(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Robert F. Kennedy Junior could help to answer many questions that haven’t been raised before, if he’s confirmed as the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, and Grassley says he’s encouraged by the choice of Kennedy to head H-H-S.

“What’s wrong with bringing some new ideas in?” Grassley says. “It’s whether or not those ideas are adopted or not, and there’s no way I could make a prediction on that, but I don’t think we should be afraid to review any policies of the government and change them if necessary.”

Kennedy abandoned his bid for the White House after striking a deal to give Donald Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration. Grassley says he sees an advantage to having a businessman who is not a politician raising questions about government programs.  “That somebody comes in from the outside, whether it’s the president of the United States or RFK Junior, raising these questions seems to be pretty important, just to make sure that government is functioning to the will of the people.”

During the campaign, Kennedy said Trump had asked him to reorganize several agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. Trump also proposes creating a Department of Government Efficiency to be co-chaired by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. It would look into ways to slash government regulations and spending while downsizing the federal workforce. Grassley says he’d welcome such a review.

“If they’re going to do their job right, every nook and cranny of the federal government and its programs need to be looked into,” Grassley says. “I would be very concerned if they cut away the safety net for American family farmers, but beyond the safety net, when you’ve got at least dozens and maybe hundreds of different programs in the Department of Agriculture, I wouldn’t say that every one of them should be immune from consideration.”

Musk pledged to cut two-trillion dollars from the federal budget, but he’s not offered many specifics on how he’d go about it.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on the outcome of recent court cases.

• Matthew Dillon Childs, age 19, of Red Oak, Iowa, appeared by counsel and admitted to violating his deferred judgment. The Defendant’s deferred judgment was revoked and the Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, suspended. The Defendant’s probation was extended 3 months. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Lori Ann Gibson, age 45, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but 2 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Jacob Paul Gray, age 41, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment for a period of 9 months. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,250, surcharges and court costs.
• Shanee Dawn Hamilton, age 51, of Shenandoah, Iowa appeared by counsel and pled guilty to five counts of Child Endangerment. The Defendant was sentenced to 90 days on each count, suspended and ordered to pay a fine of $855 on each count, suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 2 years on each count. The Defendant was ordered to pay surcharges and court costs.
• William Bradley Hamilton, age 41, of Shenandoah, Iowa appeared by counsel and pled guilty to five counts of Child Endangerment. The Defendant was sentenced to 90 days on each count, suspended and ordered to pay a fine of $855 on each count, suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 2 years on each count. The Defendant was ordered to pay surcharges and court costs.
• Misty Marie Herring, age 49, of Villisca, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana. The Defendant was sentenced to 2 days in jail and ordered to pay surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Keith Benard Johnson Jr., age 46, of Red Oak, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with all but 5 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Jace Reilly Lamb, age 18, of Clearfield, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment for a period of 9 months. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,250, surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Jose Alberto Meraz, age 50, of Fort Worth, Texas, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but 2 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and  complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges and court costs.
• Lyle Francis Stogdill, age 41, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared with counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his probation. Defendant’s probation was revoked and the original sentence of 5 years in prison was imposed; Stogdill appeared with counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his probation. His probation was revoked and the original sentence of 10 years in prison was imposed; Stogdill appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Burglary in the 2nd Degree and Possession of Marijuana-3rd Offense. On the Burglary in the 2nd Degree, the Defendant was sentenced to 5 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $1,025, suspended. On the Possession of Marijuana-3rd Offense, the Defendant was sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $855, suspended. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges, and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Anthony David Titus, age 42, of Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Child Endangerment. The Defendant was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with all but 5 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 1 year and ordered to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow any recommendations. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $855, suspended, court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Seth Derek Varellas, age 22, of Riverton, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but 2 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges and court costs.
• Cody James Walker, age 44, of Sidney, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment for a period of 9 months. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,250, surcharges and court costs.
• Kalon Lee Whitehill, age 40, of Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with all but 2 days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to obtain a Substance Abuse Evaluation and complete any treatment recommendations and complete the Drinking Drivers School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Personnel & Finance Committee will meet 2-p.m. Tuesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. According to their agenda, the Committee will hold a Closed Session as allowed under the Code of Iowa, to “Discuss the Purchase or Sale of Particular Real Estate Only Where Premature Disclosure Could be Reasonably Expected to Increase the Price the Governmental Body Would Have to Pay for that Property or Reduce the Price the Governmental Body would Receive for that Property.”

The Minutes and the Audio Recording of a Session Closed Under this Paragraph will be made available for Public Examination when the Transaction Discussed is Completed.