Category: State News

SIOUX COUNTY – Governor Kim Reynolds announced the signing of a disaster proclamation for Sioux County. The USDA confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial layer chickens. The proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection.

DES MOINES – A Des Moines woman was killed in a crash early Thanksgiving morning. KCCI-TV reports Connie Allison died as a result of injuries. Des Moines Police say the collision was caused after an unidentified man attempted to flee from a traffic stop. Allison was a passenger in the vehicle hit by the fleeing car. Police also say the driver accused of running has an active felony arrest warrant that’s unrelated to the crash on Thursday.

IOWA – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall on jarred gravy. WHO-13 reports the gravy which was sold and produced by Hy-vee is located in Iowa and all neighboring states. It contains a soy allergen which was not declared on the label. Less than 1 percent of turkey gravy in Hy-Vee stores was affected.

IOWA CITY – An Iowa City woman was sentenced this week to three years in federal prison for International Parental Kidnapping. According to public court documents, Kira Zielinski filed for divorce from her husband in 2020 and during proceedings, the Iowa District Court of Johnson County issued orders granting joint legal custody. In February 2022, Zielinski took the child and drove from Iowa to California and across the Mexican border. Zielinski remained in Mexico until November 2022, when she was taken into custody while attempting to reenter the United States. In July 2023, Zielinski was found guilty by a United States District Judge following a stipulated trial.

DELAWARE COUNTY – Human remains found in Delaware County could be connected to man reported as missing nearly a decade ago. KCRG-TV reports the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded earlier this month to remains that w ere located in a field just west of Manchester by some pheasant hunters. What was found was taken to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office. Officials believe that they are those of Brian Burns, who was reported missing back in December of 2013. The incident remains under investigation and as of Wednesday, positive identification was not made.

DES MOINES – Seven people in Des Moines have been indicted by a federal grand jury for gang-related violence. KCCI-TV reports the accused are members of the Only My Brother gang that originated in 2021. Among those charged are Majok Majok, Santiz Langford, Jr., Semaj Johnson, Avaontae Lamar Tucker, Dahaba Bahari Lula, Dawn Ellease Robinson, and Deon Ellease Cooper.

INDIANOLA – An Iowa school district has apologized for mistakenly using a quote by a high ranking Nazi official in their morning announcements. Iowa Public Radio first reported the phrase “My honor is my loyalty” was shared via email and over the announcements at Indianola middle school. The quote was attributed to Heinrich Himmler, who is widely considered to be the architect of the Holocaust. District leadership has shared an apology with the Des Moines Register but had no further comment.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Travel is up across the nation and locally ahead of Thanksgiving. WHO-13 reports the Des Moines International Airport is reporting an increase of 13% in those flying during the busiest travel holiday of the year over the 2022 report. According to AAA, the two busiest travel days of the year with airplanes is the Tuesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving.

IOWA (IRN) – An influential evangelical leader has officially endorsed a candidate ahead of the Iowa GOP Caucus in January. Bob Vander Plaats announced his backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Tuesday, joining Governor Kim Reynolds in backing the nominee for president. Vander Plaats has endorsed the eventual winner of the Iowa caucus every cycle since 2008, according to KCCI-TV, although anyone other than former President Donald Trump faces tough odds on January 15th, according to a Des Moines Register poll that shows Trump with a substantial lead over the field of candidates.

CEDAR FALLS (IRN) – Northern Iowa athletics director David Harris is leaving his posted after nearly seven years of leading the Panthers. The current AD accepted a position at Tulane, and will begin in January. Harris was named Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2021, according to the Des Moines Register.

IOWA – Traffic fatalities remain above the five-year average heading into the busiest stretch on Iowa’s roadways of the year. The Iowa Department of Transportation reports 330 people have died on the state’s roadways in 2023 — which is 12.6% above the rate from 2018-2022. The Iowa State Patrol and other police agencies encourage extra caution ahead of the holiday travel season.

DES MOINES – A teen has been arrested in connection to a deadly crash that killed a married couple in Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports 18 year old Kameron Wright has been charged with vehicular homicide by OWI and reckless driving after crashing his Camaro into another car on November 22nd. Fred and Mary Lehman died as a result of injuries suffered in the collision. Police say Wright was traveling upwards of 100 MPH just before the crash.

IOWA – Spread of the avian flu has not yet had a negative impact on chicken and egg production in Iowa. A USDA check in showed that 1.18 billino eggs were reported in October, up 13 percent from 2022. The report showed 2023 remains well above last year’s average in several categories across the nation.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds pardoned two turkeys at Terrace Hill in Des Moines, continuing a longstanding Thanksgiving traditiony. Freedom and Flourish will now move from The Moline Farm in Manson to a non-commercial farm in southwest Iowa. The pair were raised by Iowa Turkey Federation President Brad Moline’s daughter Ava in Manson. Staff from the Iowa Turkey Federation attended the event, along with Secretary Mike Naig and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg.

WEBSTER CITY – A Webster City man was killed in a single vehicle crash early Sunday morning after a chase by police. The Iowa State Patrol reports Jose Casiano drove away from an attempted stop by a Webster County deputy, with speeds at one point topping 130 miles per hour. Casiano apparently lost control and was ejected from the vehicle in a subsequent crash.

RED OAK – The Iowa Department of Public Safety is investigating an officer involved shooting. On Sunday, a Red Oak police officer made contact with a male subject outside a residence, investigating the driver for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license. After a physical struggle with the officer, the subject was able to get away and made entry to his vehicle. He then drove towards the officer, who fired his weapon and caused a serious, but non-life-threatening injury.

CLINTON COUNTY – A Delmar woman died as a result of injuries after she was hit while standing near a disabled vehicle Friday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports Lucas Albertson was traveling on Highway 61 and allegedly struck Cheryl Neilson outside of a parked SUV in Clinton County. The incident remains under investigation.

IOWA – Drought is once again spreading across Iowa after a prolonged dry spell this fall season. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 58% of Iowans are experiencing severe drought or worse, with 27% in extreme–or the third worst, category. Many in that extreme drought have precipitation deficits of over a foot below normal and extremely dry soil moisture levels.