The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has unanimously rejected Navigator C-O-2’s application to build a carbon capture pipeline in South Dakota.

Navigator is one of three companies with plans to build carbon pipelines in the Midwest. South Dakota regulators held public hearings on the company’s route through their state in late July and early August, then unanimously voted yesterday (Wednesday) to reject Navigator’s application for a construction permit. The head of South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission cited concerns about Navigator’s notices to property owners along the proposed pipeline route. Navigator had objected to county ordinances restricting how close the pipeline could be built near homes, schools and other structures, but South Dakota utility regulators have also refused to override those county regulations. A written statement from the company says Navigator remains committed to responsible infrastructure development and will evaluate the written decision from South Dakota regulators before deciding what to do next.

The Iowa Utilities Board hearing about the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline continues today (Thursday) in Fort Dodge with more testimony from witnesses who support the project. Landowners who oppose Summit’s pipeline testified over the past two weeks. The permit hearing for Summit’s route in SOUTH DAKOTA is scheduled to begin Monday. In early August, regulators in NORTH Dakota rejected Summit’s construction permit and the company has altered its route in North Dakota in response to concerns about it’s proximity to Bismarck and is asking North Dakota’s Public Service Commission to reconsider the application.

The wildfire smoke from Canada is back over Iowa once again. Brian Hutchins at the D-N-R Air Quality Bureau says the hazy conditions a visible in parts of the state.

Hutchins says there’s enough concentration of the smoke that it is impacting air quality.

He says you should take note of you tolerance and make adjustments to how much time you will be outside.

He says the haze will be visible at least through today (Wednesday).

You can check current conditions in Iowa at the E-P-A website called Air Now.

Council Bluffs Police report that on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at approximately 8:35 a.m,. a party called the Council Bluffs Police Sergeants’ Office to report a juvenile being seen with what appeared to be a gun getting onto a school bus. The reporter did not have much information, as they had received this information from another party. The caller did have the number of the school bus.

The bus route was immediately identified and the schools that bus serviced were notified. Officers responded to those schools. The bus was located and stopped by officers. The bus video was reviewed and the juvenile was identified.

The juvenile (17 yr old male – student) was located was found to be in possession of a squirt /water gun.  There was no threat to the safety of students or staff members.

At this time there are no criminal charges for the squirt gun. The incident is being investigated by the Council Bluffs Community School District for any disciplinary action.

As a reminder, look-alike weapons at school are PROHIBITED and are a violation of Council Bluffs Student Code of Conduct.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that on September 6th, Fremont County Deputies with the assistance of the Shenandoah Police Department conducted a narcotics investigation in the 2700 block of Highway 59 in Fremont County.  Deputies arrested 36 year old Fredreck George Steven Billings II of Shenandoah on charges of Delivery of Methamphetamine, less than 5 grams, Class C Felony; Drug Gathering, Class D Felony; Keeping a Premises of Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Aggravated Misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, Serious Misdemeanor
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanor.

Also, 47 year old Catina Jo Blank, age 47 of Shenandoah was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine, less than 5 grams, Class C Felony; Drug Gathering, Class D Felony; Keeping a Premises of Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Aggravated Misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, Serious Misdemeanor; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanor.

And, 25 year old Chelsea Jenon Blank of Shenandoah was charged with Drug Gathering, Class D Felony; Keeping a Premises of Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Aggravated Misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana, Serious Misdemeanor; Possession of Methamphetamine, Serious Misdemeanor.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that on September 5th, deputies were called to Farragut for a report of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance.  Deputies arrived and made contact with 34 year old Mark Anthony Hardin of St Joseph, Missouri.  Hardin entered a boat on Hartford Ave and refused to exit the vessel.  After a short standoff, Hardin exited the boat and began resisting arrest by deputies.  Hardin was charged with Interference with Official Acts, Public Intoxication, and Unlawful Possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.

Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of National Suicide Prevention Month on Saturday, September 23, 2023 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Rotary Shelter at Schildberg Recreation Area.  The event is being co-hosted by Healthy Cass County, Cass County Iowa State University Extension, and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services.

The event will kick-off at 6:30 pm with a local speaker who will share their story on how suicide has touched their lives.  The walk portion of the evening will begin around 7:00 pm.  Participants will walk the trail loop at the Schildberg Recreation Area.  Information about mental health services and community resources as well as light refreshments will be available at the Rotary Shelter.

Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions said “Suicide Prevention Month is a chance to take time to stop and assess yourself and those around you to ensure those who need help have access to it and aren’t living at risk.  By raising awareness and educating people about the signs that can indicate someone is having suicidal thoughts or are possibly in danger of attempting suicide, we can help to prevent suicide from happening.”

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.  If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call, text, or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

For more information about the walk, call 712-250-8100.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining several Senate colleagues in asking the U-S Department of Education to determine how much money adversarial foreign governments are donating to American schools, including some in Iowa.

Espionage by foreign actors is a “constant threat,” according to Grassley, which can take on various forms, including trying to inject propaganda into our schools.

Grassley, a Republican, says there’s also evidence the Chinese have pumped money into the University of Iowa through what’s called the Confucius Institute.

He says the U-S must “thwart efforts by authoritarian regimes to peddle propaganda in our schools” as well as other threats to national security. Iowa’s other U-S Senator Joni Ernst is among the 18 senators who signed the letter requesting the nationwide audit.

Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum says carbon capture technology can spark what he calls “the golden age of agriculture.”

Burgum is the governor of North Dakota and the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would ship carbon from Midwest ethanol plants to underground storage in Burgum’s state.

Burgum says the Biden Administration is hurting the U-S economy with a crazy level of spending in support of the electric vehicle industry.

Experts say over seven billion barrels of oil could be pumped from the Bakken (BAWK-en) oil fields in Burgum’s home state and Burgum says it’s time for the U-S to focus on liquid fuels.

Burgum campaigned in southwest Iowa yesterday (Tuesday) and toured the Great Plains plant in Shenandoah. The company is involved in a joint venture with United Airlines and a pipeline operator to develop an ethanol-based aviation fuel. Burgum’s campaign is hosting events in Harlan and Denison today (Wednesday).

Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office report that on Tuesday, September 5th at about 6:00 pm they conducted a traffic stop in the 2500 block of highway 48.  Deputies arrested 42 year old Daniel Charles Thomas of Red Oak for driving while barred, an aggravated misdemeanor.  Was booked at the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

The owners of the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak are determined to continue serving the area as they recover from a devastating fire that destroyed their building on the morning of September first.

State and local fire investigators said faulty wiring in the basement caused the fire that gutted the building’s interior.  The building was deemed a total loss.

Dawn LeRette, who along with her husband, Brian, have owned the funeral home since 2001, say they are currently operating out of another building on their property.

Dawn says the LeRette family plans to continue to build on the more than 100 years of traditions since the business was first established in 1914.  They want to let people in the Montgomery County and surrounding area know that they are ready and able to provide funeral care at this time as they move forward.

Red Oak Police report that on Tuesday, September 5th just after 7:00 pm, officers arrested 40 year old Joseph Aaron Nelson of Red Oak on an active Montgomery County warrant for harrassment in the third degree.  Nelson was booked and held on $300 bond.