NEW VIENNA, IA (IRN) – A family in Dubuque County has been displaced after their home caught fire Thursday morning. First responders were called to the fire in New Vienna, north of Dyersville, at about 7:00 a.m. The two people and the family dog made it out of the home without injury. The fire was reportedly caused by a wood burning stove. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Wisconsin man accused of killing his girlfriend and trying to kill his teenage daughter in a double shooting in Milwaukee has been arrested following an hourslong standoff in Iowa. Simone Hughes, 47, of Milwaukee, was arrested Wednesday morning at a Waterloo home after he held officers at bay for eight hours in sub-zero temperatures. MONROE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa woman has died after her car was hit by an Amtrak passenger train. The crash occurred about 7 miles northeast of Albia. 58-year-old Melinda Stewart of Albia was pronounced dead at the scene. This is the second time in three months that an Amtrak train has collided with a vehicle crossing the tracks in the same area. Back in October, a train hit a garbage truck. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Cerro Gordo County woman was sentenced for stealing from a church. Clarissa Marie Krominga, 34, of Mason City, pleaded guilty to third-degree theft and was ordered to spend two days in jail. She was accused of stealing a $235 check from an office at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in September. IOWA (IRN) – A new study ranks Iowa as the best place in the nation for drivers. The study compared all 50 states across 31 key indicators of a positive commute, looking at things like traffic, gas prices, and the number of car washes per capita. Oklahoma was ranked the second-best, with Kansas and North Carolina behind them. The worst place for drivers? Hawaii.

ELDORA, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing a 2020 crash that killed three people by driving drunk and the wrong way on a rural highway. 27-year-old Spencer Bultman, of Hampton, was sentenced Tuesday. Bultman was drunk and driving his pickup the wrong way in the westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 20 near Alden when he crashed into a sport utility vehicle, killing a couple and their 10-year-old son. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A car crash in Des Moines has resulted in multiple injuries Tuesday. The Des Moines Police Department and Des Moines Fire Department responded to the scene of a crash on the MLK river bridge near Fleur Drive. Three people were sent to the hospital. The car rode the guardrail before flipping and falling off. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds has broken the record for most cash on hand reported for the campaign for Iowa governor. The Kim Reynolds for Iowa Committee announced that it raised nearly $3.8 million in 2021, and has almost $4.8 million in cash on hand – breaking the record for most cash on hand ever reported by an Iowa statewide campaign during the Branstad administration. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The upcoming home game of the Iowa women’s basketball game against Indiana has been postponed. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday. The game has been postponed due to the Indiana program’s COVID-19 protocols. IOWA (IRN) – A strong Arctic front will send temperatures crashing into Wednesday with dangerous wind chills returning, especially Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Wednesday behind the front, temperatures will struggle to reach double digits with a wind chill sitting below zero all day long, in the -5 to -15 range.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Restaurant Association says more than 1,800 restaurants qualified for money from Congress’ Restaurant Revitalization Fund, but got nothing. The fund was put in place to help restaurants hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Two correctional officers at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville were assaulted by an inmate over the weekend. The first officer assaulted was taken via ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for his injuries. The second officer received minor injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Art Center has unveiled the city’s first Free Little Art Gallery, a miniature outdoor gallery where local artists can share small works of art with the community. The Free Little Art Gallery is located on the east side of the Des Moines Art Center near the pathway leading to Greenwood Park. People can leave something, take something, or both, as often as they wish. IOWA (IRN) – Temperatures will get above freezing today with highs generally in the low to mid 30s, but a strong Arctic front will send temperatures crashing this afternoon into tomorrow with dangerous wind chills returning. Temperatures will struggle to reach double digits with a wind chill sitting below zero all day long, in the -20 to -30 range. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team maintained its ranking at number 15 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, with the Iowa Hawkeyes sitting just outside the top 25.. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the new #1 team in the country. They’re followed by Auburn, Arizona, Purdue and Baylor to round out the top five.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Study Bill 511 would change the ratio of staff to students in child care centers, increasing the number of kids allowed per employee. It would allow one worker to be able to watch eight 2-year-olds instead of six. It would also allow one worker to watch 10 3-year-olds instead of eight. Republicans say this bill would help more toddlers get spots in child care centers. But some teachers say it’s unrealistic and unsafe. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A good Samaritan suffered serious injuries in a crash in West Des Moines Sunday. A man was helping a semi-truck driver who broke down on Highway 5. One car slowed down, but another did not, slamming into the car, which then hit the pedestrian. His condition has not been released. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – The driver of a UTV sustained serious injuries Saturday night after they crashed into a pickup truck. The UTV had a snow plow attached to it, and the driver had been out plowing snow all day and was returning home. IOWA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds introduced her new tax plan during the Condition of the State this week. She’s proposing a 4% flat tax rate. Reynolds’ office says this new tax plan will save taxpayers roughly $500 million in the first year alone. University of Iowa Professor David Cooper says this will be a tax break for some Iowans–the rich. Lower income Iowans will see their taxes go up. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa Senate Minority leader Zach Wahls, Democrat from Iowa City, announced Sunday he has contracted COVID-19. In a statement, Sen. Wahls says he began showing symptoms on Friday but a rapid test came back negative. Wahls said he and his wife, Chloe Angyal, as of Sunday afternoon were already feeling better. He credits the short period of significant symptoms one being vaccinated and boosted.

GREENE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One of the teenagers burned badly in a Greene County cabin fire has died. On Jan. 1, a cabin fire broke out and injured 15-year-old Harley McDonald and 14-year-old Lucas Oakes. Lucas and Harley were both taken to the Iowa City burn unit. Lucas was released on Jan. 8. 15-year-old Harley McDonald has died from his injuries. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire. IOWA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds introduced her new tax plan during the Condition of the State this week. She’s proposing a 4% flat tax rate. Reynolds’ office says this new tax plan will save taxpayers roughly $500 million in the first year alone. University of Iowa Professor David Cooper says this will be a tax break for some Iowans–the rich. Lower income Iowans will see their taxes go up. PELLA, IA (IRN) – A fire destroyed a building housing a law firm in Pella early Saturday morning. The Pella Fire Department responded to the A.G. Law building just off the town square at 813 Washington Street around 2:45 a.m. No one was injured. STILLWATER, OK (IRN) – Lexi Donarski scored 23 points, and the No. 9 Iowa State women’s basketball team rolled past Oklahoma State 74-60. The Cyclones won their ninth straight game and remained the only undefeated team in league play.