Category: State News

DES MOINES – Through the Safe Haven Law, a baby boy, born October 6 is now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and will be placed with a foster family until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 79 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago. Iowa’s Safe Haven Act is an option for parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old. Designated safe havens are locations like hospitals and police and fire stations. Iowa HHS then works to place infants in an approved foster home while awaiting permanent adoption.

OSKALOOSA – A high school wrestler is accused of sexual abuse. KCCI-TV reports 18-year-old Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa was arrested on Monday. He’s accused of forcing himself onto the alleged victim in March. Parker was a state wrestling medalist in 2025, but has not been attending classes in person for close to a year, according to a school district statement.

IOWA – Extreme, record breaking cold today will give way to more possible snow after the first winter storm of the season impacted travel after Thanksgiving. Wind chills as cold as 25 below this morning will turn quickly back to more seasonal conditions by Friday, however, snowfall could soon follow. The National Weather Service believes travel impacts are expected late Saturday across a large portion of the state, especially in the northwest quarter.

DENSION – Charges have been dropped against an Iowa woman accused of child endangerment resulting in death. KTIV reports prosecutors have dismissed the case against 23-year-old Sarah Lembke of Charter Oak, who was arrested in January following the death of an infant. The baby’s father faces charges of first-degree murder and child abuse, as 24-year-old Chad Gibbs is accused of causing the injuries. That trial is scheduled for March.

DES MOINES – Nurses at UnityPoint hospitals in the Des Moines metro are set to vote on unionizing. KCCI-TV reports the nurses are seeking to work with Teamsters to call on better staffing and equipment ratios, wages, and hours. State Representative Jennifer Konfrst was in attendance at a final rally event, and criticized the hospital for spending millions of dollars in anti-union efforts. A vote to form a union will be held starting December 7th.

IOWA – Iowans can buy 2026 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15. Licenses purchased for 2025 expire on Jan. 10. The menu of license options includes the Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101. Licenses are available at 650 locations across the state, and online, according to the Iowa DNR.
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IOWA – The State of Iowa will now have access to the federal immigration database following a settlement agreement. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Attorney General Brenna Bird announced that four total states had filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for withholding information about people not having citizenship status. The database access is now open for 20 years, with Iowa, Florida, Ohio, and Indiana providing driver’s license data in return.

IOWA CITY – Two gymnasts filed lawsuits against the sport’s oversight groups, accusing them of ignoring pleas that a coach was abusing them. KCCI-TV reports USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were told about the alleged behaviors of Sean Gardner in 2017. Those filing the suit claim the two governing bodies failed to investigate Gardner, who worked at Chow’s Gymnastics in West Des Moines in 2018. The FBI arrested Gardner in August.

DES MOINES – Leadership changes will come to the group that oversees Iowa’s three large public universities. WHO-13 reports President of the Board of Regents Sherry Bates is resigning this week, and President Pro Tem Greta Rouse will stay on the board but drop her leadership role. Bates was set to serve until 2029 for her current term. New board leadership elections will be held this week.

IOWA – The Iowa State Patrol released preliminary details about the first major winter storm of the 2025-26 season. The Iowa State Patrol reports it responded to 210 crashes and 646 motorist assists from Friday night through Sunday as 8-14 inches of snow dumped over the vast majority of the state. Twenty of those calls included injuries. Additional light snow is expected over the southern half of Iowa today.

DES MIONES – No injuries were reported when a Delta flight slid off of the runway at Des Moines International Airport Saturday night. WHO-13 reports operations resumed on Sunday after the incident that occurred late Saturday night. The plane from Detroit left the paved surface from the runway to the taxiway.

AMES – It was more than two decades in the making, but the CyHawk wrestling trophy is back in Ames. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa State Cyclones, ranked 6th in the nation, narrowly upset the No. 3 Hawkeyes on Sunday by a 20-14 win at Hilton Coliseum. It marked the first time since 2004 that Iowa State defeated the powerhouse Hawkeyes.

IOWA – A widespread winter storm is impacting travel across the state today. By the storm’s end, many communities will see close to a foot of snow accumulated. Iowa DOT plows are in operation and many roads may become impossible to drive through, especially through this evening. According to the National Weather Service, much colder air is set to arrive by Sunday, with wind chills below zero expected.

BUTLER COUNTY – The Iowa State Patrol has requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Butler County. On Thursday, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a victim reporting a man shooting into their residence, with several people trapped inside. When law enforcement arrived, a trooper made contact with a male subject carrying a firearm and an exchange of gunfire ensued. A Tactical Team responded and was able to safely remove multiple individuals from the residence. The subject suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a nearby hospital, and is expected to survive.

FORT DODGE – An Iowa woman has been awarded close to $20 million related to a malpractice suit against the Mayo Clinic. KCCI-TV reports Linette Nelson of Fort Dodge sued the medical facility in Minnesota following complications from surgeries performed seven years ago. Nelson said she lives with chronic pain due to three additional corrective operations.