(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democrats are proposing changes that would dramatically simplify their Caucuses in 2024, as party leaders try to keep their caucuses first-in-the-nation. The Iowa Democratic Party suggests getting rid of all the complicated math, coin flips and other Caucus night rules that have been used for decades to figure out which presidential candidate won the Caucuses. Instead, the party proposes using mail-in ballots — the party is calling these “presidential preference cards” rather than “ballots” — in the weeks before the night of the Caucuses. The winner would be announced when the Caucus meetings begin in precincts throughout the state.

Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says it means the party would be able to engage with more Iowa voters than ever before. There was delayed reporting of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucus results in 2020 and party leaders have made no secret they dislike caucuses and prefer primaries in states that have diverse populations and will be key battlegrounds in the General Election. Iowa Democrats are now competing with parties from 20 other states for early spots on the voting schedule for 2024.

The Iowa Republican Party’s Caucuses will be first in 2024. National G-O-P leaders have agreed on a schedule for caucuses and primaries that keeps Iowa at the front. Iowa Republicans have a different process for selecting a winner. The party essentially conducts a straw poll after people gather at precincts on Caucus Night.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The deadline is fast approaching to reserve your seat at the Iowa Insurance Division’s “Fraud fighters” forum. The forum – which includes a complimentary lunch – is set to take place June 14th from 11:30-a.m. until 2-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center, in Atlantic. There is No Charge to attend, but due to limited seating you must make your reservation by June 7th online, at IowaFraudFighters.gov. Your registration is being requested so organizers have enough meals on-hand to serve.

There are many different types of fraud perpetrated on Iowa’s citizens, especially older Iowans. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen says the Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa Attorney General’s Office and Senior Health Insurance Program (ShiP) have partnered together to bring to light the number and types of fraud that impact older Iowans.

The Fraud Fighters forums being held around the State, helps Iowans learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from various scams. Some of those scams are weird and obvious, but the scammers that are often most successful, play on their victim’s emotions. That’s especially true when it comes to investment scams.

Ommen said people in the community are themselves, “Fraudfighters,” and helped to prevent potential victims of scams carryout the instructions they’ve been given, to pay for services and investments. One case here in Atlantic, involved an elderly woman who went to WalMart and attempted to wire someone she didn’t know, thousands of dollars to help out a person she thought was a younger relative. The clerk realized what was going on, and intervened by explaining the fraud, and asking the woman to call her relative to confirm the need for help. It turned out to be a scam. In some cases, victims are asked to purchase a large amount of green-dot or other types of gift cards.

Some of the scams start with a phone call, text message or e-mail, but more and more often they focus on cyber-scams and investment schemes. The scam are possible because just about everything you do on the web becomes an electronic trail, the information from which is sold as “Data mining.”

The Fraudfighters forum in Atlantic will take place at the Cass County Community Center, located at 805 W. 10th St. in Atlantic, on June 14th.

According to AARP, in 2021, Americans 50 and older lost nearly $3 billion in cybercrimes – a 62% increase from 2020. For people 60 and older, tech support scams, investment fraud, grandparent scams and romance scams were the major drivers of these losses. Ommen says “Seniors have long been the targets of scammers, and the isolation and separation of the past two years just put them at more risk,” said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. “Scammers are incredibly sophisticated and bold in their attempts. Anyone can become a victim. We want to help protect Iowa’s seniors from these scams.”

Iowans are encouraged to visit www.IowaFraudFighters.gov to learn about common scams and discover tips and tools to prevent fraud.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Three men were arrested Friday evening, in Red Oak, following a report of fighting and arguing in the intersection of Broadway and Nuckols Streets. According to Red Oak Police, at around 9:15-p.m., 39-year-old Keith Andre Smith, 64-year-old Robert Ernest McMartin, and 32-year-old Codey Thomas Thramer, all of Red Oak, were arrested on simple misdemeanor charges of Disorderly Conduct – Fighting. Their bonds in the Montgomery County Jail was set at $300 each.

At around 6:40-p.m., Friday, Red Oak Police arrested 24-year-old Skylar Lee Bingham, of Red Oak, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Bingham was taken into custody in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

And, at around 6:26-p.m. Friday, 66-year-old Sheryl Lee Franzen, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 400 block of E. Reed Street, for Theft in the 5th Degree, following an incident at an ice cream shop. Franzen was being held on a $300 cash bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday, reported that a former Iowa sheriff’s deputy is facing charges after asking a female driver to show him her breasts during a traffic stop. Klint Bentley, a former Buchanan County sheriff’s deputy, stopped a vehicle for speeding in February.

Authorities say Bentley allegedly asked the female driver to show him her breasts and implied he would withhold issuing a citation if she did, the DPS reported. According to court documents, Bentley asked the female, “What’s in it for me?” Bentley continued to solicit nude photos of her via text message after the traffic stop concluded, according to the DPS.

On Feb. 8, Bentley was terminated from the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office. Bentley is charged with extortion, non-felonious misconduct in office and accepting a bribe.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Army National Guard said late Friday, that Spc. Eden M. Montang, who joined the Iowa Army National Guard in August 2019, was one of the two victims killed in the deadly shooting at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa, on June 2, 2022. Montang served as a mortuary affairs specialist with Detachment 1, Headquarters Support Company, 248th Aviation Support Battalion in Boone, Iowa.

The Story County Sheriff identified the shooter as Sgt. Johnathan L. Whitlatch, also a member of the Iowa Army National Guard. Whitlatch joined the Iowa Army National Guard in September 2015 and served as a human resources specialist with Detachment 1, Headquarters Support Company, 248th Aviation Support Battalion in Boone, Iowa. Prior to that, he was an infantryman with the 168th Infantry in Corning, Johnston and Shenandoah, Iowa. 

Neither Soldier was in an active duty status at the time of the shooting. The Iowa National Guard will provide casualty assistance to the family members of both Soldiers. “We are devastated by this tragic news,” said Maj. Gen. Ben Corell, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, “Our hearts are with all who are impacted, including the victims’ families, Ames, Iowa State and Cornerstone Church communities, friends, and fellow service members. While working to support those affected, we will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the investigation continues.”

The Guard says it “is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our service members and our local communities. Our chaplains, Soldier Family Readiness professionals and behavioral health professionals have been engaged to assist service members and families processing this tragic news.”