😁 Happy Friday! With Christmas only 20 days away, it’s officially that time of year when the Grinch starts popping up everywhere — the 1966 classic, the Jim Carrey “I’m booked!” version, and the newer, much-less-grumpy animated guy. Honestly, he’s reinvented himself more times than holiday leftovers get reheated.
Here’s to hoping our hearts grow at least two sizes as we coast into Christmas!


Weekend Weather:
Today 🌥 Hi 33, Sat 🌨 Hi 27, Sun ☁ Hi 11, Mon ☁ Hi 29

B&A Club:
🎂 Happy Birthday
Heidi Dankel -- Glidden
🥂 Happy Anniversary
none reported

The WBD bidding war is heating up — what will the winner get?

Tom Jones

To the victor belong the spoils… and, possibly, the world of film and TV as we know it. 

While we enjoyed the long holiday weekend, a host of huge names like Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix had their bankers and lawyers working on a new round of bids for Warner Bros. DiscoveryWBD $24.26 (-1.26%), according to new reports. 

The latter of those companies, NetflixNFLX $102.95 (-0.97%), already long the biggest streaming service in the world, is reportedly interested in just the studio business and HBO Max streaming platform from WBD, offering a bid consisting mostly of cash for those assets, Bloomberg reported at the start of the week.

ComcastCMCSA $27.28 (-0.57%) has a similar idea. The telecoms and media giant wants to merge the same two segments with its NBCUniversal division, meaning that a successful bid from either would mean that Warner Bros. Discovery — the home of mega media brands like HBO and CNN as well as huge chunks of IP like the “Harry Potter” franchise and DC Comics characters via its studio business — could still go ahead with plans to spin off its major networks, per the reporting.

But what of the companies that want the entire WBD pie? What would they get in a deal that could nudge toward the $75 billion mark, if suitors stump up the $30-per-share price that Warner execs want?

In a particularly dramatic-sounding Bank of America note on Monday, a group of analysts wrote: “The global media industry stands at the precipice of historic transformation.” Still, when you look at the brands under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella (assembled after a merger between the companies that make up each half of its name) and consider the behemoths that could one day possess some of them, the BofA writers might have a point.

CLICK HIGHLIGHTED FOR AUDIO: During the winter storm last weekend, many local businesses lost out on a very impactful day for customer sales with Small Business Saturday, but the Carroll Chamber of Commerce is looking to recreate the shopping day again this weekend. Chamber Executive Director Kimberly Tiefenthaler says fourth quarter sales are extremely important for all businesses and she didn’t want to see local business lose out because of the weather. Small Business Saturday 2.0 will be taking place this weekend at local businesses, giving that extra day to shop for Christmas without having to leave Carroll. Tiefenthaler says that the Chamber will also be doing another round of its Christmas Chamber Bucks Bonus on Friday to be ready for shopping on Saturday, especially since the first sale did extremely well. Tiefenthaler says the Christmas Chamber Bucks Bonus 2.0 will be starting at 12 p.m., individuals must pick up in person at the Chamber Offices and a limit of $100 can be purchased while bucks last. Tiefenthaler says during the holiday shopping season, she strongly encourages individuals to shop here first, where you know the owners by name, or for thanking them for the support that the small business gives back to the community. Tiefenthaler also encourages the support of non-profits in the area, with the annual Cause for Paws donation collection for the Animal Rescue of Carroll this Saturday as well. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westgate Mall, donations of pet food, cat litter, toys, treats and other items can be dropped off for a raffle ticket to receive a prize from either A Touch of Country, Jeanie’s Hallmark, True Value Hardware and Home Store and Vita Suite. Shoppers are also encouraged to bring their furry friends for a picture with the Grinch.

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📸 The Coon Rapids historical photography project is digitalizing thousands of photos from the past to preserve the story of the community. In collaboration with Fortepan Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), over 7,500 photographs, slides, and negatives from collections will be uploaded to an online platform, with the first 1,000 images available. Currently, photographs and records are dating back to 1880 up to 2004, featuring houses, downtown Coon Rapids and more. The collection can be viewed through the link included below. The project has taken multiple years of collection, cataloging, scanning, and uploading to the digital site and is being funded through the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Coon Rapids Friends of the Library, Main Street Coon Rapids as well as private donations. Photos will be continuously added until uploads are completed. SEE PHOTOS

💰The Glidden Haggai Masonic Lodge #369 and Glidden Community Auction recently presented St. Anthony Regional Hospital with a $5,000 donation in support of the hospital’s PET/CT scanner project. The annual Glidden Community Auction draws donations from local businesses and regional partners, with all proceeds directed to community-focused initiatives. This year’s gift helps advance St. Anthony’s plan to install a permanent PET/CT scanner in its Imaging Department by June 2026. A PET/CT scanner provides physicians with detailed insight into organ and tissue function and is a critical tool for early cancer detection. The equipment also assists in determining the stage of the cancer and in developing treatment plans. Hospital officials say the addition is crucial as Iowa faces the nation’s second-fastest rising cancer rate. Patients who currently travel long distances for advanced imaging will be able to receive comprehensive diagnostic care closer to home.

Join us for the last episode of Must Know People, as John Ryan, a legendary voice in community radio, bids farewell to the microphone. Discover the humorous and unexpected turns that characterized John's career, including sleepless nights and memorable mishaps on air. Listen to John's insights on how radio has evolved and what it means for the future as he opens up about his storied past and his plans moving forward. LISTEN NOW

At the start of each week the Carroll Broadcasting Sports Network Crew catches up with area high school coaches to recap their previous weeks events and preview the match ups that are happening for the week ahead. Listen here and subscribe.

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Iowa Public Radio | By Isabella Luu

Former construction executive and current land developer Robert Cramer was elected as the new president of Iowa's Board of Regents on Wednesday. Cramer's election came after the board's former President Sherry Bates announced her resignation earlier this week.

Regent President Pro Tem Greta Rouse announced she's also stepping down from her leadership role. Regent Kurt Tjaden was elected as the new president pro tem on Wednesday. Rouse will continue to serve as on the board through the end of her term in 2027.

Cramer and Tjaden's terms in board leadership begin Thursday and end April 30, 2026.

At Wednesday's special meeting, Cramer thanked Bates for her years of service and friendship. He also thanked the board for trusting him with the opportunity.

"I'm a bridge-builder and this might be a good time for a bridge-builder to bring all of our interested parties who want to make our universities better, together," he said.

Cramer, a Republican, was first appointed to the Board of Regents by Gov. Kim Reynolds in March 2023. His term expires in 2029.

He was previously nominated to the board in 2013 by then-Gov. Terry Branstad, but was rejected by the Democratic-majority state Senate. Democratic lawmakers cited concerns over Cramer's ability to promote academic freedom on campus due to comments he made while serving on the Johnston Community School Board. He also unsuccessfully ran for the 3rd District Congressional seat in 2014.

Cramer said his goals as president of the Board of Regents are for the universities to provide an affordable education to students alongside academic excellence.

"It comes through merit and just hard work and just always keeping that at the forefront of trying to produce better and better students," Cramer said.

He said his third goal is to provide a "fair and balanced" place for "vigorous" debate.

"That's been what a lot of our work has been this year — is just to create an atmosphere where students can engage," he said. "College is a great place to learn, to learn new things, to find out what you believe. But we just want a fair and balanced place where students can do that."

Cramer said he believes pursuing those three goals will help the state's public universities raise enrollment numbers and help Iowa's economy grow.

"We'll see these graduates go out and change the world," he said. "I think we can flip the narrative on higher education, and that is here in Iowa, a degree from one of our public universities is a great investment, and it's going to help these students going forward for the rest of their lives."

Cramer also serves on the advisory council of the University of Iowa's new Center for Intellectual Freedom alongside fellow Regents Chris Hensley and Kurt Tjaden. He serves on the Industry Advisory Council for the Construction Engineering Department at Iowa State University and on the statewide STEM advisory board. He previously served as board chairman of the The Family Leader, a conservative Christian group. FULL STORY

More News:

✅FOR THE MOMS: Quick and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas.
✅HOLIDAY VIBES: Try these winter simmer pot recipes for a cozy scent in your home.
✅WATCH: Add these to your Christmas movie watch list this year!
✅VERTICAL: Hanging Christmas lights? Try this hack and see for yourself.
✅TONIGHT: Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange
✅EMBRACE THE COLD: Swan Lake Winter Festival tomorrow!
✅CONTEST: It’s J.P. Floorings ‘Ugly Flooring Contest’ submit your photos today to enter!
✅SATURDAY: Coon Rapids Annual Christmas in a Small Town celebration!

Mini Crossword: For those of you that wake up each morning wanting a challenge - how fast can you complete this mini crossword. Ready, set, go.

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