(Radio Iowa) – The A-C-L-U of Iowa and Planned Parenthood held a news conference this (Friday) afternoon to respond to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that leaves the injunction against Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat law in place. Rita Bettis Austen is the A-C-L-U’s attorney.

“Put simply we are overjoyed and relieved by today’s order. This abortion ban was dangerous cruel and unconstitutional when it was blocked four years ago it remains dangerous cruel and unconstitutional,” she says. Mazie Stilwell is Planned Parenthood’s director of public affairs in Iowa.

“With its decision the Iowa Supreme Court took away the political cover sought by Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican politicians who want to outlaw abortion in Iowa,” Stilwell says. Stilwell believes the governor and Republican lawmakers will try to pass the law again.

“As we celebrate this win — and celebrate we will — I want to be clear we know the battle is not over ,” she says. “Abortion access hangs by a thread that politicians in Iowa are trying to cut, and we fully expect lawmakers to keep trying to ban abortion in Iowa.” Governor Reynolds said in a statement that Republicans will look at their options now that the ruling is out.

(Radio Iowa) – Two teenagers face charges after a large group got into a fight at a Sioux City swimming pool — and Sioux City officials have closed the Leif Erikson Swimming Pool for at least a week. Sioux City Police Sergeant Tom Gill says the fight started just outside of the pool area Thursday afternoon.”Officers were called there around 4:30 for a fight,” Gill says. “They did find a victim that did have a minor injury, I believe to her face or head.” Gill says as police and E-M-Ts treated the 18-year-old for her injury, about 20 other teens started fighting in the pool area.

“Two more officers came on scene and two juvenile females were arrested for disorderly conduct,” Gill says. The youth bureau in Sioux City’s Police Department is now handling the investigation of the fight and Gill says more arrests are likely. Security plans at the pool are being reviewed.

“They’re going to close temporarily,” Gill says. “When they reopen, they’re going to have some additional security measures in place.” The Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department says once the pool does re-open, there will be increased surveillance, more trained staff and stricter control of pool access. The 18 year old who was injured was taken to a hospital for treatment.

(Radio Iowa) – National Democratic Party leaders have found the mail-in participation plan for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses does not comply with national party rules, but Iowa Democrats have more time to tweak their proposal. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says there are missing pieces in the plan — but that was done intentionally. National Democrats have chosen five other states to hold the first presidential primaries in 2024, but details are still being worked out.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chair Scott Brennan read a letter from Hart to Democratic National Committee members.”We look forward to providing more details to the committee once the calendar challenges are resolved.” Iowa Democrats plan to use mail-in presidential preference cards for their Caucuses, but haven’t said when results of the voting would be announced.

National party leaders say that date needs to be nailed down — to comply with the party’s plan that South Carolina Democrats host the first presidential primary in 2024.

(Odgen, Iowa) – A collision Friday morning between a car and a straight truck in Boone County, resulted in one person being flown to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 8:30-a.m., as 41-year-old Erik Ross Creger, of Boone, was driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla.

When he failed to yield the right-of-way, while turning left from westbound Highway 30, to E. Avenue, west of Ogden, his car was struck on its right side in the eastbound lane of Highway 30, by a 2020 Peterbilt straight truck. The driver of the truck, 42-year-old Nathan Allan Phippen, of Coon Rapids, was not injured.

Creger was flown to UnityPoint Methodist Hospital by LifeFlight. A report on his condition was not released. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Ogden Fire and Boone County EMS assisted at the scene.

LOHRVILLE, IOWA – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday evening, reported that at around 6:57-a.m., Friday, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from 500 Maple Street in Lohrville, IA.  Upon arrival deputies found 6 year old Alexzander Pope deceased inside the residence.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are currently investigating the circumstances involving Alexzander Pope’s death.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Lohrville EMS, and Calhoun County EMS

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  A thief in the night has hauled-off a tall, metal sculpture from the Atlantic Hy-Vee Garden Center. Officials with Hy-Vee reported Friday morning that security camera footage indicating the incident occurred at 1-a.m., Friday.

Still frame images from the security camera show a white truck pulled-up to the sculpture, and a person or persons loading the object into the back of the truck before taking-off.

Anyone with information about the incident, should contact the Atlantic Police Department.

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced her appointments of Michael Carpenter as a district judge in Judicial Election District 8A, Eric Nelson as a district judge in Judicial Election District 4, and Patrick Smith as a district judge in Judicial Election District 5C. 

Carpenter, of Ottumwa, Iowa, currently serves as attorney at Gaumer, Emmanuel, Carpenter & Goldsmith, P.C. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.  Carpenter fills a vacancy created by the recent retirement of District Judge Lucy Gamon. Judicial Election District 8A includes Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, Washington, and Van Buren counties.  

Nelson, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, currently serves as an Associate District Judge in Judicial Election District 4. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and his law degree from the University of Oklahoma City University School of Law.  Nelson fills a vacancy created by the retirement of District Judge Gregory W. Steensland. Judicial Election District 4 includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties. 

Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, currently serves as an attorney for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Smith fills the vacancy created by the recent retirement of District Judge William P. Kelly. Judicial Election District 5C includes Polk County. 

DES MOINES, IOWA – The Iowa Department Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the first case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection reported in 2023 in an older adult (61-80 years) from Plymouth county. The case was confirmed through a test at the State Hygienic Lab.

Warm summer weather means Iowans are spending more time outside which increases the risk of mosquito bites. Bites from infected mosquitos are the primary method in which humans are infected with the virus.

For the best protection against the virus, Iowans should use an insect repellant with DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535. Insect repellent lowers the risk of mosquito bites.

• Always read and follow label directions. Consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products on children.
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus and Para-menthane-diol should not be used on children younger than 3 years, and DEET should not be used on infants younger than 2 months.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

Additional steps Iowans can take to protect themselves include:

• If possible, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks outdoors.
• Clear standing water from around your home where mosquitos reproduce.
• Look for standing water in buckets, cans, pool covers, used tires, pet water dishes, and other areas water may collect.

Iowans infected with WNV may not experience any signs or symptoms of the virus. Some people experience minor symptoms like fever and mild headache. Others, however, can develop serious symptoms such as a high fever, headache, disorientation and muscle weakness.

People who experience mild signs and symptoms of a WNV infection generally recover on their own. But illness that includes a severe headache, disorientation or sudden weakness require immediate medical attention.

In 2022, nine Iowans were diagnosed with West Nile virus, with zero deaths.

For more information on West Nile virus, visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

(Adair, Iowa) – An accident involving a semi tractor-trailer hauling cattle near Adair, Thursday, resulted in the death of four cows. Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt told KJAN News the accident happened at around 11-a.m., at the Exit 76 ramp to westbound Interstate 80. The driver of the semi told Adair Police Officer Sawyer Ocheltree that while he was exiting the interstate, his brakes locked-up, causing him to lose control of the trailer.

The vehicle ended-up going off the roadway. The trailer overturned. The semi’s tractor/cab partially overturned. The unidentified driver of the semi was not hurt. Chief Wendt said it took about four-hours to round up the rest of the herd, which had escaped from the trailer. (Bystander video provided by Chief Wendt)

June 16, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, today (Friday), approved awards for three companies, which will assist in the creation of 89 jobs and result in $26 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Red Oak, Waterloo and Dallas County. The board also approved grants through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program.

Specializing in motion and control technologies, Parker-Hannifin Corporation in Red Oak, provides precision-engineered solutions for mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company plans to make investments in manufacturing machinery and equipment that will support the need to expand production at their Red Oak location. The project represents a capital investment of $2.5 million and was awarded tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program. It is expected to create 65 jobs, of which 35 are incented at a qualifying wage of $22.60 per hour.

Osmundson Manufacturing to expand facility in Dallas County: Osmundson Manufacturing Co., a fifth-generation family-owned company, designs agricultural disc, coulter and seeding blades for original equipment manufacturers and distributors worldwide. The company plans to expand its Perry facility by approximately 20,000 square feet to increase manufacturing capacity and employee amenities. The board awarded this $19 million capital investment project tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 17 jobs, of which two are incented at a qualifying wage of $28.70 per hour.

Dignity Apparel to purchase building in Waterloo: Dignity Apparel LLC manufactures garments with domestically sourced fabrics for Image Pointe, its wholly owned subsidiary that offers design and distribution services. Through real estate holding company JP Management Corporation, the project plans to acquire a 77,000 square-foot building in Waterloo, including remodeling space and purchasing equipment and software to accommodate growth. The project represents a capital investment of $4.5 million dollars and is expected to create seven jobs at a qualifying wage of $21.01 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program.

Grants awarded to two initiatives supporting entrepreneurs…

The Entrepreneurial Investment Award (EIA) program provides financial assistance to service providers that offer technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs and startup companies seeking to create, locate or expand a business in Iowa. The award is in the form of a grant through a competitive application process.

Landus Innovation Connector supports the growth of innovative agricultural technologies through mentorship and direct connections to the marketplace for entrepreneurs and scale-up companies. Companies will receive access to ag resources and services, including market strategy assistance, industry information, a collaborative space to share farming solutions, and a direct connection to the marketplace. The Landus Connector was awarded a $120,000 grant from the EIA program to be used for key personnel, promotion of technology to farmers, and venture events.

Pi515’s Girls’ Entrepreneurship Incubator is an initiative focused on empowering and supporting aspiring young women entrepreneurs through mentorship, workshops, networking, market exposure and resources. The incubator aims to create an environment that helps young women launch and grow businesses. Pi515 was awarded a $200,000 grant from the EIA program to facilitate community outreach, engage and involve young women, develop curriculum, and recruit key personnel.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the EIA Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval. Download a spreadsheet with today’s awards here.