(Anamosa, Iowa) – A child who was sledding downhill late Wednesday morning in rural northwest Anamosa, was struck by an SUV when the sled crossed a road in front of a 2008 GMC Envoy SUV. The accident happened at around 11:30-a.m. The Iowa State Patrol was withholding the name of the child and their condition. The name of the SUV driver was also not released.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Anamosa Police Dept., Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and Anamosa EMS.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two Republican presidential candidates will be in Atlantic, Saturday afternoon, one a presidential hopeful, the other a former president who hopes to take back the White House. Never Back Down is continuing the Countdown to Caucus tour across Iowa with special guest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the lead up to the Iowa Caucus on Monday, January 15th.

NBD is hosting meet and greets, retail stops, and drop by’s across the Hawkeye State from Thursday, January 11th through Sunday, January 14th. DeSantis will appear at the Downtowner Family Restaurant (inside the Whitney Building at 222 Chestnut St.), in Atlantic. The event begins at 12:15-p.m. Saturday (Jan. 13), with doors opening at 11:45-a.m. Register for General Admission tickets HERE.

Former President Donald Trump will speak at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, beginning at 2-p.m., Saturday (Jan. 13). Doors for the event open at 11-a.m. You must register for the event HERE.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say some Iowa counties could fall short of having enough money to fund roads unless state lawmakers take action.

Woodbury County Engineer Mark Nahra says changes to Iowa’s new property tax system mean a loss of millions for his county alone. Nahra says counties that do not meet the minimum tax levy will lose road tax fund money and matching farm-to-market road funds.

“The limitations that were put on property tax growth under House File 718 affect the county road department’s ability to raise revenue out of property taxes,” he says.

Over a ten-year period, he estimates the cost for Woodbury County will be more than $26-million .

“If we don’t have that funding available to us,” he says, “it’ll result in some deterioration of our primary paved routes in the county.”

Nahra says if state lawmakers decide -not- to change the current law, counties with low tax levy rates may lose road funding.

“They need to make it quickly,” he says. “This year, we’ve got enough levy from last year that we can make our minimum local effort. We start falling short in fiscal year 2026, and then that shortfall accelerates.”

Nahra says about a dozen Iowa counties will be impacted in the next two or three years if lawmakers don’t modify the state law this session.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Larson Christensen is asking lawmakers to raise the pay for Iowa judges. “They are paid less than judges in every state that touches Iowa,” Christensen says. “…Iowa judges make $16,000 less per year than South Dakota judges and they make $38,000 less per year than Nebraska It’s no wonder the average number of applicants for per district court judge vacancy has decreased 62% in the past 20 years.”

Christensen delivered the annual “Condition of the State” address in the Iowa Capitol this (Wednesday) morning. “In the last 15 years, judges have received a pay raise five times,” Christensen says. “…Being appointed by our governor should be the pinnacle of an attorney’s career, not a deep financial sacrifice.” Christensen is also asking lawmakers to stabilize the contributions judges make to their pension system. “For those of you who have listened to my prior speeches, I have never broached the topic of either pay or pensions for our judges. This year is different,” Christensen said. “I feel compelled to publicly speak from this platform…as the voice for all judges in our state.”

West side of Iowa Capitol Building (RI file photo)

Christensen also asked lawmakers to raise the pay for contract attorneys who represent indigent clients in state courts. Christensen, as the chief of state government’s judicial branch, is asking lawmakers to approve a four-point-three percent increase in state spending on the state court system. Christensen’s speech comes after Governor Reynolds and other Republicans criticized the Iowa Supreme Court for failing last June to allow the six week abortion ban adopted in 2018 to take effect. The legislature passed an nearly identical law in July — and the state supreme court has yet to rule on a legal challenge of it.

“If your constituents come up to you and say: ‘Hey, Judge so and so really messed up this opinion,’ or if you maybe even tell your constituent the same thing that is your right to hold such a belief,” Christensen said. “I may even agree with you, but what I am asking you to do is to take that opportunity to explain that even when you think a judge is dead wrong, they are public servants just like you and they are committed to the rule of law, just as you would want them to be.”

The Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on the so-called fetal heartbeat law is expected by the end of June.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) –  Officials with the City of Macedonia’s Maintenance Department, today (Wednesday) issued a Water Boil Order. The order is in effect until further notice, and was issued due to low water pressure that was caused by a prolonged power outage.

All residents are encouraged to boil or use bottled water for consumption. Call City Hall with questions at 712-486-2323

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate warrants, Tuesday. 39-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 64-year-old David Gene Carroll, of Villisca, was arrested in rural Villisca, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Revoked/OWI charge. His bond was set at $2,000.