Iowa
Area teen elected to Iowa district FFA role
- Aiden Anderson
Aiden Anderson
GOWRIE — Southeast Valley High School senior Aiden Anderson has been elected secretary for the North Central Iowa District of Future Farmers of America (FFA).
Anderson was elected to district office at the state FFA convention in March. In that role, he helps to organize and facilitate various district functions throughout the year as well as Chapter Officer Leadership Training for chapter officers and Greenhand Fire-Up for first-year high school FFA members. Anderson also works at district convention, soils and livestock judging, and chapter visits.
“I am honored that my fellow members have elected me to this role, and am incredibly excited to help inspire and develop FFA members from across the district and to serve them in any way that I can,” said Anderson.
Anderson also serves as the treasurer for Southeast Valley’s Central Plains FFA chapter.
Anderson joined FFA as a freshman and is beginning his fourth year. He is involved in various contests such as leadership development events and career development events, including parliamentary procedure, soils evaluation and judging, livestock judging, agronomy, and many more.
“I also enjoy planning and participating in other leadership and community service opportunities the chapter and other levels of FFA provide,” said Anderson. “Above all, I enjoy every opportunity I get to make a difference in my community or with another member.”
Anderson and his parents, Dave and Trena Anderson, live outside of Paton on the family farm.
Iowa
Iowa man found guilty in 1989 cold case murder of his girlfriend
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — A Council Bluffs man is convicted of killing his girlfriend, nearly four decades after she disppeared.
Barbara Lenz was last seen in Woodbine on Saturday, May 6, 1989.
On Tuesday, it only took a jury less than four hours to convict Robert Davis, now 62, of second-degree murder.
Davis was arrested and charged with murder last year. Online court documents say Davis assaulted and choked Lenz several times during their two-year relationship.
A criminal complaint says Lenz told other people she was in fear of Davis and trying to leave him.
This was the first arrest and now first conviction for a case that the newly formed Iowa Cold Case Unit has helped investigate. It was an initiative pushed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.
“No one should get away with murder. Barbara Lenz’s family has been waiting nearly 37 years for justice,” said Attorney General Bird. “Today, after long last, they have it. Robert Davis will spend the rest of his life in prison. I am deeply grateful to Cold Case Prosecutor Scott Brown and Harrison County Attorney Sarah Delanty and her office for their hard work in securing this conviction. And thank you again to the investigators in our Iowa Cold Case Unit, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Woodbine Police Department who worked hard and never gave up on Barbara’s case.”
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2026.
Iowa
Northeastern Iowa man sentenced to 120 years in prison for child sexual abuse
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Waterville man was sentenced to 120 years in prison Tuesday after authorities say he potentially committed more than 100 acts of sexual abuse.
54-year-old Jonathon Hilleshiem was convicted of four counts of second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child, and sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.
Hilleshiem was initially charged with four counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and one count of lascivious acts with a child in July 2025.
In August 2025, police executed search warrants and additionally charged Hilleshiem with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.
As part of the investigation, the child spoke to authorities about the abuse.
A criminal complaint shows authorities believe there may be more than 100 acts of sexual abuse that occurred between 2014 and 2020.
Hilleshiem was also sentenced to lifetime supervision by the Iowa Department of Corrections and must register as a sex offender.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman react to Hall of Fame exhibit
The artists discuss their crossover success and being included in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents showcase of today’s music.
Ready to rock out? Multi-platinum rock band Staind will take the Iowa State Fair Grandstand stage with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17.
That’s not all: breakout Texas rapper BigXthaPlug will deliver his hard-hitting southern hip-hop anthems to the Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Here’s what to know about the performances:
Who is Staind?
Staind is a multi-platinum rock band that’s toured alongside names like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and Filter. Their 1999 album “Dysfunction” contained their hit song “Mudshovel,” their major-label debut, according to Musician Guide.
In 2000, Staind contributed tracks to two compilation albums: the “Scream 3” film soundtrack and a rock tribute to rap music entitled “Take A Bight Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute To Rap.”
Who is Hoobastank?
Hoobastank’s debut and sophomore albums have topped the Billboard charts. Their song “The Reason” hit a billion views on YouTube. Netflix also used “The Reason” in the hit series “Beef,” according to Grammy.com.
Originally a mixture of rock, metal, ska, and funk influences (with saxophones!), Hoobastank is now bristling hard rock. Their platinum-selling debut album in 2001 broke the Top 20 on Billboard charts, which included their popular anthem “Crawling in the Dark.” Their next album, “The Reason” – which pushed them into the mainstream – hit No.3 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, where it stayed for more than a year.
Who is BigXthaPlug?
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug is mixing rap and country alongside big-name country artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker and more. He’s gone from solitary confinement to Nashville’s biggest rapper, according to The New York Times.
“Hip-hop and country music both have the same base, which is storytelling,” he told The New York Times.
When is Staind performing at the Iowa State Fair? When is BigXthaPlug performing?
Staind will perform with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.
BigXthaPlug will perform on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.
Where do I get tickets for the Iowa State Fair concerts?
Tickets for both acts go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. and can be found online at the Iowa State Fair website.
Tickets to see Staind and Hoobastank range between $54.40 and $89.40. Tickets for BigXthaPlug range between $29.40 and $69.40.
What’s the current Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup?
One act remains to be announced for Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets for the following shows are already on sale:
- Thursday, Aug. 13: HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
- Friday, Aug. 14: Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx
- Saturday, Aug. 15: The Red Clay Strays
- Sunday, Aug. 16: Lainey Wilson with special guest Tigirlily Gold (sold out)
- Monday, Aug. 17: Staind with special guest Hoobastank
- Tuesday, Aug. 18: TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
- Wednesday, Aug. 19: AJR
- Thursday, Aug. 20: Riley Green with special guest Mackenzie Carpenter
- Friday, Aug. 21: Not yet announced
- Saturday, Aug. 22: BigXthaPlug
- Sunday, Aug. 23: Josiah Queen with special guest Ben Fuller
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
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