WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Joni Ernst’s office released a statement that she is “laser-focused” on her work in the legislature in response to a report about possible interest in becoming the Secretary of Defense. The Des Moines Register reported that NOTUS, a non profit newsroom, reported on Monday that Ernst would be open to working in the next Trump administration. A spokesperson for Ernst said Iowa’s junior senator remains focused on advancing in Senate leadership at this time.

LAURENS – More than 90 employees at the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky distribution center in Laurens will be let go by January. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification webpage showed the company gave notice that 91 employees are part of a “mass layoff.” The current expected last day is January 24th, according to the report.

IOWA CITY – An Iowa City woman has been charged for the death of a bicyclist earlier this fall. KCRG-TV reports that the Johnson County Attorney’s Office announced the arrest on Friday, and that 77-year-old Ok Soon Lee allegedly hit 41-year-old Ashlee Hopkins during the Farm Cycle Ride on September 15th. Hopkins died from her injuries.