(Radio Iowa) – The A-C-L-U of Iowa and Planned Parenthood held a news conference this (Friday) afternoon to respond to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that leaves the injunction against Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat law in place. Rita Bettis Austen is the A-C-L-U’s attorney.

“Put simply we are overjoyed and relieved by today’s order. This abortion ban was dangerous cruel and unconstitutional when it was blocked four years ago it remains dangerous cruel and unconstitutional,” she says. Mazie Stilwell is Planned Parenthood’s director of public affairs in Iowa.

“With its decision the Iowa Supreme Court took away the political cover sought by Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican politicians who want to outlaw abortion in Iowa,” Stilwell says. Stilwell believes the governor and Republican lawmakers will try to pass the law again.

“As we celebrate this win — and celebrate we will — I want to be clear we know the battle is not over ,” she says. “Abortion access hangs by a thread that politicians in Iowa are trying to cut, and we fully expect lawmakers to keep trying to ban abortion in Iowa.” Governor Reynolds said in a statement that Republicans will look at their options now that the ruling is out.

(Radio Iowa) – Two teenagers face charges after a large group got into a fight at a Sioux City swimming pool — and Sioux City officials have closed the Leif Erikson Swimming Pool for at least a week. Sioux City Police Sergeant Tom Gill says the fight started just outside of the pool area Thursday afternoon.”Officers were called there around 4:30 for a fight,” Gill says. “They did find a victim that did have a minor injury, I believe to her face or head.” Gill says as police and E-M-Ts treated the 18-year-old for her injury, about 20 other teens started fighting in the pool area.

“Two more officers came on scene and two juvenile females were arrested for disorderly conduct,” Gill says. The youth bureau in Sioux City’s Police Department is now handling the investigation of the fight and Gill says more arrests are likely. Security plans at the pool are being reviewed.

“They’re going to close temporarily,” Gill says. “When they reopen, they’re going to have some additional security measures in place.” The Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department says once the pool does re-open, there will be increased surveillance, more trained staff and stricter control of pool access. The 18 year old who was injured was taken to a hospital for treatment.

(Radio Iowa) – National Democratic Party leaders have found the mail-in participation plan for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses does not comply with national party rules, but Iowa Democrats have more time to tweak their proposal. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says there are missing pieces in the plan — but that was done intentionally. National Democrats have chosen five other states to hold the first presidential primaries in 2024, but details are still being worked out.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chair Scott Brennan read a letter from Hart to Democratic National Committee members.”We look forward to providing more details to the committee once the calendar challenges are resolved.” Iowa Democrats plan to use mail-in presidential preference cards for their Caucuses, but haven’t said when results of the voting would be announced.

National party leaders say that date needs to be nailed down — to comply with the party’s plan that South Carolina Democrats host the first presidential primary in 2024.

(Odgen, Iowa) – A collision Friday morning between a car and a straight truck in Boone County, resulted in one person being flown to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 8:30-a.m., as 41-year-old Erik Ross Creger, of Boone, was driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla.

When he failed to yield the right-of-way, while turning left from westbound Highway 30, to E. Avenue, west of Ogden, his car was struck on its right side in the eastbound lane of Highway 30, by a 2020 Peterbilt straight truck. The driver of the truck, 42-year-old Nathan Allan Phippen, of Coon Rapids, was not injured.

Creger was flown to UnityPoint Methodist Hospital by LifeFlight. A report on his condition was not released. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Ogden Fire and Boone County EMS assisted at the scene.

LOHRVILLE, IOWA – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday evening, reported that at around 6:57-a.m., Friday, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from 500 Maple Street in Lohrville, IA.  Upon arrival deputies found 6 year old Alexzander Pope deceased inside the residence.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are currently investigating the circumstances involving Alexzander Pope’s death.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Lohrville EMS, and Calhoun County EMS

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  A thief in the night has hauled-off a tall, metal sculpture from the Atlantic Hy-Vee Garden Center. Officials with Hy-Vee reported Friday morning that security camera footage indicating the incident occurred at 1-a.m., Friday.

Still frame images from the security camera show a white truck pulled-up to the sculpture, and a person or persons loading the object into the back of the truck before taking-off.

Anyone with information about the incident, should contact the Atlantic Police Department.

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced her appointments of Michael Carpenter as a district judge in Judicial Election District 8A, Eric Nelson as a district judge in Judicial Election District 4, and Patrick Smith as a district judge in Judicial Election District 5C. 

Carpenter, of Ottumwa, Iowa, currently serves as attorney at Gaumer, Emmanuel, Carpenter & Goldsmith, P.C. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.  Carpenter fills a vacancy created by the recent retirement of District Judge Lucy Gamon. Judicial Election District 8A includes Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, Washington, and Van Buren counties.  

Nelson, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, currently serves as an Associate District Judge in Judicial Election District 4. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and his law degree from the University of Oklahoma City University School of Law.  Nelson fills a vacancy created by the retirement of District Judge Gregory W. Steensland. Judicial Election District 4 includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties. 

Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, currently serves as an attorney for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Smith fills the vacancy created by the recent retirement of District Judge William P. Kelly. Judicial Election District 5C includes Polk County.