DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man who was granted a new trial by the Iowa Supreme Court last year is seeking a change of venue. The Telegraph Herald reports that 28-year-old Fontae Buelow filed Thursday for the change of venue from Dubuque County, saying media coverage of the case has made it impossible for him to get a fair trial there. Authorities say Buelow fatally stabbed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Samantha Link of Peosta, on March 31, 2017, while Buelow has maintained that Link stabbed herself twice in the chest.

Buelow was convicted of second-degree murder in 2018, but in December, the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial, saying information about Link’s prior suicide attempt and mental health records should have been allowed.

The Iowa State Patrol posted on social media, Monday, that it’s been a rough winter for the State Patrol, Dept. of Motor Vehicle Enforcement (DMVE) and DOT snowplows. “Luckily,” officials said, “there have been no serious injuries to our folks, but between Iowa DOT and Iowa State Patrol, 63 of our vehicles have been hit on Iowa roads.” Authorities ask motorists to “PLEASE slow down and watch for us ahead.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers are reviewing their options after U.S. Census officials confirm the population data for redrawing congressional and legislative districts won’t be delivered until this fall. Every ten years, the contours of congressional and legislative districts are redrawn to account for population changes. Iowa’s Constitution requires the legislature to approve new maps by September 1st. U.S. Census Bureau officials say the data on which those maps are based won’t be delivered until September 30th.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says the realities of the pandemic, the Iowa Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are creating a unique set of challenges and the Senate is evaluating its options on how best to proceed. Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says lawmakers are working with the Legislative Services Agency to determine what options are available and how to best to maintain the integrity of our highly-praised redistricting process in Iowa.

Des Moines, Iowa -The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports a Marshalltown woman recently pled guilty to one count of Theft in the 3rd Degree (Aggravated  Misdemeanor). Authorities say 60-year old Deborah Specht was originally charged with one count of Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) and one count of Theft 1st Degree (Class C Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

Deborah Specht

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime.  We all pay for insurance fraud in the form of higher insurance costs. I appreciate the hard work of our Fraud Bureau and all who participated in the prosecution of this case so Ms. Specht was held accountable for her actions.”

On July 19, 2018, Marshalltown, Iowa experienced severe weather. The investigation found that after the severe weather event Specht fabricated damages to her property and submitted false information regarding the cause of the damage in support of an insurance claim. As a result, Specht received insurance benefits to which she was not entitled. On February 9, 2021, Specht received a deferred judgement after pleading guilty to Theft in the 3rd Degree.  Specht was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,375.82 to her insurer. Specht also received a civil penalty of $625.00 which was suspended and was placed on probation for a period of one year.

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

The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Monday), said there were 206 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 329,304 positive cases. There was one additional death reported, for a total of 5,237. Statewide, 4,727 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 510 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,132 of the total number of deaths.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks remain at 35. Officials say 948 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 630 have recovered.

The State data show: 242 people are hospitalized with COVID-19; 57 COVID patients are in an ICU; 35 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, compared to 54 on Sunday, and 28 patients were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 17 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, five people are in an ICU, four people were admitted over the past 24-hours, and one remains on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate Monday was 7.9%. The 7-day average was 6.1%. Iowa reports 477,495 vaccine total vaccine doses administered, with 121,794 individuals receiving both doses. Find out how to get vaccinated in Iowa here. Only Adair County reports a 14-day average higher than 15%. That county now reports a 24.4% rate. No other county reports an average higher than 13.4%.

A total of 302,159 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,231 cases; {+0}; 47 deaths
• Adair, 770; {+8}; 25
• Adams, 317 {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 453 {+0}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,071 {+0}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,646; {+1}; 68
• Madison County, 1,362; {+3}; 16
• Mills County, 1,457; {+0}; 20
• Montgomery, 954; {+1}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,597; {+0}; 139
• Shelby County, 1,124; {+0}; 32
• Union County,  1,168; {+0}; 31

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 9-a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16th via Zoom (Meeting ID: 138 870 131 Password: 012064). Their brief agenda includes: Approving an application for a Class-C Liquor License for the Griswold Golf and Country Club, and continued discussion/update, with regard to COVID-19 policies for leave, etc.

And, at around 6-p.m. Tuesday, the Exira-EHK School Board will gather in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. On their agenda is a Public Hearing on the 2021-22 School Calendar. In the regular meeting that follows, is continued discussion and action, with regard to:

• The 2021-22 School Calendar
• Approval of: a Superintendent Sharing Agreement with IKM-Manning; A Budget Guarantee Resolution to Levy Property Tax for FY 22 (School Year 21-22); a contract with Haila Architect firm for the staff bathroom in Exira; the design for the remodel of the bathroom in Exira; approval of the Old Gym roof repair for summer, project; and other, administrative matters.
• Their final action item involves approving Personnel matters.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Frigid weather that has sent temperatures plunging across Middle America also has power and gas utilities urging customers to dial down the thermostat. Utility companies serving Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri issued the plea Sunday and Monday for customers to conserve power as temperatures dropped to nearly 30 below in parts of western and northern Nebraska early Monday, sending the wind chill to as low as nearly 50 below in some places.

Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District, Evergy in Kansas City, Missouri, and Summit Natural Gas serving parts of Missouri were among some of the utilities that issued releases Sunday begging customers conserve energy through Wednesday as the bitter cold was expected to linger for days.

Creston Police report a woman was arrested Friday afternoon, for Driving While Barred. 20-year old Amber Parmenter, of Creston, was later released from the Adams County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

A public hearing is set to take place a little after 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 17th) at City Hall, during a meeting of the Atlantic City Council. The hearing is with regard to an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, by changing certain real property from C-1 (Highway Commercial) to L-1 (light industrial), and changing the zoning maps to reflect the change. The change would allow Ray Armstrong to rezone his property at 1007 W. 6th Street, so as to further develop the property and use the built real estate, while remaining in compliance with zoning regulations.

Zoning Commissioner/City Administrator John Lund says the City’s Zoning Commission met on Feb. 9th, and concluded unanimously that the rezoning changes were not in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, and therefore recommended against changing the District from Highway to Light Industrial. The Commission wants to see development occur at the location mentioned, but does not feel rezoning is the best way to see that happen. Lund says they will reconvene March 9th to fully review the relevant definitions and regulations for both C-1 and L1, to see if changes can be made to the Zoning Ordinance that reasonably accommodates development in the area, while also protecting the rights of abutting property owners.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on setting the date for a Public Hearing on the FY 2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies. Juhn Lund says on property tax statements where no changes in assessed or taxable value have occurred, the City will show an increase of 2.59%, not the 2.87% shown on the public notice. He notes that “While 2.59% is the increase in dollars generated, it is not going to be reflective of the impact on the property taxes levied against individual properties. “There is no way to know,” according to Lund, “what the impact will be in year-to-year impact on taxpayers.” He says when other authorities set their levies, a taxpayer can calculate the changes in their property taxes through a certain formula (**Shown below).

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will act on setting the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation (G.O.) Refunding Loan Agreement (RFLA) and to borrow money for the same. They will also set the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a G.O. Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and borrow money for the same, not to exceed $90,000. Their final action item, is to approve a change order in the amount of $11,429 for the Downtown Revitalization Project, as it pertains to 514 Chestnut Street.

And, in his report, City Administrator John Lund will present the FY 2022 Budget, 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, Budget Performance and Future Forecast, reports. The proposed Budget for FY 2022 totals $14,638,261, or a decrease of 11.19% ($1.8 million) for the FY2021 Revised Estimate of $16,482,269. Lund will report: the City’s combined property tax levy will remain at the same level set in the FY 2021 Budget; No increases to existing fees are proposed, and utility rates will remain unchanged. He will summarize by saying “Atlantic is in a stronger position as a municipal entity than most American cities. Altogether, the FY 2022 Budget continues our planning for the next decade of life. It positions our community to tackle its challenges by leveraging its strength, while continuing to be a community that is welcoming to families and businesses.”

**Taxation formula:

(Assessed Value) x (Property Tax Rollback) = (Taxable Value)

(Taxable Value) x (Combined Levy of All Taxing Authorities)/1,000 = (Gross Taxes Due)

(Gross Taxes Due) – (Applicable Tax Credits) = (Net Taxes Due)

The 7:07-a.m. Newscast with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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