(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she and a group of other Republican governors are mulling more legal action in hopes of nullifying the federal requirement that health care workers get vaccinated against COVID-19. “We’re continuing to review our options and what our next steps are,” Reynolds says. “I think you’ll see shortly the direction that we’re moving”

Reynolds spoke with reporters late this (Wednesday) morning in the Capitol rotunda. A month ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Biden Administration’s vaccination requirement that employees in health care settings and the governor did not indicate what new path the governors might take.  “Vaccines aren’t stopping the spread of Omicron…It’s less severe, I mean I get all that, but it’s not stopping the spread,” Reynolds says. “…I do not believe that we should tell somebody that has been on the front line from the beginning to choose between their livelihood and getting a vaccine that you just don’t believe in.”

Reynolds also objects to the Department of Defense requirement that Iowa National Guard members be vaccinated by this summer. About one in five Iowa Guard soldiers haven’t gotten a COVID shot. “These are people that have fought for the very freedoms and liberties that we are talking about. I absolutely don’t agree with the mandate and we’re continuing to look at what our alternatives are with that as well,” Reynolds says. “Both are wrong. I mean, I’ve been consistent with that. I do not think that mandates are the right way to go.”

Reynolds is among five governors who wrote the U.S. Defense Secretary in December, asking him to withdraw the COVID vaccine mandate for the National Guard. Last week, the Defense Secretary said the vaccinations are a part of ensuring military readiness among all units. Reynolds announced a week ago that her public health emergency proclamation will expire next Tuesday. “It was time to move on,” Reynolds says, “and we’ll continue to treat it like we do other viruses and if we see for some reason another uptick, then we’ll reevaluate at that point and decide what mitigation steps we need to do.”

Some information on the Iowa Department of Public Health’s online COVID dashboard will be removed. Reynolds says most of the data will be posted elsewhere on the agency’s website. “We’ve seen a significant decline in the use of the information on website. I think about 93-98% down from where we were,” Reynolds says. “People are not going there. They’re not utilizing it.” Reynolds says 24 percent of those who logged onto the COVID dashboard were repeat users who she suspects were there to download data, which is also being compiled by the Centers for Disease Control.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The attorney for an Atlantic man facing felony charges of Attempted Murder and Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, has filed a request for Waiver of a Speedy Trial. The document was filed Tuesday in Cass County District Court, according Iowa Courts Online. A preliminary hearing for 34-year-old  Richard J. Doss, JR., was held Tuesday. Doss’ attorney entered his client’s plea of not guilty to the charges on Jan. 7th.

Doss Jr., was arrested Dec. 6th, hours after a man arrived at the Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room Jan.5th, after being stabbed. Atlantic Police said the incident happened at an apartment complex across the street from the hospital. The victim was treated at the hospital and then transported by helicopter to UNMC in Omaha for further treatment. The victims’ identity has not been released.

Doss JR.’s trial remains set for Feb. 22nd.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas, Tuesday, waived her rights and entered a plea of guilty to the charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle while under the Influence (OWI) -1st Offense. Atlantic Police say she was arrested after crashing her car near the Atlantic Airport on Jan. 16. Court documents indicate Strazdas blew a BAC (Breath Alcohol Content) of .159 (nearly twice the legal limit), after being taken to the sheriff’s office due to cold weather.

Her preliminary hearing had previously been set for February 14th. Iowa Courts Online did not indicated when she will be sentenced. Since her arrest, Strazdus has completed a court required course on drunken driving and has requested a temporary, restricted license.

Strazdas became the Cass County Attorney in Feb., 2019, after Governor Kim Reynolds announced the appointment of former County Attorney Michael Hooper to serve as a Fourth Judicial District Judge.

(Radio Iowa) – A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to laundering thousands of dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program money he received through a former Iowa man. Thirty-one-year-old Benjamin Sakyi pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to launder money. Evidence at his plea hearing showed that Sakyi fraudulently received more than 900-thousand dollars in the names of two Virginia corporations from former Armstrong Iowa resident Donald Trosin.

Trosin had filed more than 20 fraudulent federal loan applications claiming he had 120 employees with more than five million dollars in payroll expenses. Trosin is serving 40 months in prison for his role in the money laundering and Sakyi is waiting for a sentencing date.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging every high school in Iowa to conduct a voter registration drive on Tuesday, February 22. The date coincides with the birthday of first U.S. President George Washington and will also be “Twosday” on the numerical calendar, 2/22/22.

Pate says “Engaging young people in civics is a great way to inspire them to be active citizens throughout their lives. It’s vital for students to learn that registering to vote and participating in elections is the best way to make sure their voices are heard. I hope every high school in Iowa will participate in this statewide event.”

State law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote and there are more than 3,500 17-year-olds currently registered. They can also participate in the upcoming June primary elections if they turn 18 by the time of the November general election. Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo says “Voting is both a fundamental right and an important way for individuals to take part in shaping the world that we live in. Participating in high school voter registration day is a great opportunity to engage students and foster a culture of civic engagement among our next generation of voters.”

To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov. Governor Reynolds plans to issue an official proclamation declaring Tuesday, February 22 as “Iowa High School Voter Registration Day.” Kelli Hutt, communications director for the Iowa Council for the Social Studies, says “The Iowa Council for the Social Studies commends the Secretary of State’s Office for its High School Voter Registration Day initiative and its ongoing collaboration with Iowa social studies teachers to encourage our young people to engage in one of their fundamental rights and responsibilities as citizens of our democracy. Encouraging good citizenship is one of the centerpieces of a quality social studies program and the Carrie Chapman Catt Award is a wonderful way to recognize the ongoing efforts of Iowa’s social studies teachers to support our next generation of citizens.”

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to mandate that doctors prescribing medication abortions tell patients another drug could reverse the process has resurfaced in the Iowa House. Republican Representative Shannon Lundgren of Peosta says the bill has been a priority of hers for three years. “I think it gives women another choice is they get home and their family decides that it is something they don’t want to go through,” Lundgren says, “and I think it will save a lifetime of mental and brain health issues and heartache.”

Karla Fultz McHenry is a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa and Iowa Independent Physician Group. She says the bill would force Iowa doctors to give inaccurate information to their patients. “This bill also puts clinics and physicians at risk of malpractice claims because they are breaking their ethical duty,” she says.

Ten states have passed similar legislation and the American Medical Association sued North Dakota in 2019 to block that state’s law. The Iowa House Hunan Resources Committee approved this bill in 2021, but it was never debated in the full House. It cleared a House subcommittee this (Wednesday) morning.