A few area school district boards of education will hold their regular monthly meetings, Monday, Aug. 16th. The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the High School Conference Room. Among the items of New Business/action, are those with regard to: Approval of a New Hire, and, Compensation package; Approval of a Return-to-Learn plan, following public input; Discussion and possible action on Lifetime Activity Passes; a decision on staff Flu Shots; approving an evaluation system for Administrators, and, consideration of whether or not to enter into a closed session with regard to matters pertaining to school personnel (hiring, performance or discharge).

In Exira, the Exira-EHK School Board meeting begins at 6-p.m. in the Conference Room, and includes the following discussion & action items with regard to:

• The start of the School Year Return-To-Learn Plan
• Bus bids
• Approval of Personnel Hires, Transfers, Resignations, etc.
• A Closed session to review or discuss records which are authorized or required by state or federal law, to be kept confidential.
• Action on a late open enrollment request.

The Audubon School Board meeting takes place in the High School Boardroom at 7-p.m., and includes action on Vacation regulation; approval of: Student Handbooks; Election Publication; and the Return-To-Learn plan. The Board is expected to act also, on setting the date and time for a Public Hearing on the proposed issuance of SAVE Bonds. They will also act on any Personnel matters to come before them. In his report, Audubon School District Superintendent Eric Trager will provide an update on the District’s Building Project, including: a combined timeline; funding opportunities and a revised Budget. He’ll also discuss Back to School Pre-service Days, and the Transportation report.

The CAM School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 17, beginning at 7:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. Discussion/action items on their agenda included those pertaining to:

• Open sealed bids for disposal of excess vehicle.
• Facility Update: Discuss and Acts upon the Facility Committee”s Recommendation.
• School Board Election Process.
• Approval of Board Policies related to Legislative Updates.

The City of Atlantic’s Park and Recreation Board of Directors will meet 5:15-p.m. Monday, Aug. 16th, at the downtown City Park Shelter. Action Items and/or New Business includes:

• An update on the Schildberg Recreation Area.
• Produce in The Park.
• A National Fitness Campaign.
• Cass Health Pool Day
• Sunnyside Pool is closed for the season.
• Adult Tricycle Bike.

In the Director’s Report, Bryant Rasmussen is expected to mention:

• Adult Art in the Park (successful event held recently)
• Cass County Fair Booth (review of activities/turnout)
• Groundskeepers are done with the bulk of their work
• Atlanticfest/Kids Bike Ride results
• Produce in the Park
• and, Recreational items checked out.

A man and a woman on a motorcycle were seriously injured and transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, following an accident Saturday evening in northeastern Iowa’s Delaware County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 6:40-p.m., when a 1997 Harley Davidson cycle operated by 57-year-old Thomas J. Hermsen, of Kieler, WI, failed to stop at the intersection of 250th Street and 220th Avenue. The machine was traveling north on 220th at the time.

The motorcycle went out of control, ejecting both Hermsen and his passenger, 54-year-old Marleen M. Goodin, of Dubuque. They came to rest on the north shoulder of the road.  A report on their condition was not available.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Delhi Fire and 1st Responders, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, ambulance and towing services, and others.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa voting rights advocate Deidre DeJear announced Saturday (today), that she will seek the state’s governorship in 2022. In her statement, DeJear, a Democrat, said “Working families have been hit hard over the past few years. They are worth the fight. As your governor, I will spend my time working on solutions by bringing together Iowans from river to river to meet our challenges head on.”

DeJear, 35, gained attention in 2018 when she became the first Black candidate in Iowa to win a statewide primary ahead of her unsuccessful campaign for Iowa secretary of state. She was defeated by incumbent Republican Paul Pate. A Mississippi native, DeJear attended high school in Oklahoma and moved to Des Moines to attend Drake University. DeJear later got her political start working on Barack Obama’s winning campaign for the 2008 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses.

Deidre Dejear (July 2021 file photo)

After the 2018 election, DeJear became a senior Iowa adviser to then-California Sen. Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign. DeJear joins state Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo among Democrats hoping to challenge Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, next year. Reynolds, governor since 2017, is expected to seek re-election.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement in response to Deidre DeJear announcing her campaign for governor:  “Iowa Democrats are signaling they are joined at the hip with their out-of-touch national Democrat counterparts,” said Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “Iowans overwhelmingly support Voter ID, and if DeJear thinks the elimination of Voter ID will win Iowans over, she will be sadly mistaken yet again. No matter who Democrats select, none will compare to Governor Reynolds. Iowans believe in her because she got children back in the classroom, cut taxes, and proved she is the leader Iowa needed.”

Ankeny, IA – Longtime public servant, Michael Bousselot, won the special nominating convention today and will be the Republican nominee for the special election for Iowa House District 37. “I am honored to be the Republican nominee to fill the seat of late Representative John Landon,” said Bousselot. “These are big shoes to fill, but I intend to embody the character and dedication that John brought to this job. I believe parents know what’s best for their children. I have always made it a priority to listen to Iowans and I intend to take that same mentality to serving Ankeny in the Iowa House.

Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley congratulated Bousselot on his nomination. “Michael Bousselot has been hard at work for Iowans alongside Governor Branstad and Reynolds for years. He’s proven his commitment to cutting taxes, responsible budgeting and protecting Iowa values. The people of Ankeny deserve a representative that will listen and act on their concerns, not an extreme liberal who continues to run on the same out-of-touch agenda, hoping for a different result. Michael Bousselot is the best person for the job and I’m eager to get to work ensuring Ankeny voters know who he is and what he stands for.”

Bousselot currently serves as Director of Iowa’s Department of Management in Governor Kim Reynolds’ administration. Bousselot previously served as chief of staff, legal counsel, and as a policy advisor in the Branstad – Reynolds administration. A Davenport native, Bousselot lives in Ankeny with his wife Holly.

He graduated from the University of Iowa with undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting and with a law degree from Drake University Law School.

Area and State News from Ric Hanson, broadcast at 8:06-a.m.

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The latest area News, broadcast at 7:06-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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The driver of a 2018 Chevy Cruz was attempting to park her vehicle, Thursday morning, when she accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. The vehicle, driven by 77-year-old Norma Jean Parish, of Villisca, struck the side of the Casey’s General Store in Villisca, causing an estimated $25,000 damage to the structure, and $4,500 damage to the car. The accident happened at around 10:45-a.m., Thursday.

Parish wasn’t injured during the mishap. Authorities say there were no citations issued, since it happened on private property.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Authorities in Montgomery County say a woman faces drug and public intoxication charges after she reportedly jumped in-and-out of traffic while carrying an item and attempting to strike vehicles with it, Friday morning. 50-year-old Christina M. Shipley, of Clarinda, was arrested at around 8:18-a.m. on Highway 34, about a half-mile West of K Avenue.

Shipley faces charges that include Public Intoxication and Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd offense. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The Department of Justice announced today that it reached a settlement with JP Senior Healthcare LLC and JP Senior Management LLC, resolving the department’s claims that these companies violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a Latino employee based on assumptions that the worker was not a U.S. citizen.

JP Senior Management manages two nursing facilities owned by JP Senior Healthcare: Pioneer Valley Living and Rehab located in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and Goldenrod Manor Care Center located in Clarinda, Iowa.

Based on its investigation, the department determined that while verifying a new employee’s legal right to work in the United States, JP Senior Healthcare and JP Senior Management rejected the U.S. citizen’s valid driver’s license and unrestricted Social Security card. The investigation further concluded that the companies demanded that the worker instead present a Permanent Resident Card based on the companies’ incorrect belief that the worker was not a U.S. citizen, even after the worker explained that he was a U.S. citizen, and therefore, not eligible for a Permanent Resident Card. Additionally, the department determined that these documentary demands resulted in the end of the worker’s employment. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requesting more or different documents than necessary to prove work authorization based on employees’ citizenship status or national origin. Instead, all work-authorized individuals, regardless of citizenship status or national origin, may choose which valid, legally acceptable documents to present to demonstrate their ability to work in the United States.

“Employers must treat all workers fairly and consistent with the law, without making assumptions about a worker’s citizenship based on appearance or Hispanic national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that workplaces are free of discrimination.”

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, JP Senior Healthcare LLC and JP Senior Management LLC will pay a civil penalty to the United States; pay the injured worker back pay plus interest; and train relevant employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination provision.

The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits citizenship or immigration status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.