DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — There’s no doubt which of Iowa’s specialty license plate designs is most popular. The state’s “blackout” plates were an immediate hit with drivers when they were first released July 1, 2019. Four months later the simple design — white lettering over a black background — was the state’s most popular. Nearly 50,000 had been issued at that point, well more than the 30,000 University of Iowa plates issued.

Now, almost five years later, 585,772 of the state’s 4,605,643 total plates, about 12%, are blackout, according to Iowa DOT data from the 2023 calendar year. And other states have taken notice. Blackout plates with the regular number-letter combination are $35, plus an annual $10 fee. Personalized versions cost $60, with a $15 annual fee.

Black and gold University of Iowa plates are still the second most popular specialty plates in the state, with nearly 27,000 in circulation, more than 92% of which are personalized. Iowa State is third, with more than 19,000 cardinal and gold plates issued, 92% of which are personalized.

Other colleges with plates include Briar Cliff, Buena Vista, Central, Clarke, Coe, Cornell, Des Moines University, Dordt, Drake, Dubuque, Graceland, Grand View, Grinnell, Iowa Wesleyan, Loras, Luther, Morningside, Mount Mercy, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Palmer, Simpson, St. Ambrose, Upper Iowa, Wartburg and William Penn.

The three most popular Iowa Department of Natural Resources specialty plates, of which a portion of the cost goes to the Wildlife Diversity Program and Resource Enhancement and Protection, feature birds. The most popular DNR plate features a goldfinch, the state bird, with more than 13,000 in circulation. Eagles are next on the list (5,236 total plates), and pheasants are third (4,414).

Other DNR options include deer (4,281) and trout (1,937).

CLIVE, Iowa (KCCI) — Authorities used Stop Sticks to flatten the tires of a woman who was allegedly drunk while driving the wrong way on Interstate 80/35 in Polk County late Wednesday night. There was an active dense fog advisory when Courtney Allen, of Huxley, drove the wrong way on the interstate for miles, prompting multiple 911 calls from other drivers, according to court documents.

Allen was traveling north/eastbound in the south/westbound lanes of I80/35. A Clive police officer traveling in the correct direction activated their lights and sirens when they caught up with Allen, but said she did not stop. Responding officers eventually deployed the Stop Sticks, which popped the wrong-way driver’s tires and forcing her to stop.

Allen is charged with second-offense operating while intoxicated, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, reckless driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt.

The annual Okoboji Winter Games are underway in northwest Iowa. Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce director, Blain Andera, says the games are on despite the warmer weather. He says they did move a few of the events off of the ice, but this is much nicer than last year when they had temperatures at ten below and a stiff northwest wind. He says they get between 30 and 40-thosuand people who attend the games. Several businesses and restaurants open up just for the weekend that are seasonal and are typically closed in the wintertime. The games run through Sunday and you can find a complete listing of the events at uofowintergames.com.

Iowa is one of three states that does not have an official state fish. A northwest Iowa legislator’s proposal could change that. State Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says the nomination came from a constituent who told Wills the Iowa Darter is the only fish that has Iowa in its name and that would make it a great state fish. Wills expects to hear other names floated for state fish, like the blue gill or the channel cat, but he is casting his lot with his constituent. The Iowa Darter is small — under four inches — and its scales and fins are covered in rainbow colors. Iowa has just a handful of state symbols. The last one was done in 1967 when the legislature declared the geode (JEE-ohd) as the state rock.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds and two dozen other Republican governors are siding with the governor of Texas in his border dispute with the Biden Administration. The statement from the governors comes after the U-S Supreme Court ruled federal agents can remove razor wire Texans installed at Eagle Pass, along the U-S-Mexico border.

“Poor Governor Abbott,” Reynolds told Radio Iowa. “…You have your own administration and then the Supreme Court rule that when you’re trying to protect the sovereignty of your country and your citizens rule against you, it’s scary times that we’re in right now.” Reynolds says the State of Texas should be able to use every tool necessary to defend itself from the tide of mass migration across the border.

“There’s not a country out there that can withstand what we’re seeing, so it’s just a matter to time where something happens,” Reynolds says. “We’re seeing guns and drugs and terrorists come across. There’s no accountability. Our Border Patrol people are just processing people, giving them an airplane ticket and a phone and money and dispersing them throughout the country. It makes me sick to my stomach.”

Reynolds and the other Republican governors say the U-S Constitution gives states the right of self-defense in times like this. Neighboring G-O-P governors in Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota signed onto the statement in support of Texas. A spokesman for the U-S Departnent of Homeland Security says enforcement of immigration law is a federal responsibility and the razor wire, fences and gates stalled by the State of Texas have only made it harder for federal agents to do their jobs.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowans would still get a small property tax break under her updated proposal for Area Education Agencies. Earlier this month Reynolds called for A-E-As to focus solely on services for students with disabilities. Reynolds originally proposed doing away with the property tax levies that support the educational AND media services A-E-As provide for all students and staff. She’s now proposing property taxes be retained for educational services, like curriculum for math, science and reading classes as well as for talented and gifted programs, but Reynolds says the property tax levy for A-E-A media services should be repealed.

“That was designed in the ’70s and we’re using property tax dollars for it and a lot of it was like printing and laminating and some of those things and a lot of these schools have a business on Main Street that does it or they can form a coop and joint purchase some of these,” Reynolds says. “…It’s kind of weird, I think, that it’s being funded by property taxes. That’s inappropriate. It’s 2024. It’s not 1970 and we have access to a lot of resources that we didn’t have before.”

Under current law, state and federal funds and local property taxes for A-E-A services go directly to the A-E-As. Reynolds wants all of that money to go directly to school districts instead, then local school officials will decide whether to use an A-E-A, a private contractor or hire staff to provide the services. “Rural school districts out there or urban or anybody that’s using AEA services bottom line is if they like what they’re getting right now they can on day one transfer those funds to the AEA or they can find out what the cost of some of those services are,” Reynolds says. “Right now they don’t know what they’re paying for.”

School districts that wish to use an A-E-A digital lending library or other A-E-A media services would have to use money from the education services account to pay for it under the governor’s latest plan. Reynolds says her overarched goal is to improve test scores among Iowa students with disabilities, scores which have been well below the national average for years. Advocates for A-E-As say the governor’s plan poses a significant threat to the quality of education Iowa children receive and a reduction in the resources and learning tools currently available to students.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a student with the Sidney Community School District faces Threat of Terrorism charges following an incident that occurred Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff says at approximately 3-p.m., the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer was alerted of threats made by a student towards other students at the Sidney Community School District.

Deputies learned a student made threatening statements indicating they had an explosive device and had threatened to harm a student. It is alleged the student also made statements to several other students indicating they had a firearm and threatened to harm classmates.

School officials immediately made contact with the student and simultaneously engaged their lock out procedure and the school safety plan was enacted. Law enforcement conducted a search and no suspicious devices or weapons were found.

The student was taken to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and charged with two counts of Threats of Terrorism. The student is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs pending further court proceedings.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who are anxious to get their federal tax returns done in hopes of securing a refund can submit the forms yet today, if they want. IRS spokesman Christopher Miller says the agency won’t formally start accepting returns until next week, but you can get your electronic filing done right now. Miller says, “In that case, your tax return will simply be held until it can be submitted to the IRS at the end of the month.”

E-filing is typically more accurate than using the paper forms, he says, as there are built-in aids that help with the math, and it should mean a more swift refund. Plus, for Iowans with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less, they can e-file using IRS Free File.

Miller says people who are e-filing can get at it this weekend. “Those returns filed early will also be held until the IRS begins processing tax returns at the end of January,” he says. Miller says there’s no rush to start filing. “A lot of people like to file their tax return early,” he says, “but the more important thing to remember is to file your taxes when you have all the paperwork together and can file a complete and accurate tax return.”

The filing season opens Monday, January 29th. For most filers, the deadline for 2023 federal tax returns is Monday, April 15th.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she had no role in the investigation of alleged illegal sports betting among college athletes in Ames and Iowa City. During an interview with Radio Iowa today (Thursday), Reynolds said state law requires the Division of Criminal Investigation through the Iowa Department of Public Safety to monitor sports gaming in Iowa.

Reynolds said.

Last May, officials at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa announced dozens of athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University had been caught up in the DCI’s investigation of underage wagering as well as betting on teams at their own schools.

Governor Kim Reynolds spoke with Radio Iowa on Jan. 25, 20924. (RI photo)

Court documents released this week allege a whistleblower in the DCI says he was misled about the investigation and asked to be reassigned after another agent congratulated him for getting an athlete to confess. Reynolds declined to comment on those allegations.

Reynolds said.

According to Reynolds, the state’s public safety commissioner is “getting ready to provide some information” about the investigation.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two female residents of the community said today (Thursday) their vehicles were burglarized. Additional information was not provided in the Police report.