(Radio Iowa) An Ames man was stabbed to death early Saturdaym and his roommate is charged with first-degree murder.  Police located the victim, 39-year-old Maccarone DeClements, who they say had been stabbed in the upper torso with a knife by his roommate. Officers also located the suspect, 39-year-old Robert Lon, of Ames, inside the home, and placed him under arrest.

DeClements was transported to an area hospital by air ambulance where he later died. Lyons, the suspect, is now charged with first degree murder, a class a felony. H’s currently being held in the Story County Jail.

At this time, it’s not clear what circumstances may have led to the stabbing.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) — A collision between a moving vehicle and a parked vehicle, Saturday evening, resulted in the arrest of a woman on OWI and other charges. According to Shenandoah Police, the accident happened in the 800 block of 6th Avenue, at around 7:30-p.m., Saturday.

Authorities say after further investigation, 37-year-old Amber Michelle Hughes, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated/1st offense (a serious misdemeanor), and child endangerment resulting in bodily injury (a Class D Felony).

Hughes posted a $6,000 bond and was released with a court date.

(Corning, Iowa) — A traffic stop a bit east of Corning at around 1-a.m., Sunday, resulted in the arrest of a woman from Union County. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, 42-year-old Crystal Mack, of Creston, was arrested on charges that include driving under suspension, failure to have ignition interlock device, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mack was being held in the Adams County Jail on a little less than $2,100 bond.

Crystal Mack

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says people involved in blockades and occupations like the one that’s been going on in Canada would be quickly arrested if that happened in Iowa, but Reynolds is expressing sympathy to Canadians who’re unhappy with that country’s vaccination requirements.

“The means don’t justify the end, but I’m telling you it is a reflection of where people are at today,” Reynolds says. Reynolds approved a state law last year that raised the penalties for protest-related crimes. It created a new crime called “interference with public disorder control” and people convicted of “unlawful assembly” can be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Iowa law now provides civil liability protection to drivers who accidentally hit protesters blocking roads. Demonstrators began blocking the streets of Ottawa, Canada on January 28th and police began making arrests and towing vehicles late last week.

(Radio Iowa) – The governor’s plan to provide state scholarships to parents who start sending their kids to a private school is being changed to try to gain more votes. Rural lawmakers worry the concept will put more financial strain on small school districts and the plan has stalled in the House for a second year. Last month, Governor Kim Reynolds suggested a new fund for public school districts with fewer than 500 students. This weekend during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S, Reynolds shared a counter offer that would send more money to more rural schools.

“One of the other things we’re looking at as we talk about the bill is maybe look at occupational sharing and that would cover an even broader group of rural districts,” Reynolds says, “so we’re still working on the pieces of the legislation.” The state already provides increased state funding to Iowa school districts that share superintendents, social workers, custodians or business managers. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst expects a fierce pressure campaign to get a bill passed this year.

“This is an election year, so I think all bets are off when it comes to what’s going to happen,” Konfrst says.”I remain hopeful that there are enough Republicans in the House who recognize this for what it is, which is a sham to move public money to private schools.”

The initial copy of the governor’s Students First Scholarship program advanced out of the Senate Education Committee last week, but the panel’s Republican chairwoman says changes are going to be made in the plan. House Speaker Pat Grassley has used his authority to move the bill to another House committee, so it remains eligible for debate.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst (from Red Oak) will make stops in Adams and Shelby Counties this week, as part of her “99 County Tour.”  Her first event is a 10:30-a.m. Town Hall meeting in Adams County, at the Corning Community Center (601 6th St., Corning). Ernst will hear from and discuss with her constituents, matters of importance to them. The event is open to the public.

Her stop in Shelby County, at the Exira-EHK High School, is NOT open to the public. The Senator will visit “Kids in the Village,” a child care center, to tour the facility and meet with their leadership team.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Iowa 3rd District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne will hold a “Connect with your Congresswoman” town hall event in Atlantic, Wednesday (Feb. 23rd). The event takes place at the Atlantic Public Library, beginning at 5:15-p.m.

Axne will be available to answer questions about her work in Washington and discuss issues or concerns facing constituents. Attendees are asked to wear a face mask to slow the spread of COVID-19 variants.

At least two area school district boards of education will hold their regular monthly meetings, Monday evening (Feb. 21st). In Griswold, the School Board meeting gets underway at 5:30-p.m. in the Conference Room at the High School. New Business on their agenda includes (but is not limited to…), considering and possible approval of:

• Auditor bids for Fiscal Years 2023,2024, & 2025 (Decision Required [D.R.])
• E-Rate Application [D.R.]
• Chemical Application, Middle School Gym, and Baseball Field Maintenance bids. [D.R.]
• Mowing Specifications [D.R.]
• An adjustment to Substitute Pay (Information only, or [D.R.])

The Griswold School Board will then consider/act on entering into a Closed Session for strategy negotiations with the Certified Bargaining Unit.

In Audubon, the District School Board meets at 7-p.m., Monday, in the High School Board Room. Action items on their agenda include:

• Naming the Audubon Education Association as the Official Bargaining Unit for Teachers.
• Setting the time and dates for: Public Bargaining Meeting (Board opening proposal), & a hearing on the School Calendar.
• The Board will also act on approving an agreement with Advantage Administrators, re: Early Retirement HRA.
• Act on approving the second reading of policies (105, 200.1, 210.8, 212, 212.1, 401.4, 502.4 & 606.6)
• Rescinding Policy 307,
• and they will act on any Personnel matters to come before the Board (Resignations, Contracts, etc.)

The Audubon School Board is expected to receive an Open Bargaining Proposal from the Audubon Education Association, prior to hearing regular monthly reports from the Superintendent, Principals and with regard to Transportation.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) — Police responding to an altercation early Saturday morning, in Shenandoah, arrested a woman on a assault charge. Shenandoah Police Department were called to the 1100 block of West Lowell at around 6-a.m., and upon further investigation, officers arrested 26-year old Taylor Dawn Fleming, of Shenandoah, for Domestic Assault/1st offense.

Fleming was transported to the Page County Jail and was being held without bond.

(Hazleton, Iowa) – Four people were injured and a person from Perry died early Saturday morning, following a crash in eastern Iowa’s Buchanan County, south of Hazleton. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened on Highway 150, at around 2:38-a.m.

Authorities say a 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 27-year-old Brian Goedken, from Independence, was traveling south on Hwy 150, when the vehicle crossed the center line, and struck a northbound 2008 Pontiac driven by 31-year-old Ronald Landals, from Perry, head-on. The pickup also struck a 2021 Ford Explorer. The SUV was driven by 26-year-old Mitchel Franck, from Fairbank, Iowa. Franck is a Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Landals died at the scene. The other two drivers were injured, along with 21-year-old Meadow Lynn, from Independence, and 28-year-old Erin Bernardino, from Des Moines.  All of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts. Of those injured, Goedken and Lynn were taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids. The other two were transported to separate hospitals, with Bernardino taken to the UIHC in Iowa City, and Franck transported to the Buchanan County Hospital in Independence.

The accident remained under investigation. Assisting the Patrol at the crash scene, were deputies from the Buchanan and Fayette County Sheriff’s Departments, along with Hazleton Fire and EMS.