(Radio Iowa/KJAN) — Iowans have already seen some hot, humid days and they’ll only get hotter as summer approaches. Today (Thursday) is Heat Safety Day in Iowa. Meteorologist Alex Krull, at the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says the calendar says summer officially arrives June 21st, but summer weather could be here much sooner. “This is to raise awareness about how to remain safe while you are doing outdoor activities,” Krull says, “whether it is a fun day at the beach, maybe going for a bike ride, or for those who work outside on a construction site or in the lawn care industry, just a few safety tips to keep in mind.”

It’s important to stay well hydrated, wear sunscreen and a hat, as well as light-colored and light-weight clothing. Krull is also issuing a reminder about the extreme dangers of leaving a child or pet in a hot vehicle. “Keep in mind, even if it’s only 75 to 80 degrees outside, if those sunrays are making it into your car, your car’s temperature on the inside could go as high as 120 to 130 degrees,” Krull says. “That makes it very hard to survive.”

While it’s been a cool, wet spring, warmer weather is already beginning to set in and steamy summers are common in Iowa.  “Anytime we get into July or August, we get temperatures into the 90s and our dewpoints in the 70s, we certainly look at those feel-like temperatures to be anywhere between 105 and 110 degrees,” Krull says. “That can be very dangerous for the human body as sweat won’t be able to evaporate off your skin and your body’s natural cooling process doesn’t work when that happens.”

Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, rescuers were dispatched to Anita for a bicyclist who was overcome by heat. The man had not had any water to stay cool with while on his ride.

Learn more about heat safety at www.weather.gov/DMX.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a man and woman from Oakland were arrested early this (Thursday) morning. A deputy was dispatched to the Casey’s Store in Oakland at around 2:25-a.m., for a reported physical disturbance. Following an investigation, 29-year old Cam Christopher Jahnke, of Oakland, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault – causing bodily injury/1st offense. His alleged victim, 27-year old Jennifer Renee Avey, of Oakland, was arrested at a location in the 200 block of High Street at around 3:10-a.m., on a requested hold for another Iowa agency.

And, 34-year old Rodney Allen Gardner, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail on Harassment and Assault charges, was presented with a warrant Wednesday afternoon for Harassment in the 1st Degree/4th or subsequent offense. After being read the warrant, Gardner was returned to Corrections Staff and held in the jail on a total of $3,000 bond.

EARLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man accused of using a corn rake to stab his wife while killing her wants his trial moved away from Delaware County. Court documents say the attorney for 42-year-old Todd Mullis says Mullis can’t get a fair trial in Delaware County because of media coverage of his case. Prosecutors say the defense hasn’t sufficiently proved Mullis can’t get a fair trial there. The judge has yet to rule.

Mullis has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Authorities say he fatally attacked 39-year-old Amy Mullis in November at her farm about 4 miles northwest of Earlville. Authorities initially reported that she’d been fatally injured in a fall.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has granted more time for the attorney of a 16-year-old Nebraska boy to prepare for a murder trial in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County District Court records say Xavier Smith Catchings, of Omaha, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. He and three other peopl e are accused of killing Council Bluffs resident Adam Angeroth during a robbery in January.

Court records say Smith Catchings’ attorney had sought more time for trial preparations. It had been scheduled to begin Tuesday in Council Bluffs. The new trial starting date: Aug. 20.

A traffic stop in Creston at around 12:20-a.m. today (Thursday), resulted in the arrest of 44-year old Cory McKinney, of Creston. McKinney was taken into custody for Driving While Barred, and OWI/3rd or subsequent offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 23-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a federal kidnapping charge in Sioux City. Michael Marshal-Limoges entered the plea Tuesday to charges of kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a felon. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 5. He’d already pleaded not guilty to state charges in the case. They’ve been dropped in favor of the federal prosecution.

State court documents say he was driving behind the girl and a 9-year-old boy on March 22 and then stopped. Police say Marshall-Limoges got out, grabbed the girl and put her in his car. The girl managed to escape, and he drove away. Police say license plate numbers from a witness led investigators to Marshall-Limoges. The court documents say he told officers that he tried to kidnap the girl so he could alleviate his anger by hurting other people.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar’s mental health plan has inspired her first Iowa endorsement. State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, one of Iowa’s four black legislators, is the mother of a son with developmental and mental disorders. She said Klobuchar made a personal impression on her when the two exchanged ideas to improve mental health services during a one-on-one breakfast. “I really like her, sincerely. She’s down to earth and approachable. She’s not proud or cocky,” Gaines said. “I could see this is a person who, if elected president, will do a great job, not only in the mental health area but primarily in listening to people and understanding their needs and then getting to work on trying to help them.”

And that’s what Klobuchar did: Following their breakfast meeting, the Minnesota senator connected Gaines with an organization that helps parents of mentally ill children. It was a relief to Gaines, who has struggled to get her son the medical help he needs. “She was one of my last hopes,” Gaines said. That personal touch made the difference: Now, Gaines plans to promote Klobuchar within her northeastern Des Moines area by hosting her at one of her fundraisers and working to bring other endorsements onboard to the campaign.

Klobuchar announced her campaign in February and was one of the first 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to unveil a mental health proposal, which includes an expansion in treatment facilities and local behavioral health centers as well as a national mental health awareness campaign and investments in federal research into behavioral health and addiction issues.
The endorsement comes just ahead of this weekend’s Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame fundraiser, the first major cattle call of the 2020 Iowa caucus season. Nineteen Democratic White House hopefuls will speak Sunday at the event, which Iowa political observers see as an opportunity to evaluate the candidates’ organizational strength.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne is pushing for a lifetime ban on members of congress becoming lobbyists after they leave the U.S. House or Senate. Axne says over the last several years there’s been a “massive” increase in the number of former elected officials who stay in Washington to become a lobbyist. “Over 60% of the representatives who were defeated in this last election have now taken positions as lobbyists,” Axne says.

Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says the lobbying ban is part of what’s being called the “Clean Up Congress” Act. The bill also would prohibit members of congress from getting taxpayer reimbursement for first class travel. It calls for prohibiting pay increases for congress until the deficit is reduced. “I believe that we’ve got enough support on on both sides of the aisle from people who want to do the right thing and who understand that we have to first and foremost have to hold congress accountable to our taxpayers on how we’re spending their money.”

Last Thursday, Republican Senator Ted Cruz and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez created a sensation on Twitter when they tweeted about their support of a lifetime ban on members of congress becoming lobbyists. Axne says “those two voices” seem to get more media attention than others, but the lobbying ban is something she tried to tack onto another bill earlier this year — and something Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City has championed for years. “So this has been in the process from folks like me who are solutions oriented for a long time,” Axne says. “And I think it’s just coming to the point where more people are understanding that it’s so important.”

Current rules prohibit former U.S. Senators from taking lobbying jobs for two years after leaving office. The ban is only one year for former members of the U.S. House. Some lawmakers do work for lobbying firms, but are not technically registered lobbyists and, therefore, avoid the time-out period.