(Radio Iowa) – Testing of Iowa public school students in third through 11th grades shows gains in science proficiency, but mixed results in math and reading. The results come from Statewide Assessment tests taken last spring. Third through eighth graders returned to pre-pandemic levels in reading proficiency, but the reading scores for 11th graders dropped four percent. Math scores improved among students in third through seventh grades, but declined in higher grades — with 11th grade test results in math dropping five percent. The third subject area tested was science.

Students in fifth, eighth and tenth grades were tested and the results were higher than they’d been in the spring of 2019. In a written statement, Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo said the results show public schools in Iowa are moving in the right direction in many areas, but there is still work to be done.

National test results released last week showed declines in math, science and reading scores.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved the use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act – Covid relief) funds, to purchase hand-held radios for County fire departments, that will enable better communication between departments and the County. Board Vice-Chair Supervisor Jerry Walker advocated for two radios for some departments, and one radio each, to others.

The radios cost $5,000 each ($60,000 total). As of last week, the County had approximately $406,000 available from its share of ARPA Funds, that will allow for the purchases.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman reported on a Bridgewater Culvert Project. The Board tabled action on the matter until their meeting on Sept. 13th, while additional information is obtained with regard to project jurisdiction and cost. Kauffman spoke also about his department’s maintenance and activities.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans to ensure they are registered to vote at their current residence. September is National Voter Registration Month, and with the November 8 general election approaching this is an ideal time for eligible Iowans to register for the first time or update their registration to ensure their information current. Tuesday, September 20 is National Voter Registration Day.

It has never been easier to register to vote in Iowa. There are a variety of options available, including online, through the mail, at many government agency offices, and at the polls before your cast your ballot. Ensuring you are registered at your current residence allows for a much quicker check-in process on election day. 2022 marks the 20th year since the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) established September as National Voter Registration Month. Established in 2002, it is a non-partisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness about state requirements and deadlines for voting.

To register to vote in Iowa, you must be at least 17 years old. The deadline to pre-register before November’s general election is Monday, October 24. Approximately 90 percent of eligible Iowans are registered to vote, and Iowa is consistently one of the top 10 states in the nation for voter registration and participation.

To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Saint Jacob, Illinois, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, following a report of suspicious activity. Authorities say 40-year-old Michael Anthony Bourdo was arrested after Deputies were called to the 60-mile-marker of Interstate 29 southbound, for a vehicle on the side of the road and a male going through the vehicle. The man – identified as Bourdo – was found to have no ownership or right to the car or its belongings. Following a full investigation, Bourdo was arrested for Burglary 3rd Degree – Vehicle, 1st Offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

Deputies in Pott. County arrested 52-year-old Brian True Richards (no address given) a little after 4-a.m. Today (Wednesday), for Driving While Barred. He was transported to Pott. County Corrections and turned over to Corrections Staff.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, two inmates from separate jails were transported to the Jail in Council Bluffs to face charges in Pott. County. 39-year-old Joseph Michael Barnes (no address given), was picked up at the Douglas County, Nebraska Jail. Hewas wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense.

And, 41-year-old Gerardo Silva Jr., of Sergeant Bluff, was transported from the Woodbury County Jail to the Pottawattamie County Jail, to address a warrant in Pottawattamie County for Theft in the 3rd Degree. His bond was set at $2,000.

Police in Red Oak, late Tuesday night, arrested a man on an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree. 43-year-old Kim Jack Douglas Trost, of Red Oak, was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say a vandal trying to steal copper wire risked being electrocuted by 69-thousand volts of electricity and raided an active power substation in southwest Iowa on Monday night. About 11-hundred Clarinda area residents lost power about 11 P-M and MidAmerican Energy spokesman Geoff Greenwood says a utility crew quickly identified the cause of the outage.

Greenwood says repairs to the damaged substation took a few hours to complete.

Greenwood says vandals have tried to take copper wire from MidAmerican substations in the past, and it’s a potentially deadly proposition.

Greenwood says they’ve seen similar acts at substations in Hastings, Glenwood, and twice in Emerson. According to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect was arrested Tuesday in connection with the incident.

Des Moines, Iowa- A man from eastern Iowa is facing a felony charge of insurance fraud. The Iowa Insurance Division reports 36-year-old Frank Paul Tarasi, of Hiawatha ,was charged with one count of Fraudulent Submissions (a Class D Felony), following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau.

The charge against Tarasi stems from an investigation which began in May of 2022.  According to a criminal complaint filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, while Tarasi was working as an insurance producer, he altered documents and submitted them in support of a life insurance policy knowing that they misrepresented material facts. Tarasi was seen for an initial appearance on September 2, 2022, and released on his own recognizance.

Frank Tarasi

And, a Davenport man, 42-year-old Jared Simmons, pled guilty on September 1, 2022, to one count Presenting False Information, a class “D” Felony, following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. The investigation began in January 2021 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating Simmons had provided false information to an insurer following an automobile accident in Scott County.

The investigation determined Simmons had made false representations regarding the nature of the loss in an effort to secure benefits of the policy. Simmons claimed that his vehicle sustained damage after hitting a deer when, in fact, the damage was sustained when Simmons was involved in a single-car accident while he was intoxicated. Simmons was arrested on February 3, 2022. Following his guilty plea, Simmons received a five year suspended prison sentence and placed on supervised probation for a period of two years. Simmons was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,025.

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

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University researchers are studying challenges facing Ukrainian refugees who settle in Iowa and they hope to build an app that will help groups to identify housing for refugees in the future. I-S-U civil engineering professor Cristina Poleacovschi wants to document the experiences of the refugees. She says stable housing is foundational to a refugee’s integration, but it’s not always readily available in the resettlement process. “Refugees are already a group of people who are experiencing trauma,” Poleacovschi says, “and whenever being resettled to a different place, if they are not provided with the right resources, that the effect of trauma on their quality of life is compounded.” She says the researchers will bring their work to policy-makers in hopes of improving conditions.

I-S-U political science professor Scott Feinstein says the team will document what the refugee are going through in hopes of bringing their often-marginalized voice to the forefront. “With the intent to bring the voice and challenges that refugees are facing to those who are planning cities, who are, you know, stakeholders in these communities,” Feinstein says. He says the project will also explore how refugee arrivals shape our national identity.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)