Iowa Radio News

Two people died on Iowa’s roadways on Friday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year-old Cole Lantz of Williams died while attempting to pass another vehicle on U.S. 69 in Hamilton County at 6:30 a.m. Lantz collided head-on with another vehicle and caused a third to swerve. The other was a car vs. pedestrian incident in Fort Madison. Seventy-year-old Nancy Lynne Kuhljergen attempted to cross a road and was struck by a Toyota Tacoma. Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.0 percent in October amid job cuts in manufacturing and construction. Meanwhile, the state’s labor force participation rate ticked down by 0.1 percentage points to 66.2 percent last month, and the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in October. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 51,000 in October from 49,400 in September. The total number of working Iowans fell to 1,633,200 in October. This figure is 1,400 lower than September and 19,300 lower than one year ago.

IOWA CITY – A Democratic challenger for the U.S. House seat representing southeast Iowa has requested a recount in one of the most competitive seats in the country. The Associated Press reports Christina Bohannan has asked for a new count as she trails current U.S. Representative Marianette Miller-Meeks by nearly 1,000 votes in 20 counties. DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds toured Broadlawns Medical Center on Thursday, signing a proclamation for apprenticeship week. The Des Moines Register reports the governor was promoting apprenticeships as a way to fill high-demand careers and build a pipeline for future workers. DES MOINES – A vendor at the Iowa State Fair has had its contract terminated after allegations of not paying employee wages and other fees. KCRG-TFV reports Steer N’ Stein owe the fair itself over $100,000, and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals had received 14 complains about lack for payment. The report alleges another contractor is owed $218,000 by Michael and Kimberly Krantz.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Iowa’s junior senator was defeated in a bid for a leadership role in the U.S. congressional votes ahead of the new Republican majority in 2025. The Des Moines Register reports Joni Ernst lost a possible conference chair position on Wednesday. Ernst had served on the Senate leadership team for the past cycle before losing a seat to Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. Ernst is expected to run for reelection in the 2026 cycle. IOWA – More than 300 Iowa schools were marked as in need of targeted support and improvement in an annual report issued by the Iowa Department of Education. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the 2023-24 Iowa School Performance Profiles were released earlier this week. A total of 377 schools were identified as needed assistance — 93% of those were placed in that category because their student population with disabilities was performing in the lowest 5% of all schools in the state. Two-thirds of those on the latest report were also identified as needing help in last year’s update. IOWA – A popular gas station chain in Iowa will be rebranded soon. KCRG-TV reports Kum & Go was sold to Maverik in 2023, who has announced intentions to change the name of their acquisition over time. The Kum and Go stores will fall under the Maverik name after keeping its current namesake since 1975.

IOWA – After expanding their majorities in the Iowa Legislature following the November 5th election, the Republicans in the statehouse have elected their leadership. Senator Jack Whitver will remain Senate Majority Leader and Representative Pat Grassley is still Speaker of the House, according to the Des Moines Register. The GOP holds supermajorities in both chambers, the largest since 1970. Senator Amy Sinclair also remains as president of the senate, and Senator Ken Rozenboom is the new president pro tempore, after Brad Zaun lost his bid for reelection in his district. CEDAR RAPIDS – A new coalition has announced an advertising campaign to stop a new casino in Cedar Rapids. KCCI-TV reports Iowans for Common Sense is asking Iowans to sign a petition to support a statewide moratorium on new construction of casinos. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and the Linn County Gaming Commission have presented applications for a new facility in Cedar Rapids. IOWA – A Pleasantville woman accused of spiking her husband’s drink with eyedrops has been sentenced. WHO-13 reports 39-year-old Daisy Zantjer was arrested earlier this year for the incident that occurred in 2023, and in September, pled guilty to one count of administering harmful substances and domestic abuse assault. Zantjer received the maximum sentence for both charges, which is five years in prison.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Joni Ernst’s office released a statement that she is “laser-focused” on her work in the legislature in response to a report about possible interest in becoming the Secretary of Defense. The Des Moines Register reported that NOTUS, a non profit newsroom, reported on Monday that Ernst would be open to working in the next Trump administration. A spokesperson for Ernst said Iowa’s junior senator remains focused on advancing in Senate leadership at this time. LAURENS – More than 90 employees at the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky distribution center in Laurens will be let go by January. WHO-13 reports the Iowa Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification webpage showed the company gave notice that 91 employees are part of a “mass layoff.” The current expected last day is January 24th, according to the report. IOWA CITY – An Iowa City woman has been charged for the death of a bicyclist earlier this fall. KCRG-TV reports that the Johnson County Attorney’s Office announced the arrest on Friday, and that 77-year-old Ok Soon Lee allegedly hit 41-year-old Ashlee Hopkins during the Farm Cycle Ride on September 15th. Hopkins died from her injuries.