Category: State News

DUBUQUE – The Dubuque Police Department has requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with an officer-involved shooting. On January 4th, a uniformed officer on routine patrol observed a physical fight in front of Odd Fellows Bar. As the officer came to a stop and exited his vehicle, the officer witnessed 28-year-old Jaiondrick Lovely shoot 29-year-old Cory Wilson Jr. The officer then fired his weapon at Lovely, who then ran into the bar. Both Lovely and Wilson were transported to nearby hospitals and pronounced dead. The officer involved has been placed on leave.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November – up from 3.3 percent one year ago but down from 3.7 percent in September. There is no October rate due to the government shutdown. The labor force participation rate was 67.5 percent in November. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent in November.

STORY COUNTY – Story County has agreed to pay a settlement in relation to a former deputy that accused the sheriff’s office of harassment and discrimination. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Ashley Murry sued the Story County Sheriff’s Office and several deputies in Iowa District Court. She worked as a deputy for approximately 18 months, and claims she was the recipient of derogatory comments. The county will pay $75,000, which was discovered due to an open records request by the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

TAMA COUNTY – The remains of a missing man from Tama County were found in Arksansas. KCCI-TV reports 22-year-old Nicholas Collins was reported missing on December 29th after he stopped communicating with family and friends after Christmas. On New Year’s Day, police found his car abandoned at a trail head in Arkansas, more than 500 miles away from Tama County. Police announced that found his body near that area, but no foul play is suspected.

MITCHELLVILLE – An Iowa community is seeking direction for itself after a wave of resignations among city staff and elected officials. WHO-13 reports that departures on the City Council to begin the new year has left Mitchellville with just two active councilmembers, which means they are unable to form a quorum. Several police officers, the public works superintendent, and other employees have all left. One of the councilmembers leaving cited the behavior of the newly elected Mayor Tony Jensen and another councilmember as to why she and others are leaving.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY – A teenage victim has been identified in a fatal crash that occurred in Black Hawk County on Tuesday. KCRG_TV reports 15-year-old Ciara Crisman of Waterloo was pronounced dead at the scene, as she pulled her vehicle eastbound in front of a semi driving southbound. The semi driver was uninjured.

DEEP RIVER – The first fatal crash of 2026 reported to the Iowa Department of Transportation occurred on Monday. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a Ford Escape traveling near Deep River on Highway 85 left the roadway on a curve due to icy conditions, overturning several times. Kara Westhpal of Deep River was pronounced dead on the scene and was the lone occupant in the vehicle that rolled.

CLAYTON COUNTY – A farm equipment accident resulted in the death of a northeast Iowa man just before the end of 2025. WHO-13 reports the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office indicates that a victim was working on a farm before he became entrapped in a piece of agricultural gear. The victim’s identity and further details about the cause remain unreleased to the public.

DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order establishing the Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force to advise her, the General Assembly, and relevant state agencies on the development and advancement of nuclear energy technologies and infrastructure in the state. The governor has appointed Iowa native Dr. Mark Nutt, Director of Nuclear Energy Programs at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to serve as chair of the task force which will include at least 11 members who represent utilities, power production companies, local government, academia, the Iowa Utilities Commission, and the General Assembly.

DUBUQUE— The Dubuque Police Department says that two people are now dead after an officer-involved shooting at a Dubuque bar. KCRG-TV reports that an officer saw a physical fight outside of a Dubuque bar just before 1 am Sunday morning. According to the Dubuque Police Department, the officer saw an adult male, who was identified as the offender, shoot another person with a handgun. The officer then shot at the offender, who then ran into the bar, where he was found suffering from a gunshot wound. Both the offender and the victim were treated by police but were pronounced dead at different hospitals. The officer, who was uninjured in the altercation, has been put on Critical Incident Leave per department policy. Names of those involved have not yet been released as the investigation is ongoing and families are being notified. 

FORT DODGE— An investigation is underway after a man sustained multiple gunshot wounds Sunday morning, according to the Fort Dodge Police Department. WHO-13 reports that the Webster County Telecommunications Center received a call of a male being shot in Fort Dodge around 12:30 am Sunday morning. Officers arrived on scene and located a 36-year-old male that had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. First aid was administered by officers until the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived and transported the man to a Fort Dodge hospital. Authorities say the man was eventually transported to Des Moines for treatment and was in stable condition as of noon on Sunday. Fort Dodge Police say that the Criminal Investigation Division has been called in to assist in the incident. Authorities say the investigation is on-going.

AMES— The expectation became reality for the Iowa State Football team on Sunday, as multiple players announced their commitment to rejoin former Cyclones coach Matt Campbell at Penn State. Iowa State had more than 50 players enter the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. As of Sunday evening, 19 of those players had announced their commitment to other programs, with 14 of those athletes rejoining Campbell at Penn State. Among the notable players to become Nittany Lions are quarterback Rocco Becht, running back Carsen Hansen, tight ends Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle, and linebackers Caleb Bacon and Kooper Ebel, and defensive back Marcus Neal.

TAMA COUNTY— Officials in Tama County report that they have been in contact with Arkansas authorities after a vehicle linked to an Eastern Iowa man was found in Johnson County, Arkansas. KCCI-TV reports that a 2012 Mini Cooper belonging to 22-year-old Nicholas Collins was located at an abandoned trailhead in the Ozark National Forest without its license plates Thursday morning. According to a press release from the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Collins has not been seen or heard from since December 19th. Anyone with information on Collins’ whereabouts is urged to call the Tama County Sheriff’s Office.

SIOUX CITY— A teenager has been accused of fatally stabbing another person in Sioux City on New Year’s Day. KTIV-4 reports that the Sioux City Police Department was called to a home for the report of a disturbance between family members at around 11:20 am on January 1st. According to Sioux City Police Sergeant John Sanders, a 17-year-old boy, identified as JK Athreee, was taken into custody and booked on one count of first-degree murder murder. According to court documents, Athreee told his family there was a dead body in a car found in a nearby alley. Upon arrival, officers found Jermel Ellington of Sioux City in a vehicle with 16 stab wounds. Ellington was taken to the hospital for treatment, but was declared deceased. Court records indicate that witnesses and family members told law enforcement that Athreee had come inside the home shortly after 11 am, and asked for assistance in helping hide things. Athreee allegedly told law enforcement in an interview that he and Ellington had issues with each other over the past month.

DES MOINES— The Des Moines Police Department says preliminary data for 2025 shows a decline in the number of homicides and traffic fatalities in the city compared to 2024. WHO-13 reports that detectives in the Crimes Against Persons section investigated 10 homicides in 2025 compared to 15 in 2024. The Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit investigated only 12 traffic fatalities in 2025 compared to 18 in 2024, and in total, police reports were down by over 1,000. A comprehensive report of the 2025 data will be released to the public at a later date.