Author: Shelbi Swinscoe

Students in the New London Community School District will soon begin statewide assessments.

District officials say ISASP (which stands for Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) testing is set to begin the week of April 6 for students in grades 3 through 11, including Clark Elementary, New London Middle School, and New London High School.

The assessments are designed to measure student growth and academic progress over the school year. School leaders say the goal is not only to evaluate learning, but to ensure students feel calm, confident, and supported throughout the testing process.

Families are encouraged to help students prepare by making sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive to school on time. Keeping routines consistent and stress levels low can also make a big difference.

District staff say the most important message for students is simple, take your time and show what you know.

Breezy conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures are creating an increased fire risk across Iowa to start the week.

The National Weather Service says elevated fire weather conditions are expected Monday, with the greatest threat across southern and western parts of the state. Southwest winds could gust between 20 and 25 miles per hour, while temperatures climb near record highs, reaching into the upper 70s to mid-80s.

At the same time, humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 25 to 40 percent, leaving vegetation dry and highly flammable.

Officials are urging residents to avoid any outdoor burning. Even small fires or brush piles could spread quickly and become difficult to control under these conditions.

If possible, delay any burning until weather conditions improve later in the week.

Water quality once again took center stage during a legislative briefing in Fairfield.

Diane Rosenberg, executive director of Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors, raised concerns about the future of Iowa’s water quality sensor network, which provides real-time nitrate monitoring. In a question submitted to lawmakers, Rosenberg asked whether the state would support restoring funding for the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research by allocating one million dollars annually from the Groundwater Protection Fund. Current funding for the program is set to expire July first.

Representative Helena Hayes acknowledged the funding is ending but noted that some local governments, including Polk County, have stepped in to help temporarily. She also encouraged residents to take individual steps to improve water quality, such as installing in-home filtration systems.

Senator Adrian Dickey pointed out that the Walton Foundation has taken on funding responsibilities and questioned whether the state should continue a program initially supported by a private entity. He added that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources already conducts extensive water testing and said the state currently spends about 46.5 million dollars annually on water quality efforts.

Representative Jeff Shipley expressed support for maintaining access to water quality data, emphasizing that government has a responsibility to provide that information. He also noted additional concerns, including pollution from microplastics.

Following the forum, Rosenberg noted that many of the current funding efforts are only temporary. She said counties like Polk and Johnson have agreed to help fund the sensors, but only for a limited time if state funding is not restored.

Rosenberg stressed that the sensors play a critical role for smaller municipal water systems by providing nitrate readings every 15 minutes, allowing communities to respond quickly if levels become unsafe.

She added that maintaining access to reliable water data is essential for public health and warned against losing both the investment and the protections the system provides.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is warning Iowans about a new wave of fraudulent text messages claiming drivers owe money for unpaid traffic violations or tolls.

Officials say the messages appear to come from the Iowa DOT or a state “DMV,” and often include a link directing recipients to make a payment. However, the messages are scams designed to steal personal and financial information.

The Iowa DOT emphasizes that it does not send text messages requesting payment or personal information. Any official payment requests are handled through mail or secure online transactions initiated by the customer.

It’s also important to note that Iowa does not have toll roads, making any message referencing unpaid tolls an immediate red flag.

Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency, threatening additional fees, license suspension, or other penalties if payment is not made right away.

State officials urge anyone who receives one of these messages not to click on any links or respond. Instead, report the message as spam and delete it.

If you’re unsure whether a message is legitimate, officials recommend contacting the Iowa DOT directly using verified contact information.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is inviting the community to come out and support its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser next weekend.

The breakfast will be held Saturday, April 4th, from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the fire station. This long-standing tradition is held each year on the Saturday before Easter.

Those attending can enjoy hot pancakes, fresh whole hog sausage, along with milk, coffee, and orange juice. The event is a free will donation, with all proceeds going directly toward supporting the department.

Last year, the breakfast served approximately 800 people, highlighting strong community support for local firefighters.

Funds raised help supplement the department’s operating needs and allow for the purchase of essential equipment. In past years, donations have helped provide items like boots and gloves for firefighters.

This year, the department is hoping to invest in training tools known as “Rescue Randy” mannequins, including both adult and child-sized versions. These are used to simulate real-life rescue situations, helping firefighters practice removing victims from structures or safely transporting patients at accident scenes.

The department is also working toward a long-term goal of replacing its John Deere side-by-side, which is frequently used during grass fire responses and in situations where emergency crews need to reach injured individuals in hard-to-access areas, such as wooded terrain or local trails.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is made up of 26 volunteer firefighters, including five officers. On average, the department responds to around 150 calls each year and completed more than 800 hours of training in 2025 alone.

Officials say fundraisers like the pancake breakfast play a critical role in helping the department continue providing essential services and maintaining the equipment needed to keep the community safe.

Residents are encouraged to stop by, enjoy a good meal, and support their local firefighters.

Iowa law enforcement agencies are preparing for a statewide effort to crack down on distracted driving next month.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, along with the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force and law enforcement agencies across the state, will conduct a hands-free traffic enforcement project April 6th through April 10th. The effort coincides with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Officials say the goal is to educate drivers and increase compliance with Iowa’s hands-free driving law, which prohibits the use of electronic devices while driving unless they are in hands-free mode.

The law first went into effect in July of 2025 with a warning period, and full enforcement began January 1st of this year. Since then, more than 2,400 citations and over 1,900 warnings have been issued statewide.

Violating the law is now considered a moving violation, carrying a fine of 170 dollars.

State officials say there are several ways drivers can comply with the law, including using Bluetooth, speakerphone, voice commands, or phone mounts.

The enforcement project is part of a broader effort to reduce distracted driving and improve safety on Iowa roadways. Officials note that the hands-free law played a role in helping Iowa reach a historic low in traffic fatalities in 2025.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, keep their hands on the wheel, and stay focused behind the wheel.

The National Weather Service is warning of high to critical fire danger across parts of Iowa as dry conditions and strong winds continue.

According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, a combination of low humidity, gusty winds, and dry vegetation is creating conditions where fires can start easily and spread rapidly.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for portions of the state, meaning critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or expected shortly.

Winds could gust between 25 to 40 miles per hour, while humidity levels may drop as low as 15 to 25 percent. Officials say that combination significantly increases the risk of fast-moving fires.

Even in areas without a warning, elevated fire danger remains across much of the region, especially along and west of the Mississippi River.

Because of this, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Officials are also reminding residents to avoid anything that could create sparks, including improperly discarded cigarettes or equipment use in dry grass.

The National Weather Service says any fire that starts under these conditions can quickly become difficult to control.