(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has been elected to another term. Christensen’s two-year term as the leader of the court expired December 31st and she was elected to a new term by fellow justices that began on January 1st. Christensen was first selected chief justice in 2020 to succeeded Chief Justice Mark Cady who died suddenly in 2019.

The Harlan native has served on the high court for five years after being appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds. Christensen released a statement saying she is “honored to be selected by my colleagues to continue to serve as Chief Justice of Iowa’s court system.”

IASUPCO Justice Susan Christensen (File photo)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Tuesday night, arrested a man following a traffic stop. Authorities say 26-year-old Bryson Lee Powell, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended in the State of Iowa. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on bond amounting to $491.25.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) -One person died during an explosion in a residential area of Council Bluffs, late Tuesday morning.  Council Bluffs Police say a man was found dead after a detached garage exploded at around 11:54-a.m. in the area of 35th Street and Avenue G.  Reports say neighbors two and three blocks away felt the explosion and one witness told said he saw the victim had been thrown into the street. Crews from the Council Bluffs Fire Department and Black Hills Energy, which supplies natural gas in Council Bluffs, responded to the explosion, but authorities say it appears the man who died was working in the garage and the explosion was an accident.

A preliminary investigation concluded that a compressed natural gas cylinder exploded in the garage at 709 N 35th Street, and that the explosion was NOT the result of a gas leak from the utilities serving the property. The incident remains under investigation.

The victim’s name was not immediately released.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests. Today (Jan. 3rd), 29-year-old Shawna Marrie Watson, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 1:16-a.m. for Assault ($300 bond). There were three arrests New Years Day, in Mills County: 23-year-old Caleb Michael Solari, of Corning, was arrested for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 bond); 24-year-old Zachary Alexander Shively, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order (No Bond), and, 26-year-old Rhiannon Irene Gilbert, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (Bond $300). On Dec. 30th, Mills County Deputies arrested 39-year-old Tarus Mae Delores Hayes, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense (Bond$1,000).

The Sheriff’s Office says at around 2:18-a.m. Dec. 31st,a 2019 Jeep driven by 23-year-old Caleb Solari, of Corning, was traveling east on Highway 34 in Mills County, when the vehicle drifted off the road and traveled into the ditch. Solari told authorities he was tired. As mentioned above, he was arrested for OWI/1st offense. A passenger in his vehicle was transported to MCMH by Red Oak Rescue, for injuries sustained in the accident. Later that same morning, an accident occurred that involved a 2019 Dodge Ram.

The vehicle was driven by 39-year-old Heath Holmes, of Glenwood, westbound on Highway 34, when Holmes fell asleep at the wheel. His pickup entered the north side ditch and struck a berm. Holmes was checked by EMS at the scene. He declined to be transported to the hospital.

And, on January 2nd, Deputies responded to a three-vehicle accident at 315th St./Highway 34, at around 2:45-p.m.  An investigation determined a 2015 Buick driven by 83-year-old Patricia Barrale, of Hastings (IA), was westbound on Highway 34, prior to turning south onto 315th Street. A 2011 Ford driven by 46-year-old Erin Munns, of Emerson, was eastbound on Highway 34, when Barrale’s vehicle turned into oncoming traffic, causing the impact.

A 2022 KIA driven by 47-year-old Kelly Betley, of Glenwood, was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection, and was struck by Barrale’s Buick as it collided with the Ford.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with Cass Health have announced the addition of Whitney Schafer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C to the team of providers at AMC Rapid Care. Schafer is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to care for patients of all ages. Schafer said she is “Passionate about delivering care with an emphasis on patient education. I have 12 years of experience as an RN in various areas, and I look forward to providing patient-centered care to my rural community.”

AMC Rapid Care Director Tabetha Smith, RN said, of Schafer, “We’re extremely happy to have Whitney on our team! Her personality and demeanor are a perfect fit for the community that we serve. She is a true vision of a neighbor caring for neighbors.”

Schafer recently graduated from Clarkson College with her master’s degree. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 from the University of Iowa and has been a registered nurse since 2010. Her previous nursing experience includes inpatient care, specialty care, surgery, and five years of urgent care experience.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report three recent arrests and an injury accident. Taken into custody on January 2nd, was 20-year-old Mason Bivens, of Glenwood, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Bivens was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate. On January 1st, Glenwood Police arrested 28-year-old Katherine Konfrst, of Glenwood, for OWI/1st offense, and Child Endangerment. She subsequently posted a $3,000 bond.

And, on Dec. 30th, 56-year-old Todd Morris, of Glenwood, was arrested for Eluding. He also later posted bond amounting to $1,000.

On Dec. 30th at around 7:20-p.m., Glenwood Police were dispatched to 312 4th Street, for a report of a vehicle that struck a house. They found a 2018 Chevy Colorado pickup struck the porch at the location specified. The porch was completely destroyed. The driver of the vehicle, 65-year-old Lyle Mark Osler, of Glenwood, said he did not feel well, and the last thing he remembered was passing a convenience store in the area. He believed he passed out due to medical issues.

Osler was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Council Bluffs. There were no other injuries reported. Damage to his truck was estimated at $10,000. The home, owned by Ronnie Hurley, of Glenwood, sustained an estimated $15,000 damage.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will be sworn in for another term on Friday, January 13th — but the other five statewide elected officials have started their terms. The new terms for Secretary of State Paul Pate and State Auditor Rob Sand started on Sunday, January 1st. Newly elected State Treasurer Roby (ROB-ee, like “Robbie”) Smith took office Sunday as well. January 2nd was the starting date for Mike Naig’s second full term as secretary of agriculture.

Newly-elected Attorney General Brenna Bird who started her term Monday, too. That’s because the terms for both of those offices are to start on January 1st — unless January 1st falls on a Sunday. Terms for these five statewide elected officials technically start when they sign an official oath. None of these officials have announced they’ll participate in a public ceremony to mark the start of their terms in office.

(BBB Newswire) – The holiday expenses may be looming on your credit card bill, or perhaps the bank balance is a little lighter from the extra gifts exchanged with family and friends. If this is the year to reduce your debt and bump up the savings account, it’s not a bad idea to revisit prior financial goals. The Better Business Bureau says the post-pandemic continues to affect many households. People are reassessing retirement timelines, considering where and how they live, and assessing future personal goals in the face of the new variants. Several federal financial programs have come to an end, while employment opportunities have varied from one sector to another. As consumers look ahead to the new year, having stable financial footing may become a necessary goal to meet day-to-day needs.

When thinking about current finances and sticking to a New Year’s Resolution, consider these tips from BBB:

• Inventory your credit cards. Credit cards are known to have high-interest rates, and this can waste a lot of money over time. Reach out to the credit card company to see if a balance transfer offer can be used to switch to a card with a lower rate or ask if the interest rate can be lowered. Research the financial institution where the credit card is held on orgfirst. Read the terms and contract very carefully – there may be big penalties if a payment is missed. If you have multiple cards, decide which debt-paying strategy is best for you. Some experts recommend paying off cards with the highest interest rates first. Others recommend paying off cards with the smallest balances first. Additionally, try sending in payments throughout the month. Put the $5 that would have been spent on a morning coffee towards debt instead.

• Avoid wasting money on unethical businesses or scams. When making a purchase or choosing a business, check with BBB. Making careful decisions now can save time, money, and headaches later. Research all companies at org, and check BBB Scam Trackerregularly to see what scams are happening in your area.

• Take advantage of free tools. There are many online tools that can help manage and reduce debt.

• Start budgeting. Creating a written budget and tracking spending is one of the best ways to save money and stop spending more than what is earned. First, figure out how much debt you have; you need an accurate picture before you can figure out your budget. Note the difference between fixed expenses, needs, and wants. If you have debt, include repayment goals in your budget. If possible, factor in retirement and emergency savings. Save money by giving up morning coffee – and cooking at home instead of getting takeout. Factor in any alternate income that you can think of, like selling unused items or part-time work in the gig economy.

When possible, shop and use BBB Accredited Businesses that follow BBB’s Standards for Trust.

For more information:

• BBB’s New year’s guide
• BBB’s Money HQ

ABOUT BBB: BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free. BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit BBB.org for more information.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Cass County Public Health is offering a free program called Disaster PrepWise that guides older adults through the steps of creating a disaster plan to handle any type of emergency. This program is offered at no cost to older adults in the area. Victoria Means, Public Health Service Coordinator, says “Preparing for an emergency can seem overwhelming, and most people aren’t even sure where to begin. We work one-to-one with adults and couples to talk through different scenarios and potential problems, and then we’ll work together to create a personalized plan on how to navigate the emergency if it should arise.”

Developed by researchers at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Disaster PrepWise consists of five modules and two additional sections on special topics. Participants will develop a personalized disaster management plan that they can share with their family, friends, and neighbors. Means says “We’ll start with a personal and household assessment, which means we’ll talk with you about what’s unique to you both in terms of risks and assets. From there, we work on developing emergency information, important documents, supply kits, and more.”

Additionally, part of the planning assistance is making sure individuals are signed up to receive Alert Iowa messages. Alert Iowa is a communication tool used to inform the public about inclement weather, public safety events, or other emergencies.

The planning sessions will take place at Cass County Public Health, 1408 East 10th St., Atlantic, Iowa, unless otherwise arranged. While the planning is typically geared towards individuals or couples, small groups can also be accommodated. Please call Victoria Means at (712) 243-7443 with questions or to schedule a disaster planning session.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans elected to serve in the U-S House for the next two years must await the election of a House speaker today (Tuesday) before they can be sworn into office. All four have said they back California Congressman Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker, but he may not have enough G-O-P support to win the job. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire alluded to the potential stalemate in a video statement last (Monday) night.

“Back in our nation’s capital where I’m hoping to be sworn in tomorrow on January 3rd,” Miller-Meeks said. “…Tomorrow should be interesting, but hoping that we have a very uneventful day.”

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion and Congressman-elect Zach Nunn of Bondurant have praised McCarthy for his role in getting fellow Republicans elected to a majority of seats in the U.S. House. A spokesperson for Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says Feenstra also supports McCarthy for speaker.