(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she’ll appeal an Iowa district court judge’s decision that blocks a law requiring a 24-hour waiting period for abortions in Iowa. Republican legislators and Governor Kim Reynolds approved the law in 2020, but it never took effect due to the lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The decision today is really essential for protection abortion access for Iowans.” That’s Rita Bettis Austen, legal director for the A-C-L-U of Iowa. Reynolds says the bill was designed to protect human life and she’s confident her appeal will succeed in making the policy state law. Under the policy, women seeking an abortion would make two appointments with a doctor, one to sign a form and a second for the abortion. Bettis Austen says the district court’s ruling found the requirement similar to the 72-hour waiting period the Iowa Supreme Court struck down in 2018.

“Both laws require Iowans who are seeking abortion care to have a medically unnecessary second trip to the clinic before they’re able to access their care,” Bettis Austen says. Jamie Burch Elliott, Iowa director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood North Central States, says a law requiring two separate appointments would set up obstacles that could delay an abortion for days or weeks.  “Iowans seeking abortion must find reliable transportation, sometimes drive for hours take time off work, arrange child care among other things,” she says, “and then they must also find a time that works with the provider’s scheduling.”

Burch Elliott says a two-appointment requirement could have put many women past the 20th week of pregnancy. Current state law bans abortions after 20 weeks. The district court ruling also notes the new abortion limitation was added to another bill on the final weekend of the 2020 legislative session. “Anti-abortion lawmakers in Des Moines rushed this medically-unnecessary and harmful legislation, mind you, in the dead of the night,” Burch Elliot says.

In 2018, the state Supreme Court declared a 72-hour waiting period unconstitutional. The justice who wrote the opinion died in 2019 and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has since appointed a majority of the justices on the court. The A-C-L-U of Iowa’s legal director says she’ll argue the precedent of that 2018 ruling still stands. Reynolds, in a written statement, says she’s confident of a win when the case reached the Iowa Supreme Court.

(Update 12:25-p.m.) Atlantic Rescue and Cass EMS were dispatched to a single-vehicle unknown injury accident south of Interstate 80. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened in the bridge construction zone on Olive Street, south of Chicago Road, at around 12:14-p.m. Atlantic Rescue was later told to disregard.

A second unknown injury accident took place a few minutes later south of Anita, on Highway 148. It took place between Galveston and Glendale Road. Anita Rescue was responding to the scene.

Additional details are currently not available on either crash.

(Radio Iowa) – A major provider of vision care in the state says it’s dealing with a ransomware attack — and won’t be paying up. Wolfe Eye Clinic says it will be notifying approximately 500,000 current and former patients that their personal information may have been inappropriately accessed as a part of a cyber-related incident. The Clinic discovered a cyber attack on its systems in early February. Chief Financial Officer Luke Bland states the company responded to the attack to determine just how bad the breach was.

According to the news release, “The threat actors demanded a ransom, which was not paid.” The full impact of the attack was not really known until late May and the forensic investigation was completed earlier this month. Wolfe Eye Clinic says it has not been informed of any identity theft issues as of yet. A website and a toll free number has been set up for anyone who has questions: https://response.idx.us/wolfe  1-833-909-3906

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Dart” has received a bullet and stab preventative vest, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  Dart’s vest was sponsored by Diane Schaaf of Raleigh, NC., and embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the country. Since 2009, the organization has  donated:

• More than 4,301 K9 ballistic vests
• 1,800 K9 opioid reversal NARCAN Kits
• More than $190,000 of K9 medical insurance premiums through our Healthcare for K9 Heroes program
• Over $76,500 in K9 medical first aid kits
• Three Chevy Tahoes custom fitted for a K9 Unit valued at over $50,000 each

Guthrie County K9″Dart”

All of Vested Interest in K9s programs are made possible with funds raised through contributions, grants and fundraising events. Learn more HERE.

Authorities in eastern Iowa’s Linn County, Tuesday, identified a Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot multiple times when responding to a report of a robbery at a Casey’s General Store in Coggon. Officials said Deputy William Halverson, a seven-year veteran with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, remains at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in serious, but stable condition. Deputies responded to an alarm call at the Casey’s General Store in Coggon at about 10:19 p.m. on Sunday.

In a news release, authorities said Halverson was shot multiple times by a suspect later identified as 36-year-old Stanley Donahue. KCRG reports Donahue fled in a vehicle, but another Linn County Deputy saw him and a vehicle pursuit ensued until the suspect later crashed the vehicle. Donahue reportedly fled on foot, prompting a manhunt involving several law enforcement agencies from across eastern Iowa that lasted more than 12 hours. Agencies from across eastern Iowa assisted in the search.

The manhunt ended when a KCRG-TV crew spotted a man who matched the suspect description walking along Highway 13 near Coggon at about 12:40 p.m. Monday. Donahue was taken into custody without incident. Donahue is currently in the Linn County jail.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Coon Rapids man was arrested on Guthrie County warrants June 16th, by the Woodward Police Department. Authorities say 29-year-old Shawn Knudsen faces charges that include six (6) counts of third degree Burglary, five (5) counts of Theft, five (5) counts of Criminal Trespass, and one charge of Ongoing Criminal Misconduct. An investigation into his alleged activities began on June 2nd, 2021, when the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen truck/trailer, and tools from rural Bayard.

The stolen truck was stopped by the West Des Moines Police Department and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office prior to it being reported stolen. Both agencies shared the driver’s information and bodycam footage with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.

Shawn Knudsen

The suspect, was identified as Knudsen was taken into custody, and subsequently admitted to stealing the truck, trailer, and tools. Authorities say he told the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office where the truck and trailer were located, and, with the help of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Des Moines Police Department, the truck and trailer were found and rightfully returned to the owner.

On June 12th, other parties in Bayard reported stolen or missing items from their garages that fit the date/time frame of the previous burglary. Surveillance footage from a Kum and Go in West Des Moines helped the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office identify Shawn Knudsen as the suspect. He later admitted to taking the items out of each person’s garage. On June 21st, another person came forward and said they had a dirt bike and generator stolen from rural Bayard that fit the date/time frame of the other burglaries/thefts. The dirt bike that was stolen matched the description of the dirt bike Knudsen was operating, when stopped by the Woodward Police Department. Upon further investigation, it was determined it was the same dirt bike, and once again Knudsen admitted to being in possession of stolen property.

There are subsequent investigations still being conducted where Shawn Knudsen is a person of interest. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reminds area residents to “Please remember to leave your garages closed, and your vehicles locked at night.”

Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation say the DCI is assisting Creston Police and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, in an investigation into the disappearance of 56-year-old Creston resident Tim Fechter. The man was reported missing to law enforcement on Sunday, June 20th. He was last seen in the early morning hours of June 20th, at a residence in the 600 block of Birch Street, in Creston.

Authorities say the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, along with his known medical conditions, have law enforcement actively attempting to find him. While the circumstances have drawn the attention of law enforcement, authorities say there is no known or on-going threat to the public.

Tim Fechter

Tim Fechter is a white male, about 5-feet 11-inches tall. He weighs about 185-pounds, and has blue eyes. He has multiple tattoos on each hand and arm, and was last seen wearing a blue flannel shirt, camouflage cargo shorts, and green high tops. Anyone with information about his location or the details of his disappearance, should contact the Union County Law Enforcement Center at 641-782-8402, or email the Iowa Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse at mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us.