(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad today (Friday) signed the following bill into law…House File 291: an Act relating to employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, making penalties applicable, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions.

“I’m very pleased to sign this bill into law,” said Gov. Branstad. “These necessary reforms to our antiquated 43 year old public employee collective bargaining law bring fairness for Iowa taxpayers and flexibility to public employees. This bill also gives local governments, schools and state government greater freedom in managing their resources with the opportunity to reward good public employees. I want to thank all of the legislators who worked diligently and thoroughly to pass these much needed reforms, including Speaker Linda Upmeyer, Majority Leader Chris Hagenow, Majority Leader Bill Dix, President Jack Whitver, Chairman Dave Deyoe, Representative Steve Holt and Chairman Jason Schultz.”

Lt. Gov. Reynolds also applauded the reforms adding, “I’m excited about the long overdue reforms that have been put in place today. My experience as county treasurer for 13 years gave me a firsthand look at how out of balance the system had become. Finally, Iowa taxpayers have a seat at the table and local governments are empowered to make decisions in the best interests of their communities and schools. These changes will improve our educational system by giving local districts the ability to recruit and retain the best teachers in every classroom across the state. This new, balanced system is something all Iowans can celebrate.”

The bill passed the Iowa House 53-47 on Feb. 16, 2017 and the Iowa Senate on Feb. 16, 2017, 29-21.

The Red Oak Police Department said today (Friday), 27-year old Bruce Anthony Kaimann, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree.  Kaimann, Jr. was taken into custody a little after 9-a.m. in the 1400 block of Forest Avenue, after he allegedly damaged a kitchen table and chairs valued at $1,500. His bond was set at $5,000.

The Iowa Supreme Court says the ban on mandatory life sentences for juveniles does not impact restitution levied in the same cases.  Daimonay Richardson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2013 when she was 15. She admitted to helping her boyfriend D’Anthony Curd stab Ronald Kunkle to death in his Cedar Rapids apartment. She was given a sentence not to exceed 50 years in prison, with 25 years suspended and ordered to pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution.

Richardson appealed the restitution amount saying should fall under Supreme Court rulings that banned mandatory prison sentences for all juveniles as unconstitutional. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that a prison sentence is different from restitution. The ruling says restitution is a matter of financial obligation, while the prison sentence is a matter of liberty and keeps someone from being rehabilitated.

It says restitution repayment plans do take into account a person’s income and other circumstances.
The Supreme Court issued a similar ruling in the restitution appeal of Shannon Breeden, who was 16 when she pleaded guilty to attempted homicide in 2002 and was ordered to pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution.

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Lorimor reported last Saturday (Feb. 11th), that sometime over the previous couple of weeks, someone broke into his storage facility in Lorimor, and stole a 1988 Plymouth Aries K Car, which was being used as a parts vehicle. The car was valued at $200.