(Radio Iowa) – G-O-P lawmakers have released the bill they intend to pass tomorrow (Tuesday) in a special legislative session that would ban nearly all abortions in Iowa. The bill is almost identical to the Fetal Heartbeat Act that passed the legislature in 2018. Last month, a three-to-three tie among the Iowa Supreme Court justices kept in place the injunction that has blocked that law from taking effect. Senator Dennis Guth is a Republican from Klemme.

“What we intend to do is just repass the same ‘heartbeat’ bill that we had before,” Guth says, “because that’s going to be the easiest and the fastest to do.” When Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill in 2018, it was the toughest anti-abortion policy in the country and would have banned abortions after fetal activity can be detected. That’s around the sixth week of a pregnancy. Guth voted for the bill in 2018.

“The legal eagles that have analyzed what the Supreme Court justices said are thinking those Supreme Court justices thought we were just fooling the first time,” Guth says, “so we’re just going to pass the same thing and then they’re going to have to deal with it.” Senator Dave Rowley of Spirit Lake was first elected to the state senate during a special election in 2021. He says tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) vote will send a message.

“With the Supreme Court, of course, of Iowa going 3-3 that we had to prove pretty much that the bill was not just hypothetical and was placed into law and signed by the governor,” Rowley says, “and we’ll go through that step again.” Senator Guth says lawmakers “meant it” the first time and they’ll prove that quickly tomorrow (Tuesday).  “In the Senate, we plan on getting done in 24 hours unless the Democrats really throw some big snafus on it,” Guth says. “We’re going to start at 8:30 in the morning and it may take us ’til midnight, but we think we can get it done in one day.”

Mazie Stilwell with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says polling has shown a growing majority of Iowans support legal abortion. “We are calling on all Iowans to show up at the Capitol on Tuesday, to be contacting their legislators who work for them,” Stilwell says. “…Iowans are simply not interested in the ways in which politicians are trying to claw their way into the exam room.”

Planned Parenthood officials say they’ll fight any new abortion restrictions in court. so it’s more than likely the issue will wind up before the Iowa Supreme Court again. Two weeks ago, Planned Parenthood announced they’re closing three of Iowa’s nine Planned Parenthood clinics and will expand abortion services at many remaining locations. Ruth Richardson is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States.

“Should the legislature and the governor fail to listen to Iowans and pass harmful legislation next week, we will continue our expansion plan while we continue to fight to protect access through the courts,” she said. Tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) special legislative session is expected to get underway at 8:30 a.m.

A public hearing on the bill is scheduled to start at 9:30 and last until 11.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Republican Party leaders have set January 15th as the date for their party’s 2024 Caucuses. Iowa’s Caucuses have traditionally been the kick off event of the presidential campaign for both parties. The Republican National Committee has agreed on a schedule that keeps the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses first. National Democratic Party leaders booted Iowa from its early state line up and plan for South Carolina’s Democratic Primary to go first, on February 3rd of next year.

Iowa Democratic Party leaders have indicated they’ll host caucuses on the same night as Republicans next year, just to conduct party business. They’re planning a separate mail-in system for Iowa Democrats to express their preference in the 2024 presidential race, but party leaders haven’t said when that voting would start or when the results might be announced. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Iowa Republicans are committed to maintaining Iowa’s cherished first-in-the-nation Caucuses, where Republicans cast a straw poll ballot on Caucus night.

It’s possible the January 15th Iowa Caucus date for Republicans may change after New Hampshire officials announce the date of their state’s presidential primary.

(Omaha, NE.) – Officials with the Omaha Police Department say a man from Iowa died early Sunday morning, when the motorcycle he was riding crashed into another motorcycle being operated by his brother. The accident at Missouri Avenue and L Street in Omaha happened at around 12:54-a.m., Sunday.

Authorities say a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle was eastbound on L St., followed by a 2005 Harley Davidson.  The second motorcycle, operated by 22-year-old Riley Denisse, of Neola (IA), struck the rear of the cycle operated 25-year-old Austin Denisse, of LaVista, NE.  Police say the men are brothers.

The force of the crash caused Riley Denisse’ cycle to go over a curb and flip over a guardrail. Riley was thrown from his motorcycle. The cycle operated by Austin Denisse went out of control following the impact, and slid.  Both riders were transported to the hospital by Omaha Fire Department Medics. Riley Denisse died from his injuries at the hospital. Austin Denisse suffered a leg fracture that was not considered to be lift threatening.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Omaha, NE) – Officials with the Omaha Police Department, together with the Sarpy County (NE) Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are working on various aspects of Saturday’s incidents involving 41-year-old Matthew Briggs. The incidents occurred in multiple local and state jurisdictions in Nebraska and Iowa.

In a statement released late Saturday night, authorities said “Omaha Police responded to a southwest Omaha residence shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday for a report of a domestic violence assault. It was learned that Mr. Briggs had physically assaulted an adult female after forcing entry into her residence. The female was able to run from the residence and call 911 from a separate location. Mr. Briggs left the residence prior to officers arriving.

“Through the investigation, it was learned that Mr. Briggs attempted to drive his 2005 red Buick Century sedan through the garage door of another southwest Omaha residence. He was unsuccessful at gaining entry. This occurred minutes after the above assault at the previous residence. Mr. Briggs would leave this residence and return a second time around 6:20 a.m. where he again drove into the garage door, this time gaining entry into the residence. The female resident was not home at the time of these incidents. Mr. Briggs shot at a neighbor attempting to check on him as he was leaving the residence. 911 was called shortly after.

Matthew Briggs

“Information was then provided to Omaha Police that led officers to 9927 Essex Drive shortly before 7 a.m. for a well-being check of the resident. Officers saw forced entry into this residence once they arrived. During a safety search of the house, they located Steven Donsbach, 52, inside who appeared to have been shot to death. Based on the information provided to Omaha Police and evidence uncovered during the homicide investigation, Mr. Briggs was a person of interest in this incident. Omaha Police immediately began to search for Mr. Briggs using multiple investigative resources and law enforcement personnel.

“At approximately 1 p.m., the public and local media were notified of the need to locate Mr. Briggs and his car after those investigative resources yielded no positive results. A citizen contacted 911 advising they located a red Buick sedan at Mandan Park near 6000 S 13th Street. Officers were able to confirm the car belonged to Mr. Briggs and it was found unoccupied. A search of the area using multiple OPD investigative units was conducted that included the Air Support Unit and K9 Unit.

“Shortly after 3:30 p.m., OPD was notified through 911 that there was a carjacking that just occurred south of Mandan Park in Sarpy County. The suspect description matched that of Mr. Briggs. The car that was taken was a blue Toyota Camry. Officers quickly located the car and a pursuit was declared. ABLE 1 also assisted with the pursuit. The pursuit crossed into Iowa and resulted in an officer involved shooting incident near College Road and Valley View Drive.

“An Omaha Police Officer and Council Bluffs Police Officer discharged their service weapons resulting in Mr. Briggs being shot inside the Toyota. Officers immediately provided medical aid to Mr. Briggs. He was then taken to Nebraska Medicine by medics where he died. Two firearms were located in the stolen car Mr. Briggs was driving.”

Authorities say an investigation is ongoing. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting the investigation into the officer involved shooting of Matthew Briggs. The two involved officers from Omaha and Council Bluffs have been placed on paid administrative leave per department policies. Both officers will be interviewed at a later date by DCI investigators.

The investigation will be reviewed by the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office at its conclusion. Omaha Police say “We’d like to thank the various Iowa and Nebraska law enforcement agencies and the public for their assistance in this investigation.”

An updated news release will be provided by the Omaha Police Department Public Information Office related to the OPD investigations as more information becomes available.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – One person died this (Saturday) morning following a collision between a pickup truck and a motorcycle, in Council Bluffs. According to Council Bluffs Police, the crash happened at around 7:30-a.m. in the vicinity of the on-ramp to westbound Interstate 80 from Highway 6.

Upon arrival, police and medical personnel found the male operator of the motorcycle in the east ditch, after he had been ejected from their machine. The operator was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. His name was withheld pending notification of family. Authorities say he was from Omaha. The driver of the pickup, Dustin Harris, from Underwood, was not injured.

Police say their preliminary investigation determined both the pickup and motorcycle were entering I-80 westbound from Highway 6, with the pickup in front of the motorcycle. As they got close to merge, for reasons unknown, the motorcycle rear-ended the pickup. The collision resulted in the cycle hitting a guardrail, causing the operator to be ejected.

The on-ramp was closed for about 3-hours while an investigation was conducted. The accident remains under investigation.