(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers may create a grant program to help recruit attorneys to practice in rural areas of the state. Representative Brian Lohse of Bondurant says it would be modeled after a program in South Dakota. “They started small like we are with, I believe, five attorneys. I think they’ve now funded up to 13 different attorneys in different parts of South Dakota,” Lohse says. “So hopefully we have the same success both in attracting attorneys to rural areas, but also in increasing the number of contract attorneys that we have doing that important work across the state.”

Contract attorneys are appointed by judges to represent indigent clients in criminal court. According to the Iowa State Bar Association, since 2014 there’s been a nearly 50 percent decline in the number of attorneys willing to take those cases. Lohse, who is an attorney, says it’s difficult to find an attorney for any legal work in some areas. “Just like we see in many other professions, they’re older, they want to retire, they age out,” Lohse says. “We need to bring some young blood into that mix.”

A bill that’s won approval in a House committee would create a Rural Attorney Recruitment Fund to provide incentives to up to five attorneys for five years. The incentives could be worth 90 percent of the tuition for the University of Iowa Law School.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Workforce Development is now what’s called the I-D-me (ID.me) identity verification system for unemployment claims after a test run of the system. I-W-D executive director Beth Townsend says it’s a modern system the makes sure unemployment benefits aren’t stolen. “Helps you prove to us that you are who you say you are, so that when we pay you, we know the money is going to the person that’s ‘s legitimately making the claim,” Townsend says. She says all you have to do is present your information to be checked.

“There’s three different ways you can do that. You can do it online through the I-D-me app, you can do it through a video chat appointment with a I-D-me staff person who looks at your documents online, and then you know, and then verifies your documentation,” she says. “Or you can bring it into the American Job Center and our U-I staff there can take the documents, upload them and get your identity verified that way.”

Townsend says anytime you are dealing with paying a benefit there are going to be people who try to take advantage of it, and this bolsters their efforts to prevent that fraud. “We’ve always had a pretty robust security system in place, which we don’t discuss publicly, obviously, because we want to not give anybody a heads up on what we’re doing,” Townsend says. “But we but it is something that we have worked on for a long time, and Id me is used in about 29 other states.” She says they had good results in their pilot run. “It’s been thoroughly tested. We have seen really good success, 96 percent of the people who have used it so far have of over 21,000 people have successfully verified their identity. It takes less than five minutes to do it,” she says.

I-W-D says since January I-D-me has also already helped them identify and halt more than 12-hundred fraudulent attempts to obtain benefits. The I-D-me is now required of anyone who files an unemployment claim.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two people were arrested in Montgomery County, Wednesday, on separate warrants. 31-year-old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak, and 31-year-old James Michael Cruz, of Tabor, were taken into custody for Violation of Probation. Their cash bonds were set at $2,000 each.

(Radio Iowa) – Federal tax returns are due in less than two weeks and Iowans are being warned that scammers are stepping up their attempts to trick us. I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says criminals will be trying to send you convincing-looking tax-related messages. “The goal of the scammers is to get you to click on a link or an attachment,” Miller says, “so they can steal your personal information or download malware to steal your passwords, which can lead to identity theft.” With April 15th looming, Miller says people are anxious about their taxes — or their refunds.

“Crooks try to capitalize on that anxiety to lure people into their trap,” Miller says. “So we strongly advise that people not open any unsolicited email or text message that appears to be from the IRS or is connected to the IRS.” He says Iowans need to stay on the ball as crooks are working harder to rip you off as tax season comes to a close. “They’re steady throughout the year, but we tend to see an uptick in these scams during filing season, again, because people are waiting, potentially to hear from the IRS,” Miller says.

Any questions you have about your return can be answered online at I-R-S-dot-gov.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Organizers of the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (® RAGBRAI) today (Thursday), announced the full route for the July 20th through 27th event. The 51st ride begins in Glenwood at Keg Creek, a Missouri River tributary. From there the riders pass through towns of Silver City, Henderson, Emerson and the first overnight stop in Red Oak. The next day, riders will pass through Elliott, Griswold, and Lewis, before stopping for the night in Atlantic.

From here, riders will roll through Wiota, Cumberland, Massena and Fontanelle. After the make their way into Greenfield, the bicyclists will cruise into Orient and Macksburg, before they camp for the night in Winterset. Other, overnight stops include Knoxville, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant.

The 424-mile route is among the shortest on record, and about 75 miles less than the 2023 edition, but it will also be among the hilliest, with 18,737 feet of climb.

View the full map below.

PARKERSBURG, Iowa (KCRG-TV) – The Parkersburg Police Chief has been charged after selling alcohol at a bar after hours. Officials say that on February 11th, 2024, a deputy conducted a bar and alcohol compliance check at Maddogs Sports Bar in Parkersburg. At approximately 2:09 am, the deputy found multiple subjects both inside and outside of the bar drinking.

David Jara, who is the Parkersburg Police Chief, was working behind the bar at the time. He was charged with Selling or Dispensing Alcohol or Beer After Hours.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released a report on arrests made during the month of March. In order of most recent to the earliest arrests:

On March 31st – Holly Ann Gorden, Age 51, of Dow City, was arrested after a traffic stop. Gorden was charged with OWI- 1st offense, Improper Registration of Plate Lamp, and Failure to Maintain control; and, Mandi Annette Irlbeck, Age 48, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop. Irlbeck was charged with OWI- 1st Offense, Fail to Display Registration Plate, and Failure to Give Continuous Turn Signal.

Two men were arrested March 30th in Shelby County, following a traffic stop on Highway 59: 21-year-old Sheldon David Shaw, of Fredonia KS, was arrested for being a person Ineligible to Carry a Weapon, Possession/Marijuana 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, 34-year-old Bret Adam Gardner, of Fall River KS, was charged with Possession- Marijuana 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On March 29th, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 37-year-old Joshua Wendell Tucker, of Fall River, KS, following a traffic stop on Highway 59. Tucker was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, PCS use in Structure or Vehicle, Possession – Marijuana 1st, and Ineligible to Carry Weapon.

On the 24th of March, 29-year-old Monrel Dupris Mccarthur, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop on Hwy 59. McCarthur was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI- 1st Offense, Reckless Driving, Fail to Yield to Emergency Vehicle, and Driving on Wrong Side.

On the 23rd, 41-year-old Timmy Lee Sigler, Jr., of Harlan, was arrested on a Shelby County warrant for Violation of Probation.

On March 21st, Shelby County Deputies arrested 37-year-old Nicholas Steven Segebart, of Shelby, on an active Shelby County Warrant for Harassment – 1st degree.

The previous day, 27-year-old Rose Marie Strong, of Exira, was arrested on a Shelby County warrant for Violation of Probation.

There were two arrests in Shelby County on March 16th: 42-year-old Taylor Reid Schleis, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service. Schleis was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI- 1st Offense and Failure to Maintain Control; and, 30-year-old Kendra Kathleen Kyle, of Avoca, was arrested following a call for service. Kyle was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Contempt- Violation of No Contact Order.

One person was arrested March 14th in Shelby County. 21-year-old Junior Anthony Newsom, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service. Newsom was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and Interference with Official Acts.

Two women were arrested March 13th following traffic stops in Shelby County: 33-year-old Ashley Elizabeth McWilliams, and 27-year-old Kellsea Marie Williams, both of Harlan, were arrested on separate charges following their traffic stops on Cyclone Avenue, in Harlan. McWilliams was charged with Driving while Barred. Williams was charged with Driving Under Suspension.

On March 12th, Carl Kent Parkhurst, Age 39, of Shelby, was arrested following a traffic stop. Parkhurst was transported to Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License Suspended.

On March 10th, Steven Glenn Herrington, Age 60, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop and charged with OWI- 1st offense.

There were three arrests March 9th in Shelby County: 36-year-old Brunshay Naboski Miller, of Atlanta, GA, was arrested following a call for service. Miller was transported to Shelby County Jail and was charged with Interference with Official Acts- Bodily Injury, and Eluding- Speed 25 Over Limit; 34-year-old Deonte Leon Carr, also of Atlanta GA, was charged with Interference with Official Acts- Bodily Injury, and Eluding- Speed 25 Over Limit; and 35-year-old Charlie B. Hadfield, of Harlan, was arrested March 9th for Disorderly conduct- Fighting/Violence.

On the 8th of March, 30-year-old Jacob Taylor Jones, of Elkhorn, NE, was arrested for Walking on the Wrong Side of Highway, and Consumption of Alcohol in Public Place.

Three arrests occurred March 2nd, in Shelby County: Carlos Bravo, Age 25, of Denison, was arrested for Driving while License Suspended, Possession of Controlled Substance- Marijuana/1st Offense, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operating a Non Registered Vehicle, and Speeding; Charles Allen Greene, Age 46, of Harlan, was arrested for Driving while License Suspended; and, 35-year-old Joshua James Holste, age 35, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI- 1st Offense.

And, on March 1st, Shelby County Deputies arrested 23-year-old Michael Leinen, of Portsmouth, on an active Shelby County Warrant.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.