WASHINGTON D.C. – The longtime senior senator of Iowa was hospitalized earlier this week. Chuck Grassley, who became the oldest member of the upper chamber in 2023, is receiving antibiotic infusions at an Iowa hospital to treat an infection. Grassley missed his first votes on the floor in nearly four years on Tuesday. DES MOINES – State lawmakers heard their first responses to a bill that would overhaul Area Education Agencies Tuesday. WHO-13 reports the House Education Committee welcomed in well over 100 comments in opposition to the proposal by Governor Kim Reynolds, which would ultimately cut back on the AEAs and their support of both public and private schools. Several more hearings are scheduled this session. WATERLOO – Police have identified a person found dead in Waterloo earlier this week. KCRG-TV reports Joseph Quail had a gunshot would when found by first responders. The investigation is ongoing.

IOWA – Former President Donald Trump showed the accuracy behind polls showing his staying power with Republicans, earning a substantial victory in the Iowa Caucus Monday. Just over half, or 51 percent, of the GOP indicated their support for a second Trump term. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis earned 21% of voters, and Ambassador Nikki Haley was at 19%. Turnout was at around 110,000 voters with 93% of counties reporting late Tuesday. After receiving just under 8% of the vote, Vivek Ramaswamy dropped his bid for president and endorsed Trump. IOWA – Eight different Walgreens locations are facing new charges from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy. The Des Moines Register reports the nature of the violations has not been released, but the stores had all been previously sanctioned related to record keeping of controlled substances. IOWA – A strong week of basketball is reflected in the latest national college basketball polls. The University of Iowa women are up to No. 2 in country, and both Iowa State’s men and women cracked the Top 25 for the first time this winter.

IOWA – The final polls ahead of tonight’s Iowa Caucuses shows former President Donald Trump with a substantial lead. An Iowa State University survey shows GOP voters will overwhelmingly support former President Donald Trump as their first choice, at 55%. An NBC/Des Moines Register poll shows 48% of Republicans support Trump. Both Ambassador Nikki Haley and Former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are virtually tied based on margin of error in both polls as well. Caucuses will take place at 7:00 this evening for both parties, but only Republicans will make their presidential nominee choice known this evening. PERRY – The principal of Perry High School who was shot will attempting to talk down a student attacking others has died. Raccoon Valley Radio reports Dan Marburger was hospitalized for 10 days after the January 4th attack. Marburger was out of surgery on the same day, but died on Sunday morning. The return to classes has been delayed in the Perry school district as well. IOWA – The Iowa State Patrol responded to 168 crashes and assisted nearly 1200 motorists during this past weekend’s blizzard. No fatalities were reported, but roads of all kinds were in rough shape as 6-12″ of blowing snow fell across much of the state Friday, piling on top of a round of heavy snow that fell last Monday and Tuesday.

IOWA – Much of the state will remain under a winter weather advisory today after a blizzard shut down several highways, including Interstate 80, on Friday. Many communities received an additional 8-11″ of fluffy snow and gusty winds up to 40 MPH, which caused whiteout conditions for most of the day, which will now continue well into the weekend. Travel across the state is expected to remain hazardous on most highways and in rural areas into Sunday. IOWA – A major winter storm, followed by near-record cold temperatures, is complicating many of the final stops for Republican presidential candidates ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa GOP Caucus Monday. NBC News reports many of the hopefuls had to cancel last-ditch efforts to convince voters to turn out on Monday. Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann believes turnout will remain high Monday, despite forecast wind chills at 30 below zero and colder projected statewide Monday evening. CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa State Patrol trooper wasn’t injured after a crash involving a semi on Interstate 80 Friday. KCRG-TV reports the trooper was in his car when a semi approached and was unable to stop on a snow-covered highway. The Iowa State Patrol reports they responded to more than 70 crashes during the blizzard on Friday alone, and responded to more than 400 calls for service.

IOWA – Blizzard-like conditions are expected statewide as another powerful winter storm passes through. An additional 6-10″ of snow and wind gusts up to 45 MPH will make travel nearly impossible, especially in rural areas. Much colder air is expected, with wind chills as cold as 40 below possible by early next week. IOWA – It could be the coldest Iowa Caucus on record. KCCI-TV reports the previous coldest presidential selection night in Iowa came in 1972, with wind chills at 21 below zero in Des Moines. The current forecast calls for air temperatures well below zero and wind chills as cold as 25 below zero. CORRECTIONVILLE – A western Iowa man suspected of sexual assault at a nursing home was the subject of another criminal complaint. The Des Moines Register reports an unidentified male is accused of possible rape, although no criminal charges have been field. The same man is believed to have been involved in a prior incident that led to the eviction of that resident at Correctionville Specialty Care. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the man is still employed at the nursing home.