(Eldora, Iowa [WHO-TV])  — A licensed therapist hired to work with at-risk residents at the Iowa State Training School for Boys in Eldora has been fired as authorities investigate her for allegedly having sex with multiple clients and providing contraband, according to a state official. The Eldora Police Department is investigating the allegations. No criminal charges have been filed.

WHO-TV reports an investigation by the Iowa Appeals and Inspections was launched after a resident was found with a vape pen at the school one week ago. The resident informed staff it came from a therapist at the school who was also providing the contraband to as many as seven residents she was engaging in sexual acts with, the state official said.

Most, if not all the residents involved are minors. The accused therapist was placed on administrative leave and was fired shortly after.

The primary purpose of the State Training School at Eldora is to provide a continuum of supervision and rehabilitation programs, which meet the needs of males adjudicated delinquent, in a manner consistent with public safety, according to the schools website. These services and programs individualize treatment and control the offender for his own benefit and the protection of society.

Adair, Iowa [KCCI] — The Chief of Police in Adair remains on the job while he faces more than a dozen federal charges related to machine guns. The recent court filings explain how the investigation into Chief Brad Wendt unfolded, what city council members knew, and when they knew it. KCCI reports the documents describe interviews the FBI conducted with current and former Adair City Council members and the transcripts of closed-session city council meetings.

The court filings also indicate that on Aug. 31, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Police Chief Brad Wendt’s gun store in Denison, and the Adair Police Department. Wendt was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after that. And then, on Sept. 14 — two weeks after the FBI searches — Adair City Council members held a closed-door meeting to talk about Wendt. Transcripts show one council member claimed that Wendt admitted he sold guns for much more than he’d paid for them, claiming to do so on behalf of the city.

Another member defended Wendt — saying the chief had “paid for everything” — and had broken no laws.The council held another private meeting on Oct. 26 — to talk about a letter from Wendt’s attorney. The contents of that letter have not been made public. But by the end of that meeting, transcripts show, the council reinstated Wendt, taking him off of paid leave.

Less than two months later, though — on Dec. 14, 2022 — Wendt was indicted on 19 federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office accused Wendt of exploiting his position as police chief to buy or try to buy machine guns over a four-year period. Prosecutors say Wendt claimed the guns were for official police duties, but were actually re-sold, stored, or even used at public events where people were charged money to shoot those guns.

Five days after that indictment, the city council again placed Wendt on leave — this time unpaid. Less than a month after that — on Jan. 11, 2023, the city council held another closed-door meeting. Transcripts show Wendt himself was there, and claimed “everybody” on city council knew he was buying the machine guns. Later that night, the council voted to reinstate Wendt for a second time.

Wendt is due in Federal Court Feb. 5 in Des Moines. If found guilty, Wendt could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is co-sponsoring a bill that would shift unused COVID-19 funds to help replace Chinese-made communications equipment installed in the U-S. “Last year, U.S. officials confirmed Huawei equipment can intercept not only commercial cell traffic, but also the highly restricted airwaves used by the U.S. military,” Hinson says. “Chinese-made equipment in our networks is an individual privacy, cybersecurity and national security disaster.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is among a bipartisan group in the House co-sponsoring a bill called the Defend Our Networks Act. A similar bill in the U.S. has bipartisan backing. The Biden Administration has prohibited the purchase of communications equipment from Huawei and Z-T-E, businesses that have close ties to the Chinese government. The Federal Communications Commission has banned U-S based networks from using the equipment.

“They also ordered telecom carriers to tear out equipment made by Huawei and ZTE,” Hinson says. “However, it’s estimated there are still about 24,000 pieces of this Chinese-made equipment embedded in our U.S. networks.”

The F-C-C’s “rip and replace” fund — created in 2020 — has reimburses small providers of cell or internet service that replace that Chinese equipment, but it still has about three BILLION dollars in eligible applications that haven’t been fulfilled. “That shortfall means that carriers will have to continuing compromised equipment or rip and not replace, leaving Americans without communications service and this would disproportionately impact rural areas, where many communities have only one carrier,” Hinson says. “That could lead to a total service loss for Americans in some place.”

Hinson says it’s critical to quickly replace Chinese-made products with secure tel-com equipment and ensure Americans have private and secure connectivity.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board’s public hearing on Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon pipeline has concluded. Over eight weeks, the Utilities Board convened for 26 days, hearing testimony from over 100 landowners who object to having the pipeline on their property Utilities Board members are letting hundreds of additional public comments be entered into evidence.

Summit waived its right to offer rebuttal witnesses yesterday (Thursday). In a written statement, Summit said the hearing’s conclusion is a critical step forward for its project. Summit’s proposed pipeline would capture carbon emissions from more than 30 ethanol plants in Iowa and four other states.

There’s no deadline for the board to make its decision on Summit’s application for a permit to construct and operate a carbon capture pipeline in Iowa. The board’s three options are to grant the permit, deny it, OR grant the permit with some modifications.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Utilizing surveillance video and other investigative means, Council Bluffs Police Detectives say they have identified a man from Papillion, Nebraska, as a suspect in the assault Wednesday morning, of a woman who was jogging on the River’s Edge Park Service Road, south of the I-480 bridge underpass. Authorities say an arrest warrant has been issued for 25-year-old Dominic M. Henton. He is wanted on one-count of Assault with the Intent to commit sexual abuse.

Henton is believed to be a transient at this time, and may frequent the area of the Riverfront on both the Iowa and Nebraska sides. He is described as being a white male, 5-feet 8-inches tall, 140-pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Henton. Please do not approach him but instead contact 911 if his whereabouts are known.

Surveillance images show Henton as he followed Senator Martha McSally eastbound over the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge and then southbound onto the trail. Senator McSally can be seen walking in front of Henton in the photos. One photo depicts Henton in the area before the assault. The fourth photo shows Henton in the area after the assault took place.

Original story follows:

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a suspect involved in an assault. Authorities say that at around 10:53-a.m., Wednesday, November 8th, Council Bluffs police officers were dispatched to the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park for a report of an assault. The investigation revealed that a male assaulted the victim, identified as Martha McSally**, as she was jogging on the River’s Edge Service Road South of I-480 bridge underpass.

McSally fought off the attacker and chased him into a dense area of brush near the I-480 bridge. She lost sight of the suspect prior to officers arriving. After a check of the area the suspect was not located.

(Adams County,  Iowa) – Officials with the Corning Fire Department said in a social media post, that on Thursday (Nov. 9, 2023), they were dispatched to a combine fire. Once on scene, it was discovered that the field the combine was in had started on fire as well.

Mutual aid was requested from the Cumberland, Grant, Massena and Villisca Fire Departments. Montgomery County EMA provided aerial drone photos during the incident, as well as assistance with finding hotspots.

No injuries were reported. (Photos via Montgomery County EMA)

DES MOINES –  Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.  The proclamation is effective immediately (11/9/23) and continues through December 11, 2023. It allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.  

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.  

See the proclamation here.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning (Nov. 7, 2023). According to the meeting minutes provided by Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell, the Supervisors reported current activities on the Boards and committees that they are members of, representing Shelby County. Board Chair Steve Kenkel noted that the Iowa Utility Board has resumed their business with the Carbon Capture Pipeline. Next week they plan to finish the current testimonies that they are permitting to hear.

Todd Valline reported on the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Supervisors. The report included many events that have recently taken place on the Harlan Square. Organizers were pleased with the great attendance at the recent art show. Activities are also on tap for this weekends Veterans Day activities. Chamber involvement is being scheduled with the holiday events coming up in the coming months.

Brandon Burmeister asked the Supervisors to approve a Utility Permit (numbered 2023-11-3) for West Central Iowa Rural Water Association. Parkhurst made a motion to approve the permit, Schaben seconded the motion the motion passed. Burmeister also gave a Secondary Roads report and progress being made on projects throughout Shelby County including bridge crew activities and some department-wide projects.

Chairperson Kenkel then noted that the employee performance evaluations will be due in early December and that employees using the county provided health insurance had enough participation to warrant the full 5% discount on next year’s health insurance policies. November 14th is a special Supervisor meeting to Canvass the first part of the City/School election. Before concluding the special meeting on the 14th an initial budget workshop will be held with Taryn Knapp the new Shelby County Budget Director.

Mark Maxwell, auditor reminded the Board that the Farm Rent Bids will be opened at the next regular meeting November 21st and the deadline for submission to the Auditors office for the bids for both farms is November 17th.

DES MOINES – October’s above-normal precipitation broke a streak of drier-than-normal months that began in March, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

October’s statewide average precipitation was 3.12 inches, or 0.43 inches above normal. The heavy rainfall in northwest Iowa led to an improvement to “normal” conditions according to the Iowa Drought Plan.

“The wetter-than-normal October was certainly very welcome in Iowa,” said Tim Hall, the DNR’s Hydrology Resources Coordinator. “Despite the above-normal rainfall in October, the state is still more than 7 inches short of moisture for this year, which is concerning as we wind down the fall and head into the winter months. We continue to need normal to above normal rainfall across nearly all of the state to get us into better shape headed into next spring.”

October rains resulted in some improvement in drought conditions for most of the state. However, southwest Iowa moved into the “drought warning” category due to a combination of precipitation deficits and streamflow, along with the current U.S. Drought Monitor designation of moderate to severe drought.

A small area of eastern Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties is the only part of Iowa currently not designated with any classification of dryness or drought.

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

November 9, 2023 (DES MOINES) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $925,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state. The grants help redevelop or rehabilitate underused buildings as a way to stimulate economic growth and further investment in Iowa’s historic main streets.

Among the cities receiving grants, is Coon Rapids, which is receiving $100,000 to expand Chuck’s Bar & Grill into the adjacent 514 Main Street building, enabling them to offer a quality family dining experience. The local match is $141,000, for a total project cost of $241,000. And, in Woodbine, the Bothwell Building Project is receiving a $100,000 grant toward the total cost of $234,379, to address urgent structural needs to save the 145-year-old building, which is in a National Register Brick Street Historic District. The project requires a local match of $134,379.

Other Projects include:

• Removing a metal slipcover from a historic building in downtown Spencer to unmask its original façade and reveal historic window openings, which allows for future upper-floor development.
• Giving new life to a vacant, derecho-damaged building in uptown Marion to accommodate a growing business and upper-floor housing.
• Transforming a vacant historic building in downtown Burlington into an old-fashioned ice cream shop.

“The Main Street Iowa Challenge grants help us revitalize and reinvest in our traditional commercial districts, which is good business,” said IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham. “It’s good for our economy and good for our state. These projects will bring new businesses and new residents to our downtown districts.”

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total cost of these 10 projects is over $3.5 million.

“Each of these projects represents growing momentum for downtown and community revitalization,” said Michael Wagler, state coordinator for the Main Street Iowa program. “This investment in catalytic projects across Iowa will have a significant economic impact and help strengthen local creative placemaking efforts.”

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, about $14.6 million in funds have leveraged more than $68.3 million in further investment.