Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County, Monday morning, arrested a man wanted on a warrant for 2nd Degree Theft. 33-year old James Dale Bascue, of Treynor, was taken into custody without incident at his residence in Treynor, and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Creston Police Department reports 30-year old Cory Laird, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Laird was taken into custody on a Union County warrant on a charge of Failure to Appear for a Debtor’s Exam. He was later released from the Jail on a $475 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Area Emergency Management Directors remind residents that the National Weather Service will conduct a Tornado Drill on Wednesday, March 29th, between 10 and 11:00 a.m. The purpose of the drill is to ensure that Iowans can adequately receive a Tornado Warning.

The test warning will be sent through all communication channels normally used for severe weather dissemination. NOAA weather radios will sound an alert, outdoor warning sirens throughout the County will be activated and a mass message will be sent through the Cass County Emergency Notification System, reminding people of the drill and prompting them to take action.

Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator, says “This is an excellent opportunity for residents, businesses, and schools to review their tornado safety plans and practice their own procedures in the event of actual severe weather.”

To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, residents can go to the KJAN home page and click on the Cass County Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) link. Once on the link page, you can sign up by entering your cell phone, e-mail and/or pager number, city and zip code. There are also links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA).

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new survey suggests that farmland values in Iowa have inched upward in the past six months. A report from the Iowa Realtors Land Institute Chapter No. 2 says the farmland values climbed nearly 1 percent from September to March, hitting $6,545 an acre. The Des Moines Register reports that the increase was the first since September 2013.

The report says, however, that farmland values are still 2.8 percent lower for the past 12 months. The institute’s surveys suggest that the average value of Iowa’s farmland has dropped about 25 percent since March 2013. Iowa farmland values peaked in 2013 but have since fallen along with commodity prices.

The institute surveys about 135 agricultural real estate brokers, appraisers and other professionals.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Tuesday) morning, of 47-year old Teri Ann Nelson. Nelson, who’s from Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 1:20-a.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. She was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail. And, at around 1:50-p.m., Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 50-year old James Kent Otte, of Red Oak, on an active Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Otte was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Monday evening, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year old Lorena Rene Jennings, of Shenandoah. Jennings was taken into custody at around 7:15-p.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department report two arrests early this (Tuesday) morning. At around 12-a.m., Shenandoah Police conducted a traffic stop on Highway 59 at Nishna Road. Upon further investigation, 21-year old Dillon White-Vojchechoske, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension – a simple misdemeanor. White-Vojchecoske was transported to Page County Jail and held on $435 bond.

And, at around 1:40-a.m., Shenandoah Police stopped a vehicle in the 200 block of Willow Street. After an investigation, officers arrested 33-year old Ryan Woods, of Shenandoah, for Operating While Intoxicated (2nd offense) – an aggravated misdemeanor. Woods was able to post a $2,000 bond and was released, pending an initial court appearance.

The Iowa House has waded into the touchy topic of what some people do with racy digital images of their partner after a nasty break-up. The House has passed a bill that makes it a crime to post a sexually-graphic picture or video online or send it to someone else via text or email without the consent of the person pictured.

Representative Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Columbia, says current Iowa law offers no legal remedy to people who are the target of “revenge porn” and this bill would classify that kind of retaliation as criminal harassment. “The days of ripping up a photograph and destroying the negative to get rid of any unwanted images that you’re not particularly proud of — those days are over, ” Heartsill says. “With digital technology, all of these photo images and video images have an indefinite shelf-life.”

Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, was the only “no” vote on the bill. She says bill backers have “good intentions.” “The way it’s currently written, I think that language probably does tread into the area of unconstitutionality,” Wolfe said. “But, I hope I’m wrong.”

The bill now must clear a committee in the state SENATE by Friday to remain eligible for consideration this year.

(Radio Iowa)

Republicans in the Iowa Senate have sent the governor a bill that significantly changes Iowa’s workers compensation system, but not as dramatically as Republicans originally suggested in February. The bill no longer cuts off workers comp benefits at age 67. It does not reduce benefits for shoulder injuries as significantly as the bill’s original version did. Senator Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, calls those changes a start. “It makes a very dangerous bill better,” Boulton says. “It does not solve all the problems.”

Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says the bill is necessary because too many lawsuits are being filed and the 1913 law was designed to quickly determine benefits to injured workers and AVOID lawsuits. “I believe this bill returns the law to its intended balance, protecting employees and employers,” Breitbach says, “and ensuring everyone is paid in a timely manner while providing the intended predictability.”

According to Boulton, the end result still is a “wish list” from “corporations and insurance companies.” “It’s about preserving corporate profits at the expense of Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens,” Boulton said. “…I am floored by what this legislation seeks to do to working Iowans. It is unconscionable.” Breitbach shot back: “I think it should scare us the number of claims that attorneys have filed in the last month because they’re afraid we might change the law.”

Earlier this month, Governor Terry Branstad said he was “pleased” Republican legislators were preparing a workers comp system adjustment and he’s expected to sign the bill into law. Branstad has accused lawyers of “tilting” workers comp and making it more of a “long term disability” system rather than temporary financial help while a worker recovers from an injury.

(Radio Iowa)