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Iowa DOT asks driver to change ‘M3INKPF’ plates after Nazi reference complaints

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Iowa DOT asks driver to change ‘M3INKPF’ plates after Nazi reference complaints


Iowa Department of Transportation officials have asked a driver to change their personalized license plates after receiving complaints alleging the plates are a reference to Adolf Hitler’s political manifesto “Mein Kampf.”

It’s not uncommon to see personalized license plates on the streets of Iowa, but one plate that read “M3INKPF” caught the attention of state officials after it sparked outrage on Reddit, a social media network, when a user posted a photo of a car displaying the plates on a busy road on Thursday.

Mein Kampf, translated to “My Struggle,” is a political manifesto written by the Nazi Party leader and published in 1925. The manifesto has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.

The plate was seen on a BMW, a popular German automaker that has admitted to having ties with the Nazi Party during World War II. Prisoners of the Schutzstaffel, a paramilitary Nazi organization, were put to work for BMW in 1941 and inmates from concentration camps were forced to become laborers in 1942, according to the BMW Group’s website. Around 29,000 forced laborers made up 50% of BMW’s workforce by the end of 1944.

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Some of the users on the social media post defended the plate’s message, claiming it was a reference to the BMW’s M3 model and the maker’s factory generated software called WinKFP. However a majority claimed it was a direct reference to the manifesto.

Officials received at least three complaints in addition to being tagged about the plate on social media, Andrea Henry, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Transportation, told the Des Moines Register. The DOT has asked the driver to a choose a different license plate message.

More: Iowans love their vanity license plates. Here are the stories of how some got theirs.

According to the department’s administrative rules regarding personalized plate messages, there should not be a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult or racial or ethnic degradation when choosing a license plate message.

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All drivers who want vanity plates must submit an application and explain the meaning of the plate. Henry said the provided explanation was unrelated to Hitler’s manifesto. It said: “bmw-m3 for me ink my personal friends at a tattoo artist.”

The plate was issued approximately mid-May of this year, Henry said. She declined to provide the Register the name or contact information of the driver who requested the plate as that information is confidential under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.



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How much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals

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How much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals


A winter storm warning remains in effect until 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, for a large swath of the state, from northwest Iowa to much of central Iowa and southeast Iowa.

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Drivers should expect slippery conditions.

Snow fell through the morning with accumulations of 2 to 3 inches across most of Iowa, according to the National Weather Service. The light, fluffy snow will taper off in the afternoon.

The weather service advises that snow-covered roads will make travel slick and more difficult and to use caution.

The counties affected include Pocahontas, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello and Davis.

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Where did snow fall the most in Iowa?

Southern Iowa felt the brunt of the snow Saturday morning, with some areas experiencing nearly five inches of accumulation. Here are the highest totals so far in Iowa:

  • Milton: 4.5 inches
  • Parnell: 4.5 inches
  • Norwalk: 3.8 inches
  • Badger: 3.5 inches
  • Bloomfield: 3.3 inches
  • Carroll: 3.2 inches
  • Buffalo: 3.2 inches
  • North English: 3 inches
  • Winterset: 2.6 inches

How much snow has fallen in Des Moines?

The Des Moines International Airport reported 1.2 inches of snow as of 6 a.m. Saturday. Norwalk, just south of Des Moines, reported 3.8 inches of snow by 10:30 a.m. Clive reported 2.7 inches of snow at 10 a.m.

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How much snow did Iowa City get?

North Liberty, just north of Iowa City, reported three inches of snow as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Tiffin, which is to the northwest of Iowa City, reported 2.7 inches of snow at 10 a.m.

Roads across the state are covered in snow

The Iowa DOT reported that, as of 11 a.m., many of central Iowa’s highways and interstates were completely covered with snow. The organization said travel on I-80 from central Iowa to the Illinois border is not advised.

“Visibility and road conditions are deteriorating rapidly, causing multiple crashes and closing lanes,” the DOT said in a social media post around 11 a.m.

More snow followed by frigid temps

A cold weather advisory is in effect for much of northern, central and southeastern Iowa into Sunday morning. In the Des Moines area, wind chill values could drop to as low as -15. Wind chills across the state are expected between -20 and -30 starting at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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(This article has been updated to include new information.)



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Iowa man charged in connection to horse-drawn buggy crash that killed teen

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Iowa man charged in connection to horse-drawn buggy crash that killed teen


CLARKE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa man was charged Friday in connection to a deadly horse-drawn buggy crash that killed a teenager last month.

Jacob Wright, 41, of Grand River, is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

The crash happened in Clarke County on November 12. According to the crash report, Wright’s car hit the back of the buggy and ran it into a ditch.

Elmer Borntrager, 16, was thrown from the buggy and died at the scene.

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Police found Wright’s damaged vehicle days later about five miles from the crash scene.



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How much snow did we get? See Iowa snowfall totals from Thursday.

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How much snow did we get? See Iowa snowfall totals from Thursday.


Another round of snow swept through Iowa, leaving more than 3 inches in some parts of the state.

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Flurries began falling in Des Moines around noon on Thursday, Dec. 11, and persisted until late in the evening.

Here’s a look at the highest snowfall totals in Iowa as of 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, according to the National Weather Service.

What were the highest Iowa snowfall totals?

  • West Burlington: 4 inches
  • Parnell: 3.8 inches
  • Salem: 3.8 inches
  • Mooar: 3.6 inches
  • Webster City: 3.5 inches
  • Muscatine: 3 inches
  • Yarmouth: 3 inches
  • Williamstown: 3 inches
  • New London: 2.8 inches
  • Riverside: 2.8 inches
  • Ottumwa: 2.8 inches

How much snow did Des Moines get?

Over an inch of snow fell at the Des Moines International Airport, with the National Weather Service reporting 1.1 inches as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

Grimes reported 1.3 inches of snow and other reports from the Des Moines area were around 1 inch.

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Nevada in Story County reported 0.5 inches

How much snow did Iowa City get?

No reports were received from Iowa City, according to the National Weather Service. Nearby University Heights reported 1.5 inches. Oakdale reported 2 inches and North Liberty reported 1.3 inches of snow.

When is the next chance for snowfall in Des Moines?

Another round of snow is expected to begin Friday night and continue into Saturday, Dec. 13, in the afternoon.

Des Moines is projected to receive between 2 and 4 inches of snow during this time. A winter weather advisory is in effect for Des Moines from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The advisory is also in effect in cities spanning from Sioux City to Davenport.

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Temperatures are also expected to drop during the weekend, with daytime highs of 9 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and lows of 10 degrees below zero on Saturday and 1 degree below zero on Sunday.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.



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