Iowa Radio News

After a warm start to 2026, much colder air is greeting Iowans today across the state. Wind chill values as low as 30 below zero are possible for some, especially in northeast Iowa, following a weekend that had snow causing visibility issues on many rural highways. Temperatures will warm as the week wears on, according to the National Weather Service, before even colder air returns Friday night and through most of next weekend, with arctic air expected to return. SYRIA – A U.S. military strike in Syria killed the terrorist leader linked to the December deaths of two Iowa military members. KCCI-TV reports U.S. Central Command confirmed the death this week of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a leader affiliated with al-Qaeda, and had direct ties to the ISIS gunman who killed Staff Sgt. William Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres in December. COUNCIL BLUFFS – A Council Bluffs man was killed when the semi he was driving in high winds tipped over on Interstate 80. The Iowa State Patrol reports 56-year-old Mark Douglas Hayden lost control and struck the cable barrier, coming to a rest in the media. Hayden died from his injuries.

DES MOINES – A change of plea hearing is on the federal court docket for the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. The Des Moines Register reports Ian Roberts is accused of gun possession as an illegal immigrant and making a false statement for employment. A court hearing is scheduled next week on January 22nd. Roberts pled not guilty in October, shortly following an arrest by federal immigration officers. IOWA – Narrow bands of snow showers are expected today, along with winds gusting to as high as 45 MPH at times, according to the National Weather Service. While not everyone will see snow, those that do may experience snow squalls with intense bursts of snow and periods of whiteout conditions and hazardous travel. Both the morning and evening commutes may be impacted in some areas. OTTUMWA – Mercy One has announced that its medical clinic in Ottumwa is closing by the end of February. KCCI-TV reports this means 30 staff members will be seeking employment, with hundreds of local patients seeking new medical care options. Mercy One hopes to transition the patients to a clinic in Centerville. DES MOINES – The recently-formed Iowa House Higher Education Committee approved their first motions of the new session this week, which included the introduction of two bills. That legislation includes changes for presidential searches and course requirements on campus. President searches would require a search committee formed by the Iowa Board of Regents, and that only members of that group could participate. The subcommittee also discussed requiring classes related to American government and history for undergraduate college students.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is being sued after soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative comments immediately following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Katherina Mejia of Manchester and Jennifer Smith of Johnston have filed suit in U.S. District Court. The lawsuit challenges Director Michael Cavin for soliciting licensing complaints last September. They are suing over First Amendment rights. DES MOINES – The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court is calling on lawmakers to make several changes this session. WHO-13 reports Justice Susan Christensen asked for reform to the state’s magistrate system and to increase judicial pay. She believes there are too many people serving in the former system, and a reduction could save $2.5 million. Christensen believes not enough people are applying for judicial vacancies due to low pay. MARSHALLTOWN – Authorities were able to rescue a stranded dog on the shore of the Iowa River on Wednesday. KCRG-TV reports the Marshalltown Police Department responded to the report, using a drone to search the area and find the animal along the river. Firefighters were able to bring in a rescue boat to rescue the dog.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds opened the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session with the annual Condition of the State Address on Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports a $3 billion property tax cut was at the top of her priorities for the next year. She began her speech discussing the two National Guard Staff Sergeants killed in December. Reynolds proposed a $50 million fund to cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. DES MOINES – A new all-time passenger record was set at Des Moines International Airport in 2025. WHO-13 reports just over 3.25 million people used the airport last year, a 2.4 percent increase from 2024. The Des Moines International Airport added six new routes and opened a parking garage last year. A new terminal remains under construction until early next year. DES MOINES – A dispute between two institutions of higher learning in Iowa over marketing has been resolved. KCCI-TV reports an agreement has been reached between Drake University and Des Moines Area Community College over rules about how the letter “D” can be used in marketing. Drake filed a lawsuit against DMACC over a logo that was being used by the community college. DMACC tried to use a standalone “D” in a 2023 marketing refresh, but Drake owns the trademark for the logo in Iowa, according to court records.

INDIANOLA – A former Indianola police lieutenant has been sentenced after pleading guilty to stalking another person. KCCI-TV reports 43-year-old Justin Keller has received deferred judgement and two years of probation following an Alford plea of guilty to stalking. He was arrested in April of 2025 while still working for the Indianola Police Department, but no longer works for them. Court records indicate that Keller was spotted by several neighbors driving around the victim’s house and property since December 2024. The City of Indianola website indicates Keller had been an officer with the department since 2005. BAXTER – New court filings have details about how a police chief was allegedly collecting unearned pay through falsifying timesheets and billing two different cities for the same hours worked. The Des Moines Register reports that former Baxter Police Chief William Daggett was also working simultaneously for the City of Van Meter before later becoming the Mitchellville Police Chief and Interim City Administrator. He was arrested last week and accused by prosecutors of knowingly submitting inaccurate payroll claims for more than a year. A state audit conducted by Rob Sand’s office found the double billing last year, with up to $50,000 potentially tied to the alleged payroll fraud. STORY COUNTY – The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from Story and Shelby Counties in Iowa for a review of a ruling that county ordinances pertaining to carbon pipelines are preempted by federal law. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that the lawsuit was between the two counties and Summit Carbon Solutions. In October of 2022, both Story and Shelby Counties enacted ordinances that established several standards for hazardous materials pipelines. Summit sued the counties, and won in federal court. Two different appeals have been denied by higher circuit court judges.