(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of a key Senate committee is working on a bill inspired by the case of an Iowa teenager convicted of murdering a man she says raped her repeatedly. The judge who handled the Pieper Lewis case did not sentence her to prison and gave her a deferred judgement, but by law was required to order her to pay 150-thousand dollars to the family of the man she killed. Brad Zaun of Urbandale, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says requiring a rape victim to pay the family of her rapist seems like an injustice. “I had a lot of constituents reach out who were pretty upset about that,” Zaun says.

Zaun has introduced a bill that would give judges the ability to consider the actions of the victim of a crime when deciding whether the victim’s family is owed restitution. Amy Campbell, a lobbyist for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says the group recommends that bill be more narrowly focused.  “So that we’re really addressing the extreme cases,” Campbell says. Marion County Attorney Ed Bull says providing discretion to judges is a good thing in general, but the bill needs to clearly define what sort of cases would be covered. “At the time we get to sentencing, then are we going to have in essence a mini trial where the defense counsel is now going to try to prove their client is the victim of an offense?” Bull asks. “…What is the evidentiary standard for the court to determine if that person is truly a victim?”

Lisa Davis Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Justice, says the trial lawyers group agrees. “While we absolutely believe in the concept and understand the case where this came about, we do agree that it needs to be tightened up a little bit to make sure there aren’t any unintended consequences that we’re not thinking about,” Davis Cook said.

The Lewis case drew national attention and a GoFundMe account raised the funds to cover the restitution she was ordered to pay. Lewis, who is now 18, walked away from a residential corrections center in November and was taken back into custody a few days later. A hearing scheduled in March will determine if she’ll be sent to prison for violating her probation.

(Radio Iowa) – An expert at Iowa State University is conducting an online survey of Iowa wine drinkers to learn more about how and why they choose products made in the state. Aude Watrelot says the survey on white and red wines covers many aspects of the decision to buy a product. “Do they buy those wines at a specific place? So maybe at a winery, or is it more in a restaurant? Or is it in a grocery store? And then what do they look at when they try to purchase wine?,” she says.

The questions also ask about the packaging of wine and how that influences a purchase. “The design of the label, or do they look at the production of the wine? Do they look at the place of production of the wine,?” she says. “And then what do they do with this wine? As soon as they purchase the wine, they probably won’t drink the wine right away.” Watrelot is a chemist who focuses on the chemical composition of wines produced in the Midwest. She says the way wine is used once you get it home is an important factor. “Once you open the bottle of wine, if you don’t drink everything right away — what do you do with this wine? Do you keep it open? To have some air coming into in contact with a wine? Or do you close the wine? Do you try to remove the air? Do you store in the fridge?”

Watrelot says there are around 98 wineries in Iowa and some 250 vineyards, and the number of wineries is always increasing. She says the survey can help ensure they are moving in the right direction. “Those answers will be helpful for the grape and wine industry just to improve the winemaking practices. So trying to improve the quality during the process to make sure the wine that is provided to consumers is of high quality and will remain of high quality,” she says.

The survey is be available through February 13th. To take the survey, visit https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJArChzeYKnSBzo.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – When the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center, they agreed to set March 8^th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on bids received for the Washington Elementary School Playground Improvement Project. The Board authorized Snyder and Associates’ Dave Sturm to begin the bid letting aspect of the project. The bids will be due by 2-p.m. March 7^th. Board President Laura McLean and Superintendent Steve Barber said it’s hoped that by fast-tracking the project, work can take place this summer.

Snyder’s Dave Sturm and Tim West, Snyder Landscape Architect, spoke with the Board about some of the agreed upon project features.

Speaking via video conference call, Tim West said they worked with the manufacturers to select structures that offer a whole range of developmental challenges and mobility.

There’s a large rope climber was chosen over a circular, spinning-type of element.

Not everything on the wish list, Dave Sturm said, could be included in platform footprint, like a split, high slide. Tim West…

The project would be paid for through SAVE, in the amount of $650,000.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest a little after 10-a.m. Wednesday, of a Creston man. 18-year-old Nathan Lee Novotny was arrested at his residence. Novotny was charged with Criminal Mischief 5th, Harassment 1st Degree, and Harassment 3rd Degree. He was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by Judge.