(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democrats say this week’s Kansas vote to uphold abortion rights shows the same could happen in Iowa. Jennifer Konfrst is the Democratic Leader in the Iowa House. “This tells us that Americans and Midwesterners and, we know, Iowans believe in reproductive choice,” Konfrst says, “and we should enshrine that right in Iowa’s Constitution.”

A 2019 court ruling in Kansas said the Kansas constitution guarantees a right to an abortion. On Tuesday, 59 percent of Kansas voters opposed changing their constitution, so the Kansas legislature could enact new abortion restrictions.  “Kansans rejected a government mandate that would limit their health care options,” Konfrst says, “and it’s the exact same kind of amendment that the Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate are pushing forward.”

The proposal has already cleared the Iowa legislature once in response to a *2018* Iowa Supreme Court ruling that upheld abortion rights. The proposed constitutional amendment must be approved a second time before it could be included on the 2024 Iowa election ballot. Konfrst says if that happens, she doesn’t expect support for abortion rights to diminish two years from now. “This is an issue that Democrats are in line with the people on and Republicans are not and it’s my job, it’s our job to remind Iowans of that,” Konfrst says. “One party is here to protect your freedoms. One is trying to take it away. That’s what we’ll be talking about.”

Eric Van Lancker, the Democratic Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, says Iowans are telling him abortion rights are a very important issue. “Kansas did what we know Iowans believe here, (which) is that the overreach of government doesn’t belong in that doctor’s appointment with a women and her doctor,” Van Lancker says.

It’s possible Republicans in the legislature may abandon their proposed constitutional amendment on abortion. In June, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a previous ruling that said Iowa’s constitution guarantees a woman’s right to an abortion. That ruling meant a 24-hour waiting period for abortions in Iowa went into effect last month. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds also has asked a district court to lift an injunction, so an Iowa law that bans abortions after the sixth week of a pregnancy may be enforced.

(Radio Iowa) – The state Board of Education decided today (Thursday) against reviewing a decision by the West Des Moines School District to keep the book “Gender Queer” in its freshman building library. The Board of Education decision sided with their legal counsel’s recommendation that the parent can’t bring the request because her son was not in the school at the time she asked for the review. Alan Ostergren is the lawyer for parent and disagreed, and says there’s no objective criteria at any level in reviewing a book. “We’re talking graphic depictions of sex acts. And and I want to be clear, it’s not because it’s two boys in here. Okay, that’s not the point. That’s not the point of this. I don’t care if it’s males and females, I don’t care if it’s adults, whatever it is,” Ostergren says. He says the parent wants the book removed because the actions depicted in the pictures and writing are not appropriate for this school.

“The issue is, we all understand the context that this is happening in. Parents feel that the public schools are absolutely out of control, and disregarding their interests and what they want to see,” he says. The school board vote on the issue was split and Ostergren was asked if the recourse for the parents is at the ballot box. Ostergren says this is a choice as he says nobody in authority decided to do anything in this case. “Standing up and saying, ‘You know what, maybe we’re going a little too far.’ Maybe we’re sexualizing children too much. Maybe we should listen to people. And not just assume that because we’re credentialed, we know everything,” he says. Ostergren says there was significant debate during the school board meeting and he says significant opposition to the board’s decision.

“I think it reflects the debate that’s going on all over Iowa, that parents are beside themselves at this feeling of loss of control of what’s going on in public schools,” he says. The attorney for the West Des Moines School District, Kristi Latta, disagreed with Ostergren’s assessment of the case. “The fact that Mr. Ostergren says there’s no objective criteria is just not the case. In the record, before the administrative law judge policies were submitted that talk about materials, controversial materials, objection on materials, you know, what factors are to be weighed in those situations,” Latta says. She says the Board of Education review is the sixth time the issue has been review and things followed the protocols set down, starting with a building level review committee.

The committee ultimately decided to keep the book on the shelves of the library — again, just to be clear — not required reading, not part of the curriculum. It’s just sitting on the shelf in a library. So optional, voluntary, all of that stuff,” Latta says. “And as the superintendent testified at the hearing, to the extent that any parent didn’t want their child the ability to check that book out, they could make a note of that, and that would be accommodated.” Latta agreed with the Board of Education’s legal counsel on whether the board should even consider the merits of the book.

“I think there is a jurisdiction issue with regard to the fact that this is not a parent of an aggrieved child. The child does not attend the school where the child is at. For that reason — they really cannot be aggrieved,” she says. Latta says the ultimate choice should be left to the people who are elected by the community in which they live, and they’re responsible to their constituents. She says if there’s dissatisfaction then the remedy is at the ballot box. I think if there’s dissatisfaction or someone’s unhappy to a certain degree, they can, you know, make another choice then about, you know, whether or not that’s a school that they want to attend. They can take steps to say, I don’t want my child to check that particular book out of the library,” according to Latta. She told the Board that overturning the school board decision would create more issues.

If you were to reverse the decision, based on the merits, it would be a sea change for the way that this prior state board has acted with regard to its precedent,” Latta says. Lawyer Ostergren says his client is considering the options and whether they will challenge the Board of Education’s decision in district court.

ATLANTIC, Iowa – Aug. 4, 2022 – A joint Iowa DOT/BNSF railroad project to reconstruct Iowa 44 on the south side of Portsmouth will close the road at the at-grade railroad crossing beginning Monday, Aug. 15 at 7 a.m., until Wednesday, Aug. 24, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 maintenance office.

During this closure, motorists will follow a marked detour route using Iowa 191, and Shelby County roads F-32 and M-16.

ATLANTIC, Iowa – Aug. 4, 2022 – A joint Iowa DOT/ BNSF Railway project to reconstruct the at-grade rail crossing on Iowa 37 on the east side of Earling will close the road starting Monday, Aug. 8 at 7 a.m., until Saturday, Aug. 13, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 maintenance office.

During this closure, motorists will follow a marked detour route using Shelby County roads M-16 and F-32, and U.S. 59

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests took place Wednesday. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 43-year-old Dustin Riley Dumler, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody at the Page County Iowa Jail, on a valid Page County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. Dumler later posted the $300 bond and was released.

Dustin Dumler

And, 28-year-old Joseph William Michael Haughton, of Hamburg, was arrested Wednesday at the Fremont County Jail. He was wanted on a valid Page County Iowa warrant for violation of probation, stemming from an original charge of Domestic abuse assault/2nd offense. Haughton was transported back to the Page County Jail where he was being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Joseph Haughton

Note: “A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

ANKENY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, today (Thursday), released information on the cause of death for three Cedar Falls residents who were staying at the Maquoketa Caves State Park campground on July 22nd. On that date, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Division of Criminal Investigation were notified of a triple homicide at the campground. Officers located three deceased victims, as well as the body of a man investigators believe was responsible for their deaths. The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner has determined the cause and manner of death of all four people.

Officials say 42-year-old Tyler Schmidt died from a gunshot wound and multiple sharp force injuries. His wife, 42-year-old Sarah Schmidt, died from multiple sharp force injuries. Their daughter, 6-year-old Lula Schmidt, died from a gunshot wound and strangulation. All three family members’ deaths have been ruled homicides. The family’s 9-year-old son Arlo Schmidt escaped from the tent and survived the attack. He is staying with relatives.

A suspect in the murders, 23-year-old Anthony Sherwin, of LaVista, Nebraska, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death has been ruled a suicide. The investigation into the events surrounding the homicides is ongoing. However, the known facts and circumstances, and all evidence collected to this point, substantiate Sherwin was the perpetrator of the homicides and acted alone.

No further information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Manchester residents are dealing with storm damage after nearly two inches of rain caused flash flooding and wind gusts of up to 58 miles an hour hit the city at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator Mandy Bieber says the north end of Manchester seemed to be hit hardest. “We sustained tree damage, had some power outages,” she says. “We had one report of a livestock building being flipped over and then two houses damaged by falling trees.” Bieber says utility crews were able to remove tree limbs from power lines and restore electric service quickly.

Manchester City Manager Tim Vick says a street light in downtown Manchester was damaged. “The wind somehow managed to turn that on us,. If you take a look at it, it does not look like the pole is bent or anything, it just needs to be repositioned. That’ll take some work,” he says. “We’re not quite sure how we’re going to do it just yet. We’re analyzing the best way to get that twisted back into place.”

Officials say intense rain fell elsewhere in Delaware County on Wednesday, but Manchester appears to be the only area where the storm caused property damage.

(Vail, Iowa) – The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office reports 64-year old Kevin James Ricke, of rural Westside, was fatally injured during a tractor rollover accident, Sunday evening. Ricke was trapped beneath a John Deere 4020 tractor he was using to mow a ditch. The accident happened at around 7:20-p.m., Sunday. Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies, Crawford County Ambulance and Vail Fire Department were dispatched to the scene near 370th Street and L Avenue, following a report a tractor had rolled over in a ditch. The accident happened as he was turning east onto L Avenue from 370th,

Vail Fire Department personnel freed Ricke from the tractor.  When Ricke turned east onto L Avenue from 370th Street, the bank gave way and the tractor rolled into the ditch. Ricke was pronounced dead at the scene.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Harlan City Council met Tuesday evening in regular session. It was reported that the Council would receive a memorandum of understanding for using the Harlan Airport facilities for students studying aviation. Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys visited with the Harlan Airport Commission and advised the Council the directive will show up in their next meeting packet. The School District’s facilities committee will also attend the next City Council meeting to update the Council on the school facilities project.

The Harlan Community School District Patrons are voting on a 22.9 million dollar bond issue to fund an intermediate addition to the primary school building and renovate portions of the middle and high school buildings. The blue sign at 7th and Cyclone Streets in Harlan will also be replaced. The new sign will read “Historic Downtown.” The Harlan City Council will meet again on Tuesday, August 16th.

(reporting by our sister station KNOD)