DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – The Iowa House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines on private land. House File 2104 passed 64-28 late Wednesday. The bill is the latest development in the debate that has left lawmakers divided for five years. Supporters of the bill said it protects Iowa landowners’ constitutional rights to decide whether they want to allow a company access to their property. This bill could ban the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that would stretch across Iowa and four other states. Opponents of the bill argued CO2 pipelines, like the one Summit wants to build, could help Iowa’s economy, expand markets for farmers and provide construction jobs. The bill now heads to the Iowa Senate. Senate Republicans already proposed their own bill Tuesday. It would still allow the use of eminent domain if a company has permission by the Iowa Utilities Commission.
BUCHANAN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – An East Buchanan Community School District bus rolled onto its side Wednesday afternoon due to slick road conditions. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the bus crash at approximately 3:10 p.m. near the intersection of 155th Street and Quonset Avenue. One student and the bus driver were on board at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported. The sheriff’s office considers the gravel, snow-covered road to be a contributing factor in the crash. The district also dismissed early Wednesday due to incoming weather. The crash remains under investigation.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts will plead guilty to federal immigration charges he faces after his arrest by ICE, according to new court filings. Roberts, originally from Guyana, was arrested September 26 while running from ICE agents in Des Moines. Department of Homeland Security officers found a gun, a knife and $3,000 in cash in a district vehicle he was driving, officials said. He faced charges including illegally possessing a gun and making a false statement for employment. Court documents indicate he possessed four firearms: one at the time of his arrest and three seized from his home. According to a plea agreement filed January 21, Roberts will plead guilty to making false statements for employment and possessing firearms while in the country illegally. He originally pleaded not guilty to these charges in October 2025. As part of the plea deal, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Iowa have agreed not to pursue additional charges against Roberts related to his firearm possession or his fraudulent claims of citizenship. The false statement charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, while the firearm possession charge carries a potential maximum of 15 years. Both charges also include a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The possibility of serving the sentences consecutively means Roberts could face a total of 20 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Roberts also agrees to forfeit the firearms that were seized during the investigation including a loaded 9 mm Glock pistol, a loaded 9 mm Sig Sauer, a loaded .270-caliber Remington rifle, and a 20-gauge Remington shotgun. Upon completion of the presentence report, a federal judge will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine his final sentence. He remains in custody pending sentencing.
TOLEDO, Iowa (KCRG) – The Meskwaki Nation is warning nearby communities about people who may pretend to be ICE agents. The Meskwaki Nation said that two men approached a woman in the A9 Chinese Restaurant parking lot Tuesday afternoon. She said the men questioned her about her U.S. citizenship status. In its social media post, the Meskwaki Nation said the woman reported feeling hostility and discomfort around the men. It also said local police confirmed with Homeland Security the men were not affiliated with ICE and acted on their own accord.
