(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers are considering criminal charges for those who fail to disclose that a campaign ad is a “deep fake.” The proposal comes as A-I technology can be used to generate fake video and audio of a candidate seeming to say something they’ve never said. Representative J-D Scholten of Sioux City says A-I is cutting edge technology that’s being used to try to influence elections. “This bill matches the moment,” Scholten says. “Often legislation lags behind in technology and we understand the importance of the 2024 election and election integrity.”

A bill that passed the House on a 93-to-one last week requires “deep fake” ads for candidates OR ballot initiatives in Iowa to include a disclaimer. That disclaimers has to say that the ad contains A-I generated content that’s been manipulated. Representative Lindsay James of Dubuque says it’s an important step. “We’re venturing into new waters here with this technology and I think it’s something we can be really proud of as a state that we are leading on this issue,” James says.

The bill also would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence in electronic systems that count or mark ballots in Iowa elections. The bill must clear the Senate State Government Committee by Friday to remain eligible for consideration this year. All the policy bills that have passed the House this year face Friday’s deadline to win Senate committee approval. Senate-passed bills have to win approval from a House committee by Friday as well. Bills that deal with state taxes or spending are eligible for debate at any time.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports six arrests took place over the past week. A Cass County man was arrested at around 1:37-a.m. Saturday, on an Adair County warrant. 21-year-old Chance Eldon Kline, of Griswold, was arrested on a Felony warrant for “Participate in a riot.” Additional information was not provided. Kline was released from the jail on Greenfield later in the day, Saturday, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Friday night, Stuart Police arrested 52-year-old Bobby Glenn Agan, II, of Stuart, for: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or Subsequent Offense/Methamphetamine; PCS/3rd or Subsequent Offense/Marijuana; Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug or Device; and Possession of Ammunition by a Felon (Domestic Violence conviction). Authorities say On Friday, an Adair County Deputy assisted the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in conducting a search warrant at 515 S. Harrison Street, in Stuart.

During the search, a glass smoking device with burned residue was located on a shelf in the office of the residence. The substance was consistent with meth. A second glass pipe with a burnt residue was found on the same shelf. The residue was consistent with marijuana. A Zip-Loc bag containing a small amount of a substance that tested positive for meth was found on a desk below the shelves. Also found, were four white pills identified as Alprazolam in a plastic bag. A search of the residence also resulted in the discovery of several rounds of ammunition, ranging from .12-to .22-gauge. No firearms were found. Agan was prohibited from possessing ammo or weapons due to multiple protection orders. In addition, a Zip-Loc bag containing a mushroom-style plant was found in the garage on the property.

Sheriff Vandewater reports also, 29-year-old Cody Michael O’Hara, of Elk Run Heights, IA, was arrested Thursday night near mile-marker 80 on eastbound Interstate 80 in Adair County. O’Hara was taken into custody on a Black Hawk County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 c/s bond, pending extradition to Black Hawk County.

45-year-old Terrence Earal Roby, of Waterloo, was arrested at the Dallas County Jail, Saturday evening, on two Adair County warrants for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, and a new charge for the same offense, after he called the protected female party while he was in jail. Roby was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

And, on Tuesday morning, March 5th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 48-year-old Dustin Myles Sorensen, of Adair, following a traffic stop for speeding on I-80 at mile-marker 76. Sorensen’s breath tested at slightly more than twice the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. He was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and released later that day on a $1,000 c/s bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 27-year-old Ariante Ladon Williams, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Correctional Facility as required yesterday (Sunday).

Williams is a black male, height 5’9″, and weighs 258 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on February 16, 2024.

Persons with information on Williams’ whereabouts should contact local police.

Ariante Ladon Williams (I-DOC photo)

(Hamburg, Iowa) – A popular boat ramp on the Missouri River, leased for public access by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will close on June 30th. The Iowa DNR had been leasing the ramp and small parcel of land to provide river access since 1985. Known as the Hamburg-Mitchell Access, the land was sold recently and its lease terminated.

The Iowa DNR has been exploring options to provide river access in the area. The next closest boat ramp on the Iowa side is more than 25 miles away.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Falls leaders are setting up an affordable housing trust fund which would allow the city to access some 200-thousand dollars in state aid. Brian Schoon, executive director of the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, says a housing assessment that was done in Cedar Falls late last year spurred the city to act.  “People knew the need was there, but it just didn’t rise to the level of bringing people to the table,” Schoon says. “Now the City of Cedar Falls knows from that study where some of the needs are.”

Cedar Falls was one of the last communities in the state -without- such a fund. He says the city hopes the new nonprofit organization will be fully up and running by January of next year.

“They’re going to have to look at projects that would be categorized as the affordability side of things,” Schoon says. “That was one of the things that jumped up in the housing needs assessment was the cost of housing, the cost of land, the cost of development.” Schoon says the nonprofit will mainly focus on driving living costs down.

REDFIELD, Iowa — The community of Redfield and others who care about a local business that was devastated by a fire last month, have come to together to support the owners as they plan to rebuild. Steve Roberts and his wife Kristy own the Dexfield Diner and Pub. The establishment sustained extensive fire damage February 26^th. The cause remains under investigation.

An adjacent boutique owned by Kristy Roberts was also damaged. Since the blaze, the Roberts’ have received permission to begin demolishing and removing items out of the boutique part of their building.

In the nearly two weeks since the fire, Roberts said people have continuously reached out to help: whether it be by phone or on social media. There is a Facebook page focused on the rebuilding efforts, where Roberts updates people on what’s going and people volunteer to help.

In addition to physical labor, people have also been either donating via a GoFundMe page or through fundraisers people are putting on. Roberts and his family say they are very grateful.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School District’s Board of Education will meet tonight (March 11, 2024) at the CAM High School Media Center, in Anita. Their session begins at 6:30-p.m. The agenda for tonight’s meeting is shown below:

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic is expected to hold – what City Administrator John Lund, last week as a – “Gavel-in, gavel-out,” quick meeting. The 5-p.m. session in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, is for the passage of a Resolution “Endorsing the Use of TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) Funds for the West 22nd Street Trail Construction Project in Atlantic, Iowa.” Passage of the Resolution is necessary in order for the City to submit (Through SWIPCO), an application for the TAP grant. The deadline is Friday, March 15th.

The Resolution before the Council can be seen below.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – As part of National Civic Learning Week (March 11-15), Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has launched a new series of videos designed to give Iowa voters an in-depth look at Iowa’s voting process. The video series will cover a variety of topics about Iowa’s elections process, including voter registration, registration management, absentee voting, and more.

The launch of the video series is part of an ongoing effort to ensure Iowans turn to the Iowa Secretary of State as the trusted source of all things elections. Over the past few years, Pate’s office says there has been a rise of mis-, dis- and mal- information spread among social media and news sources. It is vitally important that Iowans understand Iowa’s elections process and to stay alert for cases of false claims.

At the time of its launch, the video series includes 18 separate videos about Iowa’s voting process. Additional videos covering topics like Election Day and the Tabulation Process will be released in the coming months. The videos can be accessed at VotingProcess.Iowa.Gov.

Civic Learning Week is a nationwide celebration of civic learning that unites students, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders. Learn more about Civic Learning Week at CivicLearningWeek.Org.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman was arrested Sunday evening, for Driving while Suspended. 40-year-old Alicia Ellen Lovell, of Creston, was arrested at the Iowa State Savings Bank at around 5:35-p.m., Sunday. Lovell was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 cash or surety bond.