(Radio Iowa) – The board that governs the three state supported universities is launching a comprehensive review of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at the schools. The president of the Board of Regents has also directed the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to pause implementing any new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. Representative Taylor Collins, a Republican from Mediapolis, says he appreciates the Regents response to concerns, but it’s time to pass a bill that dismantles the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bureaucracies on the campuses.

“They’re being used to drive a certain political agenda and it’s unacceptable,” Collins says. “And Iowa taxpayers agree it’s unacceptable.” A bill that’s eligible for debate in the Iowa House would prohibit the state universities from spending any money on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion staff or training that discusses things like racial privilege or pronouns which do not represent a gender. Collins says it’s a woke agenda and he says he’s been shocked to hear from a lot of the faculty at the three universities.

“Faculty feel like this stuff is being pushed on them so much that it’s exhausting them,” Collins says. It’s unclear how the House bill would impact the recent legal settlement with former Hawkeye football players. The university has agreed to hire a black studies professor from the University of Texas professor to oversee a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion action plan for Hawkeye athletes and coaches. Collins is a member of the panel that drafts the budgets for the state universities.

“It’s frustrating that theoretically this DEI spending didn’t work,” Collins says. and then we’re going to spend money on DEI to solve the problem.” Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, is chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He hasn’t seen the House bill on this subject. “If the Regents are taking a hard look at this on their own, that’s probably a better approach to this,” Rozenboom says, “or at least that’s a good starting place.” Rozenboom does have concerns about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs on the campuses in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City.

“Earlier this year I asked the Board of Regents how many DEI employees there were and found out there were 110,” Rozenboom says, “which I think translates into quite a few dollars.” Rozenboom says his approach has been to gather facts and figures and start investigating this year. “I don’t like to be impulsive,” Rozenboom says. “If the House sends something over, I’ll have to take a hard look at it, consider what the Regents are doing and we’ll go from there.”

Advocates of the Regents’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs say they are intended to ensure people from different backgrounds and experiences feel welcome on campus.

(Radio Iowa)- The state Transportation Commission has approved a grant to build a roadway into proposed plant at a site in Plymouth County south of Le Mars. Deb Arp of the D-O-T presented the proposal for what’s called a RISE grant. “The proposed roadway provides improved access to the bio energy facility — a digester plant — and assists in the creation of five full time jobs,” she says. “The facility will take waste from three dairies and process it to generate renewable natural gas. The development is anticipated to start construction later this year and to start production in spring or summer of 2024.” She says this is a local development grant, and the county will help fund the project.

She says the project will cost more than one-point-five million dollars $1,585,556). The county requested a grant of 792-thousand-778 dollars, and will provide the other 50 percent cost of the project in a local match. The Transportation Commission also approved a settlement of a rise grant for Burlington. “The city received a grant of one-million-536-thousand for roadway improvements contingent on the creation of 128 new jobs by General Electric within three years of project completion,” Arp says. She says the company was only able to create around half the jobs.

“In May of 2019 the roadway was open to traffic — however the company associated with this project was only able to create an average of 61 jobs within the allowable timeframe,” she says. Arp says the city has agreed to repay 323-thousand-123 dollars from the grant.

(Sidney, Iowa) – A southwest Iowa man was arrested Tuesday in Fremont County on sexual assault and other charges, out of Missouri. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports, 44-year-old Dewight Eugene Binau was arrested at a residence in Sidney, on a warrant out of Newton County, Missouri.

On February 3, 2023, the Fremont County County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible sexual assault that occurred in Missouri in December, 2022, and forwarded the information to the Neosho, Missouri Police Department.

Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Binau, charging him with two counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy-deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 12 years of age and one count of 2nd degree molestation of a child less than 12 years of age.

Dewight Binau

Binau was taken to the Fremont County Jail pending extradition to Missouri.

(Hamburg, Iowa) – A traffic stop late Tuesday night near Hamburg resulted in the arrest of a woman from Nebraska, on OWI and other charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Chevy Camaro for speeding, at around 9:30-p.m. on Interstate 29 southbound, about the 7.5 mile marker.

As Deputies were speaking with the driver, 31-year-old Toriann Michelle Russ, of Omaha, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and saw an unrestrained child in the vehicle. Russ was driving impaired, according to the report.

31-year-old Toriann Michelle Russ, of Omaha

She was arrested for: OWI/2nd offense; Child Endangerment; Driving While Revoked; Poss. of Marijuana, & Failure to use a child restraint device. Russ was being held in the Fremont County Jail  and a $6,300 cash bond, pending an initial appearance before the County magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – With the recent collapse of two U.S. banks, one based in California, the other in New York, some Iowans may be concerned about the stability of their local financial institutions.

Ron Sorensen, president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association, says there’s nothing to worry about, as the banks that failed were run much differently from how banks operate in Iowa. “Not only were these banks that we’re talking about, on the East and West coasts, using very unique business models, primarily tech companies who were funded through venture capital and crypto, they had issues in regards to liquidity,” Sorensen says. “The venture funding fell off from some of their local small business customers.”

That led to a critical drop in deposits, plus, Sorensen says the banks also had issues with their securities portfolios. “None of that exists in our banks here in Iowa, frankly, we have record capital levels in Iowa banks,” he says. “We still have strong liquidity. Our banks are based on a very safe and sound business model. They know their customers. They’re on Main Street every day.”

John Sorenson. (IBA photo)

Sorensen says Iowa banks are typically relationship-based, and their biggest depositors are in areas like agriculture, small businesses, and local companies and manufacturers. “These are strong businesses that have shown the same things that our banks are showing, right?” he says. “They’re consistently strong. They’ve been in the community for a long time, so as a result, it’s just a very different environment in Iowa.”

Iowa banks are well capitalized and highly liquid, Sorensen says, and they’re backed by FDIC insurance. Sorensen recommends customers talk with their local banking officials about the institution’s security. There are over 280 members of the Iowa Bankers Association.

(Radio Iowa) – The legislature is sending Governor Kim Reynolds a bill setting up a state process so small Iowa hospitals may be licensed as a Rural Emergency Hospital.

Under federal rules, Rural Emergency Hospitals may discontinue in-patient care, while keeping out-patient services and an emergency room open. Rural Emergency Hospitals get five percent extra in federal reimbursement for treating Medicare patients. Senator Jeff Reichman is a Republican from Montrose, which is a 15 minute drive from the Keokuk hospital that closed last fall.

“Access to health care services is a critical issue in our state,” Reichman said. “…Rural Emergency Hospitals will help rural communities that need health care services, stabilize hospitals that may be struggling in rural areas and help ensure that essential needs for Iowans and specifically for us in Lee County are met.”

Bill backers say it’s likely a Rural Emergency Hospital will reopen in Keokuk. “Both of my grandparents’ lives were saved at Keokuk Area Hospital in the last five, six years, so having access at least to emergency care is very, very important,” Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, said.

Republican Representative Martin Graber of Fort Madison said a constituent in Keokuk recently had to decide whether a relative who’d suffered a stroke should be taken to a hospital in Fort Madison or Carthage, Illinois because Keokuk’s hospital is closed. “There very aren’t many times that you and I get to vote on a bill that means life and death to people,” Graber said. “This one does that. When it’s fully implemented, it’ll make a difference.”

Republican Representative Tom Moore of Griswold said only hospitals in rural areas that can keep an emergency room open 24 hours a day, seven days a week will be able to get this new designation. “This bill will only affect a few rural hospitals, but it is critical in giving them the option to stay a viable, financially stable hospital or, in the case of the Keokuk hospital, the ability to reopen as an REH,” Moore said.

The Rural Emergency Hospital designation will also be available to rural surgical centers that provide outpatient services if the bill becomes law. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, voted for the bill, but warned without higher reimbursement rates for the care provided to Medicaid patients, more Iowa hospitals will have to downgrade to Rural Emergency Hospital status. “I think the bigger question Iowans are asking is what can we do to prevent Iowa hospitals from failing in the first place,” Petersen said.

Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, was the only legislator to vote against the bill. Jacoby said the bill did nothing to help urban hospitals, which are also struggling with low reimbursement rates while providing care to rural as well as urban residents.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board heard from the attorneys representing two companies which hope to build carbon dioxide pipelines today (Tuesday) as they try to work out scheduling issues for their permit requests. I-U-B chair, Geri Huser asked Wolf Carbon Solutions attorney, Amanda James, if they still plan to request a hearing on the project in the second quarter of 2024. “At this time it’s too early to be able to tell when we would like to schedule our hearing. They’re just getting out in the field now, and so they’re working with landowners, property owners,” she says. “To be able to say when we want a hearing, we just don’t have that information yet for a defined route.” Huser told James the Board does not believe there needs to be oral arguments on the location of the hearing — which is required to be near the middle of the area where the pipeline will be built.

“We agree and we thought that maybe just written comments if there’s any ideas on how to determine the location or midpoint,” James says. Navigator Ventures attorney, Samantha Norris was also asked about the timeline for the hearing. “We are requesting a hearing in the first quarter — we’ll plan on requesting a hearing in the first quarter of 2024. We would ideally like to finish that hearing before spring planting commences,” Norris says. Norris says they would like to start construction in the first half of 2024 if approved. She was also asked about taking oral arguments on the proposed site for the hearing on the pipeline.

“At this point, we don’t know that oral arguments are necessary. But because we have a number of interested stakeholders. And because our the layout of our line differs somewhat from Summit’s and from Wolf’s we think that it should be briefed at least so that all parties have a chance to say what location they think or multiple locations may be compliant with the statutory requirements,” Norris says. Summit Carbon Solutions is the third company proposing a pipeline — with a public hearing on the project set for October.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. Today (Tuesday, 3/14/23), 42-year-old Joshua Edward Mastin, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. On Monday, 54-year-old Richard James Linfor, of Shenandoah, was arrested at the Page County Jail, on a warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. He remains held on a $5,000 bond.

On March 12th, 29-year-old Yaritza Concepcion Cibrian, of Omaha, was arrested following a non-injury accident. Authorities say Cibrian was traveling east on Bunge Avenue at around 3-a.m., at attempting to get into a club in Mills County. She took a wrong turn and ended-up traveling south in the northbound off-ramp at I-29, mile marker 42. She then attempted to make a U-turn, but her 2016 Chrysler went into the east side ditch. Deputies on patrol came upon the scene as Cibrian was attempting to get her vehicle out of the ditch. She was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

And, on March 9th, 39-year-old Travis Mitchell Long, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Jail on a Mills County warrant for two-counts Violation of Probation. He was being held without bond in the jail.

On March 11th, a man from Kennard, NE was transported by EMS ground to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, following a collision on I-29. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a 2003 Ford driven by Scott Sonnenfelt was southbound near mile marker 41.4 at around 12:09-p.m., and when a 2021 Toyota driven by 31-year-old Kyle Schwanbach, of Omaha, attempted to pass, the car went out of control due to the sleet. It collided with the Ford and both vehicle went into the ditch on the west side of I-29. Sonnenfelt complained of neck and shoulder pain before being transported to the hospital.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), heard a report from representatives with the non-profit Cass County Committee on Aging. Judy Marnin spoke about the history of the organization, activities at each site and working to get senior’s out and about so they stay healthy and active.

Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier told the Board the Supervisors had been contributing a total of $7,446 per year for the organization, but then Covid came along….

The Board opted to continue with the same amount funds from the upcoming Budget.

In other action, the Cass County Supervisor’s approved the hire of Tony Gustafson, Operator 1 with the Secondary Roads Department, but they scrubbed discussion and action on a County Investment Policy, while waiting on additional information.

Discussion, followed by action to approve, took place on the following matters:

• Snow removal for all three locations (courthouse, annex & jail), effective July 1, 2023. Green Acres’ bid was approved. They had bid $75 for the courthouse (an increase of $25 over last year), and $50 each for the Comm. Center & DHS Building.
• Trash service for all three (Aforementioned) locations, efffectve July 2, 2023. Cook Sanitation’s bid of $195/month. An increase of $30.Trash is collected once per week.
• and Seasonal lawn service to include fertilizer, chemical sprays, etc., for the courthouse and public safety building (does not include mowing services), beginning immediately. Green Acres was the lone bidder, with no change in the price from last year.

All contracts are for two-years. The Board however tabled action on a bid for Southlawn Memory Gardens mowing services, until Supervisor O’Brien can talk with Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett about cost-sharing and related matters.

Des Moines – A Mason City woman, 26-year-old Shavhona Whitmore, pled guilty and was sentenced on March 13, 2023 to one count of Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau.

The investigation began in July of 2022. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Whitmore misrepresented information to an insurance company in an attempt to receive benefits she otherwise would not have been entitled to.

Following her guilty plea, Whitmore was placed on supervised probation for five years. A civil penalty of $1,025 is imposed, but suspended.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.