Iowa Radio News

WATERLOO – A farm equipment manufacturing is laying off more workers in Iowa. The Iowa Workforce Development WARN page indicates John Deere intends to layoff 112 additional positions at their Waterloo Works Plant by January 5th. The announcement marks a year full of employment terminations for the company, as just under 1,800 total people have been let go by the company since March. CEDAR FALLS – A North Liberty man has been sentenced to the maximum prison time for the rape of two women last year. KCRG-TV reports Asante Walker Garcia Adams was found guilty in October for two counts of sexual abuse and burglary. He received 25 years for each criminal charge, running consecutively. IOWA – A cold front passes through the state on Wednesday with strong northwest winds in the wake of the front. A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Wednesday afternoon and evening for much of central and northern Iowa. Sustained winds at 25 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 to 50 mph are expected in the Advisory area with strongest gusts in north central Iowa which may approach 55 mph. A few snow showers are also expected in north central Iowa which may briefly reduce visibilities in the falling snow. Much colder air is also forecast to move into the state as wind chills drop through the day into the single digits above and below zero by Wednesday evening. DES MOINES – Through the Safe Haven Law, a baby girl, born November 11 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 72 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago.  This is the sixth case so far in 2024. In 2023, ten infants were relinquished to state custody under the Safe Haven Act.  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.

WASHINGTON – Three people died when a driver tried to pass a snow plow Monday morning in Washington County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2002 Buick Park Ave was traveling southbound on Highway 1 toward Washington when the unidentified driver tried to pass an Iowa DOT snowplow. The vehicle collided head-on with a 2013 Nissan Rouge in the northbound lane. The drivers of both vehicles were killed, as was the front passenger of the Nissan. One-to-two inches of snow fell across the state for the first measurable winter precipitation for many of the new season, causing crashes all over the state. IOWA CITY – The father of a Waterloo woman killed in a fatal crash last year verbally confronted the man who is responsible for her death. The Gazette reports Matt Russell read a victim impact statement on behalf of his late daughter Jennifer, a 22-year-old killed when Elijah Seals crashed into her vehicle while drag racing in Coralville in 2023. Seals was charged with involuntary manslaughter, homicide by drag racing, and homicide by excessive speed. Seals received an Alford plea bargain and a suspended 10 year prison sentence, which prosecutors say was due to him being 17 years old when the crash occurred. Seals has been ordered to pay the heirs of the estate of Jennifer $150,000. The only man accused of racing, Kesean Ford, is scheduled to go to trial in February. The Russell family is upset with the Johnson County Attorney’s Office for the Alford Plea, according to the report.DES MOINES – A statewide panel has certified Iowa’s 2024 election results, according to the Des Moines Register. The turnout didn’t quite meet the 2020 high mark, but on November 5th and the weeks leading up, 1.67 million Iowans voted in the general election, or 74.2% of registered voters. The state’s board of canvassers, made up of Secretary of State Paul Pate, Governor Kim Reynolds, Treasurer Roby Smith, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Auditor Rob Sand, met in a conference all to approve the results on Monday.

AMES – It was advantage Cyclones in the annual Farmageddon rivalry game, and with a victory late Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium, it was also history for the cardinal and gold. Iowa State defeated Kansas State 29-21, and the 10th win of the season marks the first time for the program it has hit that mark. Additionally, thanks to an overnight win by BYU, the Cyclones will play in the Big 12 Championship game for the 2nd time in school history on December 7th. Ranked 16th in the nation, Iowa State will compete against #12 Arizona State for a spot in the College Football Playoff. IOWA CITY – Following a spectacular junior season, the Iowa Hawkeyes will be without their star running back in their impending bowl game and beyond as he announced his move to the NFL Draft. In a letter to fans on Sunday, Kaleb Johnson announced his intent to pursue a professional football career. He is ranked 4th in rushing yards in the nation at 1537 with 21 touchdowns. His 72 yard score on Black Friday was pivotal in Iowa’s eventual victory 13-10 over Nebraska.

DUBUQUE COUNTY – Two Illinois residents died in a Dubuque County crash Wednesday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Subaru operated by 64-year-old Raymond Seeley of Sterling, Illinois, pulled out onto Highway 151 by failing to yield at a stop sign on Skyline Drive. A semi operated by William James of Texas collided with the vehicle. Seeley was pronounced dead on scene, while his passenger, 62-year-old Deana Seeley, also of Sterling, was flown to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, where she later died from her injuries. James was also injured in the crash. DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of Des Moines Area Community College in relation to a project and paying retainage money. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the opinion ruled in favor of DMACC and their right to refuse a request by Graphite Construction Group to pay retainage funds before a project was completed. The ruling overturned an appeals court decision. DMACC hired Graphite in 2019 for work on the Ankeny campus for the automotive building. The construction company requested final payment in early 2022, but DMACC denied the request, claiming the project was incomplete. The funds totaled $510,000, and a subcontractor on the project claimed Graphite owed them $212,000. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds intends to reapply for a waiver with the Iowa Department of Agriculture to provide an alternative to a federal summer assistance program. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Iowa Department of Health and Human services submitted a waiver that was denied. The $2.5 billion dollar program operated by the federal government provides $40 per child each month when school is out through SNAP. Governor Reynolds has opted out of the program, citing a lack of nutrition requirements and associated administrative costs. She is hoping the Trump Administration will be more open to a program operated by the state that was expanded this past summer and directly hands out meals to kids and their families.

IOWA – The latest Iowa DOT traffic fatality report shows the state recently topped the 300 death mark for the fourth consecutive year. A total of 309 people have died on Iowa’s roadways as of Tuesday, which is behind the 2023 pace but in line with the five-year average. A total of 43% of those who died were not wearing a seat belt, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Thanksgiving travel will remain busy throughout the weekend, and local and state police will have extra patrols on the state’s highways looking for speed and seat belt violations. AMES – The Iowa State Cyclones will be playing on Saturday for the chance to play for the Big 12 Championship, and thus, a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Kansas State is coming to Jack Trice Stadium for the annual Farmageddon football game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The 9-2 and 18th ranked Cyclones are among nearly half of the conference that has a chance to finish in the top two spots. The Wildcats are ranked 24th in the nation. IOWA – Wind chills near and even below zero are possible starting today and continuing periodically, according to the National Weather Service. The burst of unseasonably cool air may cause potential frostbite conditions in the overnight and early morning hours in those conditions. The federal agency reminds those traveling to prepare by making sure tires remain properly inflated, especially with the recent temperature change, and to ensure car batteries are in working order.