(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says a 17-month-long review has found serious problems in state services for crime victims.

Bird says she was shocked to learn the system to notify victims when a protective order is being served or is about to expire was terminated in 2019 by her predecessor, Democrat Tom Miller.

Bird has hired a coordinator to revive the notification system.

Bird’s report indicates a separate system that notifies victims when their abuser will be released from custody has been fixed. Bird says it was causing fear and panic in victims because it incorrectly sent notices about transfers from jail to jail or to a state prison.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke to reporters today during a news conference in her Des Moines office. (RI photo)

Bird announced today (Friday) she’ll be using money in her agency’s budget to double the pay for Iowa nurses who conduct sexual assault exams — and she hopes that encourages more nurses to take the training that’s required.

For the first time, the Iowa nurses authorized to conduct sexual assault exams will get mileage reimbursed, too. Bird, who was elected in 2022, stopped state reimbursement for emergency contraception for sex abuse victims soon after she took office in early 2023 and she’s released that hold today (Friday).

Bird says no tax dollars will be used, but instead fees and fines criminals pay into the state’s victim compensation fund will cover the costs. It’s the same policy that was in place before she took office for Plan B. Bird will no longer allow victim funds to cover the costs of an abortion for sexual assault victims.

In response, State Auditor Rob Sand, today (Friday) said in a statement:

“For a year, Iowa’s Attorney General inflicted even more trauma on rape victims just for politics. We know because her report doesn’t provide a single legal or financial reason to have withheld payments for emergency contraception.”

(Radio Iowa) – Motorcycles make up just four-percent of all registered vehicles in Iowa, but the Iowa D-O-T says motorcycle fatalities last year accounted for 16-percent of the state’s total traffic deaths. Kelly Hilsabeck, the trauma injury prevention coordinator at Gundersen Health System, says the warmer weather brings out droves of motorcycles, and she implores motorists to “look twice.”

For drivers who find themselves following a motorcycle in traffic, Hilsabeck urges you to back off and give them plenty of room.

According to D-O-T data from the past five years, 74-percent of the motorcyclists killed in Iowa were not wearing helmets. The national average is 38-percent. Iowa is one of three states in the country with no helmet laws.

Other things motorcyclists can do to protect themselves include: keeping your headlight on all the time to increase visibility, wearing some form of eye protection, and wearing bright-colored clothing.

The D-O-T says 62 motorcyclists were killed on Iowa’s roads last year, with 17 motorcycle deaths reported statewide so far this year.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says the real verdict for former President Donald Trump will come in November and she’ll join Trump’s fight for redemption on the campaign trail. “I believe the Democrats’ strategy here is going to backfire. Iowans are going to support the former president and reelect him and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens,” Hinson says. “…It means I’m going to be out there telling the story of the failures of President Biden.” Like many other Republican officials, Hinson says the trial in New York was designed to keep Trump off the campaign trail.

“The only thing I believe President Trump was guilty of here is being named Donald Trump,” Hinson says. “These charges would not have been prosecuted against anyone else and Iowans see right through that.” Hinson, who’s running for a third term in the U-S House, she’ll be on the campaign trail every single day between now and November 5th urging Iowans to kick Biden out and put Trump back in the White House.

Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, is joining what’s called the Bidenomics Bus Tour today (Friday) for an event to compare gasoline prices during the Trump and Biden presidencies.

Tomorrow (Saturday), U-S Senator Joni Ernst is hosting a fundraiser at the Iowa State Fairgrounds featuring many of the state’s G-O-P officials, including Governor Kim Reynolds.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) reports today (Friday):

● A one-stop shop for resources will be open Sunday and Monday at Nodaway Valley Elementary School. The Multi-Agency Resource Center will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. Please share!
● City water is safe to drink. The city is monitoring water closely.
However, please be mindful of your water usage as we work to get the water treatment process back to normal and continue to restore the water supply.
Follow these steps for housing demolition:
● Contact your insurance company to get permission to have your home demolished.
● Contact Greenfield Municipal Utilities at 844-580-0810, Option 2.
● Use a city-approved licensed contractor to have your home demolished.
● If your home’s foundation is being removed, call City Hall to have sewers inspected.
● If you need assistance contact City Hall at 844-580-0810, Option 1.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Friday) morning, passed Resolutions with regard to an amended FY 2023-24 Budget/appropriations, and Declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an essential service. Their actions followed separate public hearings on both matters. Auditor Kathy Somers explained the reason for the Budget Amendment.

(She was referring to Trent Wolken, Cass County Engineer) On the topic of Declaring EMS an essential service, Atlantic Firefighter Bob Reynolds spoke in favor of the matter, and asked the Board for their support in putting it on the November General Election ballot. Supervisor Steve Green…

Board Chair Steve Baier reiterated the method voters will get to chose in November on paying for the service, if they approve it.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors acknowledged the following appointments in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Wage Rate Schedules: Sawyer Ocheltree to a Sheriff’s Deputy/K9 position at $35.10/hour, and Cameron Ward to a Sheriff’s Deputy position at $34.08/hour. They also approved a FY 2025 Employee Group Agreement with the Secondary Roads Department.

Cass County Board of Supervisors mtg, 5-31-24

In his report to the Board, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said some of the County’s equipment was sent to Adair County to help with removal of tornado debris in Greenfield.

He said they spent most of last Friday and Saturday lending a hand at the task, which Adair County was most appreciative of. Cass County will be reimbursed by Adair County via FEMA, for the expenses associated with a service agreement for Disaster Recover with Adair County, once the paperwork is filed.
Board Chair Steve Baier said the County didn’t go into the fray, looking to be reimbursed. He said it “was the right thing to do.”

Trent Wolken updated the Board also, on Secondary Roads Department maintenance work and activities. He said that includes normal road blading with the graders. And…

And, the Cass County Supervisors approved the re-appointment of Veteran’s Affair Commission Member Christine Short, to the three-year term (through June 30, 2027).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Randy’s Computer on Thursday, May 30th, 2024. The Ambassadors gathered to celebrate the opening of their new location. Randy’s Computer was first established in Cumberland, Iowa in 2016, before they moved to their Griswold location which is currently operating as a drop and go. They made the move to Atlantic in 2021, and now in 2024 they’ve moved into their newest location at 501 Chestnut St.

Randy’s Computer is an authorized reseller of Dell, Brother, and Ubiquiti Networks products. They also feature a full-service on-site repair shop for all makes and models of computers and laptops. They are a one stop shop for anything computer with parts, models, repairs, and accessories for both business and individual needs.

Pictured Left to Right Back Row: Chris Parks, Colt Doherty, Julie Waters, Bill Saluk, Sue Liston, Jim Kickland, Elaine Otte, Jeremy Butler, Jeff Christensen, Steve Anderson, Jennifer McEntaffer and John Bricker.
Pictured Left to Right Front Row: Nina Welter, Kelsey Beschorner, Ann Quist, Lana Westphalen, Randy Roy, Michelle Roy, Alisha Wagner, Dolly Bergmann, Megan Sramek and Leanne Erickson.

Randy’s Computer is also getting very involved in the community by displaying work in the Atlantic area. They are partnering with Your Forte to showcase a variety of local artists in the community, all of which are available for sale on display. They also anticipate hosting local vendors like Brymons in their front windows, with their material also being available for sale.

Randy and his wife Michelle are very excited to be here to use their 30 years of experience to help with all your computer needs! Randy’s Computer is located at 501 Chestnut St Atlantic, Iowa 50022. For more information contact 712-590-0083 or visit their website at https://randyscomputer.com/index.php

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who’ve never tried fishing before can give it a whirl next weekend as part of the state’s annual free fishing weekend, June 7th through the 9th. Nate Carr, a conservation officer with the Iowa D-N-R, says it’s a wonderful pastime, plus, you might catch dinner.

“For all Iowa residents, even if you don’t have a fishing license, you can still go out and experience fishing,” Carr says. “It’s a good time to get out with your family, your kids, and friends. If it’s something that you maybe aren’t sure you’re quite committed to buying the license, it’s a good opportunity to go out and try it.”

Some Iowa law enforcement agencies are sponsoring “Cops and Bobbers” fishing events for kids and their families during the weekend.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa U-S Senator Chuck Grassley predicts the felony conviction against Donald Trump will be overturned on appeal, after the former president was found guilty Thursday afternoon on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. While first emphasizing he’s not a lawyer, Grassley points to multiple issues with the case which he believes should be grounds for the verdict to be thrown out. For starters, Grassley says the trial should not have been held in Manhattan.

“The fact that they didn’t move the thing to a more politically unbiased courtroom,” Grassley says. “Now, by that I mean, where they would get a jury pool that would be made up of more than 90% Democrats, because that’s how that part of the city voted for or against the president.” Grassley, a Republican, says the defense team wanted several other people to testify but they weren’t allowed to do so, and he raises issue with the judge forbidding Trump from publicly discussing the case.

“The president’s gag order, because most gag orders are put on other people to protect the defendant,” Grassley says, “they’re not on the defendant.” The case surrounded what’s described as a hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Grassley says Daniels should not have been given so much time on the stand to discuss her encounters with Trump.

“This business about Daniels having two days of sweeping, descriptive testimony about how he was doing things,” he says. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen spent a total of 21 hours on the witness stand during the trial. Grassley calls Cohen a “convicted liar” and believes 99-percent of the evidence was based on his testimony, when Cohen admitted to stealing money from Trump’s organization. Ultimately, Grassley doubts the verdict will have a significant impact on the general election in a little over five months.

“The election is a choice between failed Biden policies or a return to the strong economy and secure borders under Trump,” Grassley says, “and this is something the voters are going to have to decide November 5th.” A sentencing date of July 11th is set for Trump, who could face probation or prison time — a matter of days before Republicans are again expected to nominate him for president.

Grassley’s Thursday afternoon post on X read: “Today’s decision is another example of leftist activist prosecutors weaponizing the judicial system to carry out their political vendettas. I expect the case to be overturned on appeal.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Use of new playground equipment at Harl Holt Park at the corner of 16th and Olive Street in Atlantic, is on hold for now, thanks to Mother Nature. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Coordinator Jeff Christensen says they’re still waiting to install the playground safety/fall material.

He said he hopes to be able to have the park open by June 8th, but we’ll just have to see. Plans to install new playground equipment at Harl Holt Park, Christensen says, began about three-years ago, with former Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen.

He said the prices of playground equipment “are kind of insane, on what they cost, for what we get. That’s the reason we can’t just keep putting in brand new playgrounds everywhere, we just kind of have to save up money to get it done.” On the topic of playgrounds and other park amenities in Atlantic, Jeff Christensen said there have been many incidents of vandalism.

He said at Mollett Park, graffiti was scratched into a slide, and screws were run through the slide. The water for the raised garden beds is being turned-on and not turned-off. “It only takes one person to ruin it for everybody,” Christens says.

Parks and Rec staff are keeping busy mowing and weed-eating, in an effort to keep the parks looking great.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency has issued an update with regard to the relief and recovery process, following the May 21st tornado that caused a substantial damage and four deaths. The EMA reports:

• There is a burning ban in the City of Greenfield until further notice.
• A curfew remains in-place from 10-p.m. until 7-a.m. daily, until further notice.
• Physical donations of supplies & clothing are not being accepted. Monetary donations, however are very much welcome, and can be dropped off at all branches of Union State Bank and First National Bank. You can also make an online donation through the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation’s website at https://www.greenfieldiafoundation.org/ and add a note indicating your donation is for Tornado Recovery.
• A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will open Sunday and Monday to provide recovery resources for people affected by the tornado in Greenfield and surrounding communities. Trained English and Spanish-speaking caseworkers will be available at the MARC to help people create personal recovery plans, navigate paperwork, and locate assistance for their specific disaster-caused needs, such as mental health support, housing and unemployment assistance, animal supplies, assistance for groceries, rent, medicine and other items or services. The MARC, which will be located at the Nodaway Valley Elementary School is open:
  o Sunday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  o Monday, June 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Please use the building’s southeast entrance.
• There is a paid contractor license fee of $100. All paid contractors must complete an application, pay the fee, submit certificates of insurance, and complete a background check at city hall prior to approaching residents. More info: https://www.adaircounty.iowa.gov/tornado/resources/
• The Adair County website is updated with the most current information, including the free meal schedule through Monday. Local restaurants are also open and ready for your business!