IOWA – A new Des Moines Register poll shows former President Donald Trump is gaining support among Republican voters ahead of the Iowa Caucus. The Iowa Poll for November shows 51% of likely participants intend to select Trump as their nominee for president. Among Republicans, more than two-thirds believe Trump can defeat President Joe Biden despite mounting legal challenges. The next closest candidates were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 18 percent and Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley at 16 percent. BOONE – A former Boone County Sheriff’s deputy has reached a plea agreement in relation to the death of a K-9 unit last year. WHo-13 reports Dallas Wingate put his K-9 into the back of his truck at 10 p.m. on September 1st, 2022, and left the animal unattended for nearly a day. The dog was found dead by Wingate. An investigation shows the K-9 unit named Bear died due to heat stress and dehydration. Wingate pled to a lesser charge of animal neglect resulting in death, and will serve at least 18 months of probation. OTTUMWA – Two people died in a house fire over the weekend in Ottumwa. KCCI-TV reports the Ottumwa Fire Department responded to the home at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and others were able to get out of the building safely. The State Fire Marshal is investigating and those who died have not been identified. IOWA – The USDA has released the annual Crop Progress and Condition Report for the state. In Iowa, above average temperatures and below average precipitation allowed for a fast, efficient planting season, and similar conditions in the fall allowed for a near complete harvest 10 days ahead of schedule.

SAC COUNTY – New details have been released about a Sac County man missing for nearly three weeks. KCCI-TV reports the county sheriff’s office has discussed more details about the disappearance of 53 year old David Schultz on November 21st. Investigators say Schultz left his home at 7 p.m. the night before his semi was found, and four hours later, Schultz was seen at a truck stop near Fort Dodge, and its believed that it stopped where it was found early that morning. OTTUMWA – One man has died after he was ejected from his vehicle near Ottumwa. The Iowa State Patrol reports Tristan Zimmerman was traveling westbound on Highway 34 before drifting onto the shoulder and rolling the vehicle. Timmerman was in the car with Shalya Zimmerman and two children, all of whom were injured. Tristan was not wearing a seat belt and died on scene. OMAHA – An Iowa man has been arrested in connection to the death of a priest in Nebraska. The Associated Press reports Reverend Stephen Gutgsell was assaulted in Fort Calhoun and taken to an Omaha hospital, where he died from his injuries. Kierre Williams of Sioux City was charged with homicide and other related charges after police received a 911 call that he had broken into the church.

JOHNSON COUNTY – An Arizona man has died in a single semi crash on Interstate 80 west of Iowa City. The Iowa State Patrol reports the large vehicle operated by 55 year old Eric Smith left the westbound lanes at 4:30 Friday morning and crashed into a tree. The semi then caught fire. DES MOINES – Authorities have identified a woman found dead near the Des Moines International Airport. WHO-13 reports that city employees were working in a wooded area Thursday near the airport when they found the body of 55-year-old Belinda Anne Morris. An investigation is ongoing. IOWA CITY – A long time punter for the Iowa Hawkeyes earned the highest honor possible for his position on the football field. The Des Moines Register reports Tory Taylor won the 2023 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in all of college football each year. Taylor has been renowned on and off the field, as his Name Image Likeness work with Raygun shirts raises funds to prevent miscarriages in Iowa through the Count the Kicks Foundation.

SAC COUNTY – It’s been more than two weeks since a truck driver disappeared while hauling piglets. The Des Moines Register reports its now been 17 days since David Schultz went missing near Sac City on Highway 71. Authorities continue to partner with private groups to search for the man who left his cell phone and wallet behind in his semi found on the highway in late November. IOWA – Several Iowa cities broke records for heat on Thursday. The National Weather Service reports Waterloo, Ottumwa, Mason City, and Lamoni all have new record high temperatures for December 7th. Unseasonably warm weather continues today, until a mix of precipitation impacts the state into Saturday morning. AMES – The CyHawk basketball series ends in a split this week, after a dominating performance by the home team Thursday. Iowa State’s men knocked off Iowa 90-65, the largest victory in the Cyclones over the Hawkeyes in the rivarly’s history. The win was the 600th for ISU at Hilton Coliseum. This came a day after the Iowa women pulled away late to knock off a young Cyclones team 67-58 Wednesday. National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark scored her 3000th career point on her in-state rival’s floor.

FORT DODGE – No charges will be filed following a dog attack in Fort Dodge in November. WHO-13 reports a woman was attacked by three dogs on the 24th of last month. A responding police officer attempted to scare the canines to stop the attack, but they kept going, and they were all eventually shot. The Fort Dodge Police Department says no criminal activity was found following an investigation. CEDAR RAPIDS – Police have identified a person who died in a Cedar Rapids fire on Tuesday. KCRG-TV reports Wasfia Elshennaway died from injuries suffered in the blaze on Tuesday. The 71-year-old was among several other residents rescued from the second and third floors of the apartment. The man died from smoke and fire related injuries at a nearby hospital. DES MOINES – The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports several record highs are possible today. While Des Moines is unlikely to see a new record, Waterloo, Mason City, and Ottumwa will have the potential, with forecasted temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. IOWA – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture have confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Mills County. The affected site is a backyard mixed species flock. This is the 12th Iowa county to report the illness since October. Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds.