IOWA – While the Legislative Session is still several weeks from starting, discussion about priorities has Governor Kim Reynolds clarifying her position as it relates to Area Education Agencies. The governor told The Gazette she intends to leave AEAs intact, but plans to overhaul the system that provides support to public schools and their students with learning or intellectual disabilities. Democrats and other education lobbyists have expressed concerns that majority Republicans want to cut funding or shut down AEAs as the GOP announced plans to review and likely change the system. GUTTENBURG – Governor Kim Reynolds honored Iowans for their bravery earlier this week. WHO-13 reports the annual Governor’s Lifesaving and Sullivan Brothers’ awards ceremony featured recognition for residents who have gone above and beyond to help others. Among the honorees was Caleb Crocker of Guttenberg, who rescued many people with disabilities who were inside of a group home that caught fire. PLEASANT HILL – A rare disease was found in an Iowa nursing home. Parkridge Nursing Home is investigating a case of Legionnaire’s disease found in its Pleasant Hill facility. The case appears to be specific to the home, according to Des Moines Water Works in a KCCI-TV report. Legionella bacteria are found naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. The bacteria can become a health concern when they grow and spread in human-made building water systems. Person-to-person transmission is extremely rare.

DES MOINES – While fueled by a near supermajority in its chamber, the Iowa House of Representatives have announced their main goals in the upcoming legislative session. Speaker Pat Grassley told multiple news outlets on Monday that the lower chamber intends to continue reviewing education, cutting taxes, increasing technology use in government, and other topics. The session begins on January 8th. UNION COUNTY – A Union County man charged with sexual abuse that fled from supervised release has been caught. Dalton Barber of Lorimor cut off his ankle monitor in November, according to KCCI. Barber was arrested multiple times in 2022 for a variety of felonies, including multiple instances of domestic abuse, as well as two counts of 2nd degree sexual abuse of a minor. POLK COUNTY – Flu-related hospitalizations are on the rise over the past month. WHO-13 reports Polk County health officials report an increase of 250% during that time, with RSV and COVID hospitalizations also increasing by approximately 60 percent. NEWTON – Hy-Vee announced two of the biggest stars in music will be performing as part of the INDYCAR Race weekend next summer. The grocery store chain announced award-winning artists Luke Combs and Post Malone will lead the lineup for next summer’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend, July 12-14. Entering its third year in 2024, Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend brings crowds to Iowa Speedway for a blend of racing, live music and three days of fun. Combs will perform on the Hy-Vee Stage on Saturday, July 13, before the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of thedoubleheader weekend. Post Malone will hit the stage on Sunday, July 14, following the final INDYCAR SERIES race of the weekend. B

CASS COUNTY – A New York Man died in an Interstate 80 crash over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports Malak Singh was operating a semi and for an unknown reason Saturday, lost control in Cass County. Singh died as a result of injuries suffered in the rollover. DES MOINES – A Des Moines man has been arrested for allegedly causing a fire that injured two people. KCCI-TV reports Otis James Richardson faces charges of arson and possession on an incendiary device. Two people were hospitalized in the fire Tuesday at a Forest Avenue home. ALVORD – An Alvord man was arrested this week for a crash that killed a passenger in July. KTIV reports the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is charging Kaleb Debey with Homicide by vehicle, operating while intoxicated, and reckless driving. Debey lost control of his car and eventually went airborne. His passenger, 35-year-old Halee Bliek was ejected and died from those injuries.

DES MOINES – A Mississippi man was arrested for vandalizing a Satanic Temple display at the Iowa Capitol. WHO-13 reports Michael Cassidy is accused of destroying the decor that was placed up with proper permission from the Statehouse as part of holiday displays from a variety of religions. The display was scheduled to be taken down on Friday, but that will be delayed as the criminal investigation continues. Cassidy was charged with criminal mischief and could face more consequences. IOWA – Chances are looking lower this year for a repeat White Christmas for many across the state. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says for the remainder of December, general trends over the course of that time show above average temperatures and below average precipitation, which is shown in projections from the Climate Prediction Center. Glisan says while there have been some major December snow events in the past decade, they’ve become far less frequent, and the majority of snow potential in winter seasons now tends to be in January and February. IOWA – Iowa Democrats have announced the first list of caucus sites for January 15th, but according to the Des Moines Register, that still does not include the chance to pick a presidential nominee in person. The newspaper reports the preferences for Iowa Democrats will be done by mail, and other party business in person, as the national party has shied away from the Hawkeye State as it’s first in the nation choice. Republicans will still pick their presidential choice on the night of the 15th. OSCEOLA – An Iowa community is asking residents to drink bottled water among an anticipated shortage. KCCI-TV reports Osceola residents may find themselves under stricter water restrictions as their own source of drinking water, West Lake, continues to dry up. The Osceola Water Works Board has passed a resolution restricting usage of water to 7,000 gallons of water per household per billing cycle.

AMES – Another statewide poll ahead of the Iowa Caucuses show former President Donald Trump has a commanding lead over the field as the state’s nominee for the White House. The latest Iowa State University/Civiqs data shows 54% of GOP voters in Iowa would make Trump their No. 1 pick on January 15th. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is at 17% and Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is at 15% for first choice selections. These numbers are similar to the Iowa Poll conducted by the Des Moines Register in November. In the ISU survey, 75% of Republican caucus goers have made up their minds about their nominee for president. AMES – More than two dozen cats were rescued from an apartment in Ames this week. KCCI-TV reports the 27 felines were taken to the Ames Animal Shelter as animal control found them in a home filled with feces and urine. Many of the cats suffered from a variety of illnesses. Ames Police have yet to file charges in the case. IOWA – Iowa Senate Democrats are pushing an oversight investigation into Iowa’s nursing homes. KCRG-TV reports the minority party in the chamber are citing an increase in concerns over the living status of vulnerable seniors in understaffed and under-inspected facilities. Senate Majority Leader Amy Sinclair has declined the request so far, countering that there has been an increase in funding and in efforts from Governor Kim Reynolds to better protect residents of those facilities and increase staffing. IOWA CITY – Two Iowa Hawkeyes earned unanimous All-American football honors in 2023. Cooper DeJean and Troy Taylor swept the circuit of awards placing them among the best players in the country. They are the 14th and 15th Hawkeyes to be selected to all available All-American squads, according to WHO-13.