w/ Chris Parks

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Senator Joni Ernst says she’s looking for a compromise that would still allow the National Security Agency to collect raw data on phone calls, but place some limits on the practice to protect Americans’ privacy rights.  “I think there is a middle ground, but I have not seen that language yet,” Ernst says. “I would rather err on the side of caution to make sure that we are protecting our citizens.”

A federal court this week ruled the bulk collection of phone records was unconstitutional. The issue is among those soon to be addressed when Senators consider a bill to reauthorize the so-called Patriot Act that was passed after 9/11, giving the federal government broad powers for terrorism investigations.

“I do support the Patriot Act, but we do have to take a good look at it,” Ernst says. “Are there ways we probably could improve upon it? I think there probably are.” Ernst says the National Security Agency is NOT listening in on everyone’s phone conversations or reading texts, but rather collecting the raw data of which numbers are calling what numbers and how long the calls last. That information can later be used in terror investigations to build a circle of contacts an alleged terrorist may have made before being identified as a suspect.

Ernst made her comments Friday during an appearance on the “Iowa Press” program which will be rebroadcast Sunday at noon on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)

Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Student Loan
leaders, Friday, recognized 20 Iowa high school seniors who each won a $1,500 college scholarship through participation in the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship, administered by Iowa Student Loan. The high school seniors from across the state were recognized in a special award ceremony at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center. Among the winners of Iowa Student Loan’s 2015 Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge – Senior Scholarship, was Hannah Grizzle, who attends the Guthrie Center High School.

This was the second year Iowa Student Loan offered the Iowa Financial Know-How
Challenge: Senior Scholarship, which provided Iowa high school seniors the chance to
win $1,500 for college while learning important financial literacy skills.

Between December 2014 and February 2015, registered high school seniors were asked to complete two online financial literacy tutorials which Iowa Student Loan developed to help students understand the consequences of college borrowing and discover how to maximize their return on college investment, or ROCI. In addition, scholarship contenders were required to take an online financial literacy assessment test. The 20 winners were those who scored highest on the assessment or, in the case of a tie for top scores, received the highest scores on an independently judged essay.

The Council Bluffs Police Department issued an update Friday night on the ongoing investigation into the shooting of a Council Bluffs child.  The incident being investigated occurred on Thursday, May 7th at 5:03pm when a 911 call came in for a 4-year old that was having breathing problems. Officers responded to 19th Street and West Broadway in Council Bluffs and discovered 4 year old Q-Marion Jones had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the neck. Jones initially was being treated at Nebraska Medical Center but the update Friday was that he has been transferred to Children’s Hospital in Omaha and is in extremely critical condition.

After investigation and a search warrant being executed the shooting was determined to take place at 1222 North 31st St in Council Bluffs inside the residence.  Another child was in the home during the incident and had access to a semi-automatic pistol.  That child was 8-years-old and was taken into protective custody and will remain in the care of the Department of Human Services as the investigation continues.

The weapon has not been recovered.  Anyone with information regarding this shooting is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 30-year-old Andrew Thomas Copeland Falk of Red Oak at 6:15pm Friday.  Falk was charged with Child Endangerment, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Assault, a Serious Misdemeanor. Falk was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa agriculture officials say bird flu will claim an additional 4 million Iowa egg-laying chickens on two more farms in a county already hit by the disease. Officials are waiting for preliminary tests on two farms in Wright County to be confirmed. The county earlier reported a farm with 2.8 million chickens affected. Iowa’s chicken loss is approaching 25 million, more than 40 percent of the state’s egg-laying flock.

Officials on Friday also announced detection of the virus on five more turkey farms, including one with 42,000 birds. That brings the state to 44 cases in 12 counties. Minnesota and Wisconsin, two other states hit hard with the disease, reported no new bird flu cases Friday. The virus has spread to well over 30 million birds in 13 states.

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say up to 30 people have been injured in multiple crashes along westbound Interstate 80 near Williamsburg that have caused a bus to explode and a semitruck to overturn and catch fire. Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nate Ludwig says between 20 and 30 people have been injured in the wreck. He says a chain reaction of collisions triggered the bus explosion.

Ludwig says emergency crews have responded to the area. The Iowa Department of Transportation reports the road between exit 216 and exit 211 are blocked due to the crashes. A detour has been implemented. No further information has been released.

Two Republican legislators from southern Iowa today (Friday) announced they’ve reached a deal with Governor Branstad that will hopefully mean the state-run Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant will reopen next year under private management. Since January, Branstad has repeatedly vowed to close what he calls “antiquated” facilities by June 30th, but today (Friday) it appears Branstad has agreed to temporarily keep parts of the facilities open through mid-December, with the goal of reopening both on January 1st under private ownership.

“I convinced the governor that our campuses needed to remain open to provide these vitally needed services that we had done so well in our community and that were much needed.” That’s Representative Dave Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant. He says says this proposal will be presented for a vote in the House next week.

“The governor’s agreed to take this plan,” Heaton says. “It’s not everything I think that we would want — all of us, both sides of the aisle on this issue, but I think this is the best thing that we can get.” May 18th has been the target date for closure of the Mount Pleasant M-Hi and some furniture already has been removed from the facility. May 31st has been the target date for closing down the Clarinda M-H-I. Representative Cecil Dolecheck, a Republican from Mount Ayr, says this is a “solid agreement” with the governor and it means vital services for mentally ill Iowans will be available in southern Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department have announced that the department, in partnership with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and District 3 of the Iowa State Patrol, will hold the National Law Enforcement Memorial Day Service on Thursday, May 14th, beginning at 6:30-p.m.

The service will begin with the memorial flag ceremony on the east side of the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs, near the flag pole. During the ceremony, Deputies with the Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol Troopers and Council Bluffs Police Officers who have fallen, will be honored.

Immediately after the ceremony, the Law Enforcement Memorial Service will move to St. John’s Lutheran Church at 633 Willow Avenue, where a Memorial Service will be held in the sanctuary, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

During the reception, officials will recognize the graduates of the 2015 Council Bluffs Citizens Police Academy. In addition, the Officer of the Year award will be honored, along with the good work of other Council Bluffs staff. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Four Iowa law officers who died between 1917 and 1945 were honored today (Friday) as part of the annual ceremony at the Peace Officer Memorial south of the capitol. Department of Public Safety Commissioner, Roxann Ryan, addressed dozens of officers and family members attending the event. “At this peaceful location, we take the opportunity to recognize the sacrifices that these four officers made in Iowa. They are typical of the kinds of things that officers do every day,” Ryan says. Ryan says the dangers faced by officers also weigh on others.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker attended the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony, Friday

“For those of us who personally know officers who have given their lives or their loved ones who survived them — the risks that the officers face each and every day are a stark reality for all of us,” according to Ryan. She says losing an officer in the line of duty is something that also impacts those outside of the officer’s family and the department.

“Every loss of an officer is a loss to every one of us. Even when it is someone that we have never met, we feel the loss because we know the dangers that arise every day on the job, and often on the days off as well,”Ryan explains. “And our sworn personnel knowingly take on that risk with professionalism, dedication and determination,” Ryan says. Ryan says the ceremony is one way the state can say thanks to officers.

“The annual recognition is one small but very important way for us to acknowledge the sacrifice that each officer has given, and to recognize their bravery and commitment when they have given their for the job, ” Ryan says. “And to salute the valor of those left behind to carry out the law enforcement mission.”

Governor Terry Branstad also spoke about the things officers face. “I know this is a difficult and challenging time to serve in law enforcement in uniform. And there are many unfortunate situations where the police are attacked and put in a very difficult situation,” Branstad says. The governor assured the officers their work is not forgotten. “I want you to know that as the governor of this state that I respect and appreciate what you do, day in and day out, and that you risk your lives on behalf of the people of this state,” Branstad says.

Branstad presented a flag to the family members or department representatives of each of the four officers. Those honored are: Knoxville Police Officer Albert Conrey, who died in 1938 after being beaten by an intoxicated couple; Cedar Falls Police Officer Everett Dutcher, who died in in 1945 an accident when the fire truck he was on was struck by a train; Pottwattamie County Sheriff’s Special Deputy Claude Dail, who died in 1932 while training to use a weapon; and Osceola Police Deputy Marshal Richard Eggleston who died in 1917 when a wall fell on him at a fire.

(Radio Iowa)