(Radio Iowa) – A bill sponsored by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson that requires information on resources be given to pregnant college students has passed the House of Representatives. “Unfortunately many women on college campuses are pressured into having an abortion and told they must choose between having their baby and continuing their education despite Title Nine protections in place,” she says.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, spoke about the bill on the House floor.”Under Title Nine pregnant students have the right to stay in school finish their education and achieve their career goals. However, academic disparity exists due to the lack of resources, support and tools for pregnant students,” Hinson says. “These women may fear institutional reprisal, a loss of athletic scholarship or negative impacts on their academic opportunity and standing.”

Rep. Ashley Hinson. (RI photo)

Hinson says pregnant students should know about all the options and resources available to them. “There are many organizations that provide physical and emotional support for new and soon to be moms, and pregnant students should know about these resources on college campuses. They deserve to be treated with respect and to be surrounded with care and love,” she says.

Hinson says the isolation of pregnant students might lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds gathered at this weekend’s funeral for the Perry High School principal who put himself in harm’s way to save others during a school shooting. Dan Marburger was shot several times on January 4th and died 10 days later. He was eulogized by his wife and one of his five children. Elizabeth Marburger says her husband modeled love and grace every day and she urged the congregation to see the good in the world.

“This that we’ve lived the last couple of weeks has been the rotten, but the good is out there and every day we have to look for the good,” she said. “…He fought like hell for 10 days and he gave us 10 days to love on him…He was so tired. He just needed to rest.” Marburger says her husband gave her unconditional love.

“It’s the only kind of love Dan gave. Forty-three years ago in eighth grade, I became the recipient of that — 43 years. eighth grade. It just doesn’t seem like long enough.” Claire Marburger says one of the biggest lessons she learned from her dad is that being present matters and he remains in their hearts and heads.

“If I had a genie with one wish it wouldn’t be a new car or a house or a dollar amount,” she said. “It wouldn’t even have to be to have dad back, because I know that’s a big wish. My wish would be for one of dad’s hugs.” Dan Marburger was a native of Sabula, Iowa, and played football for Central College in Pella. After graduating from Central in 1989, he returned to teach and coach at his hometown high school, East Central in Miles. Marburger started as an associate principal at Perry High School in 1995 and had been the school’s lead principal since 1997.

His family plans to use memorial contributions for a scholarship fund in his name.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports four arrests took place over the past week:

On 01/16/2024, deputies arrested Lynn Marie Ball, age 32 of St. Jospeh, Missouri, for Lascivious Acts with a Child and Sex Abuse 2nd Degree. Ball was arrested in connection to an incident that occurred in Sidney in August of 2023. Ball is being held on $35,000 cash/surety bond.

On 01/20/2024, deputies arrested Tasha Denise Beale, age 45 of Franklin, Virginia near the intersection of 210th Ave and Hwy 2 in rural Percival, Iowa. Deputies were called to a truck stop for a report of a stabbing. Deputies learned Beale was involved in a domestic disturbance leading to the victim reporting being stabbed with a set of car keys, causing minor injuries. Beale was arrested for Domestic Abuse with a Weapon and Going Armed with Intent. She is being held without bond, pending an initial appearance with a Magistrate.

On 01/20/2024, deputies arrested Anthony William Palma, age 19 of Schuyler, Nebraska. Deputies were called to a physical altercation in Randolph. The victim reported being lured from his residence and assaulted by Palma. Palma is being held on $2,000 cash/surety bond.

Beale

Ramos

Palma

Ball

On 01/20/2024, deputies arrested Jeremy James Ramos, age 39 of Tabor, Iowa near the intersection of 110th Street and 120th Street, in rural Tabor. Ramos was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense. He was released after posting a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended his presidential campaign, just six days after finishing a distant second to former President Trump in the Iowa Caucuses. “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance,” DeSantis said. “…He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yester-year, a repackaged form of warmed over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”

DeSantis made his announcement Sunday afternoon in a video posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. With the New Hampshire Primary coming up on Tuesday, DeSantis said he could not ask his supporters to volunteer their time and money if there was not a clear path to victory. A month ago, DeSantis was predicting he’d win the Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis and political action committees supporting his campaign spent 35 million dollars in Iowa and he visited each of Iowa’s 99 counties

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking to a crowd in a Pizza Ranch in Garner, Iowa on Aug. 28, 2023. (RI photo)

“Nobody worked harder and we left it all out on the field,” DeSantis said. DeSantis, in announcing his endorsement of Trump, mentioned he had signed a pledge to honor the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. Governor Kim Reynolds, who endorsed DeSantis in November, has also been saying she’ll back Trump if he’s the nominee.

“This wasn’t about President Trump. I supported him in ’16. I supported him in ’20. I wish he would have won,” Reynolds said. “…I can tell you without hesitation whoever our nominee is, I’m going to get behind them because this country is in trouble.”

Reynolds made her comments Friday on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon at 195th and 190th Streets, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a 1996 Dodge pickup driven by 20-year-old Logan Osterhout, of Afton, was traveling south on 195th Street at around 4:50-p.m. and had attempted to slow and turn right onto 190th Street to head westbound. The pickup struck a 2016 Chevy pickup driven by 34-year-old Kyle Thelen, of Creston, and which was stopped at the intersection.

Osterhout was given a verbal warning for Failure to Maintain Control of a vehicle. Damage from the collision amounted to $5,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna, today (Sunday), issued a Public Notice, stating that the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors may be attending a Regional Board of Supervisors meeting at the Griswold Community Center in Griswold, on January 24th. The meeting begins at 7-p.m.

Ozuna says while there is a possibility that there will be a quorum,  no official county business will be acted upon during that time.

Police in Creston report an accident Friday afternoon caused minor damage to two vehicles, but no one was injured. Authorities say at around 4-p.m., a 2006 Mazda Tribute SUV operated by 22-year-old Riley Ann Rasmussen, of Orient, was backing out of a parked position at the Hy-Vee parking lot in Creston, when it struck a 2020 Chevy Trax SUV, driven by 64-year-old Charlene Pullen, of Diagonal. Pullen was traveling through the parking lot when her vehicle was hit.

Damage from the collision amounted to $2,100. Rasmussen was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (insurance).

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say five people were arrested Friday evening through early this (Sunday) morning. 31-year-old Ryan Palmer, of Creston, was arrested Friday evening for allowing animals to run at large on public lands. Palmer was released from the scene with a citation.

38-year-old Holly Renee Donehoo, of Creston, was arrested Friday evening on a Union County warrant for three counts of Unauthorized used of a credit car (under $1,500). Donehoo was later released from the Union County Jail on a $6,000 cash or surety bond.

A little after 1-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 44-year-old Michelle Jennifer Beacom, of Pleasant Hill, for OWI/2nd Offense. Beacom was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. At around 11:30-a.m., Saturday, 44-year-old Jerry Marion Williams, of Lenox, was arrested following a traffic stop in Creston. Williams was charged with Driving while Suspended. He was cited and released on Promise to Appear.

And, shortly after 3-a.m. today (Sunday), Creston Police arrested 36-year-old Christina Marie McDonald, of Creston, for Driving while Suspended. McDonald was cited and released from the scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Cass County (Iowa) woman has entered a written plea of not guilty, to two felony counts of Child Endangerment. The lawyer for 22-year-old Erica Lynn Vandervort, of Atlantic, submitted her plea on Thursday (Jan. 17), in connection with the alleged abuse of a toddler in her care.

Vandervort’s preliminary hearing was held Jan. 16th. Arraignment is scheduled to take place February 5th, with trial set for March 26th. She remains free on a $25,000 bond.

A criminal complaint was filed against her by the Atlantic Police Department on December 28th.