Iowa Radio News

EAGLE GROVE – An Eagle Grove police officer has been arrested and let go from his job following a multiple-week investigation. Twenty-seven year old Colt Richardson was placed into custody this week following allegations of improper contact with a minor. In December, the department received a complaint about Richardson. He faces a charge of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor, a serious misdemeanor. The Wright County Attorney’s Office will consider further charges. DES MOINES – A proposal by an Iowa Senator to kick off the session would expand Iowa’s 99 counties and territory. WHO-13 reports Republican Mike Bousselot has proposed to purchase the bottom row of counties from Minnesota. While no formal bill has been proposed, the Ankeny resident’s push echoes similar efforts in Indiana to acquire counties from Illinois and from President-elect Donald Trump and his push to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal. AMES – The Iowa Board of Regents approved a 30-year development agreement at its Wednesday meeting that allows Iowa State University, Goldenrod Companies and the Iowa State University Research Park to move forward with the CyTown multi-use district. The board’s decision comes after the completion of infrastructure and upgrades to the parking lots between Jack Trice Stadium and the Iowa State Center.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds laid out priorities for the first of two years in the general assembly with the annual Condition of the State address Tuesday night. Reynolds highlighted her desire to see restrictions on electronic devices in classrooms, the creation of a “DOGE” task force similar to an advisory council set up by President-Elect Donald Trump, a call for work requirements tied to Medicaid, and significant property tax reform. Republicans hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers and widely support the Governor’s overall agenda. WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Joni Ernst indicated her support for Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth. Ernst made a statement following a hearing held on Tuesday. Ernst received criticism from fellow Republicans during the lame-duck session in December due to hesitancy in supporting Hegseth, who has drawn criticism for sexual assault allegations, which he dismissed as a smear campaign. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags in Iowa to resume full-staff on Inauguration Day. The Des Moines Register reports this is acting against a federal mandate that have them at half-staff for the death of President Jimmy Carter. Reynolds joins Texas Governor Greg Abbott in defying the federal call. Reynolds has ordered the half-staff order to resume following President-elect Donald Trump’s official swearing-in.

INDIANAPOLIS – A Texas man was arrested for the alleged stalking of a former Iowa women’s basketball superstar athlete. KCCI-TV reports 55-year-old Michael Lewis was arrested Sunday in Indianapolis following a series of messages directed at Caitlin Clark. Court records indicated Lewis traveled to the home of the Indiana Fever to be closer to the WBNA Rookie of the Year. Lewis is accused of sending sexual and threatening messages, even after initial contact from law enforcement. DES MOINES – The 2025 Iowa Legislative Session has gaveled in, with Governor Kim Reynolds set to lay our her agenda for the next four months at a speech tonight. The annual Condition of the State address will be held at 6 p.m. at the Iowa State Capitol. Reynolds enters the next two-year general assembly with an expanded supermajority in both legislative chambers. Property tax reform has been identified as a key priority prior to the session, and Reynolds is expected to lay our her initial proposal for changes. IOWA – Following another burst of cold today, a brief warm up into the 40s later this week will give way to arctic chill across the state. According to the National Weather Service, long-range forecasts show the majority of January will remain frigid, with many overnight low temperatures dipping below zero, especially starting Sunday and continuing well into next week. Those with outdoor plans after Saturday should take extra precautions due to the cold.

CENTERVILLE – A Centerville man was killed and two Arizona residents were injured in a crash Saturday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford F-150 was traveling in the wrong direction on Highway 2 when it collided with a Kia Telluride. Sixty-three year old Jeffrey Underwood of Centerville, the driver of the Ford, died from his injuries. FORT DODGE – An assistant principal in Fort Dodge died in a recent crash, according to the district. KCCI-TV reports Aaron Miller was recently promoted the 35-year-old to the administrator role following several years as a teacher. The crash was a single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning, according to the Fort Dodge Messenger. DES MOINES – A Des Moines man wanted in connection to a pair of shootings in the East Village of the city was arrested on Friday after a 10-month search. The Des Moines Register reports an incident on March 29th involved injuries from two people, with witnesses claiming 26-year-old Cori Jayvon Shields shot them and fled the scene. A criminal complaint said Shields was in the area, where a family member was caught on video punching a woman. Both people shot suffered injuries but survived the attack.

IOWA – Corn for grain production in Iowa for 2024 was estimated at 2.63 billion bushels, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production Annual Summary. Current year production was up four percent from the previous year’s 2.52 billion bushels. Iowa’s corn for grain yield was estimated at a record 211 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 12.5 million acres, 100,000 below 2023.CLAY COUNTY – The conviction of a day care provider for her role in the death of an infant was reversed by the Iowa Supreme Court on Friday. The Des Moines Register reports the trial of 41-year-old Alison Dorsey of Massena was improperly moved to another county, according to the ruling. Dorsey was charged with first-degree murder for the 2019 death of a baby found with injuries consistent with being shaken. Her first trial ended in a hung jury, and proceedings were moved to Pottawattamie County, where she was convicted of second degree murder. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Dorsey was improperly denied the right to a trial in her home county. According to the Register, a third trial is possible. HILLS – The mayor of Hills wrote in a regular newsletter to residents about a dispute with the Iowa City School District after the closure of an elementary school. KCRG-TV reports Mayor Tim Kemp is upset and stopped just short of using profanity to react to a decision by the school district not to sell the land of Hills Elementary. Demolition is set to begin soon on the facility, and the superintendent expressed the need to maintain the land for a potential new building if Hills resumes growth.