The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports they are asking for your assistance in helping to identify two individuals who were involved in an ATM break-in late Thursday night or early this (Friday) morning, at the Farmers Trust and Savings Bank, in Earling. The burglary occurred between 11 PM Thursday and 1 AM today (Friday). The first suspect wore a black hoodie or coat and grey sweatpants with black on the lower leg, and white tennis shoes. The second suspect was wearing a camouflage coat with a grey hoodie. Both suspects covered their faces.

Still frame surveillance images of both suspects are shown. Authorities say they know the photo quality isn’t very good, but it’s the best they have right now. Anyone who may have been in Earling during the hours mentioned, who have cameras on their houses/businesses in the area, are asked to check them and contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office 712-755-5026.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa — just for those convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering children — has cleared a subcommittee in the Iowa Senate. Sam Jones, pastor of the Faith Baptist Church in Baptist, spoke in favor of the bill during a hearing yesterday (Thursday).  “What does scripture say? Genesis 9:6, which is where we’d often founding of our civil government says this: ‘Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed,'” he says. “….We’re not talking, of course, about putting to death those that are innocent. We’re talking about those who are guilty.”

Twenty other people spoke. All opposed the bill. Patti McKee of Des Moines told legislators she was the victim of a violence crime. “Had I died, it would have been to cover up another crime and I stand here opposed to the death penalty,” she said. “Taking a life for a life doesn’t get us anywhere except a more violent society.” Loxie Hopkins of Davenport says a state-sanctioned death penalty goes against her Catholic faith. “I understand that you’re talking about the death penalty for just one instance,” she said, “but we have to all know that it won’t stop here.” Several speakers, like Indira Scheumaker of Des Moines, said minorities are far more likely than white defendants to be sentenced to death. “Sentencing is harsher for black people,” she said. “…That means there is going to be a disparity of who’s going to be sentenced to the death penalty if we have this.”

Jadyn Lovelady, a Creighton University student, made a similar argument. “Listen to the reality of what is happening in our country today,” she said. “…It is unacceptable to put this bill forward.” Others said the cost of capital punishment is far greater than the current sentence for those convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a minor, which is life in prison with no chance for parole.

Republican Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola, the bill’s chief sponsor, responded at the end of the hour-long hearing.”We had a lot of talk about the killer, the person that did the killing or the accused, but I don’t remember very much discussion about the victims,” Garrett said. “It seems to me they ought to get at least as much, probably more attention from us, than the people that did the killing.” Garrett and another Republican senator announced their support for the bill at the conclusion of the hearing, making the proposal eligible for consideration in a senate committee.

(Radio Iowa) – Much of western Iowa was in drought last year and even with a couple of heavy snowstorms already this winter, the drought is expected to continue at least into spring. Dennis Todey, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says it’s unlikely things will change soon. Todey says, “While a big snowstorm can provide melt-off and provide surface water, which is a positive, our soils are mainly frozen now so we need to get thawing soils before we can get any kind of precipitation into those soils.”

Todey says scientists are most concerned about the western third to western half of Iowa because the soils are the driest there.  “I would expect it to improve some in the spring,” Todey says. “Will it go away? I have a hard time thinking it’ll go completely away.” The U.S. Drought Monitor report released this week shows western Iowa in a moderate to extreme drought. Since 2018 and 2019 were very wet years for Iowa, the Iowa D-N-R’s Tim Hall says that probably helped get western Iowa through last year’s “harsh, dry conditions.” “I think we didn’t see as significant an impact because of the wetness coming out of the two years leading into this one,” Hall says.

Their comments were part of a drought webinar held by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Red Oak Police, Thursday, arrested a man who was wanted for Failure to Appear on a charge of Animal Neglect resulting in death. 39-year old Jared Michael Nyquist was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m., in the 700 block of E. Oak Street.

Jared M. Nyquist

He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,500 cash-only bond.

National Weather Service Des Moines IA
340 AM CST Fri Jan 15 2021

…Blizzard to Near Blizzard Conditions Continue to Significantly Impact Travel Across the Western Half of Iowa…

.Strong and gusty northwest winds coupled with moderate to at times heavy snowfall will continue to produce blizzard to near blizzard conditions into the daylight hours today over the western half of Iowa. Significant travel impacts are occurring or expected, especially along Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 in western Iowa. Over the eastern half of Iowa, lighter winds and lower snowfall amounts are forecast, but hazardous travel is anticipated.

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult due to areas of blowing snow, which could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes today.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Here is a glimpse of the latest road conditions from 511ia.org, as of 5:15-a.m., 1/15/21

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of the Iowa National Guard says Iowa is sending 250 soldiers and airmen to the U.S. Capitol, after officials called for additional support for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday. Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Ben Corell says initially Iowa had been scheduled to send 15 airmen to Washington, D.C., but because of the attack last week guard soldiers from all states and territories were asked to send support. He and Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed to send 250 additional Iowa National Guard members by this weekend. Corell says so far no Iowa National Guard support has been needed for security at the Iowa Capitol.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Eleven students from Brazil and Chile have filed a federal lawsuit accusing a northwest Iowa community college, a recruitment company, a pet food manufacturer and a packaging company of human trafficking and involuntary servitude. The lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Iowa says Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and the companies conspired to lure the students to Iowa under a work- and study- based visa exchange program only to push them into unskilled labor positions, pay them significantly less than U.S. employees and take unlawful deductions from their paychecks. The college denies the allegations calling them malicious, untrue, and offensive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With the widest reach of any lotteries in the U.S., Powerball and Mega Millions are designed to produce eyepopping jackpots that generate huge sales. It’s safe to say it’s working, as their combined jackpots reached an estimated $1.39 billion on Thursday. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday night, when an estimated $750 million prize will be up for grabs. The drawing for an estimated $640 million Powerball jackpot will be Saturday night. If you’re wondering whether to risk $2 on a ticket, do so only if you expect to lose. The odds are 1 in 292.2 million to win Powerball and 1 in 302.5 million to win Mega Millions.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two more suspects have been arrested in a fatal shooting at a New Year’s party in Sioux City. Carlos Morales and Anthony Bauer, both 18, were arrested Wednesday and are each being held on $500,000 bond. Morales’ brother, 19-year-old Christopher Morales, of Sioux City, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts after the shooting. Court documents say the three forced someone into the house where the party was being held and then fired at least 27 shots into the house. Eighteen-year-old Mia Kritis was killed and three others were injured. Police say detectives are not seeking any other suspects.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two more suspects have been arrested in a fatal shooting at a New Year’s party in Sioux City. Carlos Morales and Anthony Bauer, both 18, were arrested Wednesday and are each being held on $500,000 bond. Morales’ brother, 19-year-old Christopher Morales, of Sioux City, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts after the shooting.

Court documents say the three forced someone into the house where the party was being held and then fired at least 27 shots into the house. Eighteen-year-old Mia Kritis was killed and three others were injured. Police say detectives are not seeking any other suspects.

DES MOINES – The State of Iowa has announced it will close the Test Iowa drive-thru sites in Council Bluffs and Des Moines on Friday, Jan. 15, due to anticipated blizzard conditions across western and central Iowa. Individuals who have appointments scheduled for Friday at these sites will receive an email notification from Test Iowa, and will be able to reschedule their appointment online.

The five state-operated Test Iowa drive-thru sites and the State Hygienic Lab will also be closed on Monday, Jan. 18, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. All sites will reopen for testing as usual on Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Individuals who wish to be tested at any site must first complete an online assessment at testiowa.com, and schedule an appointment. Locations and hours of operation for all test sites can be found at testiowa.com or coronavirus.iowa.gov.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Officials have announced that University of Northern Iowa Provost Jim Wohlpart is resigning to become the newest president of a public university in Washington state. Wohlpart announced the move Thursday after being hired to lead Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. His new position is effective in June, when he will replace outgoing president James L. Gaudino.

Wohlpart has served as UNI provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for the past six years. He also served as the Cedar Falls school’s interim president from July 2016 to January 2017. Central Washington has an enrollment of near 16,000, compared with about 10,000 at UNI.