(Radio Iowa) – Three lower court judges and two attorneys have applied for the upcoming vacancy on the Iowa Supreme Court. The five are hoping to move to the Supreme Court when Justice Brent Appel retires on July 13th. The State Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled interviews for each applicant — which will start Monday, June 27th with Third Judicial District Chief Juge Patrick Tott of Sioux City ( 9:50 a.m.). Ames attorney Timothy Gartin is next (10:10 a.m), followed by Des Moines attorney William Miller (10:10 a.m). First Judicial District Court Judge Alan Heavens, of Garnavillo 11:00 a.m) — and Iowa Court of Appeals Judge David May of Polk City (11:20 a.m) round out the applicants.

The commission will select three of the five after the interviews to forward to Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds then has 30 days to make her nomination.

(Radio Iowa) – Food banks across Iowa are struggling to keep up with increased demand as pandemic aid ends and SNAP benefits fall. Food Bank of Siouxland Director Jacob Wanderscheid says they’re getting fewer donations from Sioux City area residents and they’re getting only half as much food from U-S-D-A programs compared to last year, all while more and more people need help.

“We just can’t serve as many end users, so the guests at the food pantries may see less in the basket that they receive,” Wanderscheid says. “We may not necessarily be able to stay open for the full time that we’re advertising a pantry window.” He says they’re purchasing more food to try and fill the gap, but inflation means they’re spending 15-percent more for products. In Council Bluffs, more than half of the freezers at Care and Share Pantry are empty. They’re usually filled with meat, but director Carol Thein says it’s been hard to get all the protein the organization needs. She’s seen a near-50-percent increase in clients from this time last year.

“The food pantries, we’re all experiencing increased costs for utilities, and to rent the truck to get food and pay for the gas,” Thein says. “That’s just fewer dollars available to purchase food, but we’re not going to let that stop us.” As pandemic aid runs out, the U-S-D-A has decreased the amount of food it provides for the program Feeding America’s Food Banks. That leaves Thein questioning if her pantry should pare back on the food it gives away daily to continue service long-term.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – All three student body presidents spoke today (Monday) during the Board of Regents meeting as they held the first reading of a proposed four-point-two-five percent tuition increase. The Board says the increase is needed after they requested an additional 15 million dollars from the Iowa Legislature and lawmakers gave them a five-and-half million. I-S-U student body president Jacob Ludwig says he understands the situation.

“It’s clear to (me) that circumstances have forced the board’s hand. less than desirable appropriations from the state make it impossible to maintain both our current rate of tuition and our high level of academic quality at our institution,” Ludwig says. He says the tuition increase is another hurdle students face following the challenges of the pandemic.

“The tuition raise is regrettable. I know that the board does not make this decision lightly or with malice,” he says. The increase translates to around 350 dollars at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University and 330 dollars at the University of Northern Iowa. Ludwig says students are grateful for the increase in state support this year — but says state support is not keeping up.

“While support from the state has pretty much stagnated. state budgeting prerogatives have made the acquisition of additional funds an uphill battle that is harder to win with each passing year. This reality means that we have to have to advocate more and harder for these universities that we all love,” Ludwig says. U-I student body president, Patrick Johnson, talked about the impact of the tuition increase on student debt.

“Thirty-thousand-464. That number is the average student loan debt held per borrower in the state of Iowa as of 2021. That’s for in-state residents, a number which figures to increase consistently in the upcoming years,” Johnson says. He says he is also concerned that it costs out-of-state students around 30-thousand dollars just for one year of tuition and fees.

“We look to other states to bolster our student body with diverse perspectives from across the nation. At the same time, we asked students to remain in Iowa following their graduation,” Johnson says. “However, I was a state in which the median household income lies in the bottom half of the nation. The contradiction stands boldly before all of us, we continue to increase economic barriers for our students and simultaneously questioning the reasons why they must relocate following their graduation.” He says state lawmakers need to do more to help.

“I’m calling on our partners in the Iowa State Legislature to work together with the Board and with students alike to create the systemic change necessary to provide accessible affordable education to any student who pursues it,” he says. U-N-I student body president, Leila Masinovic, echoes the concerns. “Students and friends I’ve known for a long time had voiced their concerns about not knowing where to turn to be able to afford to continue their education. Many of them know that as this degree gives them an education — it also secures their ability to build a great future with their families, and in return give back to the community that has helped them get to where they are,” she says.

Masinovic says U-N-I depends on the state funding even more than the other two universities. “It is vital and only makes sense that the legislature…provides more funding to public universities and supports our community members and receiving their education with less of a burden on Iowa students and families,”Masinovic says. The Board of Regents will take its first vote on the tuition proposal at its next meeting.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a 17-year-old female, an 11-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, all from Guthrie Center, were injured during a rollover accident Friday afternoon. Authorities say a 2003 Chevy S-10 pickup driven by 17-year-old Katrina Joy Sanders was traveling south on Noah Avenue from Highway 44, at around 1:20-p.m., Friday, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the northbound ditch before rolling over. Officials say she was driving too fast for conditions.

Sanders – who was wearing a seat belt – complained of pain and possible injury. She was transported to the Guthrie Center Hospital by her father. Her passenger, 11-year-old Caleb Sanders, was not belted in and was ejected from the pickup through the back window. He suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, and was transported by Panora EMS ambulance to the hospital. Another passenger in the vehicle, 14-year-old Kaden Sanders, who was wearing a seat belt, complained of pain and was also transported by his father to the hospital.

(Greenfield, Iowa) The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests/citations from the past week…

• Saturday night (6/18), Adair Police arrested 55-year-old Terrance Foster, of La Crosse, WI., on charges of Controlled Substance Violation/Schedule 4 & 5 – Possession with the intent to deliver, 9.4-pounds of a substance believed to be marijuana in 9 vacuum-sealed bags; Drug Tax stamp violations, Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense; and False Report to a Public Entity (a 9-1-1 call). In addition to the green leafy substance, authorities found $1,800 cash in the vehicle. Foster was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.
• Saturday afternoon, Police in Greenfield arrested 62-year-old Kevin Eugene Nelson, of Greenfield, for Intimidation with a dangerous weapon (Using a .38-caliber Special Smith & Wesson handgun) and assault with bodily injury. He was released the following day on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.
• Friday evening, Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson of Greenfield, in Greenfield, for: Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense; Poss. of drug paraphernalia; 1 outside Felony warrant for Stalking/Violation of a Protective Order, and two (Serious Misdemeanor) Adair County warrants for Poss. of Marijuana/2nd offense; two other warrants. He was released Saturday on a $5,000 c/s bond.
• June 15th, Greenfield Police arrested 43-year-old Bree Meredith Whipps, of Indianola, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree/vehicle – 1st offense. She was released on her Own Recognizance on the Adair County charge, then turned over to Union County authorities.
• 32-year-old David Gene Robbins, Jr., of Indianola, was arrested June 15th in Greenfield, on two outside agency warrants and Burglary in the 3rd. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 c/s bond, and on a hold for Union County warrants.
• 34-year Kelsey Michelle Wilson, of Adair, was arrested June 15th for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, following a domestic disturbance during which, she admitted to using her hand to break a window at the residence. She was released the same day on a citation.
• 42-year-old Brandon James Wilson, of Ft. Worth, TX, was arrested June 14th, after he turned himself-in to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office on an Adair County warrant for three counts of Burglary in the 3rd degree. His c/s bond was set at $5,000.
• And, on June 13th, 47-year-old Dana Sue Dawkins, of West Des Moines, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80, in Adair County. She was charged with OWI/1st offense and released later that day on a $1,000 c/s bond. A Deputy had seen Dawkins’ VW SUV go off the road and cross the center line numerous times. Dawkins’ Breath Alcohol Test (BAC) showed a .219% level of intoxication, or more than twice the legal limit.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, Monday morning, provided the media with an update into a fire investigation at the America’s Best Value Inn and Suites, in Atlantic. The blaze on the west wing of the business was reported by hotel office personnel at around 3:49-p.m. Cappel said it took crews a while to make sure all the flames, both hidden and visible, were extinguished.

Afterward, some Atlantic Police Officers and Firefighters went back in to try and find out what started the blaze. They were assisted by the local State Fire Marshall’s Office Investigator.

Chief Cappel said two rooms sustained damage that make them unable to be occupied. A third room sustained partial damage.

Crews wrapped-up their firefighting duties at around 7:30-p.m., Sunday. Tom Cappel extended his thanks to those who assisted cooling the firefighters down and making sure they were ok in the 91 degree heat,

As previously mentioned, no one was injured during the incident, Sunday afternoon.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met June 14th in a regular session, and to canvass the results of the June 7th Primary Election. According to the minutes provided by Auditor/Commissioner of Elections, Mark Maxwell, here are the OFFICIAL election results for the local races (all State/Federal election results for Shelby County can be found HERE):
R.County Board of Supervisors – Rep

Mike Kolbe Received Five Hundred and Seventy-Three (573) votes; Bryce Donald Schaben Received Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine (859) votes; Scattering Received One (1) votes

Total One Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-Three (1,433) votes

S.County Treasurer – Rep
Carolyn Blum Received One Thousand (1,000) votes

Shauna Laver Received Four Hundred and Forty-Nine (449) votes; Scattering Received Four (4) votes

Total One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty-Three (1,453) votes

T.County Recorder – Rep
Geralyn S. Greer Received One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty-Four (1,264) votes; Scattering Received Six (6) votes

Total One Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy (1,270) votes

U.County Attorney – Rep

Scattering Received Forty (40) votes

Todd Argotsinger Received Fifteen (15) votes

Marcus Gross Received Nineteen (19) votes

Total Seventy-Four (74) votes

AI.County Board of Supervisors – Dem

Scattering Received Twenty-Nine (29) votes

Total Twenty-Nine (29) votes

AJ.County Treasurer – Dem

Scattering Received Twenty-Two (22) votes

Total Twenty-Two (22) votes

AK.County Recorder – Dem

Scattering Received Fourteen (14) votes

Total Fourteen (14) votes

AL.County Attorney – Dem

Marcus Gross, Jr. Received Two Hundred and Thirteen (213) votes

Scattering Received Two (2) votes

Total Two Hundred and Fifteen (215) votes

Haake made a motion approve the Cavass with Parkhurst seconding the motion. Haake, Kenkel and Parkhurst all voted in favor of accepting the Canvass. A liquor license submitted by Lonely Oak Distillery was then considered and approved by a unanimous voted after a motion by Parkhurst and a second Haake.

Mark Maxwell, Shelby County Auditor then presented a bid from Feld Fire to upgrade the camera system in the Courthouse. A new server was recommended and some cameras are not dependable the quote being $4,945.00 plus the extra cost of a spare camera suggested by Kenkel to have on hand in case of a camera failure. Maxwell mentioned that some of the costs are covered by an election security grant issued to Shelby County last year. Maxwell then presented a quote from McGill restoration to do $20,101.00 as quoted to do immediate work on the Courthouse which includes tuckpointing and further inspection with a lift truck. Parkhurst made a motion to accept the proposals and move forward with the projects. A vote was counted with all Supervisors voting in favor of Parkhurst’s motion.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report 11 arrests made and/or citations issued, over nearly the past two week. Unless otherwise indicated, each subject was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Most recently:

• On Sunday, June 19th, 45-year-old Jason Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• Last Friday (June 17th), 90-year-old Lloyd Cron, of Griswold, was cited into court, for Driving While License is Barred.
• On the 14th, Atlantic Police arrested 33-year-old Ricefer Perton, of Atlantic, for OWI/1st offense.
• On the 13th, 33-year-old Jennifer Dellaca, of Atlantic, was arrested for Forgery.
• On June 12th, 33-year-old Antonio Billy, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense, and, 32-year-old James Brown, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• Atlantic Police arrested 25-year-old Weneity Seker, of Atlantic, on June 11th. Seker was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• On June 9th, 35-year-old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense.
• There were two arrests in Atlantic on June 8th: 18-year-old Wyatt Waller, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault. He was cited into court and released; and, 33-year-old Jennifer Dellaca, of Atlantic, was arrested for Shoplifting. She was also cited, and released.
• And finally, on June 7th, Atlantic Police arrested 36-year-old Michelen Leary, of Walnut, for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. She was cited into court, and released.