High school students played key roles as the Iowa House and Senate got underway today (Monday).  As members of the Iowa House recited the Pledge of Allegiance, students from the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs recited it in sign language. In the Iowa Senate, right after the traditional opening prayer, the Oskaloosa High School String Ensemble played “America, the Beautiful.”

The ensemble has been playing throughout the day on the first floor of the capitol, drawing attention to a Mahaska County reception for legislators.

(Radio Iowa)

State tourism officials say they’re fielding “hundreds” of phone calls, emails and Facebook messages, suggesting people are cancelling trips to Iowa because of comments from Congressman Steve King. On March 12th, King tweeted that “we can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” King has said in national media interviews that he stands by the remark and that it wasn’t about race. For the second Monday in a row, Governor Branstad has distanced himself from King’s comments.

“I’m a strong supporter of tourism in Iowa and I think we need to continue to work together in a very positive way to bring tourists and jobs to the state,” Branstad said. “…I don’t think the words of one person, even somebody that’s a congressman, should deter anyone from coming Iowa and seeing the friendliness and hospitality and just the opportunities that are here.” Branstad, though, describes himself as a “team player” and he will not suggest King be ejected from the G-O-P.

“I don’t believe in burning bridges,” Branstad says. According to The Des Moines Register, some participants in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa are cancelling because this year’s route passes through King’s congressional district. This past Saturday, King tweeted a link to an online opinion piece which praised King for issuing a “Paul Revere-like” warning” about the dangers of a low birth rate among American citizens. The article, which was written by a former Republican colleague of King, suggested the Iowa congressman was a “victim of the merchants of globalism.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department has issued an alert to area citizens about cell and land-line phone scams. Authorities say the new spoofing, or phishing scams happen when a person receives a call from a local number. When those calls are unanswered it leaves the local contact. If you return the call, it goes to a local person who is not involved in the issue and has no knowledge of a call ever being placed.

Other variances of the scam are where you receive a call and your caller ID shows the number is your number calling. Both types of scams are being done with the aid of computers. Some type of variation of Credit Card Services, Card Services, Cardmember Services, or a vehicle warranty renewal is the basis for those who have received the information or messages.

The Red Oak Police Department remind citizens: DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION. Take down the caller information, (including the company name, operator name, reason for the call, and information they have about you). Then, if you feel there is an issue, place a call to your credit/debit card company, warranty company, etc., by using the phone number on your card or your paper work.

After making contact with your legitimate company, you can verify if there is an issue or if you have received a bogus phone call.

Two Glenwood residents were arrested on separate charges over the past few days. The Glenwood Police Department reports 32-year old Justine Banks was arrested Friday on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Theft. Her bond was set at $5,000. And, on Sunday, 18-year old Dylan Barrett was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, along with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,300.

The driver of an SUV was injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident with a trapped occupant Sunday morning, in Page County. Page County Sheriff’s Officials say Deputies responded to the scene in a field on the east edge of Shambaugh off Highway 71, just before 8-a.m.  The driver of the 2011 Ford Edge, 30-year old Alexander Lee Woodruff, of New Market, was flown by LifeNet helicopter to an Omaha trauma center, for treatment of unknown injuries.

The Clarinda Police and Fire Departments, Braddyville Fire Dept., & Clarinda Ambulance Service assisted at the scene. More details will be released when they are available.

Page Counties Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to a dispute Sunday at 406 Spruce in College Springs, arrested 26-year old Nicholas Ryan Pruett, of Clarinda, for Possession of a controlled Substance and Domestic Abuse Assault.  Pruett was being held without bond, pending an appearance before a magistrate.

A call about a suspicious vehicle located north and east of Clarinda, Sunday, prompted an investigation that resulted in the arrest on drug charges, of 33-year old Andrew Jacob Harrison, of Clarinda. During a traffic stop, Page County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Lucas, was deployed and alerted on the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.

During the investigation illegal controlled substances were seized.  Harrison was arrested on charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled Substance, and illegal possession of prescription drugs.  Harrison posted a $1,000 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – Auburn University is hiring Iowa State president Steven Leath as its new president. Auburn trustees voted Monday to name Leath as the replacement for Jay Gogue, who plans to retire this summer. Leath has recently been under fire for his use of university aircraft at Iowa State.

Last month, officials decided against filing criminal charges against Leath following an investigation into whether he broke the law with his use of school aircraft. That review began after an audit found Leath used university planes for medical appointments in Minnesota, personal flight lessons and trips home to North Carolina. He has now reimbursed the university for the flights.

Auburn picked Leath after a search that didn’t include an announcement of finalists. Some say the selection process should have been more transparent.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an Underwood woman was arrested Friday afternoon for Harassment in the 1st degree and Disorderly conduct, following a disturbance between two women at a residence in Underwood. 36-year old Joni Lee Sands was taken into custody at around 4:20-p.m. Two juveniles at the scene were placed into protective custody and then transported to Children’s Square.

Three southwest Iowa restaurants have been nominated for the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattleman’s Association “Iowa’s Best Burger” 2017 contest. Last year’s nominees, Vaughn’s Cafe and Bakery, and Down Right Delicious, both in Clarinda, and The Elm’s Club, in Creston, have been nominated again this year.

Iowans submitted more than 9200 Best Burger nominations between February 13 – March 13. Nominations were submitted by website, texting and paper ballots. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2017 Top Ten restaurants and their burgers.

Other restaurants making the Top Ten list include:

• The Ankeny Diner, Ankeny
• Beer Burger, in North Liberty
• BW’s Burgers, West Des Moines
• Doc’s Stadium Bar & Grill, Jefferson
• Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids
• Smokin’ Hereford, Storm Lake
• The Irish Shanti, Elgin

Nearly 500 Iowa restaurants were represented in the total nominations, which is a new record for the contest. Brooke German, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, said “The previous record for the number of restaurants nominated was set in 2014, so we are thrilled that we were able to break that record this year with 487 restaurants represented. This proves that there are a lot of great tasting burgers all across the state of Iowa.”

Last year’s winner of the contest, The Chuckwagon Restaurant, in Adair, was not on the Top 10 list this year. The quest for the winner of the Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be crowned on May 1st.

To learn more about the Top Ten restaurants and the contest, visit www.iabeef.org.