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Fort Dodge man pleads guilty in federal court to making ‘straw purchases’ of firearms

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

A Fort Dodge man admitted in federal court that he purchased two firearms for another person, an act known as a “straw purchase.” According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, 22-year-old Hunter Collier, of Fort Dodge, pleaded guilty on Monday to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

Collier admitted that in 2022, he purchased a .380 ACP pistol from the Iowa Outdoor Store in Fort Dodge, claiming he was purchasing the firearm for himself. However, he was actually purchasing the gun for someone else. He also admitted to buying another gun for the same individual from the JT Guns & Supply in Des Moines.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled. Collier faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.

Bill on emotional support animal housing accommodations heads to governor

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Senate sent legislation to the governor that would require additional documentation and certain restrictions for emotional support animals in Iowa rental properties. While some lawmakers had objections to earlier versions of Senate File 2268, the bill was amended by the House and passed the Senate unanimously in its amended form Monday. The legislation would create a system allowing landlords to request documentation showing the need for an assistance animal or service animal from a tenant — stipulating that documentation should include whether that the medical provider registering the animal and patient had a relationship longer than one month before the request, and disclosure of if the licensing provider received a separate or additional fee for making the registration.

The legislation outlines reasons for which a landlord can reasonably deny requests for a service or support animal, such as undue financial and administrative hardship to the landlord, if accommodating the animal would “fundamentally alter” the property, or if the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or causes substantial physical damage to the property.

Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, said the bill will help ensure that people in need of assistance and service animals are able to get accommodations, but that people who are “inappropriately” using assistance animal accommodations will be less able to misuse the system.

The bill was amended by the House in March, making changes that clarify the differences between assistance animals — like emotional support animals — and service animals, like guide dogs or other animals that help individuals with specific tasks that a physical disability prevents them from being able to do. Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, said that the amendment ensures the bill does not cause problems for people with physical disabilities seeking housing accommodations.

Rep. Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City, said that while he usually doesn’t “look to California or the federal government for public policy guidance,” the amended legislation was modeled on California’s emotional support animal laws and the federal Fair Housing Act.

There were also concerns about earlier versions of the bill potentially conflicting with federal housing laws, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said the bill’s final language addressed concerns about compliance with federal law. “While not all of my concerns were addressed as related to documentation requirements for assistance animals, I do think that this amended bill is a great example of bipartisan compromise that clarifies a framework and provides a clear structure for landlords to follow that remains in compliance with federal law,” Matson said.

The legislation heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds for final consideration.

Iowa nursing homes cited for bed bugs, abuse, unexplained injuries

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  Several state-licensed nursing homes are facing fines due to recent findings of bed bugs, resident abuse, unexplained broken bones and medication errors. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the violations are tied to recent facility inspections performed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which oversees health care facilities in Iowa. One of the largest fines, for $6,250, was imposed against the Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation Center for failing to adequately respond to a resident’s health issues caused by bed bugs. The Fort Dodge facility is owned by the Ensign Group Inc., a California-based holding company whose affiliates operate more than 290 nursing homes in 13 states.

Among the other Iowa care facilities cited recently for violations, was Bedford Specialty Care, which was was fined $500 for failing to report the potential abuse of two female residents by a male resident who had made sexual advances toward them. One of the potential victims told inspectors the man came into her room and on one occasion in November 2023 and tried to kiss her and later returned, sat on her bed and told they could close the door so one would know what was going on. She said the man continued to make advances toward her after she reported the incidents to the administrator.

The home’s director nursing reportedly told inspectors she wasn’t made aware of the incidents until a separate issue arose with the male resident, at which point the man was closely supervised and then discharged. As part of the same resident-abuse citation and $500 fine, state inspectors noted the home had also failed to adequately investigate the cause of a resident’s broken leg in February 2024.

Opportunity Living, in Rockwell City, cares facility for people with intellectual disabilities was fined $500 for placing residents in immediate jeopardy by failing to promptly identify and respond to a potential sexual assault. The violation is tied to an October 2023 incident in which a female resident was found to be bleeding from her vaginal area after being given a bath by a male employee. At a local hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a vaginal laceration and, according to inspectors, a facility nurse at the hospital the texted the home to report that the injury appeared to the result of a sexual assault. According to inspectors, a police officer was notified of the possible assault and the subsequent suspension of an employee. On Feb. 21, 2024, the officer informed inspectors no criminal charges would be filed in the case.

At the time of the inspection, state officials had a backlog of three complaints to investigate at the home, none of which were substantiated.

Iowa Senate passes bills for Iowa College Aid reporting requirements, student outcome data

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The Iowa Senate passed two bills relating to community colleges and the Iowa College Student Aid Commission Monday, sending one to the governor’s desk and the other to the House. House File 2153 would change reporting requirements for the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, or Iowa College Aid, including striking requirements for annual reports on certain tuition grants and student loan forgiveness programs. Sen. Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, said the legislation would minimize the number of reports the commission must make for the programs it runs. The bill heads to the governor, after unanimous passage in the Senate and House.

House File 2615 would require community colleges to publish a link to the Iowa Student Outcomes website on their sites and for school districts to provide high school juniors and seniors who have expressed an interest in postsecondary education with a report from the Iowa Board of Regents detailing graduate outcomes. Income and student loan debt of state university graduates, as well as information on the Iowa Student Outcomes site, would be included in the report.

An amendment adopted by the Senate ensured that schools are not required to provide hard copies of the board of regents report, just a link to it. The legislation also makes college and career transition counselors exempt from the supplementary weighting received by school districts who share operational functions with community colleges or other organizations. It will head back to the House for consideration.

Red Oak man arrested this (Tuesday) morning for OWI & Poss. of Paraphernalia

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning (April 2nd), on charges of OWI/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 40-year-old Christopher Robert Fowler, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:50-a.m. in the 200 block of W. Washington Avenue, in Red Oak. Fowler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Former Iowa City hospital administrator pleads guilty to 3 decade-long identity theft scheme

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Iowa City hospital administrator pleaded guilty on Monday to an identity theft scheme that spanned three decades and caused the victim to be falsely imprisoned for nearly two years. Officials said 58-year-old Matthew Keirans, from Hartland, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to one count of false statement to a national credit union administration insured institution and one count of aggravated identity theft.

During the hearing, attorneys presented evidence showing Keirans and his identity theft victim worked together at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the late 1980′s. Keirans used the victim’s identity for the next three decades, in every aspect of his life, obtaining documents and a Kentucky birth certificate in the victim’s name.

Keirans was hired at an Iowa City hospital as a high-level administrator in 2013, using these false identification documents. He then worked for the hospital remotely from his Wisconsin home. Officials described Keirans as the “key administrator of critical systems” whose role in the hospital’s computer infrastructure was “the highest it could be.” Officials said Keirens used the false identity to obtain eight loans with a value of more than $200,000 from two credit unions in the Northern District of Iowa between August 2016 and May 2022..

Keirans remains in custody. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 32 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Random Ignition Interlock Device (IID) threshold increased in bill passed by Iowa Senate lawmakers

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO-TV) — Several years ago the state expanded who needed to get an ignition interlock device (IID); making sure all those who had an operating while intoxicated charge had to use an IID if they wanted to apply for a temporary restricted license. The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 2261 on Monday afternoon 39-8, which adds a couple of changes to current state code that tries to avoid false positive samples.

The bill adds in waivers for those with medical conditions that limits their ability to blow into an IID. It also adds that the removal of a device without authorization is counted as ‘tampering’ and will be charged as such. Along with changing the language in code, where a person needs the device installed to their primary vehicle, but not every vehicle they have access too.

The senate also approved changes to what counts as a failed test on random IID tests. Currently, if a test is randomly required while an individual is operating a vehicle, it would not be deemed a violation unless the person breaks the .025 blood alcohol concentration threshold. The approved change raises the random test threshold while already operating a vehicle to .04. The reasoning is that false positives are somewhat of a reoccurring theme with these devices, and after so many failed tests, true or not, the individual’s license would be extended even longer.

Along with changes to the threshold, the bill also adds different ladders of penalties. Meaning the more tests that are failed over that limit in a certain day window, the more severe the extension of the fine.

The legislation still needs to work through the Iowa House for a chance to be signed into law.

Creighton survey: Midwest manufacturing was in recession all of 2023

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s economy bucked the regional trend and improved slightly during March, but the monthly Creighton University survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds the region’s manufacturing sector slipped into recession — and has been there for a while. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the overall Business Conditions Index fell below growth neutral for the third time in four months. “When it’s all said and done, that would be when the federal government revises their numbers later on this year, I think we’re going to be able to say that the manufacturing economy in the region was in a recession for all of 2023,” Goss says. “Now not a deep recession, just a dipping into negative territory for the year of 2023 and now beginning 2024.”

The index is measured on a zero-to-100 scale where 50 is considered growth neutral. Iowa’s Business Conditions Index for March improved to 51-point-8 from 49-point-3 in February. Goss says the employment situation for the region is bleak as the Midwest’s manufacturing sector lost jobs for a third straight month.  “Twenty-seven-point-three percent of supply managers reported job losses for the month and job openings were down for all nine states over the past 12 months,” Goss says. “So the job market’s definitely weakening, but overall remains okay. Now, the manufacturing numbers are not good and that’s what we’re reporting on here.”

Wholesale prices climbed to the highest level in more than a year, and the report shows March’s inflation reading is the highest since February of 2023. Goss says last week’s deadly bridge collapse that blocked the port of Baltimore, Maryland is having ripple effects well into the Midwest. “That’s going to mean supply chain disruptions,” Goss says. “There will be more supply chain disruptions moving forward than we’ve seen in the past. Most of the survey was conducted before the disaster in Baltimore, so I expect the numbers to worsen in terms of supply chain disruptions in the weeks and months ahead.”

According to the latest month’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there were two job openings for every unemployed worker in Iowa, which is the same ratio recorded 12 months ago.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tue., April 2nd, 2024

Weather

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A chance of rain and/or snow showers through about 10-a.m., otherwise mostly cloudy & windy, with a high near 51. N @ 15-30 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Mo. Cldy & blustery, w/a slight chance of showers before midnight. Low around 31. N/NW @ 15-30 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy in the morning. Gradually becoming sunny. Windy. High near 50. N/NW @ 20-to near 40 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Saturday: Sunny & windy, with a high near 61.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 48. The Low was 36. As of 7-a.m. today, 24-hour rainfall in Atlantic amounted to .07″.  Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 43 and the Low was 25. The all-time Record High in Atlantic on April 2nd, was 88 in 2012. The Record Low was 13 in 1970. Sunrise today: 7:01. Sunset tonight: 7:46.

Woodbury County Supervisor’s wife sentenced to 4 month in prison on voter fraud conviction

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The wife of a Woodbury County Supervisor has been sentenced to prison after being convicted late last year on 52 counts of voter fraud. Kim Taylor must serve four months in federal prison and four additional months on home confinement. Taylor is the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor.

In November, a federal jury convicted her on 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, 23 counts of fraudulent voting, plus three counts of fraudulent registration. Taylor was born in Vietnam and witnesses testified she manipulated local residents of Vietnamese descent to illegally cast ballots for family members during elections in 2020 when her husband ran for congress, then won a seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.

The federal judge who sentenced Taylor on Monday afternoon has ordered her to pay a special assessment of 52-hundred dollars. She must also serve two years of supervised release. Kim and Jeremy Taylor are the parents of six children. Jeremy Taylor has resisted calls for him to resign from the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. He recently announced he will not seek reelection.