(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans serving in the U.S. House have voted for a tentative agreement to prevent a railroad strike next week, but Congresswoman Cindy Axne was the only Iowan to vote to force the railroads to give workers paid sick days. Democrat Cindy Axne, along with Republicans Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire, Randy Feenstra of Hull and Ashley Hinson of Marion, all voted to impose the railroad deal negotiated at the White House in September. Hinson says a railroad strike would cripple the economy and she blamed President Biden for helping to broker a deal that four of 12 unions rejected. In a separate vote, Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Feenstra all opposed adding seven days of sick leave a year onto the contracts for rail workers — something the unions were seeking. Axne, the lone Democrat in Iowa’s delegation, says all workers deserve basic rights like paid sick days. Axne says she hopes outspoken Senate Republicans follow through and add sick days to the tentative agreement.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has said a railroad strike would be devastating and congress must act to prevent it, but Grassley has not indicated whether he supports adding sick leave to the labor deal. Joni Ernst, Iowa’s other Republican senator, has not announced how she intends to vote. A senate vote is expected sometime today (Thursday). Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, has said he will not vote for an agreement that does not include sick days.

DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today (Thursday) announced a total of nearly $20 million in investments to advance homeownership opportunities for more than 90 families through the development and rehabilitation of single-family homes and down payment assistance initiatives in dozens of Iowa communities. The grants were awarded to 16 organizations, including 12 Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the state to assist in meeting local housing needs.  Among the grant recipients is Iowa Habitat for Humanity, serving parts of southern Iowa, including Creston ($1,023,014 for six housing units), and, the Region 12 Council of Governments, serving 13 western Iowa communities, among them is: Audubon; Carroll; Denison; Adel; Sac City, Guthrie Center; De Soto and Redfield. The Region 12 COG received a grant amounting to $850,000, for five housing units.

Governor Reynolds says “We know that homeownership is the leading driver of wealth creation.  The investments announced today will not only assist many Iowan families in opening the door to homeownership, upward economic mobility and the ability to live in the communities where they work.”  Lisa Houser, Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity of Iowa, said “The awards made to Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the state will fuel a historic and transformational investment into sustainable homeownership opportunities for Iowans. Habitat for Humanity of Iowa commends Gov. Reynolds’ commitment and leadership in advancing housing opportunities for Iowans.”

Examples of projects awarded funds include: 

• The construction of 69 single-family homes by Habitat for Humanity affiliates to be sold to income eligible families in communities throughout the state.  
• The development of six 3-D printed homes for first-time homebuyers in Muscatine with a specific focus on qualified first-time homebuyer teachers. 

The program had $20 million available for awards and received 24 applications requesting more than $30 million in funding.  The Iowa HOME Grant Program was created as a part of Gov. Reynolds’ $100 million investment to increase the supply of housing options and protect and expand housing opportunities for Iowans to live in or near the communities where they work. The funds are made available through Federal American Rescue Act State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds. 

December 1:

• Thatcher Hillyard of Cumberland (winner)
• Andi Riesgaard of Brayton
• Char Jesperson of Exira

Davenport, IA – A 26-year-old man from Davenport was sentenced Wednesday to nearly three and one-half years in prison, for bank robbery. Rayontrez Demar Brown will serve 41 months. He was also ordered to pay $26,399 in restitution. Following his imprisonment, Brown was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

In January and February 2022, there were a series of bank robberies in Davenport. With the assistance of surveillance video and thorough investigative techniques, law enforcement identified Brown as the suspect. On January 14, 2022, Brown entered a Great Southern Bank and jumped over the counter, demanding that tellers give him all the money. On January 21, 2022, Brown entered the Family Credit Union on West Kimberly Road, jumped over the counter and demanded the tellers give him all the money. Finally, on February 2, 2022, Brown robbed a third bank, the Family Credit Union on Rockingham Road, again demanding that tellers give him all the money. In total, Brown stole $26,399. Law enforcement recovered $9,315 in Brown’s residence and on his person at the time of his arrest.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Davenport Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Here’s a reminder from the Montgomery County Extension Service: With the weather getting colder and heating bills going up, LIHEAP can help. The program assists eligible households with bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs. Applications are being accepted through April 30, 2023. The maximum income for a one-person household is $25,760, and $53,000 for a four-person household. You can apply at your local community action agency.

You can find yours by visiting, https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply 

(This article is by By Sonya Sellmeyer, Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division) – This holiday season, Iowans will gather with loved ones making it a great time for discussions about financial fraud to help prevent those you care about from becoming victims.  The Iowa Insurance Division’s Iowa Fraud Fighters program focuses on fraud against elder Iowans, but younger Iowans are also falling victim to scams at a higher rate than ever before.  Fraud prevention firm SEON analyzed data collected in 2020 by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and found fraud complaints from consumers under the age of 20 had the largest increase in 2019 and 2020.

Sonya Sellmeyer

Victims under 20 had collective losses of approximately $3,000 per person.  The report also found that the older the victim, the more money they lost.  This finding may be due to older Americans having more assets than our younger consumers.  Fraudsters do not discriminate when it comes to age.

Consumers of all ages should know these tips to prevent being scammed:

• Don’t answer unknown phone calls, and be wary of any unsolicited offers.

• Be skeptical.  Don’t rely on caller identification, believe official-sounding titles, or company logos.

• Organizations such as the IRS, Social Security, and Medicare will not ask you for information they already have.

• Never give out your personal or financial information.

• Gift cards are for giving.  No legitimate business or government agency will ask for payment in gift cards.

• Never pay for a prize.

• Resist the urge to act secretly, quickly, or based on emotion.

• Review your monthly bank, credit card, and Medicare statements.

• Don’t click on links in emails or text messages, go directly to the sender’s website.

• Computer pop-up warnings regarding security or repair issues may be a scam.  Do not click on them.

• Double-check to make sure both the person selling the insurance or investment product and the product itself is properly licensed or registered by calling the Iowa Insurance Division at 877-955-1212.

• Have a trusted contact on all investment accounts.

What can you do if you suspect fraud: 

If a bank account or credit card is involved, notify the fraud department right away.  Don’t engage or pay the scammer any money or provide them any personal information.  Another good step to take is to freeze your credit.

If you suspect a problem with your computer, update your computer’s security software and run a scan or take the computer to a local repair center.

Report fraud to the appropriate authorities, and document what happened while it is still fresh in your mind.  Insurance and investment fraud should be reported to the Iowa Insurance Division at 877-955-1212.  Medicare scams may be reported to Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 800-351-4664.  Consumer scams may be reported to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office at 888-777-4590.  If money has been lost, file a report with local law enforcement too.

Discuss these fraud prevention tips with all your family members this holiday season.  If your loved ones need further guidance, the Iowa Insurance Division is here to help. Ensuring all Iowans aren’t alone when making decisions in this very serious area is one of the best gifts you can provide your loved ones this holiday season.

Davenport, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office reports a northeast Iowa man, 30-year-old Paul John McNicol, was sentenced on November 30, 2022, to 216 months (18-years) in prison, for receiving child pornography. McNicol, who is from LeClaire, was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Following his imprisonment, McNicol was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release.

Law enforcement identified McNicol after he uploaded sexually explicit images of minors to the social media program, KIK. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at McNicol’s residence and seized electronic devices, on which they located numerous images and videos depicting child pornography. McNicol was required to register as a sex offender following his 2014 Illinois convictions for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and Criminal Sexual Abuse.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest at around 2:15-a.m. today (Thursday), of a 67-year-old Gary Craig Brammer. The Creston man was taken into custody at his residence, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was cited at the scene and released on a Promise to Appear in Court.

(Radio Iowa) – The search of the body of a newborn child in Fort Dodge is bringing the spotlight back to Iowa’s Safe Haven law. Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says the law allows parents to drop off a baby shortly after it is born. “It releases them from any legal ramifications,” Meyer says, “If mom is having a hard time, if she’s overwhelmed, if she’s contemplating child abuse she can bring her baby to the safe haven and the baby will be cared for and she will not be charged with abandonment.” Representative Meyer says the time when a child can be taken to a safe haven drop point was just extended from 30 to 90 days this legislative session.

“There was a constituent concern on the west side of the state. We brought it forward, we discussed it, we want to do anything we can to protect babies and it truly was born out of a constituent concern that 30 days might not be long enough,” Meyer says. The law was created after a teenager in the town of Chelsea gave birth to a baby in 1999 and abandoned it in a snowbank. Fort Dodge police began searching for the body of a baby after getting information a female had given birth to a child at her home, the newborn died and the baby’s body was moved to another location. Meyer says the law gives a mother options if she can’t take care of the child.

“She doesn’t have anyone to reach out to — she might not have those connections or resources to reach out. This is something that will protect the child — again free from penalty of the law,” she says. The law allows a baby to be dropped off at a health facility – such as a hospital or health care facility — or be left with a first responder who responds to the 9-1-1 call. More than 50 babies have been turned over to the state since the Safe Haven law was instituted. Those babies are turned over to parents who adopt them.

(Radio Iowa) – Polk County’s auditor says he’ll issue a decision soon after hearing testimony over a challenge to the address Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver listed on his voter registration — a decision that could nullify Whitver’s election victory last month. Grimes resident Ann Gale filed the challenge.  “I believe that Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and independent voters deserve a senator who cares enough about the district to live in it,” Gale says.

Whitver ran in a newly-drawn district that includes a condo he owns in Grimes and he listed that address on his voter registration in August. Whitver also cancelled the homestead exemption on his home in Ankeny, which is not in the new senate district. Shayla McCormally, an attorney for Gale, says Whitver still lists his Ankeny address for his businesses and utility bills for the Grimes condo show little water was used there this fall.

“He did change the address on both his driver’s license and his voter registration solely for his election needs, but he didn’t have the intent to live or reside at the address provided,” McCormally said. Charlie Smithson, an attorney representing Whitver, says state law permits candidates to establish residency in a legislative district for an indefinite amount of time. “Or indeterminable length of time — a very permissive standard, frankly,” Smithson said. Smithson says smart phone tracking shows the condo was Whitver’s primary nighttime residence in the weeks leading up to the election.

“His spouse and three children still live in Ankeny. That’s an issue for Jack Whitver and his spouse,” Smithson said. “That is not an issue for the government to step in and say: ‘Why did you move and your wife and kids stay somewhere else?'” Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald says there have been very few challenges to someone’s voter registration in Iowa. “It’s kind of uncharted territory for me because in the 15 years I’ve been here, we’ve never had one,” Fitzgerald said, “so it’s going to take a little time to make sure we do everything right.”

Fitzgerald’s decision could be appealed to district court.