Category: State News

DES MOINES – Three Republican state senators have called on the State Auditor to investigate the Des Moines Public School District. KCCI-TV reports Jesse Green, Kerry Gruenhagen, and Lynn Evans sent a letter to Rob Sand to look into the district following the federal immigration arrest of Ian Roberts, the now former superintendent. Sand says he needs the district itself to request the audit. The letter appears to be political in nature, according to the report, as it criticizes Sand’s efforts to investigate the state’s Education Savings Account plan.

CRESTON – A high school English teacher in Creston has sued the Creston Community School District for its attempt to fire her following comments she made about the killing of Charlie Kirk. The Des Moines Register reports Melissa Crook claims the board is violating her own First Amendment rights, citing social media posts made by Superintendent Deron Stender and School Board President Don Gee that encouraged political activism. Stender and Gee did not comment on the report or the allegations.

ATLANTIC – The former director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce face several felony charges for alleged misallocation of organization funds. WHO-13 reports 33-year-old Bailey Lynn Smith is accused of ongoing criminal conduct, 1st degree fraudulent practice, 1st degree theft, and unauthorized use of a credit card. For more than five years as director, Smith is accused of making 761 personal transactions with chamber funds, resulting in nearly $27,000 in losses. Additionally, she allegedly made 47 bank transfers among the different accounts for the chamber totaling $76,000.

MUSCATINE COUNTY – One person died and four others were injured in a crash in Muscatine County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the unidentified individual was a passenger in a collision on Highway 70 on Thursday morning. The head-on crash resulted in one of the vehicles becoming fully engulfed. Residents from Cedar Rapids, Conesville, and Lone Tree were among those injured.

DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation setting Tuesday, December 30, as the date for a special election in Iowa Senate District 16 following the death of Iowa State Senator Claire Celsi.
Iowa Code section 69.14 outlines the authority given to the governor to set a special election.
Celsi passed away on Monday, October 6. She was first elected to the Iowa State Senate in 2018 and served on several legislative committees, including the Senate Government Oversight Committee as its ranking member. Iowa Senate District 16 includes parts of West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights.

WEST POINT, IA – A large dog breeding operation is now operating under a new license in West Union. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Stonehenge Kennels had faced several concerns and even federal investigation for potential violations. However, the new license gives the space a clean regulatory record. The dealer’s license has changed hands from Steve Kruse to Christine Snakenburg; Kruse was accused of several violations, and his facility was accused of being one of the largest puppy mills in the United States, with as many as 700 dogs on site.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order that requires state agencies to verify employment eligibility, specifically relating to immigration status. The move on Wednesday comes in response to former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts and his arrest by federal immigration officers. State agencies will now be required to either use E-Verify or SAVE to confirm the status of the potential candidates.

DES MOINES – Military personnel are about to go unpaid in the ongoing government shutdown. WHO-13 reports the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa are aiming to support members of the Iowa National Guard, who are set to lose their pay after October 15th. In previous government shutdowns, congress had passed measures to ensure military members kept getting paid. The Iowa National Guard released a statement, saying they stand ready regardless of the actions on Capitol Hill.

WATERLOO – A member of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors has been charged with sexual abuse. KCRG-TV reports 45-year-old Christopher Schwartz was arrested by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday. He’s accused of two sexual assaults in 2023. Schwartz is in his third term on the board.

DES MOINES – Some ballots will not list the names of local candidates due to clerical errors. KCCI-TV reports Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said the municipalities of Andover, Galva, Jolley, Pulaski, Welton, and Williamsburg, as well as the New Hampton, Oelwein, and Turkey Valley School districts all missed the deadline to file paperwork. Pate said due to the mistakes, only write-in candidates will be eligible to win on November 4th. Pate said there were no significant changes to those election deadlines, and an investigation is underway as to why those groups did not file signatures on time.

CEDAR RAPIDS – For the first time in four years, Iowa has a full slate of confirmed U.S. Attorneys. KCRG-TV reports the U.S. Senate confirmed both Leif Olson for the U.S. Attorney in Iowa’s Northern District and David Waterman to serve in the Southern District. Democrats had slowed the process of approving President Trump’s nominees for a variety of positions until Republicans changed the rules to require a simple majority for many positions.

VAN METER – A construction worker died following injuries suffered at the Van Meter School District’s campus. WHO-13 reports an email from the district sent to families mentioned a construction worker was involved in an accident on Tuesday. Van Meter Police confirmed the fatality, and did not immediately release additional information.

DES MOINES – An Iowa State Senator has died. The Des Moines Register reports Senator Claire Celsi entered hospice care on September 18th. The 59 year old served West Des Moines, and had missed multiple votes this past session due to an undisclosed medical issue.

GLENWOOD – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff today, from sunrise to sunset to honor a fallen soldier from Pacific Junction, Iowa, who was killed during World War II. U. S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Blaine Wilcox was killed in action during a bombing mission over Germany in 1944. He will be buried in Glenwood, Iowa, 81 years to the day of his death. Wilcox was 26 years old.

DES MOINES – State revenue has declined by eight percent from fiscal year to fiscal year, according to the Legislative Services Agency. WHO-13 reports final net revenues for the state were $9.7 billion in FY 2024, down to $8.9 billion in FY 2025. The Revenue Estimating Conference is set to meet on October 16th.