A Fairfield man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck in Jefferson County early Friday morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened south of Fairfield. A Pontiac driven by 50-year-old Richard Dwayne Boyd Jr. of Fairfield was northbound and crossed the centerline striking another vehicle head on. The second vehicle was a Kia driven by 28-year-old Tylor James Lewman of Birmingham. Boyd died at the scene. Lewman was injured and transported to a local hospital. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The fourth day of the 2020 Iowa legislative session featured the first hearing on what’s sure to be one of the most contentious bills of the year. A State Senate subcommittee began discussion on a proposed amendment to the Iowa constitution that would ban abortion.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man faces charges after he punched and kicked another man over his phone use during a showing of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” KCCI-TV reports Nicholas Glasgow asked movie theater staff to speak with the victim about their phone being on, and if they didn’t take care of it, he would. After the movie was over Glasgow punched the victim repeatedly, and once the victim was on the ground, he continued kicking the victim.

LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A home has heavy smoke damage after a man tried to thaw out pipes with a torch. KCRG-TV reports the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in rural Springville Thursday night. The man left the torch on after thawing the pipes, causing the fire. No one was injured.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A brother and sister died in an icy car wreck on their way to Hinton High School Tuesday morning. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says the Sioux City siblings were 18-year-old Ella Holtzen and 14-year-old Harrison Holtzen. KTIV reports Ella Holtzen was driving when her car entered a curve, began to slide, and went into the path of a pickup truck. The car was struck on the passenger side. The truck’s driver was not hurt. Authorities said the road conditions at the time were 100% ice.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting Wednesday where two people died and two were injured. KCCI-TV reports three victims were found with gunshot wounds at a residence. A 28-year-old male and a 21-year-old male were found dead. The third victim was taken to a hospital with a leg injury. A trail of blood led police to a fourth person with a gunshot injury to the leg.

BENTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – There was a fatal accident in Benton County yesterday according to the Iowa State Patrol. A 2005 Chevy Trailblazer was traveling west and a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling east when for an unknown reason the Chevy hit the Pontiac head on. One driver is dead and the other was injured.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa suffered $1.9 billion in damages due to extreme weather last year. The bomb cyclone in March caused most of the damage. Rain and snowmelt runoff led to record flooding. Iowa’s costliest year was 1993, when the state sustained more than $11 billion in losses, mostly from flooding.

IOWA (IRN) – The second winter storm of the season is set to impact Iowa today through tomorrow. The system will have a high amount of moisture for a January snow which could lead to some high snow totals in parts of the state. It is also very dynamic with a changing temperature profile, leading to periods of snow to periods of freezing rain or rain.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is bracing for a winter storm that’s forecast to move across the state Friday. The National Weather Service says moderate to heavy snowfall is expected with six to eight inches of snow in north-central Iowa and four to six inches of snow for the rest of the state. Mixed precipitation is possible Friday night in southern Iowa. Slick and snow packed roads may create hazardous conditions, along with blowing snow reducing visibility.

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The West Burlington police department has released the name of the deceased man they say shot at them and forced an hours-long standoff. WQAD-TV reports police recovered the body of Michael Kartel, 62, after the standoff. Kartel was firing shots at officers through the windows of his house, and setting multiple fires inside.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds asked lawmakers on Tuesday to consider increasing the state sales taxes by 1 cent to raise money to boost funding for water quality, the environment and mental health care programs. To offset the tax increase she proposed an income tax cut by an average additional 10 percent beyond the rates set in the 2018 tax cut for next year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new hotel and casino could be coming to the Des Moines International Airport. KCCI-TV reports HighView, a property development group, presented the idea to the Des Moines airport in a meeting Tuesday morning. Airport officials say it’s important for them to review opportunities that could fund millions worth of the airport’s financial gaps.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Athletes celebrated at the Grand River Center in Dubuque after wrapping up two days of competition in the Winter Games of the Iowa Special Olympics. KCRG-TV reports about 280 athletes competed in Dubuque during the two-day event. They came from all across the state to do their best in events that included Alpine and cross country skiing, figure and speed skating, and snowshoeing.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed a $8 billion state budget plan today that seeks to boost spending by 4.4 percent, or $342 million, in the 2021 fiscal year. The governor’s spending plan would provide a 2.5 percent boost in state aid to K-12 schools, as well as increasing funding for Medicaid, workforce and rural development initiatives, child care and other priority areas. It leaves a projected $386 million surplus.

WESTGATE, IA (IRN) – A former nursing home worker will serve two to five years probation for abusing a resident at the home. Michael Kane, 61, from the Fayette County town of Westgate, pinched and punched a resident there. He then attempted to suffocate the patient and threatened to shoot him.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Six out of the 12 Democratic presidential candidates will take the stage tonight in the last debate before the Iowa caucuses. The most recent Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom poll shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the lead at 20 percent. Three candidates: former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden follow Sanders separated by just one percentage point each.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Des Moines just days before the Iowa Caucus. The event will be held Thursday, January 30 on the Drake University campus.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers convened the 2020 legislative session Monday. With his family, including his grandparents U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley and Barbara Grassley looking on, Republican Rep. Pat Grassley was elected speaker of the house. The wooden gavel he will use was given to him by his father, and was made from a walnut tree on the family’s farm near New Hartford.