(Radio Iowa) — The Government Oversight Committee in the Iowa House will meet March 16th to hear from the state agency director Governor Reynolds has put in charge of changes at the state-run Glenwood Resource Center. Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia started in the job November 1st and 21 days later the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was investigating allegations of the disabled patients at Glenwood were being mistreated and being subjected to human experiments. House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says enough information has been made public that the committee can have a productive meeting without jeopardizing any investigation. “We weren’t just going to hold a meeting to say we held a meeting,” Grassley said.

Grassley credits the D-H-S director for meeting with the families or guardians of the patients at Glenwood as well as staff and for notifying key legislators of changes she’s making at the facility. Grassley says next month’s hearing will give Garcia a chance to address a larger audience.  “One individual hasn’t had the chance to sit down with every single legislator to show the reaction that’s happened,” Grassley says.

Earlier this week Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate unanimously confirmed Garcia to serve as director of the Department of Human Services.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would force any Iowa city or county with gun restrictions in a government-owned building to screen people at entrances AND have an armed guard inside. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says it will help ensure Iowans have the right to self defense. “It is also about the health and safety of our children and our families,” Holt said. “It is about my right as a parent to be prepared to defend my wife and my children — my family.”

The bill would override opinions from the state’s attorney general in 2003 and 2010 that indicated cities and counties could pass resolutions that create gun-free zones.  “I have never understood why someone believes that a gun-free zone will make them safer. In reality, a gun-free zone without screening and security will never stop a sick individual from killing innocent people,” Holt says. “It will stop the law-abiding citizen from carrying protection.”

Representative Mary Gaskill, a Democrat from Ottumwa, suggested that if the bill becomes law, Iowans with a permit will be able to carry guns into most any city or county-owned building in the state. “With the addition of metal detectors and armed security, few entities to pay for these measures,” Gaskill said. Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, says it would cost more than 400-thousand dollars to staff metal detectors and have armed security at the Story County courthouse. “This is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars,” she said. “…The constitutional right to own a firearm comes with important responsibility regarding community safety and therefore it must come with conditions.”

Supporters of the bill say Iowa gun owners should not have to navigate a labyrinth of different ordinances. The bill also forbids cities and counties from trying to ban gun modifications or from establishing restrictive zoning aimed at gun shooting ranges. The House passed the bill on a 52 to 44 vote as dozens of gun rights activists sat in the gallery watching debate.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party has released updated results of the Iowa caucuses after the completion of a recount requested by the campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg leads Sanders by a margin of 0.04 percentage points. The Associated Press has reviewed the updated results and won’t call a winner, given concerns about whether the results are fully accurate. The party plans to certify the results Saturday. Iowa awards 41 national delegates. As it stands, Buttigieg has 13 delegates and Sanders has 12. Elizabeth Warren won eight, Joe Biden won six and Amy Klobuchar won one. A final delegate will be awarded Saturday to Buttigieg.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Republicans have passed a bill that would require local governments to install metal detectors or armed guards at entrances to government-controlled buildings that prohibit firearms. The bill pushed by gun rights advocate Rep. Steven Holt passed Thursday with only Republican support. Holt argued that gun-free zones prohibit him and other legal gun carriers from protecting their families from shooters. Cities and counties opposed the bill because of the cost of hiring guards or installing equipment at city halls, libraries, courthouses and other public buildings where guns aren’t allowed. The bill advances to the Senate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House leaders say they have set a date for a hearing to investigate problems that have surfaced at a state-run institution for people with intellectual disabilities. House Speaker Pat Grassley says the House Government Oversight committee will meet on March 16. Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia will discuss the state’s response to concerns over patient The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that the former Glenwood superintendent was planning to conduct human sexual arousal experiments and had begun questionable hydration therapy on patients. The department also is looking into a death rate that concerned employees.

Two people were arrested following a traffic stop Thursday afternoon, in Adams County. Authorities say Deputies pulled over a vehicle for speeding a little after 4-p.m. During their initial investigation, the K9 “Baxo” was deployed, and during a free-air search around the vehicle, alerted to the odor of narcotics. A further investigation resulted in the driver, 30-year old Kyle Wayne Pack, of Red Oak, being arrested for Driving Under Suspension, Interlock Device Required, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His passenger, 28-year old Courtney Laine Sanson, of Nodaway, was arrested for Permitting an Unauthorized Person to Drive, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Pack and Sanson were being held in the Adams County Jail.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two men were arrested today (Thursday). 39-year old Bret Brewer, of Blanchard, OK., was arrested for False identification, Theft in the 5th degree and Forgery. He also was arrested on numerous warrants from different counties
and states. His total cash or surety bond was set at $28,300.

And, 30-year old Jordan Henze, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI 1st offense. He later posted a $1,000 bond and was released.

And, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 30-year old Danielle Patricia Simmons, of Sidney, was arrested Wednesday morning at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was being held on $5,000 bond.

35-year old Jaime Lea Petersen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested this (Thursday) morning, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Petersen was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, and held on a $5,000 bond.

One person suffered what were described as “suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during a collision Wednesday morning, near Lorimor. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2015 cargo van driven by 25-year old Dallas Dorrian, of Grimes, was traveling south Warbler Avenue (County Road P-54) at around 9:23-a.m., at the same time a 2013 Buick LaCrosse SUV was traveling north. The vehicles met at the crest of a hill and sideswiped each other.

The van broke an axle and came to rest on the road. The SUV entered the east ditch. The driver, 80-year old Doreen Bowman, of Thayer, suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Madison County. No charges were filed.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in an eastern Iowa county say they’ve filed a complaint with state’s attorney oversight office about the county’s top prosecutor. They say Cedar County Attorney Jeff Renander is too lenient on defendants and has made inappropriate comments to sex crime victims. All 13 Cedar County deputies shared with the county board a Feb. 20 letter expressing no confidence in Renander. He’s declined to comment about the allegations. The deputies’ letter cited comments heard by officers that Renander recently made to the victim in a sexual abuse case, essentially blaming the woman for the assault.

No one was injured during what could best be described as a chain reaction accident this (Thursday) morning, in Atlantic. The accident in front of the Heritage House at 1200 Brookridge Circle, was reported at around 8:54-a.m. Atlantic Police Officer Caleb Smith said the incident began when the female driver of a blue, Buick LeSabre attempted to park in a Handicap spot in front of the Heritage House.

(Smith said the woman told Police that when she went to push on the brake, she thought her brakes went out. An investigation however, determined she apparently hit the accelerator instead. Her car went forward in between the building and some signs. When the woman tried to come back on the road, her car struck a handicapped sign and two legally parked vehicles before coming to rest.)

Ric Hanson/photos

The Airbag on her vehicle did deploy during the incident. The name of the woman and the registered owners of the other vehicles, were not immediately available.

The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent, drug-related arrests. Wednesday morning, 35-year old Leslie John Smith, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested on felony charges that include: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine); Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

John Leslie Smith (Photo via Ringgold County S/O)

Smith was also charged with Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Possession of stolen property. He was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail, until seen by magistrate. His arrest was the result of  a joint investigation involving the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

Authorities report also, that on the night of Feb. 24th, the Afton Police Dept. called about conducting a search warrant on a residence in Diagonal for stolen property. The search was conducted and the property was seized and turned over to the Afton PD. While inside the residence, authorities noticed drug paraphernalia and illegal narcotics. The Ringgold County Sheriff’s subsequently applied for another search warrant, was granted by the court. After conducting a search Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Prescription drugs, along with paraphernalia and items for the intent to deliver was seized.

Two people were arrested: 36-year old Nichole Ott and 34-year old David Giles, both of Diagonal. They both face charges that include: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine; PCS – Marijuana; Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs; And, felony Controlled Substance charges (for unlawfully manufacturer or delivery of Meth and Marijuana, along with a felony, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, charge. Their bonds were set at $20,000 each.

David Giles

Nichole Ott

Helping with the search at Giles’ and Ott’s residence, was the Afton PD, Creston PD, Union County Sheriff Office, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reminds persons interested in filing nomination papers in advance of the June 2nd, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION, that those papers may be filed beginning Monday, March 2nd. The last day to file in March 25th.  Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state: www.sos.iowa.gov

The county positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION are: Attorney (vacancy term); Auditor; Sheriff; the District 1, District 4 and District 5 Supervisor positions.

The number of signatures required for a person’s name to appear on the ballot are as follows: Supervisor, District 1 – 14 for Republicans, 6 for Democrats; Supervisor, District 4 – 18 Republican, 7 Democrat; Supervisor, District 5 – 16 Republican, 9 Democrat;  Attorney (Vacancy), Auditor and Sheriff – 77 Republican, 38 Democrat.

For additional information, please contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570, or by E-mail auditor@casscoia.us.