SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Friday), reports 27-year-old Darius Charles Hamilton, who was convicted of Robbery in the 2nd Degree in Woodbury County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

Hamilton is a 5’6″, 165-pound American Indian or Alaska Native male. He was admitted to the work release facility on Nov. 3, 2025.

IA DOC photo of Darius Charles Hamilton

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

(Council Bluffs, IA) – Police in Council Bluffs say a warrant has been issued for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting that took place on January 7th. The suspect in this incident was identified as 34-year-old Vershan B. Collins, of Omaha. Collins is wanted on charges of Attempted Murder and Domestic Assault – Display or use of Weapon 1st Offense. At this time, authorities have not released the victim’s name to help ensure their continued safety.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is seeking information on the location of Vershan Collins. Any information on his whereabouts can be reported directly to our Fugitive Task Force Officer at (712) 521-8599, or at by any of the following methods:
• Criminal Investigation Division: 712-328-4728
• Anonymous Tips (CrimeStoppers): 712-328-7867

Vershan B. Collins (Photo submitted by the CB PD)

Original incident report:

At around 8:30-a.m. on January 7th, hospital staff at CHI Mercy Hospital notified police that a woman who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, had been dropped-off at the facility. Reports indicated a man and a woman left the victim at the hospital before leaving the premises.

An investigation determined the original incident occurred at 602 1st Avenue, in Council Bluffs. Investigators secured the scene and executed a search warrant. During the search, detectives recovered a discharged round from a weapon, a casing, and forensic evidence consistent with the victim’s statement.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s preliminary number shows the lowest number of traffic deaths since the state started keeping records 100 years ago. D-O-T State Highway Safety Program Manager Larry Grant says a drop in motorcycle deaths is one of the factors. “Motorcycles were about half the fatalities than we normally have. And that kind of plays into what we were talking about, the number one crash, especially fatality, crash in the state of Iowa is a run off the road,” he says. Motorcycle deaths dropped from 64 to 38 in 2025. Grant says running off the road has been a key factor in motorcycle deaths. “Motorcycles typically are the majority of them are going to be single vehicle. I know that’s a shock, but a lot of times people think it’s going to be multiple vehicles. It’s not, it’s a single vehicle run off the road,” he says.

Grant says driving while impaired by alcohol is another factor in motorcycle deaths, but he says age is a bigger concern. “The actual motorcycle deaths in Iowa are more in the older age group than the younger age group. The younger age group has more crashes, but the injuries and fatalities occurs mostly with the older,” he says. Grant says the older age group is 54 to 65, and handling the speed of the motorcycle becomes an issue for them. “You know, they had it when they’re young and now they still have it. They get those big bikes and they just come in and speed is really, really high. The speed comes into those curves or and they just can’t slow down enough and they go off,” he says. “Now the younger drivers typically are riding the sport bikes and they’re typically wearing helmets more than your older drivers with I’m going to call them touring bikes, whether it’s a Harley-Davidson or whatever it might be.”

Grant says A-T-V (All Terrain Vehicles) and U-T-V (Utility Terrain Vehicle) crashes have led to more deaths as laws changed regarding their use. “Registrations for that through the D-N-R shows that went from 30-thousand registered U-T-V’s to 70-thousand last year. So that’s a huge increase on U-T-V’s, A-T-Vs,” he says. U-T-V and A-T-V deaths dropped by half this year from 20 to 10. Grant says one other statistic that stands out is the number of accidents where more than one person died. “Our our multiple fatality crashes were drastically down this year. We had about 12 of those crashes that resulted in 24 deaths, compared in the past we’ve had up to 88 deaths, with two years ago, 39 crashes, but 88 deaths,” he says.

Grant says the 2025 total now is 259, but they wait 30 days after the end of the year to make it a final count.

(Radio Iowa) – Mason City’s police chief confirms Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in Mason City on Wednesday. Police Chief Mike McKelvey released a joint statement on Thursday evening on behalf of his department, the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, and the local post of the Iowa State Patrol. He says they’ve been able to confirm that six people driving three vehicles claiming to be with ICE stopped at the Cerro Gordo County Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday afternoon, where they asked if they had any jail inmates with immigration detainers, which they did not.

McKelvey says while there are several social media stories about people being detained locally, they cannot confirm that, nor any other reports regarding a mass detainment. McKelvey says they’ve reached out to one of the Iowa ICE field offices to bring things to the national ICE organization’s attention because the situation has been possibly inflamed by unverified social media reports.

January 16, 2026 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved assistance for six startups located in Ames, Ankeny, Boone and Des Moines.

Ames-based agtech company Hermes Biomaterials, Inc. develops tools that help researchers create stronger, higher-yielding crops. Its FGB device enables the precise delivery of genetic material into plant cells. The company received a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan to support staff, lab equipment and supplies needed to grow and test soybeans. This investment will allow for additional in-house research and testing, accelerating product development and bringing new agricultural technologies to market more quickly.

Koos Medical Innovations, Inc. of Ankenyhas developed a disposable isolation gown designed to reduce the spread of infectious germs in health care settings. The gown’s patented design meets Food and Drug Administration performance standards and provides a superior barrier against fluid exposure, helping protect both patients and providers while lowering infection-related risks and costs for hospitals. Koos received a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan to support commercialization and early market entry.

Headquartered in Boone, Critical Materials Recycling, Inc. recycles rare earth elements used in defense applications, clean energy and advanced technologies. Its patented, acid-free process recovers high-purity rare earth oxides — key materials used to manufacture high-performance magnets — from hard disk drives, wind turbine magnets, electric vehicle motors and consumer electronics. This process reduces emissions, electronic waste and reliance on foreign mining. The company was awarded a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan to hire a chief commercial officer and refresh its branding.

Des Moines-based Broker Hero, LLC, doing business as Broker Hero AI, is a software-as-a-service company that supports merger and acquisition (M&A) professionals and business brokers serving small- to lower middle-market companies. Its platform automates prospecting and identifies off-market opportunities with intent-based targeting. The company’s SmartLists tool uses artificial intelligence and data providers to more efficiently identify potential buyers and sellers. Broker Hero received a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan to refine its product, support key personnel and expand its market presence.

Morrigan Company of Des Moines, doing business as MorriganAI, develops software that helps organizations understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used across their workforce and systems, enabling leaders to manage it more safely and effectively. Its tools identify hidden or unapproved AI use, which can expose sensitive data, create compliance risks and lead to productivity gaps. The company received a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan to support market analysis, product refinement, market planning and entry, and key personnel.

Des Moines-based Renewabl Furniture, Inc., doing business as Renewabl App, is a software-as-a-service company that uses artificial intelligence to help home furnishings professionals and consumers quickly create realistic visuals of custom furniture and decor. Users can upload photos of their existing home furnishings or sketches and apply fabrics, paints, hardware, finishes and other design elements. The company received a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan to refine its software platform, hire key personnel and support its commercial launch.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the Technology Commercialization Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has released a number of detailed plans this week that she’s asking legislators to pass — but she does not plan to present her own bill to resolve the stalemate over property rights and the proposed carbon pipeline.  “I didn’t introduce anything because I knew both chambers were working on something,” Reynolds said. A House bill already eligible for debate as soon as next week would completely ban the use of eminent domain for the project. The Senate’s Republican leader has proposed giving Summit Carbon Solutions some leeway to redraw the pipeline route to avoid land owned by people who will not sign voluntary easements.

Reynolds says she and the G-O-P leaders in the House and Senate are discussing what’s next.”We all three are talking to see what that looks like. That’s the first step in trying to find resolution,” Reynolds said. “…It’s early, so I’m going to do what I always do. I’m not going to interject, except we’re keeping everybody in the loop as we move forward so there’s no surprises.” The Republican-led House has passed a handful of bills over the past five years to establish new regulations and restrictions on the pipeline project. Last spring was the first time one of those bills passed the Senate and was sent to the governor.

Last June, Reynolds said that bill would have impacted public utility projects, too, and she voted it.

(Creston, IA) – Police in Creston, Thursday night, arrested a man for Failure to Appear on a May 31, 2025 charge of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd-Degree (A Class-D Felony). Officers arrested 37-year-old Tyler James Hicks, of Creston, at around 10:15-p.m., Thursday, at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. Hicks was booked-in and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate Judge.

(Clarinda, IA) – Online court records show a Clarinda man arrested in November on a felony charge of assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse – bodily injury, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 26th. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Clarinda Police Department, the charge against 34-year-old Cody Dean Nevada Carlson, was the result of an investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred on or about October 23rd, 2025.

The complaint alleges Carlson bit the victim multiple times, causing pain and bodily injury, before and after being told to stop. On Thursday, 4th District Court Judge Craig Dreismeier acted on an Order to raise the level of the original complaint after Clarinda Police amended their complaint.

(Red Oak, IA)– Police in Red Oak, Thursday night, arrested a man on a Harassment charge. According to the Police Department, 29-year-old Andrew Michael Brammer, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8-p.m., Thursday, in the 400 block of E. Market Street.

Brammer was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree. His cash or surety bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The cold weather keeps many Iowans indoors during the winter, which can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, and a library in northwest Iowa is taking a direct approach to helping perk people up who have the winter blues. Shirley Taylor, director of the Le Mars Public Library, says they’re offering three high-intensity light therapy lamps for patrons to check out for up to three weeks at a time, and she’s hoping other Iowa libraries will follow suit. “We never know if it’s going to be a snowy winter or dry winter, cold or mild, but we do know that it’s dark,” Taylor says, laughing. “The U.S. Navy astronomical charts do show us that on January 1st, we have 9 hours of daylight here in Le Mars, and on July 1st, we have 15 hours of daylight, so that’s a pretty big difference and that can affect people’s moods.”

In addition to the lights that are available for checkout, Taylor says a fourth lamp has been installed in the library’s reading room.”We have a lot of people who come in and read newspapers and magazines here, so that’s the area where we have one that’s just set up,” Taylor says. “At any time, if people want to come in and while they’re reading newspapers, magazines — or they can even just be scrolling on Instagram — they can sit in front of one of the light therapy boxes and see if that will help them.” In light therapy, patients generally sit in front of a light box every morning for 30 minutes or more, depending on the doctor’s recommendation.

Studies show light therapy can relieve SAD symptoms in as much as 70% of patients after a few weeks of treatment. The lamps are being offered as part of the library’s Beat the Blues Challenge, and each week there’s a new theme. “This week’s challenge is journaling,” Taylor says. “Research shows that sometimes it’s just sitting down and thinking about the good things that go on in your life can really help lift your mood, to some extent.”

Studies find between 35- and 50-million Americans suffer from SAD, and those who were susceptible to it one winter are likely to see it return. In addition to the mood swings, symptoms may include trouble concentrating, and difficulty falling or staying asleep. Some people can overcome SAD by engaging in physical activity, while others may benefit from practices like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and deep breathing exercises.