Author: Kadie Johannson

A high-speed pursuit that began in Washington County ended with a fiery crash and multiple felony charges on Sunday.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies attempted a traffic stop Sunday afternoon near Ainsworth after spotting a silver Chevy Impala without license plates traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. The driver fled, prompting a multi-agency pursuit.

Authorities say the vehicle ultimately crashed in Louisa County and caught fire. The car was confirmed to be stolen from Cedar Rapids.

The driver, identified as 30-year-old Victor Richard Hughes of Cedar Rapids, was taken into custody. He faces numerous charges, including felony eluding, operating while intoxicated first offense, driving under suspension, possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, theft, misuse of 911, and multiple traffic violations.

Hughes was transported to and booked into the Washington County Jail. No injuries were reported.

All charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Three Burlington men are facing felony charges after police say they conspired to tamper with a witness in an effort to have criminal charges dropped.

According to the Burlington Police Department, 19-year-old Nicholas Connelly, his brother Alex Connelly, 30, and 18-year-old Tavis Teager have each been charged with witness tampering, a Class C felony.

Investigators say the three worked together while Nicholas Connelly was incarcerated, attempting to persuade a robbery victim to change statements previously given to police. Detectives were alerted on December 5th after the victim told officers they wanted to revise their account of a robbery. Police say that claim was contradicted by video evidence.

Authorities later determined the victim had been advised by Alex Connelly to change the statement so Nicholas Connelly could be released from jail. Investigators also uncovered recorded jail calls and phone messages linking all three men to the alleged scheme.

Nicholas Connelly is already facing multiple felony charges, including first-degree robbery, following a November armed robbery and a December police chase that ended in a crash. He remains held at the Des Moines County Jail on a 122-thousand-dollar cash-only bond. Teager is being held on a 10-thousand-dollar cash-only bond, while Alex Connelly has posted bond and waived his preliminary hearing.

All charges remain accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The Burlington Police Department reports an arrest following a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash Sunday morning.

Police say officers, along with Burlington Fire Department EMTs, were called to the Jet Stop parking lot at 901 South Street just after 7 a.m. on January 4th. Two adult pedestrians were struck by a vehicle that then fled the scene. One victim was transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

Officers later located the suspect vehicle at a residence in the 1200 block of Osborn Street. The driver, identified as Marlin Britton, was taken into custody and transported to the Des Moines County Jail.

Britton is charged with two counts of willful injury, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. He remains in custody on bond. Police remind the public that all charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The League of Women Voters of Southeast Iowa will present a town hall program about artificial intelligence (AI) at the Burlington Public Library on Tuesday, January 20 at 6 p.m.

Chuck Chrisman, the Vice President of Technology Services at Southeastern Community College, will be the speaker. With over 32 years of experience, he is passionate about supporting students, faculty, and staff, and enjoys living and contributing to the communities of Southeast Iowa.

He provides training on artificial intelligence to faculty and staff, helping them explore practical, ethical, and secure uses of AI in education. Chrisman also provides technology services and security support to the Iowa Community College Online Consortium.

The presentation will introduce the foundations of artificial intelligence—what is AI, how it’s used, its benefits and risks, and key tips for staying safe when using AI tools.

The event is free and open to the public to attend.

Farmers across southeast Iowa are among those benefiting from millions of dollars invested in conservation efforts through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa farmers and private landowners worked with NRCS in fiscal year 2025 to implement conservation practices on more than 258,000 acres statewide. Those efforts included addressing soil erosion, improving water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat, with a total of $75.3 million obligated through Farm Bill conservation programs.

In southeast Iowa, Wapello County ranked second in the state for Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, participation. Sixteen contracts there will cover more than 5,400 acres, bringing nearly $1.7 million in conservation funding to local farms. EQIP allows producers to choose conservation practices tailored to local resource concerns.

Popular conservation practices across the region included cover crops, grazing management, fencing to support livestock rotation, brush management, and installation of watering facilities. These practices are aimed at protecting soil health while keeping farms productive.

NRCS also invested millions statewide through the Conservation Stewardship Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program, supporting long-term conservation planning and land protection. Additional funding helped address water quality concerns in the Mississippi River Basin and supported wildlife habitat projects.

State conservation officials say Iowa’s strong participation reflects continued interest from farmers in protecting land and water resources while maintaining working farms. Enrollment for USDA conservation programs remains open year-round through local USDA Service Centers.