Bernie Sanders’ delegates at the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention successfully inserted many of their policy objectives in the party platform, including a call to legalize not just marijuana, but ALL drugs. Jason Frericks — a Sanders supporter from Red Oak — did NOT vote for the proposal.

“But the thought process behind legalizing all drugs was this: The drug war has been a massive failure. We need to start coming up with reasonable ways to address this problem,” Frerichs says, “besides criminalizing addiction.” Frerichs has read “chatter” online suggesting Republicans may use this policy proclamation AGAINST Democratic candidates, but Frerichs doesn’t think it will work.

“I think that most people who are reasonable think that the way we approach the drug war and addiction in this country is ridiculous,” Frerich says. Governor Terry Branstad — a Republican — was asked how candidates view party platforms this morning. “The platform is a statement of the grassroots and it doesn’t necessarily represent the views of the candidates,” Branstad told reporters this (Monday) morning.

The Sanders delegates also secured “progressive” planks in the Iowa Democratic Party platform that call for a single-payer health care system and getting rid of “super delegates” at the party’s national convention. This weekend, Frerichs — who is chairman of Montgomery County Democrats — was elected chairman of the newly-created Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus. It has 360 members today.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s governor and two of his state agencies are launching a more public “if you see something, say something” campaign. Governor Terry Branstad says Iowa is a safe place, but there are threats in every state, including Iowa. “We know that Islamic terrorists have said they’re looking for soft targets and when you have events like on the 4th of July where you have large gatherings of people, there’s a chance to have massive killings,” Branstad says. “….That’s why it’s important for people to, indeed, be very alert to the threats.”

Branstad is among the Republicans who’re critical of President Obama for failing to say “radical Islamic terrorism.” Branstad also supports a ban that would prevent Muslims from terrorism hot-spots like Syria from entering the country. “I am concerned that the federal government is not sharing information with us about people that are coming from those terrorist nations that may be placed in our states,” Branstad says. “I don’t want to put Iowans at risk, so I want to protect the safety and well-being of Iowans. That’s why we’re doing this.”

The Iowa Departments of Public Safety and Homeland Security will start airing public service announcements on Iowa radio stations later this month, urging Iowans to call local law enforcement if they see something suspicious, like someone who seems to be “doing surveillance” of a building. Branstad says there “are a lot of threats out there,” but threats from “radical Islamic terrorists” are “the biggest threat” right now.

“We have people in this country that have been radicalized by this ideology who are committed to killing us and they’ve acted again and again and they will (again) if we’re not careful,” Branstad says. Branstad is also blasting the Obama Administration for not releasing all of what the killer in Orlando said over the phone to authorities during the stand-off.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a residential burglary that took place Monday morning. Officers were called to a home in the 700 block of Parkwild Drive at around 10:11-a.m., for a burglary in progress. A 20 year female resident told officers that she had been in an upstairs room, with her infant child, when the doorbell rang.

The female was not able to get to the door quickly and the bell rang a second time. When she was finally able to respond to the front door, she could not see anyone outside. She then heard someone kicking at the home’s locked back door.

The female ran back upstairs, locking a bedroom door behind her and hiding with her child inside a closet. After hearing the suspect going room to room, the female stepped out of the bedroom and confronted the suspect, telling him to get out of her home. The suspect ran back down the stairs and out of the same door he had forced open.

Responding officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40-50 years old, 5’8” with brown hair. No one was injured during the incident. The suspect left the home with a diaper bag containing personal paperwork and credit cards.

The Council Bluffs Police Department continues to investigate this incident and requests that anyone who saw any suspicious subjects in the area call the Criminal Investigations Division at 712-328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867) with that information.

IRETON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a northwest Iowa teacher has died after being struck by a tree limb while helping a neighbor. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon about five miles southeast of Ireton. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 49-year-old Christopher Soppe was helping clean up storm debris when he was struck by a branch he was cutting down.

The Sheriff’s Office says Sopped died later at a hospital in Le Mars. The Boyden-Hull School District says Soppe was a special-education teacher who also coached baseball.

Four area school districts will hold their regular, separate monthly school board meetings, Monday. The Griswold School Board will gather in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building for their session, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

On their agenda, is action on: Fuel and Tech Support bids; The naming of a Level 1 & 2 Child Abuse Investigator; Hours for the Transportation In-District Director; a Non-Certified staff Bargaining Agreement for 2016-17; An Operational Sharing Agreement with the Lenox School District; and, Registration Fees for 2016-17.

In Audubon, the Audubon School Board will meet at 7-p.m. in their boardroom at the high school. Action items on their agenda include: Approving a retaining wall bid; Establishing a notice for the proposed sale of surplus property; the final reading of Board Policies pertaining to online fundraising campaigns (specifically, “Crowfunding”), and Unmanned Aircraft (Drones). They’ll also discuss and possibly act on a proposed policy change pertaining to Substitute Teachers, followed by the setting of Substitute Teacher pay for 2017.

In Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board will meet in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building, beginning at 7-p.m., Monday. The Board will act on approving a contract with Frederick Griffen, High School Science teacher. They’ll also discuss and/or act on: the Exira Elementary School Land; Approval of a new Press Box for the Exira Football Field; Approval of concrete and drainage around the Weight Room and Press Box; and, the possible sharing of a Technology Director.

The CAM School Board is set to meet at 6:00pm in Massena to start with a tour of the facilities there. Their meeting will then begin at 6:30pm at the CAM Middle School Commons.  On their agenda is a public hearing on the Massena Elementary roofing improvements and then taking action on approving plans and awarding a contract for the work. They will also review open enrollment applications, consider resignations and contracts, name a migrant liaison, discuss the wireless access point improvement project, IACA out of state travel, consider an agreement with Woodriver Energy for Natural Gas purchasing, discuss board policies, and present Iowa Assessment results from the 2015-16 school year.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two vehicle accident occurred at 8:25 am this (Monday) morning in Red Oak.  A 2015 Ford F-150 owned by Healthy Turf Mow and Snow LLC and being operated by 27-year-old Clayton Lynn Adams of Red Oak was traveling southbound on North 3rd Street approaching the intersection with Elm Street when the truck struck a 2011 Ford Econoline Passenger Van driven by 21-year-old Ashlynn Marie Larson of Randolph.  Larson had failed to yield the right of way at the intersection and pulled out in front of the Adams vehicle.

The van was owned by Nishna Productions Inc.  No injuries were reported at the time of the accident and Larson was issued a citation for Failure to Obey Yield Sign or Yield Right of Way.

The Ford truck received an estimated $4,000 damage and the Van sustained an estimated $3,000 damage.

The Atlantic Police Department released details Monday on one recent arrest. On Friday, June 17th officers arrested 26-year-old Alan Beattie of Anita on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear for Debtors Exam.  He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.