Iowa Radio News

IOWA – Much of the state experienced cooler than normal temperatures and much needed rain showers, leaving Iowa farmers with just over three days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 6th. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, minimal fieldwork was done during the week, but some producers were able to plant oats, apply anhydrous, and dry fertilizer. Topsoil moisture condition rated six percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and four percent surplus. DES MOINES – Lawmakers sent a bill to Governor Kim Reynolds that would include steps to verify the citizenship status of Iowa voters. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House File 954 passed along party lines that allows Secretary of State Paul Pate’s Office contract with agencies, including those in the private sector, for voter roll verification and maintenance. The bill also allows for voting registration status to be considered unconfirmed if the state or county officials in charge of elections find reliable information that the person is not qualified.WINTERSET – Legal disputes continue in Madison County, this time between the Board of Supervisors and the County Auditor. WHO-13 reports Teri Kaczinski filed a petition on April 3rd after the board decided to not approve hiring Leslie Beck as a second deputy for the auditor’s office. Kaczinski has attempted to employ Beck using county funds three times. Madison County has had its treasurer arrested, major budget reductions implemented, and contentious Board of Supervisors meetings in the last year.

CONNECTICUT – The U.S.S. Iowa was commissioned by the U.S. Navy on Saturday. KCCI-TV reports the submarine is a first-of-its-kind, nuclear-powered vessel that is 78,000 tons and 400 feet in length. Governor Kim Reynolds and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks were in attendance for the ceremony. CEDAR RAPIDS – Thousands of Iowans participated in a nationwide protest against the Trump Administration. The Des Moines Register reports more than 7,000 people attended rallies in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines as part of the “Hands Off” gathering. Those who protested were opposed to policies and executive orders championed by re-elected President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency. AMANA – Whirlpool in Amana confirmed a mass layoff of employees. KCRG-TV reports 650 workers will be let go on June 1st. The company claims demand is down for its products and unrelated to the widespread tariffs issued by the Trump Administration. The Iowa Federation of Labor called to layoffs “outrageous,” citing $17 billion in sales for Amana products in 2024.

DES MOINES – Organizers for the annual RAGBRAI has announced the pass through towns for the 2025 ride, which this year, includes some time across the Iowa border for the first time into Minnesota. The Des Moines Register will announce meeting towns for the remainder of the week. This year’s route treks across the northern third of the state, and includes riding through Brown Park, Minnesota in-between the stops from Milford to Estherville. IOWA – The Iowa Department of Transportation is warning consumers of a recent text phishing scam that is occurring across the country. Citizens are receiving fraudulent text messages that appear to be from the Iowa DOT that say they have an unpaid toll or registration fee. The text asks recipients to click on a link to provide personal information as well as credit card numbers. Many times, the link will lead to a website that looks like the Iowa DOT’s website. These texts are not from the Iowa DOT and citizens should not click on links within the text messages or provide personal details, as the agency does not send out fee collection reminders via text.

IOWA – Iowa has joined 30 other states in banning handheld cellphone use while driving. The Des Moines Register reports Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate Fill 22 on Wednesday. The bill goes into effect on July 1st, 2025 and adds fines for use, with some exceptions for law enforcement and utility workers. Reynolds read out the names of those who have died due to crashes related to distracted driving during the ceremony, with many surviving family members in attendance. DES MOINES, – A Boone man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a person he believed to be a minor. According to public court documents, Travis Lee Morgan used a Facebook account to communicate with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female, but was instead a law enforcement officer. Between June and August 2023, Morgan sent numerous explicit videos and images. IOWA CITY – University of Iowa first-year head coach Jan Jensen is the 2025 NCAA Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced on Monday. The award honors a head coach who has led their team to a successful season during their first year on the sideline. It is named in honor of the late Maggie Dixon, who in her inaugural season as the Army head coach, led the Black Knights to the 2006 Patriot League title and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship tournament shortly before her unexpected death following the season.

DES MOINES – An Iowa magistrate faces potential sanctions from the Iowa Supreme Court for alleged use of a racial slur. The Des Moines Register reports David J. Hanson is accused of using the language that refers to undocumented Mexican nationals living in the United States, and he claims he was unaware of the connotations. He had a contentious exchange with the Iowa Supreme Court late last week. The Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission has recommended a suspension for the part-time magistrate in Fayette County. CEDAR RAPIDS – A second term state representative has resigned effective immediately to serve on the Linn County Board of Supervisors. KCRG-TV reports Sami Scheetz will fill a vacancy at the county level. He was one of 17 applications for the position. Scheetz is a Democrat who served in the Iowa House since 2022. A special election will be called for that new vacancy. WINTERSET – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into possible misconduct in Madison County. WHO-13 reports the county sheriff forwarded a complaint on about a consulting firm hired by County Auditor Teri Kaczinski. The auditor hired Craig Bergman of the Robert Morris Group and paid out just over $7300 for 29 hours allegedly worked at the courthouse. The move was not approved by the Madison County Board of Supervisors, which caused public outcry due to ongoing budget cuts. Sheriff Jason Barnes says there are concerns about what access Bergman had to voting machines and records of citizens.