POLK COUNTY – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a single vehicle crash that killed two men on December 23rd. A press release indicates a vehicle fire was reported on Highway 65 near Pleasant Hill, and first responders found a fully engulfed car upon arrival. Sean Pattschull of Norwalk and Nicholas Chescher of Fontana, California, were pronounced dead on scene. Police believe a combination of excessive speed, wet roadways, and foggy conditions may have contributed. CEDAR RAPIDS – Two men were arrested in Cedar Rapids following a chase. KCRG-TV reports Michael Redenbaugh and Jon Paul Hampshire were in a van that police attempted to stop Wednesday morning. Redenbaugh was allegedly driving and fled, causing a pursuit to ensue in Cedar Rapids neighborhoods. IOWA – Traffic fatalities remain well above the five year average across the state. The Iowa State Patrol reports 372 people have died on the state’s roadways since January 1st, up 13% from the five-year average. The patrol attributes the increase to speeding violations on the rise, a lack of seat belt use, and more driving while distracted by electronic devices.

WALL LAKE – A reward is being offered for information related to a man who went missing in November. KCCI-TV reports Sac County officials are offering $2,000 for any new details related to the disappearance of David Schultz. The Wall Lake man has been considered missing since November 20th, when his semi was found with his cell phone and wallet abandoned on a highway. Volunteers have searched 100,000 acres for the man. IOWA CITY – Multiple people were taken into police custody after reports of a Christmas morning shooting in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports University of Iowa police issued a Hawk Alert at 2 a.m. Monday, advising people in that area to stay in shelter during an investigation. Officers found evidence of shots fired and no names have been released as it relates to those in custody, and an additional $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. MADISON COUNTY – A Creston man has died in a Christmas day collision near Winterset. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Sierra pickup driven by Marjorie Gregory of Nevada, Missouri, was attempting to pass another vehicle heading eastbound on Highway 92. A Honda accord operated by Corey Brown of Creston was struck head on, and hit another car during a subsequent rollover. Brown was pronounced dead on scene.

SIOUX COUNTY – A Rock Valley woman was killed in a head-on collision with a semi in northwest Iowa Saturday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Jeep Commander operated by Diane O’Regan crossed the center line on Eagle Avenue in Sioux County, striking a fuel tank. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The semi driver was unharmed. AMES – An Ames man faces charges for a burglary he’s accused of committing at a Kum and Go in November. KCCI-TV reports Domoh Domoh was arrested last week. He allegedly pointed a gun at a store clerk and demanded money on November 17th. Domoh faces a count of felony first-degree robbery. DES MOINES – A few weather-related records were broken over the Christmas Holiday. The new daily record for rainfall on December 25th was broken in Des Moines with .59″ of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Many locations primarily in the western half of the state received between 1 – 1.5″ of rainfall over the two day stretch. Record high temperatures were also broken on Christmas Eve in Waterloo and Mason City. Those with travel plans west of Iowa could run into some adverse weather, as a blizzard impacted much of Nebraska and South Dakota over the holiday weekend.

IOWA – The State of Iowa will decline $28 million in federal aid to feed children in need during the summer. Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the move Friday to avoid participation in the extended Summer EBT program. That federal supplement provides families with children eligible for free and reduced lunch with an extra $40 per child per month. Participating states would have to cover half of the administrative cost, or $2.2 million in Iowa. The state reported a $1.8 billion surplus in the previous fiscal year this past fall. ALBIA – A teenager was seriously injured as another man driving the car he was in was involved a police chase. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa State Patrol attempted to pull over 21-year-old Trevor Gundrum of Eddyville near Albia. In his attempt to flee, Gundrum drove through a field and into a pond. Three people inside of the Dodge Ram had to be rescued, and a 17-year-old needed CPR and to be airlifted to a Des Moines hospital. Gundrum faces several charges. IOWA – Widespread rainfall is expected to make it a “Grey” Christmas across the state. According to the National Weather Service, widespread amounts of 1-2″ of precipitation are expected starting Christmas eve and continuing through Christmas day. Thick fog is also possible during the holiday travel times.

EL PASO – Iowa’s congressional delegation is calling on President Joe Biden to reopen rail crossings in Texas. Iowa Public Radio reports the six Republicans representing the state in Washington D.C. believe the railroads are critical to agricultural trade. IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.3 percent in November, up from 3.1 percent one year ago. Iowa’s labor force participation rate decreased to 68.1 percent in November. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent in November. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 57,200 in November from 56,000 in October. IOWA – Families are at risk for losing out on federal aid that feeds kids during the summer. KCRG-TV reports the Summer EBT program gives students in the free and reduced lunch program about $40 per month. The deadline to continue in the program is January 1st; Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has not expressed interest yet. Iowa is eligible for $29 million in federal funding.