(Radio Iowa) – After two judges ruled tens of thousands of absentee ballot request forms from Woodbury and Linn Counties are void, the Iowa Democratic Party is filing a lawsuit seeking to overturn those rulings. Last week, the REPUBLICAN Party and the Trump campaign successfully argued in court that the forms violated a state order because voter I-D numbers were included — and the secretary of state had ordered all forms to be BLANK. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith spoke at an online news conference this (Monday) morning. “The Iowa Democratic Party and our partners are fighting back against these voter suppression tactics,” Smith says.

Kay Pence is vice president of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans which represents many retired trade union members. She says the Republicans’ lawsuit seeks to reduce the number of Iowans who vote by mail. “I just don’t think we need to create more anxiety for voters,” she said, “especially for those of us who have voted mail for years.”

The Democratic committees that support candidates for the U.S. House and Senate are part of the lawsuit as well. The lawsuit challenges the Iowa Secretary of State’s authority to order county auditors to send blank absentee ballot request forms to voters. Auditors in Johnson, Linn and Woodbury County sent forms that included voter I-D numbers.

Grant, Ia. –The Grant United Methodist Church has cancelled its annual Fall Bazaar due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Church leadership encourages community members to stay home and stay safe this year. Those interested in supporting the church should consider making a donation to replace the cost of any in-kind donations or purchases they might have made. Further information can be found on the church’s Facebook page.  All money raised supports the Grant United Methodist Women and their work for mission projects and the Grant church.

The Grant United Methodist Church, founded in 1855, is a multi-generational church focusing on concern for its neighbors and providing a center of worship for all ages.  Currently, worship services are celebrated at 9 a.m. each Sunday via Facebook Live.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said Monday (today), AtlanticFest, which had been rescheduled for September 26th, has been cancelled. Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says “With COVID-19 cases rising in our county, the extension of the State Public Health Emergency and other liability concerns, AtlanticFest isn’t feasible this year. We understand how eager everyone is to get out and about. AtlanticFest draws thousands of people every year and the health of the community is our highest priority.”

AtlanticFest, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, is the Chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year and has been a community staple for almost 30 years. To still offer a community event, the Chamber will be hosting a Drive-In Movie September 26th. Smith said “We wanted to be able to give everyone an opportunity to get out of the house while maintaining social distancing. We’ve had a few Drive-In movie events over the last couple years that have been a hit and we’re excited to be able to offer it again,”

More details about the Drive-In Movie will be made available in the coming weeks including location, time and feature movie.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved a revision in security plans for some casinos to allow them to cut back on the number of officers on duty as attendance has been down. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the plans were set for the new fiscal year that began in July before knowing the impact of the coronavirus. “Those plans typically outline the number of security officers that each facility has (and) when those security officers are present. And those numbers fluctuate depending on how busy a facility is,” Ohorilko.

He says some casinos simply don’t need as many security officers on hand as they have not had concerts or restaurants and other facilities at the casino site aren’t open. “There are variations depending on where these facilities are located — but overall we’ve seen a decline of approximately 25 to 30 percent year over year,” Ohorilko says. “It is still early and I think we are just not seeing a lot of the more casual gamblers or folks visiting the casinos to take advantage of the amenities and restaurants.”

Ohorilko says the casinos are still holding their own despite a drop in customers. “A decrease in admissions should not be confused with the revenue. At this point, the revenue is still holding in there and nowhere near the decline that we’ve seen in regard to the admissions,” according to Ohorilko.

Gambling revenue at the 19 state-licensed casinos in July was down three-point-seven percent — or around four-point-seven-million dollars compared to July of last year. Attendance was down by 569-thousand-507 in July compared to last year. Casinos reopened on May 31st after being shut down on March 17th.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on a warrant, Thursday, of 21-year old Harley Thomas Martin, of Essex.  Martin was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Page County Warrant for Probation Violation.

Harley Martin

Martin was transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on a $2,000 cash-only bond, pending further court proceedings.

PALO, Iowa (AP) — Sheriff’s officials in eastern Iowa say a homeowner has shot and killed another man suspected of breaking into his home. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened shortly after 3 a.m. Monday, when several people called 911 to report that a man was trying to break into homes in Palo, The sheriff’s office says deputies had responded to the area when another caller reported that a man had broken into a home and threatened the people living there before the homeowner shot him.

Deputies and medics performed CPR on the suspect, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither his name nor the name of the homeowner has been released.

(Updated 10:30-a.m.) Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a pursuit resulted in a crash, Saturday, and the arrest of a teen from Pottawattamie County.  Just before before 3-a.m. Saturday, the Clarinda Academy reported that two students had left the facility without authorization and one of the students had stolen a Toyota Rav 4 SUV from the grounds of the Clarinda Academy. A short time later, officers located the stolen vehicle in the area of 16th & Stuart.

When Police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to comply, and lead officers on a pursuit at speeds in excess of 100-mph. The chase ended when the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicle, at the intersection of Highway 2 and the Highway 2 bypass. The vehicle came to rest on the north ditch at the T- intersection. The SUV sustained an estimated $5,000 damage, and had to be towed from the scene.

The driver exited the vehicle and a short foot pursuit ensued before he was apprehended. The Page County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 16-year old Eathan Stevenson, of Council Bluffs. Stevenson faces charges that include: Theft of a motor vehicle; Felony eluding of law enforcement; Driving while revoked; Failure to obey a stop sign, and Speeding. He was treated for minor injuries at the Clarinda Regional Health Center and returned to the custody of the Clarinda Academy. The other student that left the Clarinda Academy was located by Clarinda Academy staff earlier and returned to the campus.

Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Department investigated the accident and assisted at the scene. All reports will be forwarded to the office of Page County Attorney Carl Sonksen for review and the filing of complaints alleging juvenile delinquency in Page County Juvenile Court and Page County Magistrate Court.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System officials report Mohamed Humad, MD will join the family medicine team at Atlantic Medical Center, RHC, effective November 2020. Dr. Humad is originally from Cairo, Egypt, but moved to Ames, Iowa at the age of 14. He went to Iowa State University and Windsor University School of Medicine. Dr. Humad recently completed his residency at MercyOne Family Medicine Residency in Des Moines. In the interim between completing his residency and joining the medical staff full time, Dr. Humad has worked in the CCHS Emergency Department several times.

Dr. Humad says “I enjoy practicing medicine in rural communities. Cass County is close to Des Moines, where some of my family members live. I thought the people [at CCHS] were very friendly and grateful. The staff seemed knowledgeable and easy to work with, especially the ED nurses who made my first shift very smooth even though it was very busy!” He said also that he became a doctor because he loves to help people. “I chose family medicine so that I could enjoy the continuity with my patients and make a difference in their lives as well as their next generation.”

In his spare time, Dr. Humad likes to play soccer and spend time with his family. “I have a son, Zain, and twin girls Arya and Ayla, and my beautiful wife Rabab,” he said. Dr. Humad will provide care to patients of all ages, and he will also provide obstetric care for expecting mothers. He will begin caring for patients at AMC in early November.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s coronavirus cases are spreading so quickly, the state now has one of the world’s worst outbreaks, by some metrics. As of Sunday, Iowa had more new COVID-19 cases per capita than any other state in the U-S, according to the New York Times, which says new cases are spreading fastest in the university towns of Ames and Iowa City. Daniel Diekema heads the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. “I’m extremely concerned. I think we should all be,” Diekema says. “I think we’re now in the unenviable position of being one of the global hotspots for COVID-19 spread.”

While the surge in Iowa City is tied to U-I students returning to campus, Diekema points to university leaders and state officials for reopening schools and businesses too soon. “Although right now it seems mostly concentrated in the 18-to-24 year population,” he says, “how soon before it begins to expand into other groups that are at higher risk for severe disease?”

Despite the escalating spread in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds has refused to issue a state-wide mask mandate and has maintained that local governments are not legally authorized to do so.

(reporting By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

A traffic stop by Council Bluffs Police last Tuesday (Aug. 25) afternoon, resulted in a pursuit and arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Alexander Sterling Potter Milledge, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Eluding while exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 mph. Milledge was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $5,195 bond.

At around 1:36-a.m. Saturday, a traffic stop in Oakland resulted in the arrest of 22-year old Kolby Austin Fulk, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender and OWI/1st offense. Late Friday night, 38-year old Brooke Ann Ralston was arrested following a reported disturbance in Avoca. Ralston was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury.

Thursday afternoon, 29-year old Anthony Shane Schovanec was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse in Council Bluffs, on warrants for Criminal Trespass/1st offense, and providing False information.  Tuesday afternoon, 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant at the Pottawattamie County Jail, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. She remains in the Pott. County Jail.

On Aug. 24th, 21-year old Angel Lou Griffis and 35-year old Michael Joseph Waite were arrested at the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, after both turned themselves-in on separate warrants for Violation of Probation. 39-year old Sarah Renee Fields also turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Aug. 24th, on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. And, on Aug. 23rd, a 17-year old male was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for destruction/damage/vandalism of property at the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. The damage amounted to between $350 and $750.