(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa researcher has created a free online training program that companies can use to help employees identify warning signs of intimate partner violence, or what’s also been called domestic abuse. Beth Livingston, a U-I professor management and entrepreneurship, says the Abuse is Not Love program provides strategies employers can use to help at-risk employees before the situation becomes explosive. “We have built an evidence-based training to help make people aware of what intimate partner violence actually is,” Livingston says, “because this sort of awareness of the warning signs of violence — before it gets to a point where we’re worried about people’s physical well being — can allow us to intervene in ways that keeps people safe.”

Livingston says the COVID era has demonstrated that companies have an interest in the overall wellbeing of their employees and the ways in which the things that happen at home affect work. “This is an acknowledgment that our employees do not cease being our employees when they go home and the things that happen at home can absolutely affect them at work,” Livingston says. “I think companies have, if not an interest, a responsibility to think about how to keep their employees safe.” Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women. It includes physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse, as well as controlling behaviors by an intimate partner.

Statistics show a woman is killed every three days as a result of intimate partner violence. “Warning signs like jealousy that’s meant to control, controlling the sorts of things that people wear and the places they go,” Livingston says. “Getting passwords for your computer, for your email, to intrude upon your personal life, and isolating you from friends and family, all the way down to humiliating you in public, trying to make you feel small.” The workplace is especially critical for intimate partner violence as Livingston’s research shows work is one of few places where victims can find respite from abuse, and the income they earn can bring independence from their abuser.

“When employees are dealing with stress and pain and consternation at home, it absolutely spills over into their satisfaction at work and their productivity and their distraction at work,” Livingston says. “We know with so many employees working at home, that they might be working in the same space that their abuser is holding court over them.” A CDC report finds intimate partner violence costs about one-billion dollars in lost time and productivity every year in the U-S, and a recent European study found more than 20-percent of intimate partner violence victims report increased absenteeism from work, and 50-percent say it affects the quality of their work.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. At around 12:16-a.m. today (Sept. 12th), Ashley Perez, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office in Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for unauthorized use of a credit card. Perez was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.  And, at around 6:30-p.m. Sunday, Deputies arrested 23-year-old Athea Hamilton, of Red Oak, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Elm Street, following a brief investigation into an incident that had occurred on August 26th, in the 2400 block of North Broadway Street, in Red Oak. Hamilton was being held on a $300 bond.

And Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 6:30-p.m., Sunday, of 65-year-old Michael Loren Kelly, from Red Oak, on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Kelly was issued a summons to appear in court at the later date, and released back to the Red Oak Health Care Community.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the November election won’t turn on any single issue, but voters will be motivated by values like free enterprise and individual liberty. “When you have over 60% of people who feel the country is on the wrong track, they don’t have faith and they don’t have confidence and they don’t have hope,” Miller-Meeks says, “we need to turn this country around.”

Miller-Meeks held a campaign fundraiser in Coralville Saturday. Two other Iowa Republicans running for re-election spoke to the crowd. Governor Kim Reynolds says Democrats over-complicate things, while Republicans offer common sense.  “The Iowa team is pushing back, we are in a good place,” Reynolds says. “We are showing not only Iowans, but the country what conservative leadership looks like.”

Senator Chuck Grassley says Iowa voters are concerned about inflation and President Biden’s energy policies, particularly when it comes to gasoline production. “The fact it’s $3.69 in Cedar Falls doesn’t make any difference. He can’t take credit for that,” Grassley said. “It’s because people are driving 10% less ’cause they can’t afford the price he got it up to in the first place.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott was the keynote speaker at the Miller-Meeks event. Scott is in charge of fundraising for Republican candidates for the U.S. SENATE, but Scott says he was in Iowa to help a HOUSE candidate because increasing turn-out for Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s first district will benefit Grassley. “I mean, this state will matter, will decide whether we…get a majority in the senate or not. Senator Grassley has to win,” Scott said. “By the way the senate works, if you’re not in the majority, your vote doesn’t matter.”

Christina Bohannan, the Democrat running against Miller-Meeks, says by having Scott speak at the event, Miller-Meeks has aligned herself with Scott’s extreme views. Bohannan points to Scott’s plan to terminate Social Security and Medicare every five years and require congress to vote to reauthorize the programs.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday morning, issued several reports, two of which pertained to the shooting of a trail camera(s) on a landowner’s property. Authorities say On Sept. 4th, they were notified a trail camera was hit by a shotgun blast or blasts. Upon further investigation, Kai Turner, of Corning, and Ashton Turner, of Greenfield, were arrested. Ashton Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Trespassing. Kai Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, along with Aiding and Abetting. Both were booked into the Adams County Jail, and later released on a $300 bond, each.

A juvenile was arrested Sept. 4th, after authorities were notified of a burglary that had occurred at The Pub. Upon further investigation, a 12-year-old was taken into custody for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 4th Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The youth was released to their parents, and the case was turned over to the Juvenile Court System.  On Sept. 3rd, Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle, at Highway 34 and Poplar Avenue. Authorities say following an investigation, Mateo Mancha, of Omaha, NE., was taken into custody on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Macha was also cited for speeding. A passenger in the vehicle, Emme Eblen, of Omaha, was arrested and charged with PCS/Marijuana – 2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Sept. 2nd, Adams County Deputies conducted a routine traffic stop for speeding, at Sycamore Avenue and Highway 34. Upon investigation, a Probable Cause search was conducted on the vehicle for the odor of marijuana. Joshua Villanueva, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for speeding Villanueva later posted a $1,300 bond and was released. And, on Sept. 1st, 23-year-old Moesha Garcia, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, following  a traffic stop for speeding, at the intersection of Highways 34 and 25. Her bond was set at $1,300.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Traffic on Interstate 80 west of Adair was rerouted for hours, Saturday, following a semi tractor-trailer accident that caused both east- and westbound-lanes to be closed. Authorities say the semi struck the cable barriers and stretched those barriers across the interstate, along with the truck. All interstate traffic was diverted down Highway 148 for several hours.

Traffic in the crash zone was stalled from about mile marker 73.6 to near the Wiota Exit 67 (Wiota), while authorities worked to detour motorists who were not caught on either side of the blockage. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Agencies assisting with traffic control at the scene includes: the Cass and Audubon County Sheriff’s Offices; Iowa State Patrol (ISP); Iowa DOT motor vehicle enforcement (MVE), Anita and Atlantic Fire Departments; Cass EMS; the Iowa DOT, and Richter and Son Towing.

(Olin, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa DNR report that a man from Jones County died, during an ATV accident, early Saturday morning. Authorities say that at around 3:30 AM, 35-year-old James Daniel Minor, of Olin, died when the ATV he was operating drove off the roadway at the Olin Access Wildlife Management Area. Minor hit an obstruction and was declared dead at the scene.

Jones County Sheriff assisted the Iowa DNR at the scene.

(Adair, Iowa) – Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt is on a paid leave of absence, pending the completion of a criminal investigation into firearms charges. Adair City Attorney Clint Fichter confirmed the Chief’s status, Thursday.

Agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed search warrants on Aug. 31^st, at Wendt’s office at City Hall in Adair, gun stores he owns in Anita and Denison, and a rural property in Manning.

To be clear, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater’s office was not a target of the investigation. Vandewater only became aware of the investigation after it was underway.

(Vilisca, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 6:30-p.m. Friday in Montgomery County, resulted in a pursuit, and the arrest of a man from Nebraska. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports Deputies attempted to stop a black, no-plated Pontiac Grand Am, on Highway 34 near the intersection with T Avenue (Northwest of Villisca), when the driver – identified as 32-year-old Ryan Jennings, of Omaha – sped off, leading to a chase with speeds of around 100-mph.

The car entered a ditch upright near 200th Street and Highway 34. Jennings attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by Deputies, who detained two other adult passengers in the car. Also located in the vehicle was a juvenile child under Jennings’ care.

Jennings was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment, Eluding, and Interference with Official Acts. Multiple citations were also issued. The two adult passengers were released at the scene without charges.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County K9 Unit, Montgomery County Communications, Red Oak Police, and Red Oak Rescue.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are slated to meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Sept.13th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse, in Atlantic. One of the items on their agenda is to officially accept the resignation of Cass County Auditor Sara Harris, who submitted her resignation to the Board on August 31st.

Harris had been appointed to the position by the Supervisors following the retirement of longtime Auditor Dale Sunderman, in February, 2022. She took over the position in April, and was expected to hold the title of Auditor until the November 8th General Election, but decided to bow out, when a Cass County Republican Nominating Convention was held and selected Kathy Somers as their nominee on August 16th.

In her letter of resignation, Harris stated her last day in office will be Monday, Sept. 12th. She cited in her letter, the decision made by the CCRCC’s “Organized effort,” to remove her “in a referendum against the board of supervisors when they chose to place party loyalty over process and a full capability of doing the job as an auditor.” Harris said also, she could have campaigned, but “The toxic environment fueled with unnecessary drama would remain and the party powers that decided to push [her] out, to no fault of [her] own, will be more inspired than ever to continue their vendetta against the board and by association, [Harris] and [her] family.”

Following formal action on accepting her resignation, the Board, Tuesday, will act to appoint an Auditor to fill the position, until the election. In other business, the Board will act on abating taxes on a parcel located within the City of Anita, and hear a presentation from Don Brown, with Renodry USA, a company that helps to dry out older structures in an effort to remove excess moisture, mold and other causes of masonry and wall issues.

The Supervisors will discuss and possibly act on: using Renodry’s services; DHS approval of leased copier machines, and (if candidates are available), the appointment of Trustees for the Bear Grove (1) and Washington Townships (2).

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A citizen of Mexico who resided in Denison, was sentenced Wednesday to prison, following his plea to a charge of misuse of a Social Security Number. His sentenced was handed-down in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. Authorities say 39-year-old Eric Jimenez Del Carmen was ordered to serve 21 months in prison. following his plea to a charge of misuse of social security number.

In November 2019, Del Carmen applied for employment with Monogram Foods, located in Harlan, by knowingly using a social security number that had not been assigned to him. Del Carmen was able to obtain employment at Monogram Foods as a result of misuse of social security number.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration investigated the case.