090519 404 Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed a new Iowa Department of Human Services director a couple of months after she abruptly ousted Jerry Foxhoven from the position. Kelly Kennedy Garcia is scheduled to start leading the state’s biggest agency November first. She’s currently a deputy executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Garcia has also worked for the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, which studies whether state agencies should be abolished, and for

A northwest Iowa woman accused of lying about killing her husband has entered a plea. Plymouth County District Court records say 35-year-old Becky Hebert, of rural Akron, entered a written Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts. In an Alford plea, a person doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Her sentencing has not been scheduled. She had originally been charged with second-degree murder for the Oct. 6, 2017,

090419 504 It looks like the dispute over ethanol waivers will go one a little longer than expected. Governor Kim Reynolds says due to the natural disaster caused by hurricane Dorian, the Trump Administration’s announcement about ethanol has been delayed. Reynolds says they are still working on the deal. Last week President Trump promised on Twitter that his administration is coming up with a “great package” to boost ethanol. The pledge came after the uproar over 31 waivers to oil refineries,

Governor Kim Reynolds says due to the natural disaster caused by hurricane Dorian, the Trump Administration’s announcement about ethanol has been delayed.Gov. Reynolds says they are still working on a deal. Last week President Trump promised on Twitter that his administration is coming up with a “great package” to boost ethanol. The pledge came after the uproar over 31 waivers to oil refineries, reducing the amount of ethanol that must be blended into gasoline. Iowa’s governor spoke with Vice

A northwest Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the July death of a man injured in a car crash. Thirty-eight-year-old Darrick Toel, of Le Mars, pleaded not guilty in Woodbury County District Court to charges of vehicular homicide and operating while intoxicated. Toel was the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a tree on the evening of July 1. His passenger, 37-year-old Ryan Toel of Struble, was injured and died two days later. An Iowa agency is keeping secret a list of about

Over the Labor Day Weekend thousands of people gathered at Riverside Park for ArtSplash. After a slower start on Saturday because of rainy weather, Sunday brought out a huge crowd and about a dozen people shared their thoughts on this annual Sioux City festival with Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer. On the final afternoon at ArtSplash Siouxland Public Media caught up with the Development Coordinator for the Art Center, Erin Webber-Dreeszen. She’s in charge of the annual event and says

090219 532 A Remsen woman who had been reported as missing has notified authorities that she is safe in Vermont. Twenty-seven-year-old Nicole Ann Trometer contacted Iowa law enforcement agencies at 12:30 p.m. today to tell them she was in Vermont. She later confirmed her identity at the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Vermont, and the missing person investigation in Iowa was closed. Trometer told authorities that she had willingly traveled to Vermont with Daniel Kittredge. She was reported

090319 504 Slow or no economic growth is expected over the next several months in nine Midwest and Plains states, according to a new report from business supply managers. The report issued today says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped below growth neutral in August, hitting 49.3 compared with 52.0 in July. The index had remained above growth neutral for 32 straight months. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss blamed the slowdown on weak farm and manufacturing sectors,

090319 432 The ongoing trade dispute with China is likely to cost Nebraska’s farmers $943 million in lost revenue this year, according to the Nebraska Farm Bureau. However, the bureau says those losses will be partly offset by aid payments from the government. But, the bureau says the lost revenue will add to the financial pressure on farmers in the state and hurt Nebraska's economy. And the global economic slowdown and restrictive tariffs are part of the reason for stalled growth in nine

090419 404 A new report suggests slow or no economic growth over the next several months in nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued today says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped below growth neutral in August, hitting 49.3 compared with 52.0 in July. The index had remained above growth neutral for 32 straight months. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he blamed the slowdown on weak farm and manufacturing sectors, produced in part by