(Radio Iowa) – Nearly 100 employees are being laid off from a Waterloo factory that makes kitchen and bathroom cabinets. According to K-W-W-L, employees of Omega Cabinets in Waterloo have been notified the factory’s parent company is rebalancing operations and that means layoffs. MasterBrand Cabinets is offering its employees in Waterloo extra money if they agree to transfer to work in another company factory.

MasterBrand’s headquarters is in Indiana. The company makes several different brands of cabinets and employs 14-thousand people at its manufacturing plants and service centers across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

(Radio Iowa) -Comments from key Iowa Republicans make it clear a prominent G-O-P critic of former President Donald Trump faces a tough campaign in Iowa’s 2024 Caucuses if she runs for president. Harriet Hageman, the Republican who defeated Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney in an August Primary, was the keynote speaker at a Polk County G-O-P fundraiser. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann, the evening’s emcee, called Cheney a poor loser.

“What happened in Wyoming was pure grassroots…and it was versus the D.C. swamp…The grassroots absolutely kicked it out of the ballpark,” Kaufmann said, to cheers. “…It’s really kind of sad to see someone that is part of a team and forgets they’re part of that team if things don’t go their way.” Kaufmann ridiculed those who’ve praised Cheney for her role on the committee investigating Trump’s actions as the U.S. Capitol was being attacked — as well as those who lamented her primary loss.

“And when I heard all of the comments afterwards and the sadness and the wondering and the comparison to Abraham Lincoln — really? Really? We’re not going there, are we?” Kaufmann asked the crowd rhetorically. Former Governor Terry Branstad, appointed by Trump to be U.S. Ambassador to China, says being in Trump’s corner has been a winning formula for Iowa Republicans.

“You know, we went through that in 2016. (In) a lot of other states, Republicans got divided. Not here! Not here,” Branstad said. “We all pulled together. We carried the state for Trump and we picked up a bunch of seats and, you know, he’s continued to do that.” State Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale was the first Iowa elected official to endorse Trump in 2015 and he praised Hageman for defeating Cheney.

“We were watching that night and we are so proud of you,” Zaun said. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for winning that election.” Republicans make up a sizable majority of voters in Wyoming and Hageman is virtually assured of winning Wyoming’s only seat in the U.S. House next month. “We have to be sending people to Washington, D.C. who are not going to be cowed by the people who have been there forever who say: ‘No, this is the way we do it,'” Hageman said.

Hageman will campaign with Iowa Republicans today (Tuesday) in Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids and Bettendorf.

(Granger, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a deadly crash that happened on Monday morning in Granger. The Patrol reports a 2010 International semi tractor-trailer and a 1991 Oldsmobile car collided at around 9:10 a.m. on Highway 17 at the intersection with Broadway Street.

The accident happened as the northbound semi was turning west onto Broadway street and failed to yield to the car, which was traveling south on Highway 17. The car crashed into the right side of the semi. Authorities say a passenger in the car, 75-year-old Larry Don Adams, of Boone, Iowa, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the car, 43-year-old Adam William Choruzek, and another passenger, 48-year-old Kathy Lynn O’Brien, both of Grand Junction, were injured and flown to hospitals in Des Moines. Only the driver was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the semi, 40-year-old Matthew Edward Olszewski, of Cookeville, TN, was not hurt.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office report two accidents were investigated earlier this month. Most recently, on October 9th, at around 7:50 PM, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of 655th and Hamburg Road in rural Cass County for a single vehicle accident. It was found that a 2020 Nissan Altima being operated by Drew Steckelberg, of Adair, was traveling Eastbound on Hamburg Rd approaching a T intersection with 655th. The vehicle went out of control, exited the roadway, proceeded across 655th and ended up in the ditch on the East side of 655th. Steckelberg suffered apparent injury and was transported to a local area hospital for medical assistance. The vehicle was declared a total loss.

And, as we previously reported on KJAN, on October 5th, at approximately 6:36 AM, area first responders were called to 58882 White Pole Road for a single vehicle accident. Responding units found that a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Limited being operated by Marian Faddis, of Atlantic, was operating Southwest on White Pole Road. The SUV exited the traveled portion of the roadway to the right, traveled through the ditch, a field and two fences before it struck a decorative / non operational oil rig on private property and came to rest.

Faddis was transported to a local area hospital to receive medical assistance. The vehicle sustained an approximated $15,000 worth of damage, with additional damage was noted to fences, fields and private property.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on arrests dating back to Sept. 29th.

Most recently, on Saturday (Oct. 8), Deputies arrested 23-year-old Samuel Haag, of Cumberland, for OWI 1st Offense. Haag was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

Last Thursday (Oct. 6), 48-year-old Jeffery Etter, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. Etter was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On October 5th, Deputies in  Cass County arrested 37-year-old David Coenen, of Lewis, on a warrant for Burglary 2nd Degree. Coenen turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, was booked in and subsequently released on bond.

On October 4th, 46-year-old Natalie Olson, of Lewis, was arrested on the charges of Domestic Assault Causing Bodily Injury and Child Endangerment. Olson was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On October 1st, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old Preston Myers, of Anita, for OWI 1st Offense. Myers was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On September 30th, 35-year-old Kisauo Stephen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Public Intoxication. Kisauo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release.

And, on September 29th, 32-year-old Joshua Beedle, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Beedle was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release on his own recognizance.