(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she’s concerned after a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman was arrested at his home for allegedly disclosing classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues. “I think it’s incredibly scary that someone had access to this information in a way that they could so easily disseminate it. There will no doubt be some questions about the process here in the Department of Defense. The Department of Justice is going to do its investigation, but someone needs to be held accountable here,” she says.

Hinson says the person knew there were consequences with his alleged actions, but questions need to be raised about national security and it’s concerning that the system failed and the documents were leaked.  “Obviously we have systems in place to make sure that people who have access to classified materials pass background checks,” Hinson says. “I have that access, and of course I take that very, very seriously about protecting what I learn in a classified setting.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, recently met with the president of Taiwan. She says the U-S has to take steps to keep China from invading the country. “Really what it comes down to is deterrence — how can we make sure that China does not see that as a good investment in its people and its technology and of its military. We need to fulfill our arms deal commitments to Taiwan and we have not been able to do that in a timely fashion,” Hinson says. She says keeping up trade ties with Taiwan will also help. “Making sure that we are helping them to show economic strength and expanding those opportunities that will help strengthen things in the Indo-Pacific for Taiwan, as well as for us,” she says. “And then I think it sends again a very clear message that we are willing to have these meetings and stand up, to dictators and bullies around the world. Bullies respond to strength.”

Hinson made her comments during a stop in Mason City and on a conference call with reporters.

(Marshall County, Iowa) – WHO-TV in Des Moines reports one person was seriously burned during a large farm building fire that quickly spread to surrounding fields, in Haverhill. The incident occurred at around 3:30-p.m., Thursday. Firefighters from multiple area department arriving on the scene, found several farm buildings on fire, and that high winds and low humidity had  allowed the flames to spread to the surrounding grass,  and field, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

Several tanker trucks relayed water to the scene because there were no hydrants nearby. Local farmers helped battle the blaze by using tractors and tillage equipment to create a fire break to slow down the spread of the flames. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office said farmers’ efforts helped fire crews get the fire under control. The owner of the property suffered serious, but non life-threatening burns and was transported via air ambulance to a hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was on-going.

(Rural Bagley, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County report the operator of a tractor east of Bagley suffered burns over 50% of his body, Thursday morning, when a field fire the machine and operator were trying to contain, spread to tractor. Guthrie & Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, and firefighters from the  Yale, Jamaica, Bagley and Bayard Fire Departments, as well as Panora EMS responded to the fire in the 2800 block of 110th Street. The blaze began in a field of corn stalk residue.

The Bagley Fire Chief said the tractor operator was apparently attempting a controlled burn of the field, which had flooded last year, but the current dry conditions and winds caused the fire to get out of control, engulfing the tractor and operator. The tractor is a total loss. Fire crews were able to control the blaze.

The tractor operator was flown to a hospital in Des Moines and subsequently transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Burn Unit.  The incident remains under investigation by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.

A burn ban remains in effect for Guthrie and Adair counties until further notice.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man Thursday evening, on a warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. 40-year-ol Michael Duwayne Cobb, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:40-p.m. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Red Oak Police said also, 41-year-old Russel Albert McCullough, of Red Oak was arrested at around 3:30-a.m. today (Friday), in the 1700 block of N. Broadway Streetr. McCullough was arrested for Public Intoxication and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Shelby County, Iowa) – Multiple area fire departments responded Thursday afternoon to a structure fire north of Prairie Rose State Park. According to reports, the blaze at 1818 800th Street was initially said to be an attached garage fire. Crews from Irwin, Kirkman, Kimballton, Avoca, Harlan and Elk Horn were requested at the scene.

Additional information is currently not available.