BURLINGTON, Iowa – Joshua Michael Bergen, convicted of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, and Burglary 3rd Degree in Louisa County, as well as Escape of Felon in Des Moines County, failed to report back to the Burlington Residential Facility as required yesterday.

Bergen is a 30-year-old, 5’5″, 169-pound white male. He was admitted to the work release facility on Jan. 18, 2024.

Persons with information on Bergen’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Joshua Michael Bergen

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Fort Dodge police are asking the public for help locating a person of interest. Police say they are looking for Lewis Ayala, 49, of Fort Dodge. Investigators want to question Ayala regarding the shooting death of Ryan Andrews in December. Police previously took in David Dayton after labeling him a person of interest in connection to Andrews’ death.

Ayala is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and approximately 145 pounds. He is wanted in Webster County for possession of a firearm as a felon, according to police. Webster County Crimestoppers is offering a $500 reward for information regarding Ayala’s whereabouts.

Lewis Ayala

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is joining counterparts in 26 other states in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject what she calls Illinois’ unconstitutional ban on AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles. Bird calls the Illinois law “an outright assault on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he always tries to “find a balance between AR-15s or any Second Amendment right and protecting the people.”

“The Supreme Court 15 years ago made it very clear that it gives utmost protection to most guns,” Grassley says. “Submachine guns would be an example that’s been outlawed for 90 years.” Grassley says it was a few years later that the nation’s high court made it a fundamental principle that applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.

“That doesn’t mean that states can’t outlaw certain things,” Grassley says. “I know that some states have done that, and I think that that’s a factor that you’ve got to take into consideration, that the states can do some of this themselves.”

Grassley says nobody who wants to hurt someone should have a gun, and he notes, that’s why we have background checks.

“States can, in 50 different ways, try to regulate guns but it’s got to be within the Supreme Court decision,” Grassley says. “So, Illinois can pass what they want to pass, but sometimes it’s going to be checked by the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court’s going to make that determination of constitutionality.”

Grassley says the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the U.S., with a recent poll showing more than 24-million Americans own one, or a comparable firearm.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who were sexually abused by Boy Scout troop leaders decades ago could get much less money from a national settlement than victims in other states unless state lawmakers act this month to change Iowa law. Iowa’s current time limit on suing perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse means hundreds of Iowa victims could get as little as 30% of the money they’re entitled to from the settlement.

Joe Gargano of Fort Dodge is one survivor who’s been asking lawmakers to change the law. Gargano says it made him angry to find out he would get less money than survivors in other states.

“I said: ‘I’m not just going to settle after all this time,’” he told lawmakers. “‘I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to just take whatever they throw out.’”

Gargano is a constituent of of Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge. Kraayenbrink is sponsoring a bill to ensure the victims in the Boy Scouts settlement get full compensation.

“We have to push pretty hard to get it done here before the end of session and also meet the requirements of Boy Scouts of America as well,” Kraayenbrink says. “We’re going to see if we can get it through and, with the governor’s approval, hopefully we can get that done.”

Kraayenbrink’s bill is narrowly written, so it only applies to the Boy Scouts settlement. In 2021, the legislature eliminated the time limit for filing criminal charges related to child sex abuse, but survivors of child sex abuse must file lawsuits in civil courts seeking damages by the age of 19 — or within four years of coming to the realizing they were victims of sex abuse as a child.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council urges community members to participate in local and national activities to raise awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. April is a perfect time to remind all members of our communities that raising kids takes a community of support. For parents, not only are resources important, support from family, friends and communities is helpful. Education during all seasons of life is essential. In recognition of this community-wide commitment, the Cass County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Cass County during a signing on April 2.

Raising kids is tough, probably the hardest “job” and unfortunately, our kids don’t arrive with manuals. However, there are numerous resources to assist, no matter what stage of parenting you are in. Throughout April, the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council will be sharing activities that you can participate in. On April 5th, 2024, “Wear Blue Day” will be recognized nationwide – wear a blue shirt, urge co-workers and family members to do the same. You can even take photos and post to the local, state or national Facebook pages.

You can also set out a pinwheel, the symbol of child abuse prevention and awareness – you will notice pinwheels all around Cass County throughout the month. As April can be quite windy in Iowa, you may consider placing it in a protected area outdoors, or even in a window or on a desk at home or work. You can also help the council light up the County – blue is the national color for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Be on the lookout for displays in the county that will be “blue”; local business supporter Cappel’s Ace Hardware is selling blue lighting at a discounted price, so you too can be blue.

Members of the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and local youth surround Cass County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Baier as he signs the Proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Cass County. (Photo submitted

Just a reminder that parenting is hard, and perfection is impossible, but community support and finding tips can start to make it easier. For resources to use as a parent, to share with parents that might be struggling (as we all do sometime) and to have available in your business, check out Prevent Child Abuse Iowa’s website: https://pcaiowa.org/imperfectparent/. You can also visit the national website for the American Society for the Positive Care of Children at https://americanspcc.org/. Local resources can be found online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/family-food.

The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council encourages you to do your part to help spread awareness and build community support throughout the month of April and help make our local communities places for children and families to thrive!