(Radio Iowa) 0- Cedar Falls is fighting a wave of hate speech that’s appearing through graffiti. Several sites along the city’s trails and public infrastructure were spray-painted this week with swastikas and homophobic slurs. Sonja Bock, a member of the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, points to the current divisive political climate and past attitudes as contributors to the outbreak.

“We’re in a time where we’re extremely polarized,” Bock says, “and some of these groups are gaining momentum again like they did in the old days.” Bock is concerned that far-right extremism has been present in northeast Iowa for a while, and current events have emboldened those groups to speak out.

“I think it’s been quietly brewing probably ever since Obama,” Bock says. “There are several factions that have really intently mobilized and have done a really good job of spreading their message to certain groups, especially in rural areas.” In addition to the hate symbols, a telephone number appeared this week at one of the vandalized sites that’s linked to a white supremacist group.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is introducing a bill she says aims to change trade laws so China can no longer “take advantage of U-S workers and rip off U-S businesses.” Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says federal agents recently raided an Ohio warehouse that’s a subsidiary of a Chinese auto parts maker, which had been shipping in parts via Thailand to avoid import taxes. Hinson says the practice causes “severe economic harm to American competitors.” “For decades, Communist China and its subsidiaries frequently and purposefully violate U.S. trade laws,” Hinson says. “They do that through fraud, through duty evasion, and trans shipments, leading to the closures of U.S. factories and a lot of good-paying manufacturing jobs.”

The U-S Department of Justice currently has a trade fraud task force, but Hinson says it’s only seen limited success. “My bill aims to combat these crimes by directing the Department of Justice to establish a new initiative, specifically dedicated to prosecuting international trade crimes,” she says. “This bill specifically establishes a new task force or similar initiative within the DOJ Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes.” Hinson says the Chinese Communist Party, or C-C-P, is responsible for siphoning billions of dollars from the U-S economy.  “We do have to continue to be clear-eyed about Communist China,” Hinson says. “They will not play by the rules. They will not follow the law. China enjoys Most Favored Nation trade status with us, while simultaneously violating our trade laws that are in place to protect American workers and businesses.”

Hinson says the D-O-J task force is “under-resourced,” so her bill would allot 20-million dollars to establish the new task force.  “It may be something that we have to revisit in a year,” Hinson says. “$20 million may not be enough to target this. We just need to get a good gauge on how many of these cases they’re able to go after. But we did work directly with the DOJ in crafting this bill to make sure that it was exactly what they needed in terms of the tools to be able to specifically target and go after the CCP for these trade related crimes.”

Hinson says the bill, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act, has bi-partisan and bi-cameral support.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – The Cass Health Med Spa is hosting an open house on Thursday, August 8 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Visitors will be treated to Med Spa tours, exclusive discounts, raffle drawings, and refreshments.  Dermatology provider Lace Sindt, ARNP provides care at the Med Spa and will be on hand to answer questions and showcase the newly renovated space. Lace has worked in aesthetic dermatology since 2009, including the management of two medical spas. Maddy Peppers, RN and Brenna Irlmeier, RN will be doing live demonstrations of the SkinPen and VI Peel treatments.

The Med Spa offers services such as Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, and facial resurfacing treatments. The Med Spa also carries a wide range of medical grade skin care products from SkinMedica and EltaMD. For patients interested in the treatments and services, the Med Spa offers free consultations. The Med Spa is open the second and fourth Thursday of each month, and appointments are required. Appointments can be made anytime online through the patient portal found at casshealth.org/medspa or by calling 712-243-7500.

The public is invited and welcome to attend; all attendees are asked to enter through the Main Entrance, and either take the main staircase or elevator to the second floor to access the Med Spa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department has issued a report on arrests that occurred from July 12th through the 23rd. On the 23rd, 28-year-old G Love Kovac, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Kovac was also arrested July 16th, for Violation of a No Contact Order, and on July 12th, for Public Intoxication. On July 22nd, 44-year-old Mathew Steffens, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts. And, 57-year-old Rex McDermott, of Elk Horn, was arrested for Driving While License is barred, and on a Shelby County warrant.

There were five arrests that took place July 21st, in Atlantic:

19-year-old Efrain Sandiego, 18-year-old Shantell Michaels, and 22-year-old K-Son Seker, all of Atlantic, were each arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Also arrested on the 21st, was 52-year-old Lynette Berg, and 53-year-old Angela Crisafi, both of Walnut. Both were charged with three-counts each of Violation of a No Contact Order.

On July 15th, Atlantic Police arrested 44-year-old Kantauo Mark, 46-year-old Robert Loving, and 32-year-old Tiffany Rice, all of Atlantic. Each was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. 58-year-old Michael Brownsberger, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day, for Aggravated Assault (Willful Injury).

And, on July 12th, 36-year-old Louis Chipenson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct.

Each of the individuals mentioned above were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in. The A-PD says two people were cited for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting): 37-year-old Jason Wingrove, of Anita, was cited July 8th, and 45-year-old McKenzie Flathers, of Brayton, was cited on July 12th. 45-year-old Tesha Stevens, of Atlantic, was cited July 11th, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. All three subjects were cited into court and released from the scene of their respective incidents.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT) – An old, but ongoing scam continues to fool more victims. The latest to fall for it is a woman who doesn’t need more stress in her life by losing money. WOWT-TV in Omaha reports a Council Bluffs woman had wanted an emotional support/therapeutic animal as a companion while she underwent treatment for cancer. She thought a teacup Shih Tzu puppy would fit the role, and paid for one online.

The woman made a $100 down-payment, but the seller, who claimed to be from Winterset, wanted the funds on a money app, which the Better Business Bureau (BBB) says can be a red flag. BBB in Omaha President Jim Hagerty said he suspects the puppy seller is much farther away, possibly in West Africa.

BBB’s scam tracker reports show more than 1,500 victims of a puppy scam in the last year. One of the ways you can tell it’s a scam, Hagerty says, is that the person never allows you to physically visit the puppy. Therefore, you should never send them money UNTIL you can see the dog in person.

The victim paid more than $300 total through money apps and never received the dog. The BBB says the average loss in a puppy scam in a puppy scam is $1,000. Nearly 20% of reported online scams are tied to phony pet sales.