(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has denied a request to dismiss a state lawsuit against TikTok. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed the lawsuit that says TikTok is lying to parents about the frequency and severity of inappropriate videos that it shows to kids. TikTok argued the state did not have standing to bring the case.

The judge ruled the case can move forward, but did rule against a request from the A-G for an injunction against the company. The ruling says the state has not yet produced any evidence to show an Iowan has viewed and been harmed by such videos.

(Radio Iowa) – Charles City Police released more information today (Wednesday) on a death investigation that began last week. Charles City Police were dispatched to a residence just west of the Floyd County Courthouse, shortly before noon on August 22nd. Chief Hugh Anderson said upon entry to the home, two people were found dead.

Charles City Police announced today (Wednesday) that 85-year-old John Flint and 85-year-old Jo Anne Flint, both of Charles City, died in an apparent murder-suicide.

C-C-P-D says no further details will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel voted 2-1 today (Wednesday) to take three Libertarian candidates for Congress off the November ballot. Republicans filed the challenge, saying the Libertarian county conventions didn’t follow state law. Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, voted to remove them from the ballot.

“It’s not an ideal situation but the rules are the rules, and I as the commissioner of elections don’t get to make them up. I get to enforce them as they are. And I think this is not an easy process.” Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird also voted to remove the Libertarian candidates from the ballot, while Democrat State Auditor Rob Sand, voted to keep them. Sand says issues with internal political party business aren’t a basis for removing candidates from the ballot.

“Both parties have the ability to appeal that. Why are we here today doing the opposite? Because they want to enforce a two party system divide Iowans and limit their choices?,” Sand says. Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair Jules Carter says she’s disappointed in the decision but not surprised.  “It is about silencing us. Yes, it is about making sure that they are better position to win. If you want to win, how about you campaign, not silence other people,” Carter says.

The three candidates say they’ll run write-in campaigns if their names can’t be on the ballot. First Congressional District candidate Nicholas Gluba, 3rd District candidate Marco Battaglia and Fourth District candidate Charles Aldrich won’t be on the ballot unless they successfully appeal the decision in court by September 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa schools have had police officers walking their halls for decades, while others are new this fall to S-R-Os, or school resource officers. Le Mars police officer John Vickery covers that community’s five public school buildings as well as the Gehlen Catholic Schools. Vickery says law enforcement is -not- his primary concern.

“Making sure that everybody, the students, the staff here, and all of our buildings are safe,” Vickery says. “I’m doing my best to make sure all of our buildings are secured, that there’s really one main entry point for them while they’re here, to make sure that we can keep everybody safe in their learning environment.” Another priority as an S-R-O, according to Vickery, is to establish and cement good relationships with everyone he encounters.

“I’m here to try to build up relationships between the students, the staff and the police department, not only to benefit us here, while I’m in the schools, but also outside of the schools,” he says. “If they were to deal with an officer outside of the schools, we’ve built up some sort of relationship to better help them come to us with issues they may have, and also for us to be able to help them.” Vickery was the S-R-O when Le Mars Police launched the program in 2018 and he’s now beginning his third term in the position. Still, he says it takes time for students to get comfortable with a police officer in their school.

“At first, everybody was kind of reluctant,” he says. “They felt that I was here to enforce laws and to kind of crack down on everybody and they’re starting to realize more that I’m here for that relationship, for that safety side of things, and being able to just interact with them and let them get to know me. They’ll ask me all kinds of random personal questions, and for the most part, I’ll answer them.” Vickery says the most challenging part of his job is when he has to deal with students from a law enforcement perspective. He says good kids will sometimes make bad choices and while he tries to give them the benefit of the doubt, he still has a job to do.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports one person died and six others were injured in a crash that occurred during a pursuit this (Wednesday) morning, in Des Moines.

Authorities say at around 1-a.m., an Iowa State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a speeding blue Hyundai on Interstate 235 near Keo Way, in Des Moines. The driver refused to stop, exited Interstate 235 at the 31st Street exit, headed south, and then turned east onto Grand Avenue. The trooper slowed down as the fleeing vehicle sped away, heading the wrong way down Grand Avenue. A short time later, the trooper encountered a crash at Grand Avenue and 7th Street involving the fleeing Hyundai and a Jeep Cherokee. The two occupants of the Jeep Cherokee suffered minor injuries.

There were five occupants in the Hyundai. Four of the occupants, to include the driver, suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe. The fifth occupant, a passenger, died in the crash. The Hyundai was reported stolen. The 16-year-old driver had outstanding warrants for his arrest and a firearm on his person.

The crash is still under investigation.