(Lee’s Summit, MO.) – With the Mother’s Day weekend ahead of us, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) points out it is a time of the year with increased traffic on the roadways. The Iowa State Patrol is participating in a special traffic safety initiative this weekend, to focus on unsafe drivers that include speeders and those who fail to move-over for emergency vehicles. The Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) takes place now (May 6th) through Sunday.

ISP Col. Nathan Fulk

On Thursday, authorities from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, gathered for a NHTSA Region 7 Mother’s Day Weekend Press Conference in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, to discuss each state’s part in making sure people make it to their destination for Mother’s Day, and safely returning home. Iowa State Patrol Col. Nathan Fulk spoke about some sobering Iowa traffic statistics.

He said the agencies represented at the press conference have a priority of reducing serious injury, fatal crashes on the roadways (and) not just for this upcoming Mother’s Day weekend, but on a more permanent basis.

Iowa’s “Move Over” law is when a motorist encounters any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road, they must either move over safely or slow down. Slowing downs doesn’t mean just tapping your brakes, it means reducing your speed by at least 20 miles per hour. If the lane next to you is clear, you must signal to move over, and proceed to change lanes until you are past any vehicle parked, or slowly moving, on the shoulder.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 1:40-a.m. today (Friday), of 22-year-old Jonah Lee Kirsch, from Des Moines. Kirsch was taken into custody in the 100 block of E> Maple Street, in Red Oak, for Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a policeman during the riot at the U.S. Capitol last year on January 6th. Thirty-eight-year-old Kyle Young of Redfield pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and faces a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.

Court documents indicate Young aimed a strobe light at a police line and was part of a group that spearheaded the beating of D-C Metro Officer Michael Fanone on the Capitol steps. Fanone suffered a heart attack after being repeatedly shocked with his own taser.

Fanone identified Young in a line up as an attacker who threatened to kill him with his own police gun.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is not revealing details, but Reynolds says she may agree to adjustments in her plan to provide state scholarships to some parents who enroll their child in private or religious schools. All but one Republican in the state senate has endorsed the idea of providing 10-thousand of these scholarships for private schooling, but it currently lacks the votes to pass the Republican led Iowa House.

“We need to provide opportunities for all families to make sure that their child has every opportunity to learn in an environment where they can thrive…but I need to talk and look at compromises, too, and so we’re working through that process right now and I think we’re making progress,” Reynolds says. “I feel good about it. We still have a lot of work to do, but I feel like we’re moving in the right direction.” Reynolds says she has meetings every single day as she tries round up votes.

“I continue to meet with families, I continue to meet with educators. I continue to meet with superintendents,” Reynolds says, “and, of course, legislators who are a big part of that.” Reynolds says as she meets with superintendents who oppose state scholarships for private schooling, she’s been expressing support for public schools AND explaining how other states are spending tax dollars on charter schools as well as private and religious schools.

“That’s been helpful, too,” Reynolds says. “You know, I don’t have any illusions, as I said earlier, that I’ve changed their minds, but I feel good to be able to have the opportunity to actually sit down at a table and have that conversation,” Reynolds says, “and talk about things that maybe we can do next year to provide them some flexibility, to look at the education formula. It is antiquated and to really walk through flexibility and different chapters that may be helpful for them as well.”

A formula originally established in state law in the 1970s is used to distribute state tax dollars to public schools on a per pupil basis. Reynolds had a private meeting with parents in Marion this week to talk about a Linn-Mar School District policy for transgender students. Reynolds says those parents feel trapped in the public school system and her idea for state-funded scholarships for private schools would help them.

“I think parents need an option if they feel that their child is not being educated in a safe environment or they feel that their values aren’t being represented at school,” she said, “or they feel that the school district is not focused on a quality education.” Linn-Mar officials say the transgender support plan the school board adopted last week aligns with federal requirements the district has been following for years. Reynolds says the district is “way off track” and — after meeting with upset Linn-Mar parents — she’d consider legislation that would require all Iowa students to use the bathroom in their school that matches the gender listed on their birth certificate.

“You think back to when you were in high school, some of the things you did,” Reynolds says. “Think about a girl going into a restroom and having boys peering over the top taking photos. Talk about how uncomfortable that would be — and that’s what some of their kids are experiencing.” Reynolds made her comments during a brief question and answer session with reporters in her statehouse office.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Late Thursday evening, Atlantic Police released information about a stabbing that had taken place earlier in the day, Thursday. According to Police Chief Devin Hogue, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 2:43-p.m., on a Felony charge of Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury, along with charges that include Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – 1st Offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts.

Chief Hogue says the A-PD was notified by the Cass County Communications Center at around 2:32-p.m., about a stabbing that had occurred at 106 Cedar Street. During the investigation, police made contact with the victim, who was checked-out by Cass County EMS for injuries suffered in the assault. While the investigation was underway, police were also notified an assault had also occurred at around 11:00-a.m. Thursday.

The investigations led Police to take Asay into custody at 1207 Birch Street, on the aforementioned charges. Hogue says Asay was uncooperative during his apprehension, and resisted arrest. Police were assisted in their investigation by Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

No other details are being released at this time. If you have any information regarding the incident, you’re asked to call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.  Anthony Asay has a long history of arrests. Prior to his alleged involvement in Thursdays’ stabbing, he was arrested in Pottawattamie County Wednesday, in connection with a Road Rage incident. He was charged with Assault, Driving While Barred and Poss. of a Controlled Substance.

Asay had also been arrested in April, 2022, for Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and in January for Poss. of a Controlled Substance and Eluding. Asay was arrested numerous times in 2021, including for Simple Assault in July.

**Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.**