(Des Moines, Iowa) -Several opponents of the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon sequestration pipeline have received letters on behalf of the company threatening lawsuits over perceived defamation, an environmental group representative said.  The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Jess Mazour, a conservation program associate with the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, said in a press release Thursday she received a letter from the company, “threatening to sue for compensatory or punitive damages if statements were not retracted.”

The letter, dated Nov. 12, 2024, directed Mazour to cease and desist from “interfering” with and making any “further false and defamatory statements” about the pipeline project. The letter was sent from Jason Torchinsky with Holtzman Vogel law firm in Washington, D.C. and Todd Lantz with Weinhardt Law Firm in Des Moines.

The letter points to a quote from Mazour in a nwestiowa.com article from August 2023, where she said Summit Carbon Solutions was in “in collusion” with the Iowa Utilities Board (now Iowa Utilities Commission) to “take away democracy and people’s rights.”  The letter called the statement “false and defamatory” and said it, combined with Mazour’s “explicitly stated goal” to stop the pipelines, exposes her to “significant legal liability.”

Opponents of a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline gather for a rally outside of the Iowa Capitol on Oct. 8, 2024. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The letter then stated Summit Carbon Solutions and investors have $1 billion invested into the project to date and Mazour should “issue an immediate” public retraction of her statement to avoid legal action. Mazour said in a call with Iowa Capital Dispatch that she and Sierra Club counsel believe Summit has no “grounds to stand on” with the threatened lawsuit.

Representatives from Summit Carbon Solutions did not respond to requests for comment or to verify the letters were sent on the company’s behalf.  According to the press release from Mazour and the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, at least six people have received similar letters. Trent Loos, who hosts several rural broadcasts, has also publicly stated he received a similar letter about comments he has made.

Mazour said the intention of the letters is “intimidation” and urged Iowans to “stand strong when companies take this kind of action.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire and Rescue was paged-out to a single-vehicle, multiple-injury accident this (Friday) afternoon. The accident was reported to Cass County Dispatch at around 3:30-p.m. It occurred just west of 610th Street (Chestnut St. in Atlantic), and Keystone Road. The vehicle was reportedly in a ditch. Initial reports said three people were hurt.

Additional information is currently not available.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled on a former Iowa State University professor’s claim of wage discrimination. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

(Radio Iowa) – Only about two weeks remain to visit one of Iowa’s largest holiday displays, and one of very few you can walk through to admire the dazzling array of lights, decorations, and interactive exhibits. Andrew Gogerty is spokesman for Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State University campus, which is hosting what it calls Winter Wonderscape.

It’s an annual tradition for the gardens in Ames to be transformed to a glittering sensory experience.

Reiman Gardens photo

Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the magic of the season.

The Winter Wonderscape is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 to 9 P-M through December 28th. It will also be open on December 23rd. For tickets, visit: https://reimangardens.com/

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is among a group of Republicans expressing concern about public safety in Washington, D.C.  During a subcommittee hearing in the U-S House this week, Hinson suggested visitors think twice about booking a trip to the nation’s capital.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told Hinson the violent crime rate in the district is down 32 percent from last year.

Hinson says as Washington prepared to host large crowds for the presidential inauguration on January 20th, public policy should be paramount.

Hinson says the D-C mayor enabled anti-police rhetoric during protests in the summer of 2020 and, in the aftermath, D-C leaders must do more to reduce carjackings, assaults and thefts.

D-C’s mayor says the vast majority of crimes in the city are committed by a small group of people. She and other D-C officials are asking congress to ensure more of those charged with committing a felony in the District of Columbia are prosecuted. Federal law calls for those cases to be handled in federal courts, but since mid-2023, the U-S Attorney for the District of Columbia has cited inadequate staffing and declined to prosecute over two-thirds of felony arrests presented to his office. President-elect Trump suggested during the campaign he would dissolve the local government in Washington, D.C. and have the federal government run everything in the District.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) released a report on arrests that took place between Nov. 14th and Dec. 11th. Beginning with the most recent arrests:

On December 11th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Joshua Mullen, age 45, of Atlantic, on a Felony Controlled Substance violation.  Mullen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On December 8th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Connor Burg, 28, of Council Bluffs, on a weapons violation charge along with Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana.  Burg was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On December 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sean Smith, 26, of Exira, on a warrant for Sex Offender Registry Violation.  Smith was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On December 3rd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Am Mariano, 21, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Harassment 1st Degree.  Mariano was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On November 28th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lucas Strauss, 32, of West Des Moines, on the charge of OWI 1st Offense.  Strauss was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 25th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Chase Holmes, 26, of Griswold, on a warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.  Holmes was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On November 21st, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Heath Norby, 35, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.  Norby was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On November 20th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Miles Cooley, 40, of Anita, on the charge of Driving While Barred.  Cooley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 16th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steven Ripley, 31, of Red Oak, on the charges of Criminal Mischief 5th Degree and Harassment 1st Degree.  Ripley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance. And, 46-year-old Jennifer Cohrs, of Lewis, was arrested on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Cohrs was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On November 14th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jason Epperson, 47, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Harassment 3rd Degree.  Epperson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Local volunteers are needed for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which offers free assistance to eligible taxpayers who need help preparing returns. No experience with taxes required. For many years, ISU Extension in Cass County has served as a host site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. After a gap of several years, the program returned last year and helped over 50 local families prepare and file tax returns. Now, organizers are looking for local volunteers to keep the program going strong. VITA is an IRS-sponsored program that certifies community volunteers to prepare and e-file basic tax returns at no cost for eligible taxpayers, including low to moderate income individuals and working families, older adults, limited English speakers, and persons with a disability.

Volunteers are needed in Cass County in February and March of 2025 to prepare 2024 taxes. Training is provided, but interested volunteers should have an interest in helping others and basic computer skills. A basic understanding of income tax laws or personal finances would also be helpful.

WHY VOLUNTEER FOR VITA?

• Help your neighbors keep more of their earnings.

• Bring money back into your community.

• Develop a skill to add to your resume.

• Earn community service hours.

• Have fun while working with others.

• Flexible hours and free training.

• No prior accounting or tax experience needed.

VITA volunteers are provided free training, self study materials, and software necessary to prepare basic income tax returns including Forms 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040.  Taxpayers schedule appointments and taxes are prepared by the volunteers at a central location with equipment provided.  Volunteers must complete a certification exam and the IRS waives liability for volunteers if they prepare returns within the scope of their certification.

Volunteers help Iowa families better understand their taxes and access the Earned Income Tax Credit, reducing their stress and increasing financial security. To learn more about volunteering with the VITA program contact Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu. Training will take place in the first half of January. Interested persons will need to complete a one-page application and background screening.

The VITA program provides free tax preparation to low and moderate income families so they can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Care Tax Credits.  In Cass County, the program is coordinated by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with funding and support from the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Center. Taxpayer appointments will be available to schedule beginning late January at the Cass County Extension Office in Atlantic.

(DES MOINES) The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently announced the award of a total of more than $12.5 million in grants to 27 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local housing initiatives. The grant awards are made available through the Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) program and are expected to assist 2,636 families across all 99 Iowa counties. In southwest Iowa:

• The Council of Governments (COG) )serving Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Green, Guthrie and Sac Counties) received a grant for $409,334.
• The Pottawattamie County Housing Trust Fund (Serving Pott. County), received a grant for nearly $1.17-million.
• The Southern Iowa COG Housing Trust Fund (serving Adair, Adams, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and two other counties) received an LHTF grant for $400, 676.
• The Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (Serving Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties) received a grant amounting to $437, 170.

IFA Director Debi Durham says “The 2025 Local Housing Trust Fund grant awards represent the largest investment ever made through the program in a single year. These grants will support housing initiatives that provide thousands of Iowans with safe, affordable homes, creating lasting benefits for communities across the state for years to come.”

The grant funds will support a range of initiatives aimed at developing or preserving housing for low-income households across the spectrum of housing needs. This includes the development and preservation of housing, assistance for persons experiencing homelessness, rental assistance, home ownership support, bolstering the capacity of local housing organizations and other efforts that directly address local housing needs.

The State Housing Trust Fund was created by the Iowa Legislature in 2003. The awards announced today (Friday) will leverage an additional $4 million in other financing or $.32 for every dollar of Local Housing Trust Fund program funding. Since its inception, the State Housing Trust Fund has provided $136.3 million in affordable housing assistance to benefit more than 40,700 Iowa families, leveraging nearly $187 million in other funding resources. The State Housing Trust Fund helps ensure decent, safe and affordable housing for Iowans through two programs. The Local Housing Trust Fund Program receives at least 60 percent of the SHTF allocation to provide grants for organizations certified by IFA as a Local Housing Trust Fund.

The remaining funding goes to the Project-Based Housing Program, which aids in the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing. IFA administers both programs and provides technical assistance to housing-related organizations. The award list is available here.