Medicare scam warning as thousands of Iowans face coverage changes
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Insurance Division is warning Medicare beneficiaries about scams during open enrollment as people choose health insurance plans for 2027. “Open enrollment season for Iowans means it’s scam season for criminals,” said Attorney General Brenna Bird. “If you or someone you love is on Medicare, please be very careful of Medicare scams. If someone is calling you about Medicare, it’s almost definitely a scam because Medicare does not initiate calls to people directly. ”
Gas price 17 cents lower than a week ago
DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 17 cents from last week's price, averaging $3.97 across Iowa, according to AAA. The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate by $10.23 per barrel to $92.19. Brent crude oil fell by $16.36 to $99.28. One year ago, WTI crude sold for $61.79 and Brent crude was $65.79. As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.97, up $1.23 from a year ago. The national average Wednesday was $4.12, down
Roughly 20 Union Pacific train cars derailed near Carlisle
CARLISLE, Iowa — Authorities say no injuries were reported after roughly 20 train cars derailed outside Carlisle. The train derailment occurred around 5 a.m. Wednesday, about two miles northwest of Carlisle, according to a spokesperson from Union Pacific. Officials say roughly 20 cars derailed during the incident. According to officials, no injuries have been reported, […]
Valley West Mall tenants left in the dark before closure
Joining the more than 14,000 American malls that have closed over the last decade, Valley West Mall in West Des Moines opened its doors for the last time at the end of October. The mall was purchased in late September by Threshold Capital, a West Des Moines real estate and...
Rainfall and warmest low records broken in Siouxland
On November 2, 2026, Sioux City and Sioux Falls broke their daily rainfall totals. On November 1, 2026, Sioux Falls tied their warmest low record, with Sioux City breaking theirs the next day.
Area EMS and Fire Crews Join Star of Life Challenge Spreading Across Social Media
Several area emergency medical services and fire departments have taken part in the Star of Life Challenge, a social media trend making its way from department to department across the country. The challenge asks crews to use three people’s bodies to form the shape of the Star of Life —...
How Fat Are Iowans Actually? The Latest Deep-Fried Statistics Show
Your love of fried food may not be as bad as you think.
Iowans can ‘go green’ starting tomorrow as a salute to veterans
While today is all about red versus blue, tomorrow’s color will be green. A program called Operation Green Light is a way to show visible support and gratitude for the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many local, state and federal office buildings will...
Iowan accused of running unlicensed hospital makes ‘sovereign citizen’ claim
An Iowa man criminally charged with running an unlicensed hospital in a rural area of Appanoose County is alleging in court that as “a living man” he is not under the jurisdiction of the state’s licensing boards. In August 2026, Centerville’s Old Cabin Retreat, which had allegedly...
John Deere Calls Laid-Off Iowa Workers Back to Jobs
Deere & Co. officials are requesting 275 previously laid-off employees at its Waterloo, Iowa, factory return to work. When added to previously announced callbacks, that means the company has asked 1,000 laid-off staff to rejoin John Deere since 2024, including all Waterloo, the Quad Cities, Ottumwa and Dubuque staff. An estimated 125 Des Moines workers remain laid off.
