COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a felon. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in April 2024, law enforcement responded to a report and identified that 32-year-old Lual Lul Nguot struck a woman and threatened to shoot bystanders who confronted him. Law enforcement later found Nguot and he was in possession of ammunition and two fake handguns. Nguot is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Nguot will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation today (Thursday) at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines declaring next week Apprenticeship Week in Iowa. Broadlawns used an Iowa Workforce Development Grant in 2023 to create a health care worker apprenticeship. Broadlawns chief administrative officer Maria Morgan says they’ve had success.

“We produce healthcare professionals across the state of Iowa that contribute to thriving and healthy communities and a thriving workforce all over the state, and we’re very proud of that. There are a number of different fellowships, apprenticeships, we’re teaching hospital,” she says.

Dentist Haley Harvey is From Detroit and says she is happy to develop new people in the profession because she chose Iowa when she decided to become a dentist. “And I remember when I had a decision to make about where I was going to go to dental school, and the decision became crystal clear for me that University of Iowa was my school,” Harvey says. “And I never ever regretted that decision. So I’m proud as well to be 30 years as a dentist and a public health dentist at practicing here at Broad laws Medical Center.” She says she loves the history of Broadlawns.

“Also loved that it had a quiet reputation for training the best and the brightest, starting with the nurses building to the medical doctors, the residents, and later dentistry,” she says. Ramon Ford is a healthcare tech who studied criminal justice before a friend talked him into trying the apprentice program.

“Never had any like healthcare, like professional or experience or anything. So coming into this, I was a little bit worried about that, because I was like, man, like, what am I gonna do?,” He says “I didn’t really know what C-N-As did. Like, my views of nurses were completely off. They do a lot more than I thought, you know. So I was like, this, you know, I might be a little, like, not good at this,.” He says the program allows you to succeed.

“The only way you can fail, is if you don’t want to do it, there’s, like, no way they’ll let you fail. You know, they give you all the resources and everything you need and all the support, you know, a lot of people that help you out,” Ford says.

The governor and hospital officials say there continues to be a big need for healthcare workers in Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today (Thursday) to 84 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. According to public court documents, in 2023, 41-year-old Carlos Garcia distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs area. Drug proceeds seized during the investigation totaled $58,700, which was forfeited by the investigating agency.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Garcia will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was notified of a semi truck leaving Interstate 80 and falling into Keg Creek, Thursday (Nov. 14, 2024), releasing an unknown amount of diesel fuel.

At around 8-a.m. Thursday, the DNR Field Office in Atlantic was notified of a semi truck falling into Keg Creek northeast of Minden. The semi truck, owned by FAMO Freight out of Silvis, Illinois, was driving on I-80 eastbound, when it left the road and entered the median above Keg Creek near mile marker 30, about a mile east of the Minden exit. An unknown amount of diesel was released in the creek.

Emergency response crews helped remove the driver from the semi truck, and cleanup efforts are ongoing. Booms were placed downstream this afternoon and will remain in place until the truck can be recovered.

No dead fish have been observed at this time. The DNR will evaluate the soil along the creek after the semi truck is removed.

If you see dead or stressed fish at a lake or river, call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court, Thursday afternoon, heard the case of a former Massena daycare owner/operator seeking to overturn her convictions for second-degree murder and child endangerment causing death for a child at her daycare. Alison Dorsey argued her case should not have been moved from Cass County to Pottawattamie County after a mistrial, and that there was not enough evidences to convict her. Attorney Trevor Hook told the justices the trial was moved too quickly.

Hook says Dorsey’s defense wanted to see if there was a reason to move the trial.

Dorsey Attorney Trevor Hook speaks before the IA SUPCO Nov. 14, 2024 (Ric Hanson photo via YouTube)

Prosecution attorney Louis Sloven says the court had information on coverage that would prejudice another jury in Cass County”

He says a questionnaire would only have confirmed what was going on in the county surrounding the case.

Dorsey’s defense said there is evidence the child could have been injured earlier and she was not the one who killed the boy. Sloven says the evidence didn’t show that.

Hook countered that prosecution witnesses wouldn’t substantiate that claim.

The Supreme Court will issue a ruling at a later date. Dorsey was previously sentenced to the 50-years in prison.

(View the hearing that took place HERE. The Dorsey oral arguments begin at 47:04 on the recording. )

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Six Iowa dog breeders or kennels were cited for federal regulatory violations during the third quarter of 2024. Breeders in only two other states – Ohio and Indiana – racked up more violations than Iowa’s breeders during the quarter that began on July 1 and ended on Sept. 30. The violations are compiled and analyzed by Bailing Out Benji, an Iowa-based, animal-welfare organization that collects and republishes data on violators throughout the nation,

Bailing Out Benji’s most recent report shows that during the third quarter of 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service cited six Iowa breeders or kennels for a total of 19 violations. During that same period, Ohio kennels or breeders were cited for a total of 40 violations, the most of any state. Indiana ranked second with 22 violations, and Iowa and Michigan were tied for third place with 19 violations each.

In southwest Iowa, William Davenport of Afton was cited July 3rd, 2024, for one violation related to recordkeeping. Afton was also cited for violations in the first quarter of 2024, and in 2023 and 2022. Elsewhere across the State:

• Rick and Sara Sandbulte of Furever Paws in Sioux Center: On Aug. 22, 2024, this kennel was cited for seven non-critical violations during a routine inspection.  The violations pertained to the attending veterinarian and inadequate veterinary care, the time and method of identifying dogs, the housing facilities, and the primary enclosures.
• Steve Kruse of Stonehenge Kennels in West Point: On Aug. 23, 2024, this kennel – one of the largest in Iowa — was cited for one violation pertaining to cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control.
• Alan and Terisa Steiber of Rockytopp Kennel in Lansing: This kennel is home to 83 dogs and puppies and on Aug. 2, 2024, was cited for five non-critical violations pertaining to records, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, pest control, and veterinary care.
• Alex De Jager of DJ Kennels in Rock Valley: This kennel, home to 21 dogs and puppies, was cited for inadequate housing facilities during an Aug. 16, 2024, inspection.
• Heath Meyers of Century Farm Puppies in Grundy Center: During a July 25, 2024, inspection, a USDA inspector noted there were 17 dogs over four months old that had yet to be added to the facility’s official record of dogs on hand. The kennel was also cited for inadequate veterinary care. The lack of medical records “makes it difficult to determine if the animals are receiving vaccinations and deworming,” the inspector noted. Both violations were cited as repeat offenses. At the time, Century Farms had 191 dogs and puppies on hand.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic is asking residents and visitors of the community to fill out a survey to help them in developing their new comprehensive plan. The plan deals heavily with land use, according to the City, and will help to set development goals for the City.

To take the survey scan the QR Code in this story or use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/Atlantic2050.

The survey is anonymous. If you live, work, or spend time in Atlantic it would be appreciated if you take some time to take the survey.