(Radio Iowa) – Police say four people were shot — two of them fatally — in two separate incidents in Des Moines last (Monday) night. Police were called about 6 PM to the banks of the Des Moines River where the body of a 43-year-old Des Moines man was found, shot to death. Investigators say it was a homicide.

About two hours later, three people were shot on the capitol city’s east side and one of them died, a 40-year-old man from Des Moines. Two other men, ages 27 and 32, sustained non-life threatening gunshot injuries. No names were released in either case and there’s no word on any arrests. These are Des Moines’ 5th and 6th homicides of the year.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is questioning the head of the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs about reports of inconsistent inspection practices and a lack of quality controls at veterans homes nationwide.  “It’s not directed just to any specific instances,” Grassley says. “It’s kind of an accumulation of a lot of concerns we’ve had.”

Those concerns include the pandemic and reports that show more than 14-hundred residents and staff of V-A homes nationwide have died of COVID-19. The V-A spends about one-billion dollars a year on state-run homes for veterans. The homes are only required to do one annual safety inspection. “Since there’s a lot of tax dollars goes into this,” Grassley says, “we have a responsibility to make those tax dollars keep our promises to our veterans.”

Grassley, a Republican, says it appears the standard of care at many state veterans homes “falls well short” of those required by other government-supported nursing homes. He says, “Americans deserve answers and our veterans deserve better.” “The lack of oversight by the VA seems to be a problem that’s not being carried out the way it should be,” Grassley says. “This is a letter to get answers to some specific questions.”

A POLITICO report says nearly 14-hundred V-A residents and 40 staff have died from COVID-19 in 110 state veterans homes. In the worst case, 110 deaths were reported at a 126-bed veterans home in New York. It’s unclear how many veterans, if any, have died from COVID at the Iowa Veterans Home. This summer, it was reported that two residents of the home in Marshalltown who were housed in the COVID unit had died. I-V-H officials said both veterans had “significantly compromised health conditions” and thus, they weren’t listed as COVID deaths.

(Waterloo, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Tuesday, said 30-year-old Devin Dewayne Smith, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd and other charges in Black Hawk County, failed to report to the Waterloo work release facility Monday night, as required. Smith is a black male, 6-feet 2 inches tall. He height 6’2″, and weighs 167 pounds. Smith was admitted to the work release facility on May 26, 2021.

Persons with information on Smith’s whereabouts should contact their local police.

Devin Smith (IA DOC photo)

The broadcast News at 7:07-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council is expected to act Wednesday, on a request by Produce in the Park organizers to extend the closure of 6th Street, from Chestnut to Poplar, through Oct. 14th. Their meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. If the request is approve, the street would be closed for Produce in the Park held on Thursday’s at the downtown City Park. On May 5th, the Council approved closing 6th Street from June through Sept. 30th.

The Council will also act on Resolution “Granting 60365 Glacier Road permission to connect to the City’s Sanitary Sewer System.” A new business – Nextlink Internet, from Texas, has signed a lease for the building on the City’s northwest side, that will create 10-to-12 jobs, and is requesting a sanitary sewer hook-up. The company covers five states from Texas through the Midwest, supplying rural wireless internet. The building may be divided into three sections so that three separate businesses may operate out of it. City Code requires that property outside the City Limits must receive permission by the City Council to connect to the sanitary sewer system. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Monday evening to review and act on a recommendation to the City Council, with regard to the request. Upon receiving the recommendation, the Council may deny the request, approve the request with conditions, or grant it without conditions.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to approve a change order pertaining to the Downtown Revitalization Project. The project initially started as a facade improvement for participating downtown businesses, but was expanded to include projects to improve the safety and historically significant architecture of some buildings, both inside and out.

This most recent Change Order amounts to $5,065, and brings the contract total to $516,280. The request is with regard to the following improvements:

• 511 Chestnut Street: Interior masonry repointing ($1,980). [Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks, allowing the undesirable entrance of water.]
• 403 Chestnut: 1) provide sealant and repairs ($907), and 2) provide additional repairs ($1,628).
• 421 Chestnut: Repairs to the ceiling at interior storm ($550).

John Lund says the FY2021 Budget approved by the Council on March 18, 2020, had construction for the project to be $713,519. With professional services included, the City was expecting the total project cost was $902,519, but because several participants droppedout of the program at the onset, the costs fell dramatically. Lund says also, the change order costs are not shouldered by the City, alone. For every additional dollar of cost the property owner commits to the project, the City matches that with a dollar, and the Feds match it with two-dollars.

The final order of business, Wednesday, is the appointment of At Large Councilperson Grace Garrett to the Beautification Committee, which has been dormant since the addition of banners and street signs they had requested, were implemented a few years ago. John Lund says there remain many recommendations on the original report, with new ideas and opportunities possible. He said, by July 2022, the City will have committed an additional $45,000 towards ongoing improvements to the community.

The Atlantic Police Department reports officers will be working with Cass County Sheriff’s deputies this Thursday, September, 2nd for a special traffic enforcement project. The project will be taking place both within the City of Atlantic and on County roads. Residents can expect heightened traffic enforcement on this date throughout the county.

(Radio Iowa) – A few hours after the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan, Florida Senator Marco Rubio told a crowd in Iowa the Biden Administration’s handling of the withdrawal was horrifying and indefensible. Speaking at an Iowa G-O-P fundraiser at the Mason City Municipal Airport last (Monday) night, Rubio said the pullout plan was based on assumptions that were not real.

“Why were those assumptions made? Number one, because of arrogance, because they knew better. They know better than everybody else, they went to certain schools, we’re the grown-ups, we’re in charge now, we’re the opposite of the people that were here before. We know what we’re doing, we’ve got this,” Rubio said. “That’s what they told everybody.” Rubio says the Biden Administration’s August 31st deadline for withdrawal had nothing to do with the safety of Americans and our allies there.

“They wanted a press conference on 9-11…just like they wanted a press conference right before July 4th to tell everybody the pandemic was over. The new freedom Independence Day…that was about, what, 10 days before they told everybody they had to wear three masks,” Rubio said and the crowd laughed. “So now, it’s the same thing with this.” Rubio says the country’s credibility has taken a huge hit over the past two weeks as the world watched what was happening in Kabul.

“This is so damaging to our country, so humiliating, so embarrassing on the world stage, and so immoral,” Rubio said. “…so immoral.” Rubio compared Biden’s handling of the situation to the failed attempt to rescue hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Iran after it was seized in 1979.  “It’s really inexcusable and both sides know it. Even Democrats know it and you don’t see them rallying to the White House’s defense,” Rubio said. “You cannot defend what is so horrifying and indefensible.”

Rubio finished third in the 2016 Iowa Caucuses behind Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. He was asked during last (Monday) night’s event if Iowa’s Caucuses should go first in 2024 and Rubio said yes before the host got done asking the question. Former President Trump told radio talk show host Todd Starnes yesterday that he plans to visit Iowa soon as well.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst says she’s talked to the grandmother of the Iowa native who is among the 13 U.S. soldiers killed last Thursday in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport. “The family is really hurting right now, but they are very grateful for the expressions of love and support that the communities are sending to them,” Ernst says. Marine Corporal Daegan Page grew up in Red Oak and Omaha.

Ernst, who is from Red Oak, says she hasn’t been able to speak with Page’s mother, Wendy, who traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where the remains of Page and the other service members were received, but Ernst has spoken to Page’s grandmother Peggy, who is a close friend of Ernst’s mother.

“I told her that I loved her. You know, I love the family, our prayers are with them,” Ernst said. “And she told me: ‘Please tell everybody what an amazing young man Daegan was.'” Ernst says the Marine’s grandmother mentioned Libby, Ernst’s daughter who is a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point — and told Ernst to give Libby a hug.

“Peggy used to give Libby hugs all the time when she was a little girl,” Ernst said. “And she said, ‘because you never know when you’re not going to be able to give that child a hug.'” Page’s family has set up a Facebook tribute page in his honor and posted a statement of thanks for the support and generosity of people who are honoring the 23-year-old Marine.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, said a man from Council Bluffs was arrested a little after 7-a.m. Friday, on Indecent Exposure and other charges. A Deputy observed 58-year-old Randy Joe Wilcox was completely nude when he riding his bicycle eastbound over the Avenue G bridge. When the deputy attempted to stop Wilcox, he turned around on his bike and attempted to flee back over the bridge westbound. The Deputy eventually caught up to the man. During the stop, items of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine were found on Wilcox’ person. He was charged with Indecent Exposure, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3^rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also:

• 33-year-old James Perry Watkins was arrested after Deputies were called to the 100 block of 3^rd Street in Neola on August 29^th for a check welfare. Dispatch advised that a female had been assaulted by her boyfriend. Watkins was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault – Strangulation and Child Endangerment.
• 40-year-old Angela Michelle Marsh was arrested after Deputies were called to the 200 block of Dye Street in Carson on August 28^th for a disturbance. Marsh was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness.
• 22-year-old Allee Rose Hart was arrested following a traffic stop at North 8^th Street and Kanesville Boulevard on August 29^th for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1^st Offense.
• 50-year-old Timothy Jess Paulson Abboud was arrested on August 25^th for Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense and Carrying Weapons.
• 28-year-old Kenneth Lewis Pippin was arrested at Highway 59 and Highway 92 on August 26^th for Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense and Driving While License Denied, Suspended, Canceled or Revoked.
• 43-year-old Scott Wayne Casson was arrested on August 28^th for Operating Under the Influence 3^rd or Subsequent Offense and Driving While License Denied, Suspended, Canceled or Revoked.
• 33-year-old Cory Robert Kyle was arrested following a traffic stop on August 27^th for Driving While Barred.
• 44-year-old Timothy Shane Peffer was arrested on August 28^th for Driving While Barred.
• 27-year-old Dalton Gaston, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop on August 28^th on a fugitive warrant out of Nebraska.
• 51-year-old Steven Craig Pleas, of Council Bluffs, was charged on August 25^th with Criminal Mischief 2^nd after he broke several sprinkler heads at the jail.
• and, 26-year-old Alberto Eduardo Elquezabal turned himself in on August 26^th on a warrant for Violation of Probation.