(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two women were arrested Thursday night on Assault charges. 24-year-old Kimberlyn Callie Bakerink, of Bridgewater, and 21-year-old Georjia Rain Alizabeth McKown, of Creston, were arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Assault with the Intent to inflict Serious Injury. They were taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m., and transported to the Union County Jail. Bakerink and McKown have since posted bond, and were released.

(Waterloo, Iowa) – (Update 8:05-p.m., 1/13/23: A woman from Cedar Rapids died and a man from Williamsburg was hurt, during a collision Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports Troopers responded at around 1-p.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 eastbound, at mile marker 213 (west of Waterloo). An investigation determined a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by 64-year-old Joyce Renee Baumgarten, of Cedar Rapids, struck a 2013 International Iowa DOT plow truck that was on the left shoulder of the road, conducting a slow-moving Interstate maintenance project.

The driver of the DOT vehicle was identified as 52-year-old David Dellamuth, of Williamsburg. He was transported to the hospital in Marengo by Iowa County EMS.

The Patrol says Baumgarten died at the scene. She was wearing a seat belt. Other vehicles and drivers involved in the incident include a 2021 Hyundai Sonata, driven by 47-year-old Michael Razo, of Topeka, KS, and a 2013 Ford Edge driven by 23-year-old Alexis Sands, of Solon. Neither was injured in the collision.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The State Board of Education has denied the challenge of a new student club at Johnston High School. Three parents appealed the school board’s decision to approve a chapter of the conservative Turning Point USA group. Andrea McIlwee spoke to the board members during their meeting Thursday, and says their concern is the process that was used — not the group’s philosophy. The lawyer for the Johnston school district, Carrie Weber, told the Board this not whether this was a good decision — it is whether it was supported by reason whether the board followed its policy and adopting this decision, and it cannot be overturned unless it’s unreasonable and contrary to the best interests of education.

The Board of Education voted unanimously to deny the challenge and uphold the club. The parents must now decide if they will pursue action in court.

(Radio Iowa) –  When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and when it’s the dead of winter in Iowa, you make ice sculptures. Davenport hosts its annual Icestravaganza this weekend on the Mississippi riverfront. The fest features six expert ice carvers who will be using some 36-thousand pounds of ice to create glimmering, frozen visions under the theme Famous Monuments — everything from pyramids and the Statue of Liberty to the Eiffel Tower.

Each block of ice weighs around 300 pounds and they’re trucking in 120 blocks for the event. Plus, a lighting director will illuminate each completed ice sculpture with a series of colored L-E-Ds, switching them on nightly at dusk. The free event runs Friday through Sunday.

(Ida County, Iowa) – One person died during a collision early Wednesday afternoon between a semi tractor-trailer and a car in northwest Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu had stopped at the controlled intersection of Highways 59 & 20, near Holstein.

When the driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic and proceeded into the intersection, their vehicle was struck by a westbound Highway 20 semi. The unidentified driver of the Malibu died at the scene. The driver of the semi was uninjured.

The crash, which occurred at around 12:06-p.m., remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports one person complained of neck pain and was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue, following an accident that occurred at around 4:30-p.m., Thursday. Authorities say 58-year-old Tammy W. Glasgo, of Elliott, was hurt in the collision at N. Broadway and Cherry Streets. Police determined Glasgo’s 1997 Honda Accord was stopped at the intersection stoplight. A 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 31-year-old Brent M. Davis, of Villisca, stopped behind the car.

Davis’ proceeded to drive forward when he saw vehicles in the turn lane moving. In doing so, his pickup struck the rear of the Honda, while was waiting for the green light. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s 43rd governor will take the oath of office for another term later this (Friday) morning. Republican Kim Reynolds — the first woman to serve as Iowa’s governor — has been the state’s chief executive since mid-2017. Terry Branstad chose Reynolds as his running mate in 2010 and she took over the governorship when Branstad resigned. Reynolds won a full, four-year term in 2018 and she was reelected this past November.

Today’s Inauguration Ceremony starts at 9 a.m. in Des Moines. The governor will host an open house at the governor’s mansion at noon and a reception at the statehouse starting at 2 this (Friday) afternoon. Tonight’s Inaugural Ball in downtown Des Moines is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand held a reception in his statehouse office, Thursday, to officially mark the start of his second term.  “When I started this job four years ago, I had a pretty simple idea of what it was that I wanted to do,” Sand said. “Number one: I wanted to match the passion that I had seen from auditor office employees in my time as assistant attorney general.” Sand spent seven years as the lead state prosecutor on public corruption cases. Sand says in the past four years, the audits and special investigations his office conducted have uncovered a record amount of misspent tax dollars.

“Those dollars must be respected if we are going to maintain trust for the mission of self-governance under our constitution,” Sand said. Sand, who finished ahead of Republican Todd Halbur by fewer than three-thousand votes, was the only Democrat to win a statewide race in November. Sand acknowledged three Republicans in yesterday’s (Thursday’s) audience — State Treasurer Roby Smith, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and Attorney General Brena Bird.

“Just because we don’t agree on everything doesn’t mean we don’t come at this interested in serving all the people in the state Iowa and I’m looking forward to working with all of you, so thank you all for being here very much,” Sand said. Sand’s current term started January 1st. He publicly recited his oath of office at the start of Thursday’s event. Naig and Secretary of State Paul Pate will hold similar ceremonies in the statehouse rotunda this (Friday) afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds gathered in person and online for the first subcommittee hearing on the governor’s latest “school choice” plan.

Governor Reynolds is proposing state-funded Educational Savings Accounts for low income parents who enroll their children in a private school over the next two years, but in the third year the parents of every Iowa private school student would be eligible for thousands of dollars in state money to cover private school expenses. Arlene McClintock says private school was out of reach when she was growing up and being bullied at school. She’s leading a group called Hispanics Aligned for Choice in Education Reform.

“One of the things that parents want to be able to provide for their kids is a safe learning environment,” she said. “That’s something that I wish that I had had growing up and it’s something that I want to provide for my children.”

The governor’s office estimates when fully implemented, the parents of about 40,000 private school students would be getting at least $341 million in state money annually to cover tuition and other private school expenses. Justin Hollinrake told the senate subcommittee sending that much state money to support private schools like likely weaken schools where his relatives live in rural Iowa.

“Ten years from now, is public school even going to be an option?” he asked. “Will schools even be open? Will private school be the only option?”

The newly-formed House Education Reform Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

(Reporting by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan 12, 2023) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced that the November 10 order cancelling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been lifted. The order also prohibited live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets, and exotic sales.

It has been 30 days since the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed a new infection of HPAI in domestic poultry in Iowa. The last confirmed case of HPAI in Iowa was announced on December 12.

“Commercial poultry producers and those with backyard birds should continue to be vigilant with their biosecurity because this destructive disease still poses a serious ongoing risk,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We are continually monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza case counts worldwide and we remain ready to quickly respond should spring migration bring us another enhanced level of threat.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

For additional information on HPAI, please visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.