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Oskaloosa Schools Condemn Racial Slur Incident

Below is a press release from the Oskaloosa Community School District in response to an incident that occurred on Wednesday at the Lacey Recreation Complex.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Community School District is aware of an incident involving four individuals in a vehicle from outside our community that occurred Wednesday afternoon during a soccer practice at our athletic complex.

During the incident, these individuals drove around Drost Field at the Lacey Athletic Complex while coaches and student-athletes were engaged in practice and directed racial slurs at high school and middle school students and staff. Law enforcement was immediately contacted, and the situation was turned over to the Oskaloosa Police Department.

We have since learned the individuals involved are from neighboring communities and not affiliated with Oskaloosa Schools. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation continues. The Oskaloosa Leadership Team is pursuing all available actions, including criminal charges, no-trespass orders, and any additional remedies allowed under Iowa law and school board policy to ensure these individuals are not permitted on our property again and ensure the safety of all our people.

We want to be clear: there is no place for this kind of behavior in our community. Not on our fields. Not in our schools. Not in our community.

Our expectation is that everyone treats one another with respect. When someone chooses to use hateful language toward our students or our staff, they are not just breaking rules – they are violating the basic standard of our vision culture that we expect from everyone.

In this instance, our coaches and student-athletes responded in a safe, healthy, and kind way. They stayed focused, they reported the situation, and they trusted it would be handled. The Oskaloosa Schools Leadership Team and our entire organization have their backs, and we always will. The safety, dignity, and health of our students and staff come first, and we will not hesitate to act when that value is threatened.

At Oskaloosa Schools, our Vision Culture calls us to Love, Empower, and Inspire People. That is not just a slogan. It is the expectation we live by. Loving people means standing up when someone is harmed. Empowering people means ensuring our students and staff know they are safe and protected. Inspiring people means showing, through our actions, the kind of people we strive to be.

TSA boss warns of airport shutdowns, but no deal yet on day 40 of Homeland Security funding fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Transportation Security Administration may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on, the agency’s acting head said Wednesday, even as record wait time for travelers did little to end the standoff over the funding fight in Congress.

The TSA’s Ha Nguyen McNeill described the mounting hardships facing unpaid airport workers — piling up bills and eviction notices, even plasma donations to make ends meet — and warned that lawmakers must ensure “this never happens again.”

“This is a dire situation,” she testified at a House hearing, warning of potential airport closures. “At this point, we have to look at all options on the table. And that does require us to, at some point, make very difficult choices as to which airports we might try to keep open and which ones we might have to shut down as our callout rates increase.”

Yet on the 40th day of the standoff involving the Department of Homeland Security, there was no easy way out in sight. Neither Republican senators, who made the latest offer, nor Democrats, who countered by reiterating their demands for changes to President Donald Trump ‘s immigration enforcement operations, appeared closer to a compromise.

Trump, who initially appeared to have given his nod to the deal, has declined to lend it his full support or put his political weight behind making sure it is approved.

Top officials at agencies under the DHS umbrella spoke for more than three-hours before the House Homeland Security Committee about the potential risks of security lapses unless the partial government shutdown comes to an end.

A deal teeters on collapse

DHS has gone without routine funding since mid-February. Democrats are insisting on changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations after the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by federal officers during protests.

The latest GOP proposal would fund most of DHS except for the enforcement and removal operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that have been central to the debate. The plan would provide money for other aspects of ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection.

While the offer added some new restraints on immigration officers, including the use of body cameras, it excluded other policies that Democrats have demanded, such as requirements that federal agents wear identification and refrain from conducting raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said they needed to see real changes. “We’ve been talking about ICE reforms from day one,” he said.

Republican leaders said Democrats are putting the country at risk.

“They know this is crazy,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

But conservative Republicans also panned the proposal, demanding full funding for immigration operations and skeptical of the promise from GOP leaders that they would address Trump’s proof-of-citizenship voting bill in a subsequent legislative package.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said late Wednesday that if Democrats put a “more realistic offer on the table, we’ll be back in business.”

Airport lines grow as TSA workers endure hardships

McNeill, the acting TSA administrator, told lawmakers that multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates and more than 480 transportation security officers have now quit during the shutdown.

She cited the growing financial strain on the TSA workforce.

“Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet, all while being expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” she said.

McNeil also said TSA officers working at the nation’s airports have experienced a more than 500% increase in the frequency of assaults since the shutdown began.

“This is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” McNeill said.

The top executive overseeing Houston’s airport said security lines that have travelers waiting four hours or more could get longer if the political impasse was not soon settled.

Lines that twist and turn across multiple floors at George Bush Intercontinental Airport have been the result of TSA only being able to staff one-third to one-half the usual number of checkpoint lines, said Jim Szczesniak, aviation director for Houston’s airport system.

Trump’s decision to send ICE agents to the airports risks inflaming the situation, lawmakers have said. Video footage of federal officers detaining a crying woman at San Francisco International Airport drew outrage Monday from local officials, although it was unrelated to Trump’s order to deploy immigration officers.

FEMA also at risk

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is “rapidly depleting,” Victoria Barton, a FEMA external affairs official, told lawmakers.

FEMA is able to continue its disaster response and recovery work as long as that fund has money, and about 10,000 of its disaster workers continue being paid through it.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 4 cents from last week’s price and is currently averaging $3.31 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $8.53 per barrel, and is currently priced at $90.54.
  • Brent crude oil fell by $7.25 cents and is currently priced at $101.66.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $69.48 and Brent crude was $73.78.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.31 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices fell 4 cents from last week’s price and are up 30 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $3.98, up 14 cents from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 22 cents this week with a statewide average of $4.85.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.33 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 148 cents lower than the national average of $3.37.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.49 for U87-E10, $2.90 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $3.56 for ULSD#2, $3.69 for ULSD#1, and $2.28 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were down 11 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.93 MMbtu.
  • Propane prices averaged $1.62 per gallon in Iowa.
  • Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $4.36 per gallon.

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

Iowa 14 Improvements between Monroe and Knoxville to Resume This Spring

DES MOINES — Iowa 14 between Monroe and Knoxville will be improved beginning spring 2025 through 2029.

In 2026, the bridges over White Breast Creek and the bridge over Teter Creek will be overlayed.

Traffic Impacts

Iowa 14 will remain open to traffic during the bridge overlays on White Breast Creek and Teter Creek.

Starting spring 2026 through fall, traffic impacts will include staged lane closures on both bridges while the project is underway reducing the crossing to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

White Breast Creek Bridge

The bridge over White Breast Creek was constructed in 1965. Previous work on the structure includes beam repair (1981), overlay and rail retrofit (1989), retrofit of rail ends (2001), and epoxy injection of the bridge deck (2014).  The existing overlay is at the end of its lifespan and there is deterioration of the bridge deck.

To address this we will make the following improvements:

  • Bridge deck overlay.
  • Reconstruct abutment backwalls, barrier rail, and end sections.
  • Reconstruct end of deck and abutment diaphragm.
  • Replace joints at both abutments.
  • Clean and paint girder bearings at the abutments.
  • Reconstruct the top floor beam pedestals at both abutments.
  • Replace approach pavement at both bridge ends.

Teter Creek Bridge

The bridge over Teter Creek was constructed in 1965. Previous work on the structure includes beam repair (1981), overlay and rail retrofit (1989), retrofit of rail ends (2001), and epoxy injection of the bridge deck (2014 and 2017).  The existing overlay is at the end of its lifespan and there is deterioration of the bridge deck.

To address this we will make the following improvements:

  • Bridge deck overlay.
  • Reconstruct abutment backwalls, barrier rail, and end sections.
  • Replace joints at both abutments.
  • Clean and paint girder bearings at the abutments.
  • Patch approach pavement at both bridge ends.

39th Annual Sweet Corn Serenade: Call for Vendor Applicants

OSKALOOSA — Oskaloosa Main Street announced that preparations are underway for the 39th annual Sweet Corn Serenade. This beloved community event has become a summer tradition for residents and visitors alike. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, July 23 from 12-9 pm in downtown Oskaloosa.

Looking to be a vendor? Oskaloosa Main Street is now accepting applications! The event is an excellent opportunity for local and regional businesses, crafters, and artisans to showcase their products to a large, vibrant crowd. Sweet Corn Serenade draws over 4,000 attendees each year, making it the perfect platform to connect with the Oskaloosa and surrounding communities.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating our 39th year of Sweet Corn Serenade this summer,” said Angie Foster, Oskaloosa Main Street Director. “This event has become a cornerstone of the summer season, and we look forward to another year of celebration with freshly cooked sweet corn, Mahaska County Cattlemen’s hamburgers, Jaarsma pie, and Mahaska drinks. In addition, be sure to check out local food trucks surrounding the square.”

The early bird vendor deadline is June 15, 2026, and the final registration deadline is July 1, 2026! Don’t wait, sign up now! Sweet Corn Serenade will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, live music, and more! Stay tuned to Oskaloosa Main Street’s Facebook page or visit https://www.mahaskachamber.org/mainstreet/page/sweet_corn_serenade/ for more information.

A timeline of the deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport

NEW YORK (AP) — It took less than a minute for a routine landing to spiral into a deadly crash Sunday at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. But the collision between an Air Canada flight and a fire truck crossing the runway was the culmination of a series of events that began much earlier.

The Associated Press created this timeline based on a review of air traffic control recordings and information from the Federal Aviation Administration, publicly available flight tracking data and the National Transportation Safety Board, including information it obtained from the jet’s cockpit voice recorder.

A late departure from Montreal

10:12 p.m.: Air Canada Express Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, leaves Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, two hours and 13 minutes late. By the time the aircraft reaches New York, it is part of an influx of late-arriving flights, including some waiting extended periods for a gate.

Issues on the ground at LaGuardia

11:16:42 p.m.: A United aircraft, Flight 2384, aborts takeoff for a second time because of an anti-ice warning light in the cockpit.

11:20:48 p.m.: “We have an odor on the plane as well here at this time,” the United pilot reports. “We are going to be going back to the gate, request fire as well,” using shorthand for the airport’s fire rescue team.

11:21:12 p.m.: Another pilot chimes in: “If that’s a sewer smell … we smelled that too going around the terminal there.”

11:22:24 p.m.: A controller asks the United pilot if it is a smoke odor. He responds: “No, it was a weird odor. I don’t know exactly how to describe it,” and says he can’t get ahold of anyone to obtain a gate assignment.

11:24:49 p.m.: The controller confirms there is no gate available. He asks the pilot, “Do you still need us to send fire there?” The pilot says yes, citing the odor.

11:27:44 p.m.: United 2384’s pilot tells the controller he doesn’t plan on evacuating the plane. The controller instructs the pilot to move to another taxiway.

11:29:54 p.m.: United 2384 makes a wrong turn and ends up in a different part of the taxiway, but the controller doesn’t sound concerned. “You can just stay over there … and we’ll have the guys go over there,” he says.

11:31:41 p.m.: United 2384 declares an emergency. The pilot says: “The flight attendants in the back are feeling ill because of the odor. We will need to go into any available gate at this time.”

11:31:59 p.m.: The controller asks again if there’s an available gate, telling the person he’s speaking with, “now they’re declaring an emergency. They want to get out.”

11:33:39 p.m.: The controller tells United 2384 there is still no open gate, but fire trucks are headed over with a stair truck if they want to evacuate. “Let me know if you do,” he says.

Flight 8646 is cleared to land

11:34:18 p.m.: In a routine step near the end of a flight, the air traffic controller handling approaches into LaGuardia instructs the pilots of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 pilots to contact the airport’s control tower, which will guide them the rest of the way.

11:35:08 p.m.: Flight 8646 is cleared to land on Runway 4/22.

Fire truck is cleared to cross

11:36:45 p.m.: At the airport, a controller asks: “Is there a vehicle that needed to cross the runway?”

11:37:00 p.m.: “Truck 1 and company, LaGuardia Tower, requesting to cross 4 at Delta,” the firefighter says, meaning he is requesting clearance to use Taxiway D to cross Runway 4 — the same runway where Flight 8646 is about to land.

11:37:05 p.m.: “Truck 1 and company cross 4 at Delta,” the controller says, authorizing the truck and other emergency vehicles to cross Runway 4. Simultaneously, on a different frequency, the pilot on the odor-stricken United flight reports that his plane has finally been cleared to go to a gate.

11:37:08 p.m.: “Truck 1 and company crossing 4 at Delta,” a firefighter in Truck 1 repeats, confirming that the controller has cleared the vehicle to cross.

11:37:11 p.m.: An electronic call out in Flight 8646’s cockpit indicates the plane is 50 feet above the ground.

11:37:12 p.m.: A controller tells the pilot of an outbound Frontier Airlines flight to stop on a taxiway.

Flight 8646 lands and collides with the fire truck

11:37:15 p.m.: “Sorry, Truck 1,” a controller says as Flight 8646 bears down on Runway 4/22.

11:37:16 p.m.: A controller then frantically tells the fire crew: “Stop. Stop Stop. Stop. Truck 1. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.”

11:37:17 p.m.: Flight 8646’s cockpit voice recorder captures a sound that investigators say is consistent with the plane’s landing gear touching down..

11:37:19 p.m.: Flight 8646’s first officer, who was flying the plane, transfers control to the captain.

11:37:20 p.m.: The controller continues, “Stop Truck 1. Stop. Stop Truck 1. Stop.” As he speaks, an alarm begins to beep.

11:37:25 p.m.: Flight 8646 slams into the fire truck. The cockpit voice recording stops.

Aftermath

11:37:45 p.m.: A controller tells the pilot of the next plane set to land to “go around,” meaning he should keep flying instead of landing.

The controller then tries to raise the pilots of Flight 8646. “I see you collided with a vehicle there. Just hold position. I know you can’t move. Vehicles are responding to you now.” Other rescue vehicles race to the crash site.

11:55:37 p.m.: The pilot of another plane tells a controller: “That wasn’t good to watch.” The controller responds: “Yeah, I know. I was here … We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.” The pilot says: “Nah, man, you did the best you could.”

Improve paddling skills with DNR canoe and kayak schools

DES MOINES — Naturalists, youth group leaders and others who take people out on the water in canoes and kayaks are encouraged to attend one of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) paddling schools.

Participants will learn paddling skills, how to identify hazard and river features, tips for teaching different learning styles, and risk management strategies. Instruction time will be one-third classroom and two-thirds on-water in both lake and river environments, solo and tandem.

All courses will be taught at Briggs Woods, along the Boone River in Hamilton County. The canoe school is limited to 12 participants and the kayak school is limited to eight participants. This is not a beginner level course; participants should have previous paddling experience.

The schedule for 2026 paddling schools is:

  • May 12-13, Canoe School
  • June 17-18, Kayak School
  • Aug. 5-6, Kayak School
  • Sept. 15-16, Canoe School

DNR paddling schools are designed for either canoeing or kayaking instruction. Make sure you register for your preferred instruction. Registration fee is $65 for each two-day course. Overnight accommodations are not included in the registration fee. Participants have the options to camp, rent a cabin, or stay in Webster City at a motel while participating in the two-day school.

To register or for more information, go to www.iowadnr.gov/paddling-schools. Get your registration in quickly, these classes fill up fast.

Oskaloosa School Board Approves 2026-27 Calendar, Holds Public Hearing for Property Tax Levy

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Community School Board held a regular meeting last night and approved their academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year. The first day of school for K-12 students will be on August 24, while the last day will be on May 27, 2027.

There is one major change beginning next school year for Oskaloosa students: Wednesdays will be full school days with no more early dismissals on those days. In exchange, there will be a few additional days during the year when teachers will be working, but students will not be in school. According to the district, this adjustment will help with instructional time for students while still meeting required staff professional learning and work time.

The full calendar can be viewed here.

The board also held a public hearing for their proposed property tax levy for Fiscal Year 2027. The proposed levy of approximately $14.30 per $1,000 of taxable valuation is about $0.40 higher than last year’s levy of approximately $13.90. 

Superintendent Mike Fisher explained that the proposed number will likely not match the final number, which is expected to be lower.

Fisher added that the increase in the levy largely boiled down to rising special education costs.

The next regular meeting with the Oskaloosa Community School Board is scheduled for April 14.

Oskaloosa Police Investigating Church Burglaries

OSKALOOSA – The Oskaloosa Police Department is currently investigating several burglaries that have taken place at churches in the Oskaloosa community.

In a statement released on social media, the Oskaloosa Police Department asked churches, nearby residents, and businesses to review any security camera footage from the past several days, including and especially during overnight hours.

Law enforcement is particularly interested in:

  • Suspicious vehicles parked near churches late at night
  • Individuals walking around church property after hours
  • Anyone checking doors or attempting to enter buildings

Church leaders are encouraged to:

  • Ensure doors and windows are secured
  • Check alarm and camera systems
  • Report suspicious activity immediately

Those with video footage or information that may assist investigators are encouraged to contact the Oskaloosa Police Department at 641-673-3201; or, if you observe any suspicious activity in progress, call 911.

Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, and Newton Recognized with Tree City USA Awards; William Penn University Named Tree Campus USA

DES MOINES – Every year the Urban Forestry Awards luncheon recognizes cities, college campuses and utilities that demonstrate a variety of dedication to the importance of trees in their respective communities.

Awards will be presented April 8 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. A full list of award winners follows.

Tree City USA Award – To qualify for the Tree City USA award, a city must have either a city forester or an active city tree board, have a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program, and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

The award recipients are Adel, Ames, Arnolds Park, Atlantic, Belle Plaine, Bettendorf, Bondurant, Boone, Burlington, Carlisle, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Clarinda, Clarksville, Clinton, Clive, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Cresco, Davenport, Decorah, Denver, Des Moines, DeWitt, Dubuque, Dysart, Fort Dodge, Greene, Grimes, Grundy Center, Hampton, Hillsboro, Hopkinton, Huxley, Indianola, Iowa City, Jefferson, Johnston, Livermore, Luxemburg, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion, Marquette, Marshalltown, Mason City, Maxwell, Muscatine, Newton, North Liberty, Odebolt, Oelwein, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Red Oak, Sioux City, Spencer, Story City, Tipton, Urbandale, Washington, Waterloo, Waukee, Waverly, Webster City, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and Winterset.

Tree City USA Growth Award – To qualify for the Tree City USA Growth award, cities must provide education and public relations, partnerships, planning and management, and tree planting and maintenance in their community.

The award recipients, which were also recipients of the Tree City USA award, are Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Decorah, Des Moines, Dysart, Grundy Center, Iowa City, Johnston, Marion, Marquette, Mason City, Oelwein, Polk City, Story City, Waverly, West Des Moines, and Winterset.

Tree City of the World – Recognition through the Tree Cities of the World program represents the first step toward achieving a green vision for your city. To receive recognition, a town or city must meet five core standards: responsibility for the care of trees, official policy that governs the management of forests and trees, updated inventory or assessment, a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of the tree management plan and an annual celebration of trees.

Burlington, Decorah, Des Moines and Iowa City are this year’s award recipients.

Tree Campus USA Award – To qualify for the Tree Campus USA award, a campus must have a campus Tree Advisory Committee, a tree care plan, a tree program with dedicated annual expenditures, an annual Arbor Day observance and a service learning project to engage the student body.

The award recipients are Divine Word College, Drake University, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community College, University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and William Penn University.

Tree Line USA Award – To qualify for the Tree Line USA award, a utility must meet five minimum requirements, including quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, a tree-based energy conservation program and an annual Arbor Day celebration.

The award recipients are Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy and Waverly Utilities.

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