DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican governor has rejected two-thirds of the Democratic state attorney general’s requests to join multi-state lawsuits. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ actions were made possible by an unusual compromise that has allowed her to repeatedly block the state’s involvement in challenges to Trump administration policies. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller agreed in May 2019 to seek Reynolds’ approval before he would join mult-istate lawsuits, and Reynolds in turn vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have prevented the state’s top lawyer from joining any multi-state suit unless the governor or Legislature requested it.

Miller says the compromise importantly is temporary and won’t hamstring future Iowa attorneys general.

(Updated 8/5/20) – A man and a woman from Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE., died early Sunday morning during a single-vehicle crash in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 21-year old Senior Airman Nicholas David Johnson, of Union, New Jersey, and 21-year old Olivia Hope Johnson, died at the scene of the crash. The accident happened at around 4:50-a.m., when the 2020 Subaru WRX Nicholas Johnson was driving, went off of the road as it was traveling west on Bunge Avenue. The car entered the north ditch, vaulted across Allis Road and struck a tree before coming to rest on its top.

Mills County Deputies assisted the State Patrol at the accident scene. Officials say Olivia Johnson had her seat belt on, but Nicholas Johnson did not. Officials did not say how or whether the two were related.

ATLANTIC- Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) say Dr. Rick Rinehart, E-N-T (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist), will begin seeing patients on August 17, 2020 at the Atlantic Medical Center Surgery Clinic.  Dr. Rinehart will provide care for all ages in the clinic and also perform surgeries in Atlantic. He is a board certified Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon (ENT) with over 20 years of experience.

Dr. Rick Rinehart, ENT. (Photo submitted)

The doctor was born and raised in Iowa and did his undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. He then completed both medical school and his residency at the University of Iowa. Rinehart served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in ENT for the University of Iowa and instructed ENT residents in Des Moines for over a decade. In 2013 Des Moines Magazine presented him with the “Best Doc” award in his field as voted by his ENT peers.

CCHS CEO Brett Altman says “Dr. Rinehart is an exceptional physician. We strive to develop relationships like this with the best, brightest, and kindest doctors so that our patients can get
outstanding healthcare services right here at home.”  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rinehart, patients should call the AMC Surgery Clinic (formerly Southwest Iowa Surgery) at 712-243-7535.

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by Shenandoah Police and Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sunday afternoon, arrested 24-year old Christopher Andrew Blackwell, of Red Oak. Blackwell was charged with Serious Assault, following an investigation into an incident at a residence in southwestern Page County, about eight-miles south of Shenandoah. A call came into PAGECOMM Dispatch via 911 at around 1:42-p.m..

The caller said Blackwell, the alleged suspect, was still in the residence and possibly armed with weapons.  Blackwell taken into custody and transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings. Shenandoah Ambulance Service also assisted at the scene.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County have issued a report about an accident that took place near the Pott./Cass County line last Thursday evening. As we mentioned in our previous reports, the crash took place at around 5:25-p.m. in the area of 53386 Elmtree Road, northwest of Griswold. Authorities say 25-year old Brett Tyler Martin (address not given) was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

A little after midnight, Saturday, Pott. County Deputies arrested 24-year old Selena Naomi Herrera, following a disturbance in Oakland. Herrera was charged with Assault – without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness. Saturday evening, 52-year old Darren Keith Brooks, of Oakland, was arrested at a residence in Oakland, following a domestic disturbance. Brooks allegedly assaulted his wife, and was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense with serious injury and intent. Brooks was also arrested Sunday afternoon for Contempt of Court, with regard to Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order.

Saturday night, 36-year old Trent Matthew Suhr, of Walnut, was arrested in Oakland, for OWI/3rd or subsequent offense (six prior convictions within the past 12 years). He was also cited for speeding. His bond on the felony OWI charge, was set at $5,000. Late Friday morning, 43-year old Harry James Schneckloth, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a State of Nebraska warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $1,000 bond associated with a Possession of Controlled Substance charge.

And, Thursday afternoon, 34-year old Joseph Brian Samuelson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Assault without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness. Samuelson, who was already being held in the Pott. County Jail on other charges, was served with the warrant for Assault, and returned to the custody of Corrections staff.

Online student registration has begun for the upcoming school year in the Atlantic School District. School officials say the District will continue to utilize the “rollover” online registration process with JMC, the district’s student information system. If your student(s) attended ACSD last school year (2019-20) and were still in attendance on the last day of school, you need to follow the steps in JMC Parent Portal to verify registration information and pay student fees. Student fees need to be paid by Friday, October 9, 2020.

Students who are new to the school district and are planning to enroll for the 2020-21 school year will need to contact each student’s school office to make an appointment to begin the enrollment process. If you don’t have access to the internet/online, please feel free to stop at your child’s school. The office will be more than happy to assist you in any way. Should you have any questions regarding school registration or the payment of school fees, please contact your respective school.

For more information please visit: https://www.atlanticiaschools.org/registration

Sheriff’s officials in Page County conducted a traffic stop at around 2:20-a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Highway 2 and V Avenue, or about two miles east of Clarinda. The driver of the vehicle, 28-year old Mark Andrew Devine, of College Springs, failed to pull-over until he came to intersection of Highway  2 and 8th Street, in the Clarinda City Limits.  Devine was taken into custody for OWI/1st Offense, and cited for excessive speed. He was transported to the Page County Jail and held on $1,000 bond, pending further court appearances Page County Deputies were assisted in making the stop and arrest, by Officers with the Clarinda Police Dept.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of business leaders released Monday suggests the economy continues to recover in nine Midwest and Plains states, but businesses are still cutting jobs amid the ongoing impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the economy still remains weaker than before the virus outbreak began. The overall index for the region improved to 57.4 in July from June’s 50.3. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below 50 suggests decline.

The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.