(Radio Iowa) – Legislators are considering changes in Iowa’s landlord-tenant law. Landlords are currently required to notify renters three BUSINESS days before eviction proceedings begin. A bill that’s cleared initial review in the House and Senate would let holidays and weekends be counted if those days fall in the three-day notice period. Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, says that’s a concern.

“Someone could go out of town for a long weekend and all of a sudden they get home and here’s this notice and they’re being evicted,” Davis-Cook said, “and they haven’t had the time to react to the notice and respond.” Keith Denner owns rental properties in Polk and Dallas Counties and he says the bill provides clarity as well as liability protection to landlords. Denner says there have been inconsistent rulings on that notice period from Iowa magistrates who oversee evictions, plus some rulings have declared sections of rental agreements illegal. The bill says landlords could not be sued if the illegal sections of a lease were never enforced.

“All we’re saying is if there’s something that turns out to be illegal there isn’t an adverse consequence to us, unless we try to enforce it,” Denner said. Representative Keenan Judge, a Democrat from Waukee, says the bill has major flaws. “This is completely one-sided and out of balance and needs to be corrected,” Judge said. Representative Phil Thompson, a Republican from Boone, says the legislature needs to ensure eviction proceedings are consistent throughout the state. “We need some uniformity here and we need to clearly define some of this,” Thompson says.

The bill is likely to be considered in the House Ways and Means Committee next week.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Management of the Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic may fall under the auspices of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, this summer. According to reports, the City is holding discussions with YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, with regard to manage of the pool. During a meeting earlier this week of the City’s Parks Advisory Commission, Haynes said he was working on an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the City and community members. He also proposes forming a committee to develop a structure to support Aquatics in Atlantic.

If the City agrees, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA would hire and manage the pool staff under their payroll and the City would reimburse the Y at the end of the season.

Parks Advisory Commission member Ali Pieken has proposed a pay incentive for veteran lifeguards, ranging from $15-to $20-per hour. Haynes says he’s sent notices to colleges advertising for a Pool Manager, lifeguards, and other staff positions.

The Parks Advisory Commission elected officers during their meeting, Monday. Kevin Ferguson was elected Chairman of the Commission. Mary Strong was named Vice-Chair.

As previously mentioned the Commission include Ferguson, Strong, Ali Pieken, Dolly Bergmann, and Shirley Jensen. City Council Liaisons to the Commission include Mike McDermott and Emily Kennedy.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A former Dowling Catholic teacher accused of having sexual contact with a student on school property will spend two years in prison. Kristen Gantt was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation by a school employee. Gantt admitted to inappropriate contact with a student at least five times in her classroom while she was teaching English at Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines.

In the criminal complaint, investigators said evidence of “clear and concise grooming activity,” including some with “direct sexual overtones,” were found in conversations between Gantt and the student. Police say they found evidence of “clear and concise grooming activity” in conversations between Gantt and the student, including some with “direct sexual overtones.”

Gantt was also fined $855 and will be on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) Democrats are hosting Iowa 3rd District Democrat Congressional Candidate Melissa Vine, on Tuesday, March 12th. The event is being held at the Heritage House lower level meeting room (1200 Brookridge Circle) in Atlantic, and will start with a potluck and social from 6:00-6:30 PM. The meeting with Vine will begin at 6:30 PM. While the event is being hosted by the Cass County Democrats, all people are welcome, regardless of party affiliation.

Vine is running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional district currently held by Republican Zach Nunn. Vine is businesswoman and single mother of four. She currently works as the Executive Director of The Beacon, a Central Iowa non-profit organization that support women recovering from trauma and empowers them to achieve positive long-term change. More information on Vine and her campaign can be found at melissavine.com.

Melissa Vine

The Cass County Democrats are hosting Vine at their March monthly meeting, which is open to the public. For more information on the Cass County Democrats, monthly gatherings, or to join the Cass County Democrats email newsletter, contact casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems or on Instagram @CassCountyDemocrats.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a motorcycle Sunday afternoon, resulted in the death of a passenger on the cycle. The Council Bluffs Police Department released details about the crash, today (Thursday). Authorities say the accident happened shortly after Noon, Sunday, at the intersection of E. Kanesville Blvd. & N. Broadway Avenue. 51-year-old Rosina Delanty, of Underwood, was a passenger on a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was traveling east on E. Kanesville and approaching N. Broadway, when it collided with a 2014 Ford Edge that made a left turn in front of the cycle, causing the crash. The driver of the SUV was identified as 86-year-old Nancy Casson, of McClelland.

Rosina Delanty was transported to an area trauma center, where she died from her injuries on Wednesday (Feb. 28th). The operator of the motorcycle suffered non-life threatening injuries. Authorities say neither speed nor alcohol were believed to be factors in the crash.

Charges are pending against Nancy Casson.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 12:30 this (Thursday) morning north of Villisca, resulted in a pursuit with speeds exceeding 122-mph, and ended with the arrest of a man from Pottawattamie County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says Deputies initiated the traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 71 and 34. During the stop, the driver, Robert Christopher Greenwood, of Council Bluffs, fled, with deputies pursuing him north on Highway 71. Greenwood’s vehicle ran out of gas and came to a stop in Lyman.

Greenwood was arrested with assistance from the Montgomery County K-9 Unit, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. He was treated at the scene by Griswold Rescue. Greenwood faces charges that include Felony Eluding (a Class-C felony), Driving While Barred, and Interference with official acts.

He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond.