DES MOINES – Thousands of students across Iowa made their voices heard about the upcoming election when they cast ballots in Secretary of State’s Paul Pate’s Iowa Youth Straw Poll, Tuesday. Students in K-12 schools were invited to vote for their preferred candidates in Iowa’s congressional and gubernatorial races. Candidates submitted video messages tailored toward students. As of the last report, with nearly 9,000 votes cast, Republican Chuck Grassley leads all candidates in the U.S. Senate race with 39 % of the vote. Republican Jim Carlin is second with 23%. Democratic Abby Finkenauer has 20%.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds leads the gubernatorial field, with 65% of the vote. Some Youth Straw Poll participants will be eligible to participate in the June primary and November general election this year.  Secretary Pate says “It’s important to engage our young people in civics at an early age and this is a fun, hands-on way to do that. Voting is not only a civic duty, but also the best way to make your voice heard. My thanks to all the students who participated, and to the teachers that helped organize events at their schools.”

Iowa’s four U.S. Congressional races were also polled, with Republicans leading in three of the four districts. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Christina Bohannan in the First District, 65-35%.  Ashley Hinson is ahead of Liz Mathis in the Second District, 66-34% Democrat Cindy Axne has the most votes so far in the Third District, with 30%, followed by three Republicans, Nicole Hasso at 28%, Gary Leffler at 22% and Zach Nunn at 20%. Republican Randy Feenstra is leading in the Fourth District with 66%.

The Iowa Youth Straw Poll is open to students of every grade level and youth civic organizations.

Vote totals are available by clicking here.

(Washington, D-C) – President Biden has announced five new federal judicial nominees, all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution, including a District Court Judge in Iowa. His office says “These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country — both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.” The announcement marks the President 16th round of nominees for federal judicial positions and his fourth slate of nominations in 2022, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 90.

District Court

Judge Stephen Henley Locher: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Judge Stephen Henley Locher has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Iowa since 2021. He was previously a partner at Belin McCormick, P.C., in Des Moines, Iowa from 2013 to 2021. From 2008 to 2013, Judge Locher was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. From 2004 to 2008, Judge Locher was an associate at Goldberg Kohn in Chicago. Judge Locher served as a law clerk for Judge John R. Gibson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 2003 to 2004.

Judge Locher received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003, and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, magna cum laude, in 2000.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Department says no injuries to a motorist from Cass County, after a vehicle struck a deer Tuesday night. Authorities say a 2010 Dodge Caliber driven by 66-year-old Anita Ruth Shimer, of Griswold, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 8:40-p.m., when a deer came out of the south ditch and crossed the road. The car struck the deer, causing $1,500 damage to the vehicle.

And, Creston Police say a woman residing in the 100 block of S. Jarvis Street, in Creston, reported on Tuesday, that two tires on her vehicle had been slashed overnight. The loss was estimated at $299.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting this evening in the Schuler Elementary School Media Center. The meeting (which can be viewed on You Tube) begins at 5:30-p.m., with three Public Hearings on:

• The 2021-22 Amended Certified Budget. The change estimates of expenditures will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted or considered in the current budget. There will be NO increase in taxes paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. School officials say the $8-million increase is due to unforeseen events that took place after the budget was approved, including: The Middle School Fire Damage; ESSER Expenditures & the Teacher Retention Payments, as well as the HS Greenhouse Project. The amendment is necessary because a school district cannot overspend amounts found on their annual Certified Budget. The certified budget is due in to the State by April 15th.
• The proposed 2022-23 Certified Budget, for which the tax rate is estimated to be $13.25/$1,000 valuation, as opposed to $13.95 in FY22.
• The creation and expending of Flexibility Accounts. Superintendent Steve Barber recommends the following transfers from “categoricals” to a flexibility account in the general fund: $200,000 from the Teacher Leadership Supplement; $15,439.18 from Model Core Curriculum, and $100,000 from the Home School Assistance Program.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on the following resignations and contract recommendations:

Other action items during the Board’s meeting include:

• Approving the 2021-22 Amended, Certified Budget.
• A Resolution – Levying a tax for Fiscal Year 2022-23 for the future optional redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2019, and to approve related documents.
• A Resolution with regard to the Flexibility Fund Transfers

The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving Winter Season Coaching contracts for

And, the Board is expected to approve a sharing agreement with the Griswold CSD for Transportation Director. Their final order of business before entering into a closed session, is with regard to a Long-Term Suspension Agreement. After the Board comes out of their closed session for discussion with District Legal Counsel, they are likely to act on a Legal Complaint with regard to the Middle School Fire.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – The Exira-EHK School District met Monday evening and accepted the resignation of Secondary Principal Nate McDonald, who has accepted a similar role with the Missouri Valley School District. The board also approved the FY 2023 School Budget, which calls for the tax levy rate to decrease roughly twenty cents, to $11.68/$1,000 valuation.

The Exira-EHK Board approved a list of 26 Seniors for graduation for May 15^th, pending completion of students’ respective course requirements. The board renewed sharing agreements with Green Hills AEA for a Librarian and School Based Interventionist, and they approved a bid $14,500 from Audubon Furniture Mart for new flooring in the Elk Horn cafeteria. The project will begin as soon as school is out for summer break.

As expected (and previously announced as an action item), the Exira-EHK Board approved the resignations of: Ryan Gaumer (4th Grade Teacher); Emma Bireline (HS English Teacher); Para-Educators Stephanie Thompson and Kristi Madsen, and (as mentioned), Nate McDonald (Secondary Principal).

And, they approved the hiring of the following personnel: Sara Myers (MS/HS Guidance Counselor); Stephanie Ford (5th Grade Teacher); Derek Reischauer (HS Social Studies Teacher); Andrea Schwery (Head Softball Coach), Courtney Peppers (Assistant Softball Coach); Tom Petersen (Head Baseball Coach), and Drew Buckholdt (Assistant Baseball Coach).

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Tuesday night, arrested a man for Public Intoxication. Authorities say 67-year-old Randal Joe Barr, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7:40-p.m. in the 500 block of E. Maple Street, in Red Oak. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A storm front pushed hazardous weather through the state Tuesday afternoon and evening, spawning hail and damaging winds in some areas. National Weather Service meteorologist Rod Donovan says northern Iowa took the brunt of it. “We did have a couple of tornado confirmations certainly around the Gilmore City area in addition to near Bode and Harvey up in Humboldt County as well, so we will be sending storm survey crews up there today to really determine the damage,” Donovan says. “We have actually had some other potential areas that we could have some minor or isolated tornado touchdowns as well.”

Hail that was a bit larger than two-and-a-half inches in diameter was reported near Gilmore City. There were no reports anyone was injured in Tuesday’s storm. Cool and windy conditions remain in the forecast for the next few days. “Really, overall kind of an unpleasant day Thursday where we’ll have wind gusts in that 40-50 mile range through most of the day,” Donovan says.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies, Tuesday evening, arrested a Nebraska man two Montgomery County warrants. Authorities say 34-year-old Charles R. Brown III, of Omaha, was arrested in Red Oak on warrants charging him with a Probation Violation on an original charge of assault causing bodily injury, and a second charge of Child Endangerment causing Bodily Injury.

Brown was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond for the assault charge, and a $5,000 bond for the child endangerment charge.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The City of Audubon has a new, full-time Police Officer. According to the City Council minutes from their meeting on Monday, Sean Staples was hired. He will be on probation for a couple of months. Officer Derrick Seaton has turned in his resignation, and was hired by the County.

In Fire Department news, it was noted radios are in all vehicles, and handhelds are being tested. Next week Motorola is to meet with County about a tower. Some of the officers attended a class to understand ISO ratings. The Fire Association is starting up fundraising again. April 23rd will be a comedian at the Parish Center. May 28th will have the annual Golf Tournament.

Chief Tyler Thygesen discussed with the Council a change in the floor plan to try and add a severe weather shelter. He also discussed putting the matter back on the ballot for the November General Election. And, the Council adopted a resolution that approves the hiring of TJ Jacobsen as a Volunteer Firefighter.

Theresa Murray , representing the Audubon Chamber, addressed the Council about a letter sent to them. She stated that she had talked to Barb Smith about the Christmas lights and was told that the City put them up in the past. Mayor Jacobsen stated that when she talked to Barb Smith she got a different answer. Mayor Jacobsen stated that the new resolution would establish a process for use of City property that would clarify who is responsible along with when and how long. Molly Christensen explained that the Chamber has never in an official capacity put them up or taken them down. It has been by volunteers. The Chamber does not want to be involved in the hanging of the Christmas lights.

The Council moved to adopt the First Reading of this Ordinance that amends the width of R-2 and R-3 property. It essentially allows homes to be built on smaller lots.  They then waived the second and third readings. In other action, the Audubon City Council approved eliminating the cap and setting a 5- year sliding scale for abatement. And, they agreed to set the Public Hearing on the Amendment to the Urban Revitalization Plan for May 9^th, at 5:30pm

(Radio Iowa) – By an overwhelming margin of 73-to-17, the Iowa House has voted to make changes in Iowa’s popular Bottle Bill. The Senate passed similar, but not identical legislation last month. Representative Brian Lohse of Bondurant says it’s a watershed moment for the law that assesses a nickel deposit on containers of beer and pop, to encourage customers to recycle the empties and get their nickels back.

“For many years now we have discussed and negotiated ad-nauseum how to modify and update this law so that we can correct the problems that have developed,” Lohse says. “…The rate at which Iowans have redeemed cans and bottles appears to be shockingly low…The number of places or lack thereof for consumers to redeem them have consistently dwindled over the years.”

The House and Senate now have both voted to let grocery stores quit accepting empty beer and pop containers and repaying deposits, but the House has added a new twist. Any grocery store that continues to serve as a redemption site would be paid a handling fee of three cents per container. That’s the new rate redemption centers in the business of just handling empty containers would get, too.

Lohse says it makes sense to reward grocery stores that would keep paying back customers’ deposits. “If they’re going to do what redemption centers do, then they should should also not feel the pain of one cent,” Lohse says, “which is part of the problem that we have currently.” The House-passed plan has a reporting mechanism to try to figure out the amount of unpaid deposits wholesale distributors of beer are keeping, but that’s not included in the bill the Senate passed in late March.

Any changes in Iowa’s bottle and can deposit law would have to pass the House and Senate in identical form before a bill would be sent to the governor.