(Radio Iowa) – The top Democrat in the Iowa House is calling for a G-O-P lawmaker to be removed from his committee assignments. The top House Republican says it’s an attempt to stifle free speech. House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard says Republican Representative Dean Fisher of Montour has failed to publicly apologize for comments on Facebook about the election that Prichard describes as false and misleading. Prichard first raised the issue during a speech on the opening day of the 2021 legislature.  “It is up to us, the newly sworn leaders, to protect our country from the fate of further division,” Prichard said.

Fisher wrote on Facebook that there had been quote — “outright cheating” — unquote in Democratic areas of the country, but Fisher said Republicans would prevail because quote “our side has the guns.” Prichard says elected leaders cannot turn a blind eye to that kind of rhetoric, which Prichard says led to rioting at the U.S. Capitol. “For too long, politicians have not only enabled, but served as a willing partner in the spread of misinformation about election fraud,” Prichard said January 11. “…Until you have committed yourself to truth and democratic ideals, you lose any moral high ground that you may try to claim.”

Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says Prichard is playing the exact partisan politics he denounced. Grassley says Prichard seems to believe that the right to free speech should only belong to those he agrees with.

(Radio Iowa) – Several people have reported seeing a wandering lost moose in Plymouth County. The moose is a female and is thought to have traveled to northwest Iowa from northern North Dakota. Iowa D-N-R Wildlife Biologist Doug Chafa says it is a rare sight here. He says the last moose sighting was back in the fall and winter of 2015, so it is unusual. Chafa says there are usually two reasons for a moose to travel this far south.

Plymouth County moose

He says a young bull moose may leave the herd because it couldn’t compete for position with other older bull moose. Or he says the female moose in northwest Iowa could be sick. “Sometimes moose will have this roundworm parasite called a meningeal brain worm. It damages their brain and they will have some weird behaviors like just taking off and walking south,” according to Chafa.

Chafa says he understands the curiosity factor from people wanting to see the moose, but he warns people to keep their distance. “Moose are large dangerous animals to get in close proximity to. It would not be a good idea to try and interact with this moose in any way,” Chafa says. “When an animal starts these long-distance dispersals — if you intercede in that or interfere in that — there is a long history where that just goes, really, really poorly.”

The Iowa D-N-R Wildlife Biologist says there is no way in determining whether the moose will continue heading south, or if it has found its new home. Chafa says several years ago, a wandering moose found its way south to Interstate 80 near Walnut, Iowa. Chafa doesn’t believe the moose will do much property damage, but he says that onlookers hoping to see the moose should respect a landowner’s private property rights and not trespass.

The Harlan Community School District Board of Directors, Friday, announced the three finalists in its Superintendent search.  On Thursday, January 21st, the Board conducted semifinalist interviews via Zoom with all seven candidates.  After reviewing the semifinalist interviews and all application materials, the following three candidates were selected as finalists.

Dr. Jennifer Barnett:  Dr. Barnett is currently serving as the Executive Director of Targeted Services and Supports for Green Hills Area Education Association; she has served in this capacity for the past two years.  Previously, Dr. Barnett served as a Regional Administrator for Green Hills AEA, and a 23 year tenure within the Council Bluffs Community School District as Executive Director of Student and Family Services, Principal, Assistant Principal, Guidance Counselor, and Special Education Teacher.  Her previous experience also included four years serving as the Principal of Kanesville High School where she developed the Passages Alternative Learning Center.  Dr. Barnett has done substantive work locally and at the state level around mental health and social/emotional learning.  She is known for her collaborative approach to leadership and her approachability.

Andy Irwin:  Mr. Irwin is currently the Superintendent and Elementary Principal at Harris-Lake Park CSD; he has served in that capacity the past four years.  Previously he served as the Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Shenandoah CSD, 7-12 Principal and Activities Director at East Mills CSD, Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Fairbury, Nebraska, Social Studies Teacher at Creighton CSD, and Industrial Technology Teacher at East Mills CSD.  Mr. Irwin has done substantial work with school facilities and integration of technology in his current district.  One notable accomplishment is helping to develop the Lakes Area Academy which offers vocational programs to area students.  He also revamped the district teacher evaluation process.  Mr. Irwin is known as being a real collaborator, communicator, and relationship-builder.

Robert Scott:  Mr. Scott is currently the Associate Superintendent at Davenport Community School District; he has served in that capacity the past eight years.  Previously Mr. Scott served as Principal at Davenport Central High School, Associate Principal at Davenport Central High School, Physical Education Teacher at Wood Intermediate School in Davenport, 13 years as Physical Education/Math/Health Teacher at two schools in Illinois, and two years in the US Army.  As an administrator, Mr. Scott has overseen principals, implementation of Professional Learning Communities, and multiple building and remodeling projects.   He also leads district negotiations for the district and their safety plan.  He has also been very involved in the community of Davenport participating in multiple civic organizations and volunteer opportunities.

Finalist interviews will be conducted on-campus on Thursday, February 11; included that day will be district and community tours, interviews with two mixed interview teams comprised of administrators and directors; teachers; support staff; parents and community members; and students, and an interview with the School Board.  Following completion of the interviews on February 11, the Board will meet to review feedback from all stakeholders involved in the interview process, and tentatively select the new Superintendent for the Harlan Community School District.  The new Superintendent will officially start his/her tenure on July 1; in the interim between hire and officially beginning, the successful candidate will be involved in a number of transition activities for the district.

The person chosen for the position will replace Interim Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson, who was hired in July, 2019 and has served for nearly two-years. She was selected to replace Justin Wagner, who resigned in May, 2019.  Grundmeyer Leader Services assisted the Board with the search.  Initially a Community Stakeholder Survey was utilized; based on this data, the Board approved the following eight Desired Characteristics for the next Superintendent.

• Is approachable, accessible and welcoming
• Demonstrates ethics and integrity
• Follows through on tasks and responsibilities
• Recruits, hires and develops a strong administrative team
• Possess strong communication skills
• Strong instructional leader
• Ability to lead school improvement efforts
• Effectively manages district resources including facility updates

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 21-year-old woman who was found unconscious in the parking lot of a sorority house at Iowa State University. The Ames Police Department responded to a medical call at 9:49 a.m. Friday at the Delta Delta Delta Sorority after a caller reported finding the woman. Police said the 21-year-old Olivia Chutich was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. The woman is a student at Iowa State. Police said she apparently had been in the parking lot for several hours before she was found.

According to KCCI, her family released the following statement Friday night, saying “It is with great sadness that we confirm that Olivia Chutich, our beloved daughter, died in Ames, Iowa. Olivia was the light of our lives. We ask for privacy as we grieve this unimaginable loss. Thank you.”  Iowa State University issued the following statement:

“The Iowa State community is saddened to learn of the death of one of our students. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time. ISU is cooperating with the Ames Police Department, which is leading the investigation. The university is providing support and resources for students who are impacted.”

Police said while there does not appear to any threat to the community, the death remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ames Police Department at 239-5133 or the anonymous tip line 239-5533. You may also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400. Online anonymous tips may be submitted to www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge in Washington says a right-wing conspiracy theorist from Iowa seen prominently in videos taunting a U.S. Capitol police officer during the Jan. 6 riot must remain in custody. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Friday halted the release of Douglas Jensen that had been ordered by a federal magistrate judge in Iowa on Thursday. Kelly ordered Jensen be transported to Washington to face charges.

The Iowa judge had allowed Jensen’s release to home confinement in Des Moines but gave federal prosecutors time to appeal. Kelly issued another order requiring U.S. Marshals to bring Jensen to Washington from Iowa “forthwith.”

(Updated 6:53-a.m.) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One winning ticket has been sold in the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot. The top prize drawn on Friday is the third-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. The winning numbers are: 4, 26, 42, 50, 60 and a Mega Ball of 24. The winning ticket was sold at a Kroger store in Novi, Michigan.

The Mega Millions jackpot had been growing since Sept. 15, when a winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin. Friday night’s drawing comes two days after a ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers drawn and won a $731.1 million Powerball jackpot.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Two people are in custody in a Cedar Rapids man’s death that authorities say was staged to look like a suicide. Police say 44-year-old Randal Joseph Campbell was found dead June 21, 2019, with an air rifle positioned on his lap and torso. Investigators determined the scene was staged to appear to be a suicide. Twenty-eight-year-old Joshua Conklin was charged with second-degree murder and obstructing justice in Campbell’s death.

He was transferred to the Linn County jail on Friday to face the charges. Campbell’s niece, Felisha Campbell, was dating Conklin at the time of his death. She is accused of conspiring with Conklin to obstruct the investigation.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Illinois was arrested Friday on an active Fremont County warrant connected to the death of a dog at a truck stop near Percival. The incident was caught on video Dec. 11th. 36-year-old Roi Washington, of Chicago, was arrested after Deputies were able to determine the dog’s owner, who reported the dog was taken from her residence without her consent by Washington.

Still frame image from surveillance video of suspect killing a dog and video taping the murder.

Washington is being held in Cook County, Illinois on a $2,000 cash/surety bond, awaiting extradition back to Iowa.

Linkenhoker

And, Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, Wednesday, arrested on man on an active Fremont County warrant. Authorities say 39-year-old Joseph Dale Linkenhoker, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury or mental illness, 1st offense, and Child Endangerment.

Linkenhoker was released after posting $2,000 cash/surety bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The top Democrat in the Iowa House asked that a Republican legislator be removed from committee assignments because of his claims about election fraud and what some saw as threatening language about guns. House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard asked House Speaker Pat Grassley to remove Rep. Dean Fisher from committee assignments following comments he made on social media that blamed Democrats for the U.S. Capitol riot by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Fisher also made comments that referenced guns. Grassley accused Prichard of playing politics and trying to limit free speech.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A north-central Iowa venue best known for hosting the last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson before the trio died in a 1959 plane crash is now a National Historic Landmark. The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced in a release Friday that the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake had earned the designation from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, districts, structures and objects that have been determined to be nationally significant in American history and culture. The ballroom’s nomination was officially approved on Jan. 13.