(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on a House subcommittee have advanced a bill that would let the state suspend or revoke business licenses from employers who knowingly hire people who aren’t eligible to work in the U.S.

It would require that businesses use the federal government’s E-Verify system to check the immigration status of job applicants. Critics say the E-Verify system is sometimes inaccurate and the bill would unfairly penalized businesses for hiring someone the system indicated could be employed.

“We have a worker shortage and this bill kind of makes us become the immigration police for the state of Iowa,” said Larry Blixt, a lobbyist for a Red Oak based association that represents Iowa greenhouses.

No one spoke in favor of the bill during a statehouse hearing today. The two Republicans who voted to keep it eligible for further debate have major concerns about how the bill would affect businesses, but decided to keep it alive to continue the conversation. Republican Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson said almost every section of the bill has flaws that would have to be changed before he’d support it.

“Appreciate the sentiment of the bill,” Thompson says, “but in practice I think it puts a lot of the (enforcement) burden on businesses and that’s just not something I’m really comfortable doing.”

The chairman of the House committee that would consider the bill says the federal government’s E-Verify system isn’t foolproof and Republicans will have “a good conversation” about those failings before they’d ever bring the bill up for a vote. Backers of the proposal have been trying since 2012 to require that Iowa businesses use the E-Verify system to confirm all employees are in the country legally.

ATLANTIC, IA (February 8, 2023) – This Saturday’s Sweetheart Market at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple Street in Atlantic) will feature Pim’s Thai Food Truck, a free bounce house for kids, and over 20 food and craft vendors. The afternoon market will be held from noon to 3 PM. During the market, Pim’s Thai Food Truck will be selling food in the parking lot closest to 10th Street, and the weather forecast suggests it won’t be too cold to order food from one of Produce in the Park’s most popular food trucks.

There is no cost to enter Sweetheart Market, and the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, host of the market, is offering a giant free indoor bounce house for kids. One YMCA gym will host the bounce house and kids’ activities, and the other gym will host the over 20 market vendors.

Sweetheart Market is held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day baked goods, sweets, and gifts, in addition to farmers market favorites produce, meats, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products.

Sweetheart Market vendors confirmed as of February 8 include Smudge, Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts (preorder only), Noble Provisions, The Kringle Man, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Ter-Bear Honey, Johnna Joy Designs, Midwest Candles by Brit, Wud Bi Tek, Creekside Crystals and Crafts, Frosting Inc., Spirits of the Faire, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Donna’s Jewelry, Unicorn Clouds, Studio Samantha, Sugar Mama Cookie Co., Imagine at Zellmer Century Farm, Silver Valley Craft Corner, Rolling Acres Farm, and Pim’s Thai Food Truck.

Shoppers at Saturday’s market should plan to enter the YMCA through the main front entrance. However, customers with preorders can either come into the market to pick up their preorders or utilize drive-through pickup. Drive-through pickup will be available in the back parking lot behind the YMCA. The back parking lot is accessible from Maple Street between 11th and 12th Street. Market volunteers will be at both front and back entrances of the YMCA to answer questions.

Sweetheart Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Sweetheart Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – A Republican leader in the Iowa House says lawmakers need to wait for an Iowa Supreme Court opinion before trying to enact new abortion restrictions. A district court ruling has blocked a 2018 state law to ban most abortions after the sixth week of a pregnancy from taking effect — and Governor Reynolds has asked the Iowa Supreme Court to intervene. House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley says the legislature’s next step will be guided by how the court rules. “Until we know what the courts are going to say on that issue, it would be premature for us to actually write legislation that might actually take us backwards,” Windschitl says.

Earlier this week a couple of Republican lawmakers said they intend to introduce a bill this year that would ban all abortions in Iowa. Windschitl says that’s the ultimate goal. “We do want to get to that point where all babies are protected and all moms are protected and we are working through that process,” Windschitl says, “but we don’t want to do something that puts us behind the eight ball again in regards to how the courts are going to rule on the current injunction that’s there, so we have to be a little bit patient with that and see what the courts are going to say and then will move forward appropriately as we get a little better lay of the land.”

Windschitl made his comments this (Wednesday) morning at the Westside Conservative Club’s breakfast meeting in Urbandale. This past summer the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a 2018 decision that said Iowa women have a constitutional right to an abortion, a ruling that let a 24-hour waiting period for abortions take effect. The court is now considering a different lawsuit filed to block a ban on abortions after fetal activity is detected, which is around the sixth week of pregnancy.

(Glenwood, Iowa) –  Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report the arrest on Tuesday, of 26-year-old Trenton Duncan, from Sloan. Duncan was taken into custody for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, approved a few matters to come before them. First was a liquor license renewal for Carol Ann Root and the 4-H Building. Second was a bid of $25 per mowing, of the Grove Township Cemetery. Mike Mangels bid the same amount he was awarded last year, and will continue throughout the growing season this year.

The Adair County Board approved Family Farm and Agland Credit Disallowances, and the rental of the 4-H Building for $200, for the purpose of a County Safety Day meeting. And, they acknowledged a letter from an appointee to the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, who is retiring. No action was taken until a potential appointee is spoken with about the position.

In other business, the Board heard from 3^rd District Republican Congressman Zach Nunn’s Regional Office out of Creston. Constituent Service Representative Tracee Knapp introduced herself and officially met each member of the Board and left them with a contact number. She also invited the Board to the offices’ Open House on Tuesday at 1:30-p.m., with the Congressman in attendance.

Nunn’s other regional offices are located in Ottumwa and Des Moines.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – An investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, has resulted in the arrest of three Des Moines residents. Authorities say 52-year-old Lavona Lopez, 29-year-old Dario Ovelry, and 28-year-old Ashly Overly, all pled guilty to one count Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (a Class D Felony).

The investigation began in January 2021 after the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau received information indicating Lopez had provided false information to an insurer following an automobile accident in Polk County.

The investigation determined Lopez had made false representations regarding the nature of the loss in an effort to secure benefits of the insurance policy. Lopez made false statements to an insurer regarding the facts and circumstances of a motor vehicle collision. The investigation determined Lopez fabricated independent witnesses who provided statements to an insurer in support of Lopez’s version of events. The investigation identified Lopez’s witnesses as her son, Dario Ovelry, and daughter-in-law, Ashly Overy. The investigation determined that neither Dario nor Ashly Overly had been at, or near the scene of the collision nor had they witnessed the event leading up to the collision. Lavona Lopez, Dario Ovelry and Ashly Overly were all charged with Insurance Fraud and warrants were issued for their arrest.

Ashly Overly was arrested on June 17, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on October 5, 2022. Dario Overly was arrested on June 17, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on August 26, 2022. Lopez was arrested on November 9, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on February 1, 2023.

Following their guilty pleas, Lavona Lopez, Dario Ovelry and Ashly Overy received  deferred sentences and were placed on supervised probation for a period of two years. They were also ordered to pay a fine of $1,025 each.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.