricted most of the products sold at vaping businesses and organizations in Iowa. People who support the law said unauthorized products could harm Iowans.

Several groups, including Iowans for Alternatives to Smoking and Tobacco, filed the lawsuit, saying the date restrictions in the new law were unfair. Last month, the Iowa Department of Revenue asked the judge not to grant an injunction, saying it would stop Iowans potentially hurt by e-cigarette or vaping products from being able to sue.

The court ruled Friday that the Iowa law “impermissibly intrudes upon the federal government’s exclusive authority” to enforce the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which ensures that food, medicine, cosmetics and medical devices are safe and properly labeled.

The law was set to take effect Feb. 3 but had been on hold as legal challenges mounted. It’s unclear whether the Iowa Attorney General’s Office will appeal.

(Creston,  Iowa) – [In an update to our previous report] The Iowa State Patrol, today (Sunday), said a man from Creston was injured Saturday night when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a pickup truck. The vehicle left the scene. Authorities say a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 51-year-old Jason Lee Hagle, of Creston, was westbound on Highway 34 at the intersection with Wyoming Street in Creston at around 8:50-p.m., and had the right-of-way.

A 1995 Chevy 1500 pickup was stopped at a stop sign on Wyoming, and began to turn right into westbound Highway 34, when it directly entered the path of the motorcycle. Jason Hagle braked to avoid the pickup, but the vehicles collided. Following the impact, the motorcycle slid onto its left side. The pickup left the scene but was located nearby with no one inside.

Creston Fire Dept. Facebook page photo

Hagle was transported to the hospital in Creston before being flown by LifeFlight to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. A report on his condition was not immediately available. The crash remains under investigation.