AINSWORTH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of an infant in southeast Iowa. Washington County officials were notified around 10:20 a.m. Saturday that the child had stopped breathing at a rural Ainsworth residence. The infant was pronounced dead later at Washington County Hospital and Clinics in Washington.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation have joined forces to investigate and have not released any information about what they’ve found nor identified the child.

A traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 34 and Evergreen Avenue in Montgomery County, this (Tuesday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a man from Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s officials say 22-year old Cody Jo Hunter, was taken into custody at around 2:10-a.m. on a valid Pott. County warrant for Violation of Parole. Hunter was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Governor Kim Reynolds is giving a thumbs down to the idea of charging motorists traveling on Interstate-80 a fee. “I don’t think Iowans are interested in tolls,” Reynolds said. “I have no interest in tolls.” Making Interstate-80 a toll road was listed by Iowa D-O-T officials as an option for financing expansion of the route. Representative Gary Carlson, a Republican from Muscatine, says as the D-O-T begins planning for the future, officials are “trying not to shut off any ideas.”

“So those types of things get brought up in those discussions,” he says, “but in the particular idea of putting a toll road on Interstate-80, I just don’t see that happening in my lifetime.” Carlson is chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He says due to congestion on Interstate-80, expanding the corridor from four-lanes to six-lanes through eastern Iowa is a “very real possibility.” But Carlson says using traffic tolls as collateral for loans to finance road construction isn’t working well in other states.

“Iowa’s road system has really been based on pay-as-you-go,” Carlson says. “I think that has been prudent and I don’t see really any directional change from that.” Senator Tod Bowman of Maquoketa is the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Transportation Committee. Bowman says placing toll booths along Interstate-80 is a non-starter in the legislature.

“I haven’t heard from any of my constituents that want that and so I’m not going to be supportive of it,” Bowman says. “And I don’t believe the DOT should be going in that direction.” Bowman says legislators might revisit the issue in the future if vehicles get so sophisticated that a toll could be charged automatically — but only to the out-of-state vehicles traveling through Iowa.

In an effort to calm the waters of outrage following the news Monday about the possibility of a future toll-way, the Iowa DOT took to social media, saying “A study is one thing, but when we look at the big picture and all the considerations that includes, the DOT does not intend to pursue tolling at this time.” They also gave a few reasons why:
• It doesn’t work well in our open, farm-to-market grid system and pushes traffic to roads that are not built for interstate traffic.
• It’s not authorized by state or federal law.
• It’s not consistent with our “pay as you go” approach to road and bridge funding.
• It’s not an option supported by industry groups or the public.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will honor the service, sacrifice, and enduring achievements of Vietnam Veterans during a Vietnam War Commemoration 50th Anniversary event. The event will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 4:00pm in the Education Conference Room on the Omaha VA Medical Center campus, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha.

The event begins with a recognition and Vietnam Veteran lapel pinning ceremony at 2:00pm followed by an open house until 4:00pm. During the open house Veterans can learn more about eligibility and enrollment as well as special programs and services available through VA health care.

On March 29, America will observe National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This day was added to our national holidays when the President signed into law The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. VA Nebraska-Western Iowa is proud to take part in this national effort to thank and honor Vietnam Veterans.

For more information about the Vietnam War Commemoration visit http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, late Monday night, put out his latest report on arrests. The report noted that at around 10:40-a.m. Saturday, 21-year old Thomas Mbayo, of Denver, CO., who was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail on a warrant out of Colorado, was charged with Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution. A jailer observed a plastic baggie with a white, powdery substance inside. The substance field tested positive as cocaine. Mbayo admitted he had concealed the drug in his underwear. His cash or surety bond on the additional, Possession charge, was set at $5,000.

Last Wednesday (March 21st), 23-year old Kaitlyn Sue Findley, of St. Charles (IA), was arrested in Madison County on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Findley was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on March 18th, 27-year old Preston Wayne Atkins, of Earlham, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on Interstate 80 westbound, at about the 93 mile-marker, in Adair County. Atkins was taken into custody at around 10:40-a.m., for Driving while license denied/revoked for OWI/1st offense, and Speeding. He was later released from the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:10 a.m. CDT

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — The parents of the 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are critical of school officials and the 74-year-old bus driver who also died. Glen and Natalie Klindt told The Des Moines Register they hope Iowa will strengthen school bus regulations because of the December 12 fire that happened right after Donnie Hendricks picked up Megan Klindt.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A comment on an Iowa congressman’s campaign Facebook page about a survivor of a Florida school shooting has prompted hundreds of comments. U.S. Rep. Steve King’s campaign Facebook page Sunday featured a picture of Emma Gonzalez as she spoke at Saturday’s “March for Our Lives” rally. Alongside a photo of Gonzalez, the page noted Gonzalez’s Cuban heritage and stated her “ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she abruptly fired one of her longtime political allies after her staff received allegations that the official had sexually harassed multiple employees. The Republican governor told reporters she learned about “credible” complaints of misconduct by Iowa Finance Authority director David Jamison on Friday night. She announced his immediate termination Saturday even though she said she hasn’t spoken with him about the allegations.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Jail authorities used a stun gun on a Dubuque man charged with murder after he refused to obey commands. Court documents say 22-year-old Helmon Betwell violated jail rules Sunday and received multiple verbal commands before Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department deputies used a stun gun to obtain compliance. The Telegraph Herald reports Betwell had previously been charged with murder, sexual assault and burglary connected to a fatal attack on a 66-year-old woman on Sept. 1, 2015.

A Harrison County man who was charged in July, 2016 with numerous counts related to sexual abuse involving children, was sentenced today (Monday), to three life terms in prison on his felony charges, plus four years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 3 1/2 years each for two aggravated misdemeanors. All terms will be served concurrently. Judge James Heckerman ruled also, that 43-year old Chad Leroy Wilson, of Persia, will not be eligible for parole.

On July 25, 2016, Wilson was formally charged in Mills County by Trial Information, with one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, Second Offense, (a Class A Felony); two counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child, Second Offense, (Class A Felonies); and two counts of Indecent Contact with a Child (Aggravated Misdemeanors)

On March 1st, 2018, a Mills County jury found Chad Leroy Wilson guilty on all five counts. Mills County Attorney, Naeda Elliott said she thanks the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, the Area Prosecution Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Project Harmony and Phoenix House for their help and dedication to “bring justice to the victim of this atrocity.”

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — The parents of the 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are critical of school officials and the 74-year-old bus driver who also died. Glen and Natalie Klindt told The Des Moines Register they hope Iowa will strengthen school bus regulations because of the December 12 fire that happened right after Donnie Hendricks picked up Megan Klindt.

The Klindts say Hendricks couldn’t walk without a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire, so the couple says he wasn’t physically fit to drive the bus. School bus drivers in Iowa must have physicals, but endurance isn’t measured.
Federal investigators have said the fire began in the engine compartment after the bus backed into a ditch and became stuck.

Party leaders in the third congressional district have narrowly voted to place the name of a fellow Democrat on the ballot, even though Theresa Greenfield failed to collect the number of petition signatures necessary to qualify for June’s Democratic Primary.

Greenfield and a group she called “team democracy” fanned out through the district to collect a second set of petition signatures after her campaign manager admitted he forged some signatures on her first set of petitions. The last-minute effort, though, failed to produce ENOUGH signatures. Greenfield has been forced to seek another path onto the primary ballot.

Bill Brauch is chairman of the 88 third district Democrats who voted on the matter today (Monday). He doesn’t expect his group’s decision to be challenged in court. “I’m not anticipating any lawsuit, but one never knows,” Brauch says. Brauch says there was half-an-hour of “respectful” discussion about the ramifications of nominating Greenfield in this unusual way.

Some argued the move gives ammunition to Republicans, including Congressman David Young — the Republican seeking reelection in the district. Others said today’s vote was just a preliminary action and the final decision rests with three state officials who’ll meet tomorrow (Tuesday).

Iowa’s secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor are the three members of the appeal board that decide whether Greenfield’s name appears on the Primary ballot. That decision, whatever it may be, could be challenged in court.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three weekend arrests. On Saturday, 24-year old Mercedes Devonna Liparoto, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance and OWI 1st offense. Her bond was set at $1,000. And, 36-year old Ryan Patrick Hinkel, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI 2nd  offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, 33-year old Walter Louis Zeno-Lopez, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday morning in Mills County, for OWI 1st offense, and having No Valid Driver’s License. His bond was set at $1,000.