(Radio Iowa) – With the freeze-thaw cycle underway, many Iowa roads are being pockmarked by potholes and avoiding them is almost impossible for motorists. Triple-A-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says if you haven’t done any basic preventive maintenance on your car lately, you might want to do so now. “Check your tires, make sure that the tread depth is okay, tire pressure’s okay, your suspension and alignment is okay, and then most importantly, keep your eyes on the road,” Ortner says. “Adjust your driving habits a little bit. Scan the road for potholes, drive around any if they’re in your path.”

Suddenly swerving to miss a pothole might cause a collision, so Ortner suggests you scan the pavement for a problem and maneuver to avoid it — before you’re on top of it. “If you see any standing water or puddles, those may be disguising a deep pothole, so avoid driving through that water if at all possible,” Ortner says, “and there may be times you can’t avoid hitting one and in that case, reduce your speed, avoid braking abruptly, particularly as you go over the potholes.” If you don’t pay close attention, pounding one of those potholes could cause some serious damage to your vehicle.

“The most common repairs that AAA has seen from a recent survey, tire damage tops the list, alignment’s number two, your wheels are number three, suspension and shocks are in there, and possibly some body damage hits the lower end of that list.” Replacing a wheel and tire combination can run $500 to $600 on some cars, and suspension damage, like to shocks, struts or tie rods, could quickly bounce into the $1,000 range.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate has remained low, but there are still people looking for work. Iowa Workforce Development director, Beth Townsend, says the agency can help you with a modern approach to finding a job. “The way that people find jobs the way that people apply for and get jobs is a little bit different than it was five, ten, 15 years ago, and so if you’re not having success in your job search for for goodness sake please come see us,” Townsend says. She says they can revamp your approach.

“We can help you update your search. We can help your search activities, we can help you update your resume polish off your interview skills,” she says. I like to tell people in this environment if you’re not getting a job, it’s most likely because there’s something you’re doing or that’s on your resume that is adversely affecting employer’s interest in you.” Townsend says it’s worth it to have them take a look.

“It may just be something very simple that we can just take care of right away and you know frame it differently or updated or corrected,” she says. Townsend encourages you to seek out help in your job search from Iowa Workforce Development.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A requested welfare check in Villisca, Monday night, in the 100 block of N. 3rd Avenue, resulted in the arrest of a man on an assault charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year-old Jeffrey Sparks, III, of Villisca, was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Sparks was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – At a capitol event this week in Des Moines, a group of Iowa pastors will call for equal protection of all humans in the womb. Raymond Simmons, pastor of the Ascension Reformed Church in Red Oak and Stanton, says after a year of coordination, the group has released guidance “that makes the biblical case for life at conception and equal protection of all humans in Iowa.” Eighteen pastors across Iowa have signed the guidance, and the number is growing.

If legislation followed the pastors’ counsel, all chemical and surgical abortions would be outlawed in Iowa except for rare cases of medical emergencies where the life of the mother is in danger. It would also classify abortion as murder, with varying degrees, to be handled under the existing penal code. The existing penal code deals with knowledge and intent to ensure justice, says the group.

Pastor Simmons say “We thought it was important to come as local pastors in Iowa. Well-intended legislation can still fall short of God’s requirements. We also want to bring the good news that God will bless our state if we follow Him.”

Eleven other states have already outlawed abortion; however, none of them have implemented equal protection. Equal protection means that both the doctor and the mother would be held accountable under the existing civil penal code for ending a life, no matter the stage.

“The simple fact is that a baby during the first day of conception must be protected the same way she would on the first day of birth. Legislation that does not uphold that is not pleasing to God and is not internally consistent.” Simmons said. “We understand what we are saying is controversial, even among faithful Christians, but we believe it is biblical and have signed our names to it. It is also the historical position of the church before the Soviet Union and Hitler’s Germany institutionalized abortion in the 1920s and 30s.” Simmons said that equal protection bills are popping up all across the US.

The event will be held Wednesday, January 31 at 11:30 a.m. at the Iowa Capitol Rotunda.

SIGNATORIES for Biblical Guidance to the Iowa Civil Leaders on Abortion:

Grant Brown, Crossroad Church, Earlham.
Caleb Castro, Rock Valley United Reformed Church, Rock Valley.
Todd DeRooy, Redeemer United Reformed Church, Orange City.
Dan Donovan, Cornerstone United Reformed Church, Sanborn.
Lloyd Grant, Central Baptist Church, Sioux City.
Cary Gordon, Cornerstone Church, Sioux City.
Sam Jones, Abundant Life Church, Humbolt.
David Koch, Crossroad Church, Earlham.
Joshua Loomis, Church of All Nations, Sioux City.
Jody James Lucero, Providence Reformed Church, Des Moines.
Garry Mayes, Ascension Reformed Church, Red Oak & Stanton.
Kyle McBee, Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic.
Jamie Mogler, First Baptist Church, Bedford.
Micah Sample, First Baptist Church, Dunkerton.
Christian Shields, Christian Life Church, Cedar Rapids.
Micheal Shover, Christ the Redeemer Church, Pella.
Raymond Simmons, Ascension Reformed Church, Red Oak & Stanton.
Matthew Wiese, Crossroad Church, Earlham.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, on Monday, announced her Small Business of the Week: Penn Drug Company of Fremont County. Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“Penn Drug combines the nostalgia of Iowa traditions with a dedication to providing essential rural health care services to create a renowned southwest Iowa business,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “There’s no doubt that Penn Drug has stood the test of time, and I’m excited to watch the business thrive in Sidney for years to come.”

As the oldest pharmacy in Iowa, Penn Drug has served the Fremont County community since 1863. The business takes pride in filling and delivering prescriptions for its customers, and also operates an old-fashioned soda fountain where customers can order drinks and food. Throughout its 161 years of history, Penn Drug has been led by generations of the Penn family and folks committed to maintaining this piece of Iowa history.

Today, Penn Drug is owned by Angie and Leo Ettleman, and Mark Vogt, who purchased the store in 2015.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports an SUV sustained $4,000 damage, but the driver was not injured, after the vehicle struck a deer Monday night on Highway 25, near 130th Street. The accident happened at around 7:33-p.m.

Officials say a 2018 Chevy Traverse driven by 44-year-old Katherine Whetzell, of Creston, was northbound on the highway, when a deer entered the roadway. Whetzell was unable to avoid striking the animal, which impacted the left front side of the SUV.

The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene following the collision.