U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) will host a Service Academy Open House on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Johnston, for students interested in pursuing an appointment to one of the nation’s military academies.

As a U.S. Army veteran, Ernst has the honor of nominating up to 15 eligible Iowa students each year to each U.S. service academy.

“As the mom of a West Point graduate, nominating the next generation to our nation’s service academies is one of my greatest honors,” said Ernst. “My 23 years of military service shaped my life, and I am proud of the young Iowans who are stepping up to answer the call to service. I look forward to meeting with leaders throughout our state interested in learning more about our academies.”

Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy will be on hand to share information about their programs and answer questions about the application and nomination process.

America’s service academies offer students a unique opportunity to serve the nation while earning a full, four-year scholarship at some of the country’s most respected institutions of higher learning.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Brenda_Safranski@ernst.senate.gov or call (515) 284-4574.

The academy nomination application can be found online here.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that, in response to record demand, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is extending the deadline for farmers to sign up for cover crop cost-share assistance. Producers now have until September 18 to apply, and additional funding has been allocated to allow more farmers to participate.

“Farmers across Iowa continue to show their commitment to conservation and water quality by incorporating cover crops and other proven practices,” Naig said. “We want to ensure that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to get involved.”

Cover Crop Cost-Share

• $30 per acre for farmers planting cover crops for the first time.
• $20 per acre for farmers who have already been using cover crops.
• Funding is limited to 160 acres per participant.

Additional Assistance for First-Time Users

• $10 per acre for farmers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till.
• $3 per acre for those using a nitrogen inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer.
• Funding is also limited to 160 acres per participant.

Applications are available now through local soil and water conservation offices, located in each county’s USDA Service Center. Farmers and landowners are encouraged to visit with staff about additional cost-share opportunities and conservation programs beyond the state-funded initiatives.

To learn more about Iowa’s conservation efforts and available resources, visit CleanWaterIowa.org.

On Friday, September 5, 2025, Burlington Police responded to reports of gunfire in the 900 block of Iowa Street. Officers arrived on scene at approximately 6:29 p.m. and discovered multiple shell casings in the roadway as well as damage to a house that had been struck by bullets. No injuries were reported.

Detectives from the department’s Criminal Investigation Division assisted with the case, interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, and reviewing surveillance footage from the area. Through the investigation, police identified 31-year-old Darius Smallwood of Mount Pleasant as a suspect.

Officers later located Smallwood and transported him to the Burlington Police Department for questioning. He was subsequently taken to the Des Moines County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, a Class C felony.

Police emphasize that a criminal charge is only an accusation and that Smallwood is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

WACO High School has announced its 2025 Homecoming Court, as voted on by students this morning. Selected members are (L-R): Nick West, Morgan Leichty, Niles Reichenbach, Aliyah Graber, Raefe Davison, and Morgan Meyer.

The student body will cast another round of votes next Wednesday, with the king and queen set to be crowned during Boom Night festivities.

Homecoming week is packed with events, starting with volleyball at home Thursday evening, with the freshman/sophomore team playing at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Boom Night kicks off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, featuring a pep rally, the always-popular “Evolution of Dance,” coronation, Boom Boom volleyball, and Powder Puff football.

School will be in session all day Friday, leading up to the big football game against HLV/TC at 7 p.m. The week concludes with the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports Iowa’s statewide pheasant population is at a 20-year high.  This report comes as the state celebrates the 100^th anniversary of pheasant hunting. While populations vary regionally and locally, a mild winter helped the survival rates for both hens and roosters overall.

Chick survival per hen wasn’t as good as last year, but a larger number of nests made up for it. Statewide, staff reported 1,038 pheasant broods, which is 338 more than in 2024. The DNR annual roadside survey of small game populations covers 225 different 30-mile routes. The 2025 survey counted more pheasants, quail, cottontail rabbits and partridge than last year.