SIOUX RAPIDS – Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow announced Melanie Bloom, a 16-year veteran agriculture teacher, as the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year during an assembly at Sioux Central Community School District in Sioux Rapids. Bloom is a full-time agriculture and FFA advisor, and was selected from nine finalists who were named last month as Iowa’s first-ever Regional Teachers of Year representing all education regions of the state. The Iowa Teacher of the Year award was first established in 1958.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Both of Iowa’s senators met with two of the more contentious nominees for leadership positions in President-Elect Donald Trump’s second administration. Senator Chuck Grassley released his endorsement for potential FBI Director Kash Patel following what he called a vote of “no-confidence” in current director Christopher Wray. Senator Joni Ernst met with Army Veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth following Republican criticism of holding our her potential vote for his nomination. Ernst called the meeting “productive.” Votes on nominations will take place after inauguration day on January 20th.

IOWA – An organization intends to lobby lawmakers at the Iowa Statehouse ahead of their new general assembly beginning in January about driving with cellular devices and creating legislation to address it. The End Distracted Driving Iowa Coalition includes dozens of organizations from law enforcement, healthcare, labor, transportation, insurance, and state agencies. The group cites Iowa DOT data that shows distracted driving crashes have increased by 43% in the past decade. It also references states with laws that have seen reductions in such incidents.