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Water Summary Update: 2025 drought conditions vary significantly throughout the year

DES MOINES – Drought conditions improved in the summer months across the state but then degraded again with a dry fall, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Iowa ended the year with a statewide average total of 33.60 inches of precipitation, or 1.95 inches below normal. December’s preliminary statewide precipitation was 1.00 inches, or 0.37 inches below normal. The wettest conditions occurred in the southeast this month, bringing some relief to the area.

In 2024, Iowa finally ended a historically lengthy drought, but rainfall deficits remained into the new year. The early months of 2025 were marked by drought and dryness due to these deficits and below-normal rainfall. However, the summer months saw additional wet weather, resulting in drought-free conditions across the state throughout much of the summer and early fall. However, dry conditions returned in the fall, resulting in two drought regions being placed under a drought watch.

Statewide temperatures for the year were just under a degree and a half warmer than normal. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) shows that by the end of 2025, some areas of Iowa had slipped back into abnormally dry conditions or drought conditions, mostly in northwest and eastern Iowa.

“The dry start to 2025 subsided after the state experienced above-average rainfall during the summer. Initial concerns about drought expansion eased, leading to the removal of the Iowa Drought Plan Drought Watch designation statewide for a total of five months of the year. However, dry conditions returned in the fall. The state saw below-average rainfall for 2025, but National Weather Service outlooks are stable. Continued normal or above normal precipitation in January and February is important to maintain average conditions in the typically dry winter months,” said Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR Environmental Specialist.

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit

 www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

Balanced Attack Powers William Penn Past Oak Hills Christian

OSKALOOSA — The William Penn men’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, rolling to a 105–68 victory over Oak Hills Christian in nonconference action.

The Statesmen (11–5) opened the game with authority, racing out to a 12–0 lead. Oak Hills Christian (1–8) responded to briefly seize a 21–19 advantage, but William Penn quickly reasserted control with a 13–2 run. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch of the half, sending the Navy and Gold into the locker room with a 40–30 lead.

William Penn shot 43.2% from the field in the opening half but struggled from long range at 15.8%. Daivion Boleware (Jr., Jackson, Mich., Psychology) led the early scoring with nine points, while Foday Sheriff (Sr., Upper Darby, Pa., Business Management) anchored the defense with eight rebounds.

Any momentum Oak Hills Christian hoped to carry into the second half was short-lived. The Statesmen opened the period with a decisive 21–5 run and followed it with another 13–3 surge to put the game out of reach. With seven minutes remaining, Gabe Hora (Fr., University Park, Iowa, Sports Management) caught fire, pouring in 15 points over a four-minute stretch. His outburst pushed William Penn past the 100-point mark—securing 25¢ hot dogs for next Wednesday’s home game.

For the night, William Penn shot 48.1% from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc. Oak Hills Christian finished at 42.1% overall and 42.3% from three-point range. The Statesmen created a significant advantage in shot opportunities, attempting 81 field goals compared to just 57 for the Wolfpack.

Balance defined the William Penn offense, with every scorer posting at least eight points. Hora led the way with 20 points, while Boleware and Chase Page (Sr., Melbourne, Australia, Business Management) added 13 apiece. Javin Tindall (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M., Sports Management) chipped in 12 points.

Sheriff recorded another double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Ryan Robinson (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Business Management) contributed eight boards.

The Statesmen dominated the glass with a 48–28 rebounding advantage, including a 19–4 edge on the offensive boards that led to 33 second-chance points.

William Penn also controlled the turnover battle, committing just seven miscues while forcing 18 Wolfpack turnovers that resulted in 37 points. The bench played a major role, accounting for 50 points, as the Statesmen also held advantages in fast-break scoring (18–0) and assists (25–12).

2026 Coffee and Conversations to Start Up Tomorrow

OSKALOOSA — The Mahaska Chamber & Development Group is getting ready for the Coffee & Conversation events. This engaging series of informative sessions provides Mahaska County residents with invaluable insights to state, county and local topics, fostering opportunities for community members to meet, learn, and discuss subjects important to community improvement. Join them at Smokey Row (109 S Market, St., Oskaloosa) from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM for these enlightening conversations.

The dates for Coffee & Conversation and panel speakers are as follows:
January 10, 2026- City of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County
January 24, 2026 – Iowa Senate #19 Ken Rozenboom and Iowa Senate #44  Adrian Dickey
                 Iowa House #88 Helena Hayes and Iowa House #37 Barb Kniff-McCulla
February 14, 2026 – Stay tuned!
February 28, 2026 – Iowa Senate #19 Ken Rozenboom and Iowa Senate #44 Adrian Dickey
                  Iowa House #88 Helena Hayes and Iowa House #37 Barb Kniff-McCulla
 March 14, 2026- Stay tuned!
March 28, 2026 – Iowa Senate #19 Ken Rozenboom and Iowa Senate #44 Adrian Dickey
               Iowa House #88 Helena Hayes and Iowa House #37 Barb Kniff-McCulla
Please reach out to Deann De Groot at the Chamber with any questions about the forum at ddegroot@mahaskachamber.org or by phone 641.672.2591.

Minneapolis on edge after fatal shooting of woman by ICE officer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis was on edge Thursday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown, with the governor calling for people to remain calm and schools canceling classes and activities as a safety precaution.

State and local officials demanded ICE leave the state after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot in the head. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said agents are not going anywhere.

The Department of Homeland Security has deployed more than 2,000 officers to the area in what it says is its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. Noem said more than 1,500 people have been arrested.

Macklin Good’s killing Wednesday morning in a residential neighborhood south of downtown was recorded on video by witnesses, and by the evening hundreds of people came out for a vigil to mourn her and urge the public to resist immigration enforcement. Some then chanted as they marched through the city, but there was no violence.

“I would love for ICE to leave our city and for more community members to come to see it happens,” said Sander Kolodziej, a painter who came to the vigil to support the community.

The videos of the shooting show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward, and a different ICE officer standing in front of it pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.

It is not clear from the videos if the vehicle makes contact with the officer, and there is no indication of whether the woman had interactions with ICE agents earlier. After the shooting the SUV speeds into two cars parked on a curb before crashing to a stop.

In another recording made afterward, a woman who identifies Macklin Good as her spouse is seen crying near the vehicle. The woman, who is not identified, says the couple recently arrived in Minnesota and they had a child.

Noem called the incident an “act of domestic terrorism” against ICE officers, saying the driver “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.”

President Donald Trump made similar accusations on social media and defended ICE’s work.

Noem alleged that the woman was part of a “mob of agitators” and said the officer followed his training. She said the FBI would investigate.

But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Noem’s version of events “garbage.”

“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense,” Frey said. “Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bullshit.”

He also criticized the federal deployment and said the agents should leave.

The shooting marked a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations in major cities under the Trump administration. Wednesday’s is at least the fifth death linked to the crackdowns.

The Twin Cities have been on edge since DHS announced the operation’s launch Tuesday, at least partly tied to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.

A crowd of protesters gathered at the scene after the shooting to vent their anger at local and federal officers.

In a scene that hearkened back to crackdowns in Los Angeles and Chicago, people chanted “ICE out of Minnesota” and blew whistles that have become ubiquitous during the operations.

Gov. Tim Walz said he was prepared to deploy the National Guard if necessary. He expressed outrage over the shooting but called on people to keep protests peaceful.

“They want a show,” Walz said. “We can’t give it to them.”

There were calls on social media to prosecute the officer who shot Macklin Good.

Commissioner Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said state authorities would investigate the shooting with federal authorities.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 1 cent from last week’s price and is currently averaging $2.37 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $1.49 per barrel, and is currently priced at $56.37.
  • Brent crude oil fell by $1.01 and is currently priced at $60.23.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $74.99 and Brent crude was $77.84.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.37 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices fell 1 cent from last week’s price and are down 48 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $2.82, down 2 cents from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.25.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.29 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 29 cents lower than the national average of $3.54.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.55 for U87-E10, $1.76 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $1.93 for ULSD#2, $2.36 for ULSD#1, and $1.73 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were down 27 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.50 MMbtu.
  • Propane prices averaged $1.56 per gallon in Iowa.
  • Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.79 per gallon.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Altercation in Pella Results in Willful Injury Charge

PELLA – A physical altercation between two men in Pella ended with one of the combatants being charged with willful injury.

According to court records, the altercation occurred on the morning of Saturday, January 3rd. Officers with the Pella Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of W. 1st Street for an incident involving 36-year-old Weston Witzenburg.

The altercation stemmed from an incident in which a man traveling from Michigan sent photographs of Witzenburg’s residence to his girlfriend, who is also the ex-wife of the victim. Witzenburg was then alerted by his girlfriend of the situation.

Court documents state that Witzenburg confronted the victim, who was sitting in a vehicle in the Pella Corporation parking lot, and he was armed with a baseball bat during the confrontation. The situation escalated into a physical altercation in which Witzenburg allegedly struck the victim in the head with the baseball bat, resulting in a laceration that caused significant bleeding.

After the altercation, the victim went to the Emergency Room at Pella Regional Health Center for treatment of his injuries. Witzenburg was arrested and charged with willful injury causing bodily injury, a class D felony. He remains in custody at the Marion County Jail, with his bond set at $5,000. A no-contact order was also issued for the victim.

Entertainment leaders amp up discussions about AI, creators and innovative tech at CES 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The world’s largest tech showcase does not come without theatrics. Innovations and gadgets like a lollipop that sings to you as you consume it, a laundry-folding robot and a “smart” LEGO brick have stolen the spotlight so far at CES 2026. But underscoring this year’s programming is a strong focus on an industry that relies on a similar theatrical flair: entertainment.

More than 25 different panels and events related to the entertainment industry are on the schedule in Las Vegas, focusing on both the traditional studio side of the industry and the digital side driven by content creators. The programming has posed questions about the cinematic capabilities of AI, how advertising has been impacted by AI and the role the burgeoning creator economy plays in the larger entertainment landscape.

Artificial intelligence has long been a sticking point in Hollywood, and many creatives in the entertainment world have been reluctant to embrace the rapidly evolving technology and AI-powered tools. Outrage ensued when Tilly Norwood, an entirely AI-made character, debuted as the first “AI actor” in the fall. Questions about copyrighted characters, images and materials still loom large in conversations about AI. But many speakers in CES programming were optimistic about how the technology can be beneficial, and how AI could be used to help artists harness their creativity rather than stifle it or replace it.

“The tools that we create have unlocked something in us. It’s kind of flattened that bar in terms of what storytelling can be because anyone now can be a storyteller,” said Dwayne Koh, the head of creative at Leonardo.ai, during a Monday session on AI and creativity. “It levels the playing field, but it also makes it easier for people to tell stories that they always want(ed) to tell that they never could have the opportunity to tell.”

Others were quick to point out that Hollywood’s panic over emerging technology is not new.

“When we launched Photoshop in the ’90s, we were also getting pretty angry phone calls from creatives saying that we were destroying craft,” said Hannah Elsakr, Adobe’s vice president of generative AI new business ventures, at a Monday session focused on advertising.

“We’re in early days with AI. I’m not advocating for more cats jumping off diving boards in your feeds. I think it’s about high creativity and so the director, the artist, the actor is going to drive the high quality,” Elsakr continued. “Think of AI as another tool in the toolkit to make you drive that forward.”

Many conversations also centered on influencers and the growing legitimacy of internet-native creators and content in the traditional entertainment industry. The efficiency with which these creators work, sometimes because they are using AI-enabled tools, was a prime focus among many speakers.

Brad Haugen, the executive vice president of digital strategy and growth at Lionsgate and 3 Arts, said traditional media companies should welcome opportunities to work with creators and embrace their importance. “We have, potentially, the next great filmmaker, the next great TV showrunner, the next great digital entrepreneur,” he said. “Creators are not just there to market products. They’re not just there to do internet stuff. They’re actually the next Spike Jonze and the next Sofia Coppola.”

More entertainment-related programming is scheduled for Wednesday, with many sessions coming out of Variety’s Entertainment Summit at the showcase, including panels with leaders from Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

In addition to formal programming, a host of entertainment-related products and services are on display at CES. An array of impressive televisions with advanced features, AI-powered smart headphones, a “stringless smart guitar” and even a “sound chair” that has built-in audio were among the innovations aimed at bringing AI and advanced tech to entertainment consumers.

Amazon also announced the rollout of Alexa.com this week, bringing its AI assistant to the web with a host of new features, including personalized movie and TV recommendations. It’s one of many features designed to enhance at-home viewing, including the previously announced feature that enables Alexa to jump to a specific scene you’re searching for with just a simple description.

Panel ponders how to expand mental health services in Iowa

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A legislative panel is examining how to expand access to Iowans who need intensive, recovery-oriented mental health services outside of a hospital setting.

Representative Gary Mohr (like “more”) of Bettendorf is chairman of the temporary committee, which met yesterday. “Many of you are going to think as a result of today we’re going to come out with a grandiose, multi-million dollar plan. Don’t plan on it. Some of you expect us to come out with virtually nothing and maybe one of two recommendations. Don’t count on it,” Mohr said.”We’re going to get as far as we can moving this issue forward.”

Mohr and other lawmakers heard testimony about the lack of “subacute” mental health care services and learned there are only 30 slots available in Iowa today for adults who need those services after hospitalization for a mental health crisis.

Mary Neubauer of Clive told lawmakers her adopted son Sergei was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD after abuse he suffered as a child in Russia. Neubauer said after Sergei attempted suicide and was hospitalized a decade ago, she and her husband found the kind of programs he needed next in Arizona and California because there were none in Iowa. After Sergei committed suicide in 2017, Neubauer has been an advocate for action in Iowa.

“We’re Iowans. We’re Midwesterners. We pride ourselves of how we take care of each other,” Neubauer said, “and we haven’t been doing the best job of that in terms of mental health care here in Iowa.” Neubauer said there’s growing demand, world-wide, for high-quality, comprehensive mental health recovery services and there’s a chance for Iowa to position itself as a go-to place for that kind of care.

Officials from two key agencies suggested there are some regulatory changes that might improve the business model for these intensive, sometimes months-long treatment programs. They said some insurance companies limit coverage for these services to just 10 days — because of a reference in state law that could be changed — and there are professional requirements for employees that make it hard to fill all staff slots.

Man Accused of Pointing Firearm During Dispute in Knoxville; No Criminal Charges Filed

KNOXVILLE – A verbal altercation in the parking lot of the Knoxville Walmart yesterday afternoon did not result in criminal charges, though one party accused the other of threatening them with a firearm.

According to the Knoxville Police Department, the incident in question occurred at approximately 2:40pm yesterday. Officers were dispatched to the Knoxville Walmart for a reported disturbance involving two men in the parking lot, during which it was alleged that a firearm had been displayed.

Upon arrival, authorities located the involved parties and one individual was identified as the suspect. Police say that individual was initially noncompliant with officer commands, but he was quickly secured without incident. A firearm was located and removed from his vehicle.

Officers then interviewed both individuals involved in the disturbance. The complainant said that the suspect pointed a firearm at him during a dispute over a parking space. The suspect acknowledged possessing a firearm inside his vehicle, but denied pointing it at the complainant or threatening them, stating that he, himself, felt threatened when the complainant approached his vehicle.

Ultimately, security footage from the business was checked by police and showed a verbal exchange between the two men, but it did not corroborate the allegation that the firearm was pointed or otherwise used in a threatening manner. No criminal charges were filed due to a lack of evidence.

Maduro says ‘I was captured’ as he pleads not guilty to drug trafficking charges

NEW YORK (AP) — A defiant Nicolás Maduro declared himself “the president of my country” as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela.

“I was captured,” Maduro said in Spanish as translated by a courtroom interpreter before being cut off by the judge. Asked later for his plea to the charges, he stated: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.”

Maduro’s court appearance in Manhattan, his first since he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized from their Caracas home Saturday in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation, kicked off the U.S. government’s most consequential prosecution in decades of a foreign head of state. She also pleaded not guilty.

The criminal case is unfolding against a broader diplomatic backdrop of an audacious U.S.-engineered regime change that President Donald Trump has said will enable his administration to “run” the South American country.

Maduro, 63, was brought to court under heavy security early Monday — flown by helicopter to Manhattan from Brooklyn, where he is jailed, and then driven to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. He and Flores were led into court just before noon. Both were in leg shackles and jail-issued garb, and both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish.

As Maduro left the courtroom, a man in the audience denounced him as an “illegitimate” president.

A legal fight begins

As a criminal defendant in the U.S. legal system, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person charged with a crime in the country — including the right to jury trial. But, given the circumstances of his arrest and the geopolitical stakes at play, he’ll also be nearly — but not quite — unique.

That was made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished Happy New Year to reporters as he entered the courtroom, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted.

“I am here kidnapped since Jan. 3, Saturday,” Maduro said, standing and leaning his tall frame toward a tabletop microphone. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.”

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old jurist who was appointed to the federal bench in 1998 by Bill Clinton, interrupted him, saying: “There will be a time and place to go into all of this.” Hellerstein added that Maduro’s lawyer could do so later.

“At this point in time, I only want to know one thing,” the judge said. “Are you Nicolás Maduro Moros?”

“I am Nicolás Maduro Moros,” the defendant responded.

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he expects to contest the legality of his “military abduction.”

Pollack, a prominent Washington lawyer whose clients have included WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, said Maduro is “head of a sovereign state and is entitled to the privileges and immunities that go with that office.”

Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega unsuccessfully tried the same immunity defense after the U.S. captured him in a similar military invasion in 1990. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state — particularly after a much-disputed 2024 reelection.

Flores, who identified herself to the judge as “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela,” had bandages on her forehead and right temple. Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she suffered “significant injuries” during her capture.

A 25-page indictment accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted.

Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included the killing of a local drug boss in Caracas, the indictment said.

Outside the courthouse, police separated those protesting the U.S. military action from pro-intervention demonstrators. Inside the courtroom, as the proceeding wrapped up and Maduro prepared to leave, 33-year-old Pedro Rojas stood up and began speaking forcefully at him in Spanish.

Rojas said later that he had been imprisoned by the Venezuelan regime. As deputy U.S. marshals led Maduro from the courtroom, the deposed leader looked directly at the man and shot back in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”

Demands for Maduro’s return

Trump said Saturday the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily and reiterated Sunday night that “we’re in charge,” telling reporters “we’re going to run it, fix it.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to strike a more cautious tone, telling Sunday morning talk shows that the U.S. would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ” oil quarantine.”

Before his capture, Maduro and his allies claimed U.S. hostility was motivated by lust for Venezuela’s rich oil and mineral resources.

Trump has suggested that removing Maduro would enable more oil to flow out of Venezuela, but oil prices rose 1.7% on Monday. There are uncertainties about how fast oil production can be ramped up in Venezuela after years of neglect, as well as questions about governance and oversight of the sector.

Venezuela’s new interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has demanded that the U.S. return Maduro, who long denied any involvement in drug trafficking — although late Sunday she struck a more conciliatory tone in a social media post, inviting collaboration with Trump and “respectful relations” with the U.S.

Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday by her brother, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez.

“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said with her right hand up. “I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes.”

Maduro’s son and Venezuelan congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra warned on Monday that his father’s capture could set a dangerous precedent globally and demanded that his parents be returned.

“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability,” Maduro Guerra said

Also Monday, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting, with the top U.N. official warning that America may have violated international law with its unilateral action. The world body also spotlighted the profound humanitarian needs in Venezuela. Its people have endured a yearslong, complex economic crisis.

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