(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa City protester facing charges for a demonstration that blocked traffic in October has rejected a plea deal and is going to trial. Tara McGovern of Coralville was one of seven people arrested under the state’s new penalties for protest-related crimes after a protest of a lecture by a California activist who opposes gender transition surgery for minors.  “I don’t believe that anybody at that protest did anything wrong. And I don’t want to plead guilty to something that isn’t wrong,” McGovern says.

The Johnson County Attorney’s Office offered plea deals to drop the serious misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges while preserving a simple misdemeanor charge for interfering with police. McGovern says the actions were within the scope of lawful assembly. “Too quickly these things get swept away and not examined. And then people with less power end up being hurt by these systems,” McGovern says. McGovern’s trial is scheduled for late February.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Sweetheart Market 2024 will be held in Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 10th, from Noon until 3-p.m. The event takes place at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022). During this holiday event, vendors will be selling an array of products including produce, local meats and eggs, baked goods, and craft items and gifts for that special someone or yourself!

There will be a free bounce house for the kids, and Zipp’s Pizza Food Truck will be on-site to feed hungry attendees.

To register as a vendor visit www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill ready for debate in the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee sends a message to drivers who linger in the left hand lane of highways with four or six lanes of traffic. Senator Mike Klemish, the committee’s chairman, says the left hand lane is for passing other vehicles.

“We feel that if we can make folks aware of the time constraint of being in that lane that they’ll kind of self-correct,” Klemish says. After July 1st of 2025, someone could be fined 135 dollars for staying in the left hand lane too long, but until then, the bill calls for law enforcement to issue warnings for the behavior. Klemish, who is from Spillville, says as he drove to Des Moines on Monday, he encountered two vehicles on Highway 20 that stayed in the left lane too long.  “One was left lane ‘camping’ for a good 10 miles,” Klemish said. “It slows traffic, increases hazards and creates concerns.”

In 2019 and 2020, Iowa lawmakers discussed but did not pass bills to penalize drivers who loiter in the left lane. MOST states have laws saying drivers should generally stay in the right hand lane and use the left lane for passing. However, sustained driving in the left lane carries a 120 dollar fine in Illinois and in Minnesota it’s 125 dollars. Drivers in Missouri can be charged with improper passing and charged a fine of just over 80 dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – Sixteen and 17-year-olds could care for infants and toddlers at child care centers by themselves under a bill advancing in the Iowa House. There would have to be at least two adults elsewhere in the facility. The bill expands on a law passed in 2022 that lets 16- and 17-year-olds be in charge of school-age kids in child care centers. Republican Representative Devon Wood of New Market says she supports the bill because there’s a workforce shortage in child care centers.

“It’s an option for them to utilize, especially in some situations where right now they may not be able to safely take a break due to the number of folks that they have available to watch a child,” Wood says. Ryan Page, an administrator in the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, says the change would let a 16-year-old be charge of the care of four babies — or ten three-year-olds.

“I would still continue to have concerns about putting a 16-year-old in an environment with children that can’t self-report and can’t self-protect,” she said, “especially as we see challenging behaviors in certain age groups — two-year-olds biting, three-year-old behaviors.”

An official with United Way of Central Iowa says beyond safety concerns, having older teens care for that many infants and toddlers by themselves will lead to burn out — at a time when child care centers hope the 16 and 17 year olds they employ to look after school-aged kids may choose child care as a career.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision this (Tuesday) morning, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, the accident occurred at the intersection of N. 8th St. and Hillcrest Avenue, at around 10-a.m.

Authorities say a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country van driven by 34-year-old Bruce Kaimann, of Red Oak, was traveling westbound on Hillcrest Avenue and approaching the yield sign. A 2005 GMC SUV driven by 17-year-old Heath Jackson, of Red Oak, was also approaching the intersection as Jackson was traveling northbound on N. 8th Street.

Police say Kaimann was traveling too fast for the slick road conditions, and was unable to stop before entering the intersection. His van slid into the path of the SUV before being struck on the left rear tire. Damage from the accident amounted to $4,300. No citations were issued due to the poor road conditions, but Police said Kaimann was at fault for driving too fast for conditions. They noted that had the streets not been slick, both vehicles would have been able to stop.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers are exploring ways to try to prevent children from accessing pornography online.

Republican Representative Bill Gustoff of Des Moines says there already are two or three bills that outline different approaches. “It’s all like a game of Whac-A-Mole,” Gustoff says. “…We’re going to pass what we can. and then somebody will come up with a way to get around it a little bit and we’ll have to come back and revisit it here and in other states.”

Gustoff is the leader of a subcommittee in the Iowa House that held a hearing on one of the bills today. Chuck Hurley, legal counsel of The Family Leader, told lawmakers efforts to restrict minors’ access to pornography in the digital environment have not yet been successful. “Kids are vulnerable and you all really have an opportunity to do something to protect them,” Hurley said.

Governor Reynolds is making a proposal similar to a Utah law that requires age verification for access to websites with pornographic or indecent content.