(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has announced it will issue a ruling this (Friday) morning on a law that would ban most abortions in Iowa. Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke about the case at a rally last weekend. “Our office made all of the legal arguments to uphold our ‘Heartbeat Law,’ so I ask you this: pray for justice,” Bird said and the crowd applauded “We know the law is on our side. We absolutely do.”

Opponents of the law held an online discussion last (Thursday) night. Jennifer Konfrst, the leader of Democrats in the Iowa House, was the host. “This week has been a whirlwind of emotions,” she said. “I go from dread to hope to motivated to sad to angry. It’s just really hard to believe a ban could really be here in Iowa.” Mazie Stilwell of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says the court may or may not answer all the questions surrounding this case.  “It’s really hard to overstate the gravity of the moment that we’re in,” Stilwell said.

Governor Reynolds called the legislature into special session last July and signed the law, which bans abortions after fetal activity can be detected, around the sixth week of a pregnancy. There would be exceptions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. A district court judge issued an injunction after a lawsuit was filed and the six week ban has not been enforced

(Radio Iowa) – The Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees has voted for a second time to fire president Herbert Riedel after an appeal ruling. And independent administrative law judge determined the Board of Trustees was justified in terminating Reidel’s contract, an action the board took in March. Riedel appealed the decision, and after Thursday’s hearing, the Trustees voted unanimously to terminate his contract.

Reidel was placed on administrative leave in October of last year. In a letter to the editor of the Driftless Journal, Riedel claimed he was put on leave as retaliation for complaints he made about Trustee Chair Jim Anderson.

The college stated the decision came down to issues raised during his initial evaluation and complaints regarding hiring practices and treatment of administrative staff.

MORAVIA, Iowa — Authorities in eastern Iowa this (Thursday) afternoon, released the name of a teen who died while swimming near the Buck Creek swimming area at Rathbun Lake, Wednesday evening. The 17-year-old was identified as Ayden Beeson. His body was recovered a little after 7:30-p.m., Wednesday, in 15 to 20 feet of water. Beeson, who graduated from Centerville High School this spring, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was last seen in the water at around 6:15-p.m., Wednesday.  The incident remains under investigation.

Centerville schools posted a statement on its Facebook page Thursday saying, in part:

“Ayden was an active member of our school community, participating in football, tennis, and was elected Prom King by his peers. Students and staff recognized that Ayden was a genuinely kind person who treated every student and staff member with respect. For the last two summers, Ayden also served as a summer maintenance worker for the school district helping to prepare our buildings for each fall. He was a hard worker who did his best at everything he did and made a positive impression on everyone around him. Words cannot express the depth of the sadness felt by the school community in this horrible tragedy. Our thoughts are with Ayden’s family and friends as they work through this tragic event.

District officials say there will be grief counselors and other staff available Friday for any students, staff and local families who are grieving:

Ames, Iowa – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) brought home two major honors from the 2024 Iowa Public Transit Association Annual Awards last week. SWITA was named the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Regional Transit System of the Year and received the FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence. The awards were handed out on Thursday, June 6th at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.

The Iowa DOT Award is based on several factors meant to represent ridership and efficiency. SWITA has earned this award again due to record ridership all while being the most cost-efficient system in the state. The FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence is derived from the best year-over-year ridership percentage and number increase from 2021-2022. SWITA also received this award in 2021 with 377,547 rides provided that fiscal year. 2022 ridership went up to 480,229 rides, resulting in the award presented this year. SWITA will hold this honor for the 2023 year as well with 526,300 rides provided.

SWITA Transit Director Mark Lander said, “SWITA continues to see growth with all our services. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women at SWITA that work day in and day out to get the people of Southwest Iowa where they need to go. This takes everyone from the board, the office, the shop, and the drivers.”

SWITA accepting the FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence. (L-R: FTA Deputy Regional Administrator Mark Bechtel, SWITA Transit Director Mark Lander, SWITA Transit Scheduler Tracy Clark, FTA Operations and Program Management Director William Kalt. (Photos and info. courtesy Chris Parks)

SWITA accepting the Iowa DOT Regional Transit System of the Year Award (L-R: Amy Colwell, Iowa DOT; Emma Simmons, Iowa DOT; Jamie Wingert, Iowa DOT; Laura Lutz-Zimmerman, Iowa DOT; Mark Lander, SWITA Transit Director; Tracy Clark, SWITA Transit Scheduler; Kristin Haar, Iowa DOT; Matthew Oetker, Iowa DOT

SWITA transportation is accessible to everyone in the eight-county region, including the disabled and elderly. SWITA offers several transportation options including work routes, medical trips, student transportation, taxi service in six communities, and special/charter trips. SWITA vehicles are equipped with wheelchair accessibility and one personal attendant rides free.

Southwest Iowa Planning Council Executive Director John McCurdy said, “At SWITA we’re lucky to have the best staff and drivers anywhere who go the extra mile to get our clients where they need to go. Public transportation means freedom of movement for our riders and adds fuel to our local economy. Many take for granted being able to hop in a car and go somewhere but not everyone has that luxury. These awards recognize the fact that Southwest Iowa has one of the best public transit systems in the state, which makes all aspects of life more accessible to our residents, whether they have a car or not.”

You can find out more about SWITA by visiting our website SWITA.com and you can follow us on
Facebook for regular updates. For questions or to request a ride, contact SWITA at 712-243-2518 or
1-800-842-8065.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announces the approval of twenty-eight (28) additional counties for Public Assistance under the previously approved Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA DR-4784-IA, for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from tornados, severe storms, and widespread flooding that occurred between May 20, 2024 – May 31, 2024. 

In addition to Adair County the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program has been activated for the following counties:  Adams, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Cedar, Cherokee, Clay, Dallas, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Iowa, Jackson, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Shelby, Story, Tama and Wright. The additional counties have been approved for funding for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures. 

Adair County has also been approved for Public Assistance funding for permanent work. 

Iowa was approved for another Presidential Disaster Declaration on June 24, 2024 in response to flooding in northwest Iowa. Information on the second Presidential Disaster Declaration can be found here.