(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report 43-year-old Raul Rangel, of Creston, was arrested Sunday, at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center. Rangel was charged on a Union County Warrant, with OWI/1st offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Cedar Fall, Iowa [KCCI] – Colleges in Iowa are seeing more students look for opportunities out of state after they graduate, according to a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The report found that Iowa has the 10th highest rate of college graduates leaving the state once they receive their degree.

State Sen. Eric Giddens (D-Black Hawk County) talked to a group of students at the University of Northern Iowa to find out why. He said jobs and career opportunities were big factors students shared for looking out of state. Politics was another factor. He said students want lawmakers to create opportunities rather than tackle divisive social issues.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 6:45-p.m. Sunday, in Red Oak, resulted in a man being arrested on an OWI charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Broadway Street, in Red Oak, and upon further investigation, arrested 46-year-old Jeremy Scott Guffey, of Stanton, for OWI/1st offense – a serious misdemeanor, and Child Endangerment – an aggravated misdemeanor.

Guffey was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – As spring nears, farmers are starting to worry again about moisture levels, because the latest U-S Drought Monitor map for Iowa shows almost a fifth of the state is in extreme drought, with more than half of Iowa in severe drought. Angie Rieck-Hinz, a field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says it’s been 190-some straight weeks of drought for the state and planting season is just a few weeks away. “We hope we get some more rain before we get in the field, definitely, but if we don’t, we’re going to really need some very timely rains throughout this growing season to keep enough water supplied to those crops,” Rieck-Hinz says. “We just don’t have a whole lot in our soil right now or subsoil that those plants can draw from.”

Even with several heavy snows in January, now February is wrapping up warmer and drier than normal, which is worrisome for farmers. “They’re concerned. They know they can’t do a whole lot about it. If anything, farmers are always hopeful about moisture,” Rieck-Hinz says. “There might be some ways we can manage that going into spring. We can think about if we can actually go in and plant without having to do any tillage that would dry out soils even more.” Forecasters say there’s a chance for a mix of rain and snow next week, but it likely won’t be significant enough to make a dent in the drought.

“We should probably think about if we have cover crops out there, if we want to terminate them a little bit earlier than usual,” she says, “so we’re not pulling as much moisture out of the soil. That’s something to think about.” March 19th is the first day of spring.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 3:50-p.m. Sunday, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 22-year-old Nicholas Sebastian Turnbull, from Red Oak. He was taken into custody for Driving While Barred and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Turnbull’s bond was set at $2,000.

LANSING, Iowa (KCRG) – The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office announced the Mississippi River Bridge in Lansing will be closed until further notice due to structural concerns on Sunday, February 25th. The bridge, also known as the Black Hawk Bridge, connects Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin.

In a Facebook post, officials say they decided to close the bridge after noticing ‘some slight movement’.

Officials say they will inspect the bridge to determine if it is structurally sound starting on Monday, February, 26th.In the meantime, officials urge motorists to use alternate routes such as crossing through Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin or La Crescent, Minnesota until the bridge is deemed safe.

TIFFIN, Iowa (KCRG) -The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says one victim, and two deputies were hurt in a house fire on Sunday, February 25th, in Tiffin.

The Tiffin Fire Department responded to a fire in 100 block Stephens Street at 8:47 a.m. and say the fire spread to the other part of the connect duplex.

Officials say one victim was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics with serious injuries, while two Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were taken to the hospital and later released.

Six people have been displaced by the fire with the Red Cross assisting three of them.

(Massena, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB) is hosting an “Intro to Turkey Hunting” program, Saturday March 16, 2024, at 10-a.m., at the Outdoor Classroom shelter, located at 76977 Tucson Rd, Massena, IA.

The program will focus on “Becoming a Turkey Hunter.” CCCB employees will talk about scouting, calling, and equipment needed as well as different techniques and equipment used by successful turkey hunters. Officials say the program will be great for someone who wants to start turkey hunting or those with more experience. The CCCB will have examples of calls, decoys, blinds, and other tools used in the turkey woods. So, if you want to hit the Turkey woods this spring but don’t know where to start or would just like to pick up another technique or tip, come to the Outdoor Classroom on March 16, 2024, at 10:00am to learn a few things and get started on your turkey hunting adventure.

For questions call CCCB Director Micah Lee at 712-769-2372.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is holding Shed Antler Hike. The hike will be held at the Pellett Memorial Woods, north of Atlantic, on March 9^th at 1 pm. The event is FREE, all ages are welcome. Dress for the weather.

CCCB invites you to “Cure the winter blues by spending some time outside with family friendly FUN! We will talk about all things antlers! Bring your keen eyes for this scavenger hunt!!”

Participants will meet at Pellett Memorial Woods- located just outside of Atlantic, ½ mile north and ¾ mile east of the KJAN radio station (63066 Troublesome Creek Rd).

“We hope you will join us.”