(Radio Iowa) – Triple-A Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says national research is once again showing drivers shouldn’t count on technology to do everything for them. Ortner says research found that technology designed to keep drivers from hitting things when they back has some issues. “You know the testing that was done by by the Foundation for Traffic Safety resulted in collisions with mock vehicles and pedestrians, so it shows that we have to remain alert to not become overly reliant on technology,” Ortner says. He says the system called reverse automatic emergency braking system does provide some help to drivers.

“It’s a great tool. It’s proven to reduce rear-end collisions, but what we found is not foolproof,” he says. “So you know being responsive and being responsible and checking your surroundings when you drive is still the key. It’s one of those things it assists in making your drive safer but it’s not foolproof,” he says. Ortner says technology should be used as another tool for a driver, not a replacement for being engaged.

“When you’re driving the vehicle, you’re using all your senses, your mental, your physical, your visual, and your audible senses. So making sure you keep all of that intact is very important, but use the tool for sure if it helps reduce the chances for a crash or a pedestrian injury,” Ortner says. Ortner says that advice holds true for any technology you use in your car or truck.

(Radio Iowa) – A Delaware County sheriff’s deputy is being awarded the county’s first Medal of Valor for acts of bravery last fall. Deputy Matt Menard intercepted a shooting suspect in Hopkinton on November 7th, tried to take him into custody peacefully, but ended up shooting the man — then rendered him first aid. Deputy Menard was nominated for the medal by his co-worker, Deputy Travis Hemesath, who says Menard is a role model for the department.

Deputy Matt Menard (in blue shirt & tie) receives the medal (Photo by Janelle Tucker, KMCH)

The county’s emergency management coordinator says Menard’s actions prevented further loss of life and that’s why he’s being recognized as the first recipient of the new award.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to join more than a dozen states in establishing felony charges for organized retail theft of at least a thousand dollars in stolen property. Representative Taylor Collins, a Republican from Mediapolis, cites the case of three people arrested about two years ago after being accused of shoplifting at a Walgreens.

“The police recovered about $50,000 of product in their vehicle. The individuals also had a list of Walgreens stores and addresses in their car, leading the police to later confirm that they were at 18 separate Walgreens locations over the course of two different days,” Collins says, “so this is clearly an issue and I hope this bill addresses it.” House Republicans have had this bill on their list of 2024 priorities.

House Speaker Pat Grassley says it’s needed to deter so-called “smash and grab” episodes being reported in other states. The House has passed another bill to ban traffic stop quotas. Republican Representative Joshua Meggers is a state trooper from Grundy Center. “Current law already prohibits quotas on citations issued by law enforcement officers,” Meggers says. “This also would prohibit a quota on the number of traffic stops an officer must make, whether a traffic citation is issued or not.”

During a subcommittee hearing on the bill, a lobbyist for the Iowa Peace Officers Association said the organization favors anti-quota policies because police aren’t interested in stopping motorists just to meet a quota and want to focus on catching people who are actually breaking the law.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal appeals court has upheld a 2021 state law that bans schools from issuing mask mandates. A group of families filed a federal lawsuit, arguing Iowa schools must allowed to require masking to protect their children who have disabilities that make them vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the families do not have legal standing to sue the state. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a written statement after the ruling. Reynolds said while children were the least vulnerable, they paid the highest price for COVID lock-downs and mandates in other states and she would sign a mask ban for Iowa schools again if she has to.

WHEATLAND, Iowa – A UTV crash Tuesday evening in eastern Iowa’s Cedar County resulted in the death of one juvenile and injuries to another. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened a little after 6-p.m. near Wheatland.

Investigators say a 10-year-old was driving a Polaris Ranger UTV eastbound on 210th St with an 11-year-old passenger, when the machine went out of control and entered the north ditch before rolling over.

Officials say the 11-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries. The 10-year-old driver was injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.