LANSING, Iowa (KCRG) – The state Auditor’s Office says Lansing Emergency Medical Services spent more than $15,000 on private holiday parties. The purchases are part of around $18,000 in improper and unsupported disbursements made by the department between January 2019 and September 2025. The Allamakee County Auditor’s Office requested the audit in February last year with concerns that Lansing EMS had inaccurate financial and meeting reports, unauthorized spending for holiday parties, and that officials were approving themselves for raises. The audit found three different checks totaling more than $7,300 made out to the T.J. Hunters banquet hall for food, drinks and gratuity. There was a $3,000 check for the Lansing Fire Department labeled as “Christmas Party.” There were also checks made to local restaurants, including Milty’s and Shep’s Riverside Bar. In addition, there were more than 40 purchases for party supplies, gift cards given out as prizes at the parties and other gifts, including an award plaque, framed art and a candy bouquet. The money going toward these holiday parties was audited as improper because the parties were only for EMS staff and volunteers and not open to the public. In addition to the party payments, the audit found that three volunteers were overpaid. The overpayments ranged between $10 and $60 more than what was supposed to be paid, totaling $240. The Auditor’s Office recommended that moving forward, disbursements are properly documented at board meetings, bank statements are reviewed independently to ensure accuracy and financial duties are split between the Treasurer, Director and Board members.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Former Cedar Rapids mayor Kay Halloran has died. Halloran died Sunday at HallMar Village in Marion at 89 years old. Halloran was born in Estherville in 1937. She earned a degree in political science and English in 1959 from the University of Iowa. She then graduated from the university’s College of Law in 1974 and became the first woman to practice private law in Cedar Rapids. Halloran was elected to the Iowa House in 1983. She served for 10 years, then was reelected in 1997. She retired in 1999 when she was appointed to the state’s Commerce Department. She was elected mayor in 2005, leading the city through the historic 2008 flood. Saturday marked 18 years since that flood, the worst in the city’s history. Her son, Stuart Chapman, told the Gazette that a celebration of life will be held later this fall.
PALO, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says eight beaches are not recommended for swimming. Beaches in eastern Iowa include Pleasant Creek in Palo, Backbone in Dundee and Lake Darling in Brighton. Other beaches include Black Hawk in Sac County, Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, Crandalls Beach and Emerson Bay in Dickinson County, and North Twin Lake West in Calhoun County. Testing shows the waters are showing high levels of E. coli, which is an indicator of other potentially harmful bacteria in the water. Swimming in contaminated water could lead to illnesses and infections.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The city of Cedar Rapids will have a lane closed for construction starting today (Tuesday). The westbound lane of the bridge on 29th Street Drive SE/30th Street Drive SE will be closed for four days. The portion of road is located between Needles Road and Third Avenue. Crews will be repairing the concrete at the site. There will be a detour posted using East Post Road SE.
