(Omaha/Council Bluffs)  – Officials with the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department say the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge linking Council Bluffs and Omaha, will close on Monday, October 9th, for a 5-year maintenance inspection operation. The bridge is expected to be closed at least through Wednesday, October 18th. Parks & Recreation says the inspection is essential for the safety of the public.

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge; Photo credit: Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau

(Radio Iowa) – Members of the U-S House and Senate now have some 42 days to reach an agreement on spending or they’ll face yet another shutdown of the federal government, what Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says would be an embarrassment. The temporary deal, known as a continuing resolution, was passed over the weekend “in the nick of time,” Grassley says, with only a few hours to spare.  “Congress needs to stop playing chicken with government funding,” Grassley says. “Government shutdowns bring terrible uncertainty, not just for federal employees, but for Americans who depend on basic government services to be up and running.”

Grassley, a Republican, says it costs a lot of money to shut down the government and even more to open it back up, creating a no-win scenario. There’s now a reprieve, but Grassley says he’s not entirely confident the 45-day extension will be sufficient. “If we can’t work together in a bipartisan way to get that done, we’ll be faced with the prospect of another embarrassing shutdown in mid-November,” Grassley says, “then Congress will be forced to eat its Thanksgiving turkey with a slice of humble pie on the side.”

Senator Grassley. (photo from Senate Budget Committee hearing)

Last week’s death of California Senator Dianne Feinstein means Grassley — at age 90 — is now the oldest serving member of the Senate — and House. He was asked if it changes his perspective, or brings an added sense of responsibility as the eldest statesman. “My perspective on serving the people of Iowa hasn’t changed since I was 47 years old and a new member of the United States Senate, or 43 years later, being the most senior member of the Senate and the senior member of the United States Senate by age.

He says “No, it doesn’t change my perspective at all the only thing I can say is, the alternative wouldn’t be as good.”

***UPDATE 10/4/23: The appeal request has been withdrawn. Therefore, the Oct. 5 special meeting / hearing has been cancelled.***

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Thursday evening in the Conference Room at 20 Madison Street, beginning at 6:30-p.m. According to the agenda, the meeting is being called to conduct a hearing on “Imposed disciplinary action of a patron,” and includes action on a motion to “Affirm or overturn [the] Administration’s Disciplinary Action imposed on a patron.”

Griswold School District Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the incident sparking the disciplinary action occurred during a football game on Sept. 22nd.

Henrichs didn’t want to elaborate prior to the School Board’s meeting on what the patron allegedly did to warrant the disciplinary action, so as to not influence their discussion, but he did speak with regard to his decision to implement the punishment for it.

Henrichs didn’t wish to comment on whether or not the Board with affirm or overturn his decision.

He was asked if this was the first time such action against a patron has place against a Griswold School patron.

The public is welcome to attend Thursday evening’s meeting, since it is not a closed session. Looking ahead to the Board’s next – regular- meeting on Oct. 16th, Dave Henrichs said they should receive information on the Griswold School District’s certified enrollment numbers that will be submitted to the State.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County woman was arrested Monday evening. Creston Police report 42-year-old Megan Marie Brown, of Creston, was arrested in the 100 block of Manor Drive, at around 5:15-p.m.  Brown was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Persons Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, and Driving while Barred. She was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $3,300 cash or surety bond.