(Des Moines, Iowa) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, today (Friday) announced new staff joining her administration.

Steve Blankinship will serve as Senior Legal Counsel following the departure of Michael Boal, who has served in that role since 2020. Blankinship joins the Governor’s Office after serving as a district court judge in the Twelfth Judicial District of New Mexico and Senior Counsel to former New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. Boal will return to private legal practice.

“I appreciate Michael’s dedication to the state of Iowa and common-sense philosophy towards the law and public policy,” said Governor Reynolds. “I am confident Michael will continue to make an impact on the state of Iowa and I look forward to welcoming Steve to our team.”

Molly Severn will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff following the departure of Stephanie Groen, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff since 2021 and previously served as Director of the Office for State-Federal Relations. Severn will also continue to serve as Legislative Liaison for the Governor’s Office. Groen joined the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC) as Policy Director. With Groen’s departure, Eric Baker will now serve as Director of Federal-State Relations while also continuing to serve as Director of Strategic Operations.

“Stephanie’s years long commitment to serving the people of Iowa is unmatched and RGPPC is lucky to have her at the helm,” said Governor Reynolds. “ I know Molly and Eric will excel in their new roles.”

Lillie Brady will join the Governor’s Office as Agriculture & Energy Policy Advisor effective June 9, 2023. Previously, she served as a Senior Associate at Cornerstone Government Affairs, Government Affairs Associate at Corteva Agriscience, as well as several positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed several bills outlining new policies for Iowa Schools. One bill is similar to legislation Reynolds proposed in January. It requires schools to notify parents if their child asks to use a different name or pronoun when they’re at school. It also says the identities of people who object to books in school libraries are to be kept confidential.

And books with graphic sexual content are to be removed. Schools are also barred from instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary grades.  Another bill signed into law lets teachers file reports about classroom violence with the State Ombudsman for investigation.

Additional details on the bills signed-into law:

SF 391: A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to comprehensive school improvement plans, teacher librarians and guidance counselors, required days or hours of instruction in elementary and secondary schools, agreements between school districts and community colleges to teach certain courses, and required courses in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and authorizing school districts to offer sequential units in one classroom. 

SF 496: A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent’s or guardian’s right to make decisions affecting the parent’s or guardian’s child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. 

HF 135: A bill for an act relating to the responsibilities of the state board of regents and the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including requiring the board to publish certain information related to the average income and student debt of institution graduates and requiring the institutions to provide the board with information related to the average income and student debt of institution graduates and to adopt procedures that require institutions to provide information related to the average income and student debt of institution graduates to undergraduates. 

HF 604: A bill for an act relating to education, including authorizing the ombudsman to investigate complaints received by individuals who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners, and modifying the responsibilities of the department of education, school districts, and charter schools. 

HF 430: A bill for an act relating to education, including requirements related to mandatory reporters, a process for investigating complaints against school employees, and the responsibilities of the department of education, school districts, charter schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and the board of educational examiners, modifying the membership of the board of educational examiners, and including applicability provisions. 

HF 672: A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master’s or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools. 

HF 614: A bill for an act relating to licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants from other states or countries. 

Council Bluffs, IA – Representatives of the Western Iowa Labor Federation (WILF AFL-CIO) will join Concerned Citizens of Pottawattamie County on Wednesday, May 31st @ 9am to submit the required signatures collected to the county Auditor, triggering a special citizens initiative vote.

According to a press release, on August 1st, 2023, for the first time, residents will be able to decide how they want to elect representatives to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.  WILF AFL-CIO & CCPC representatives will submit the signature petitions to the Pottawattamie County Auditor before meeting with the media, Wednesday.

Comments about the planned the event include those from:

1. Jen Pellant, President, WILF, AFL-CIO, who said “It’s been a refreshing experience to lead such a vast, non-partisan coalition of grassroots city and county organizations including WILF and other labor unions, the faith community, UTST, CCPC, and the Liberty Caucus. Redistricting will help working families throughout the WHOLE county of Pottawattamie by having their voices heard through establishing equal population districts.” –
2. Lisa Lima, Program Director, NAMI Southwest Iowa, said “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to effect change for the generations to come.” –
3. And, Doug Irwin, Co-Chair of CCPC said “Kudos to those county residents that want to have a voice in how we
select those who represent us.”

AVOCA, Iowa – A mandatory nonessential water usage restriction is in effect immediately for the customers of the Avoca Treatment Plant Distribution System. Regional Water Rural Water District has declared “Level Yellow,” the second of a system of progressive levels within its Emergency Water Conservation Plan. These restrictions are in response to the ongoing system pressure issues, which began on May 25th.

The affected area includes members and customers of the Association in Shelby, Audubon, Cass, Harrison, and Northern Pottawattamie Counties.  The communities of Avoca, Portsmouth, Westphalia, Kirkman, Tenant, Exira, Earling, Panama, Persia, and Brayton are included.  Council Bluffs Water Works and Atlantic Municipal Utilities customers are not impacted by this alert.

Municipal, residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial users will be required to observe the following mandatory reduction measures:

1. No outdoor watering or irrigation of any kind between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. No watering or irrigation of lawns whatsoever.  Watering of flowers, vegetable gardens, trees or shrubs less than four years old, and new seedlings and sod is permitted once per week, with an application not to exceed one inch and only between 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
2. No car washing is allowed, except at commercial establishments that provide that service as their only means of income. In these cases, hours of use will be restricted to 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
3. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, children’s wading pools, or similar articles.
4. No water shall be used to clean streets, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
5. Large-volume water users, including industries, motels, hotels, eating establishments, and livestock confinements, may be requested to scale back services and/or production.
6. Schools are strongly urged to cancel their physical education activities and inter-scholastic competitions that require showers or attract crowds and take other actions to reduce water consumption.

The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation. For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413 or regionalwaterrwa@gmail.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place between May 19th and the 24th.

On May 24th, 32-year-old Patrick James Barrett Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested in Cass County on a Violation of Probation warrant.  Barrett was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

There were two arrests on May 20th, in Cass County: 30-year-old Taylor James Gardner, of Wray, CO., was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts.  Gardner was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release; and, 25-year-old Robert Micheal Daugherty, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Barred.  Daugherty was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

And, there were three arrests in Cass County on May 19th: 20-year-old Chance Eldon Kline, of Griswold, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense.  Kline was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; 41-year-old Samuel Lee Farley, of Des Moines, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Farley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held; and, 51-year-old Joel Christopher Lary, of Massena, was arrested on warrants for Failure to Appear.  Lary was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the family of a beer bosom-balancing bartender in a dispute over the use of her name. Exile Brewing created a beer in 2012 called “Ruthie” in honor of Ruth Bisignano, who became famous at her Des Moines bar in the 1950s and 60’s by balancing two pint glasses of beer on her chest. That brew became their best seller. Ruth had died in 1993, and family members reopened her estate and sued Exile claiming appropriation of Ruth’s name and likeness, and the commercial value of her identity.

Exile sought to have the reopening of the estate dismissed, but the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling denying that attempt. The ruling says that Exile’s only connection to the estate is as a potential debtor — and says it takes no position on the existence or inheritability of Ruth’s name, image, and likeness rights.

A federal civil case against Exile on the use of Ruth’s name is scheduled for trial early next year.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U-S Supreme Court has put the genie back in the bottle when it comes to the Clean Water Act. Grassley says the court’s decision on the E-P-A’s so-called Waters of the U.S. or “WOTUS” regulations has dramatically narrowed the agency’s authority to regulate wetlands and boggy areas.  “This is a great victory for farmers, even Chuck Grassley, who could have been threatened with thousands of dollars of fines if Biden’s WOTUS rules were to become law,” Grassley says.

Grassley and 46 other Republican senators filed a brief with the court a year ago, arguing the proposed E-P-A regulations went too far and violated the rights of property owners. Grassley says state officials should be the primary regulators of land and water resources within their borders.  “This decision clears up 50 years of confusion and puts a check on EPA’s mission creep,” Grassley says.

The governor, the state’s Ag Secretary and other Republicans in Iowa’s congressional delegation released written statements, praising the court’s decision. It restricts the E-P-A to regulating waterways and wetlands that have a continuous surface connection to lakes and rivers that can be navigated by boats. “A victory for farmers, builders, landowners, county supervisors so their ditches don’t have to be regulated,” Grassley says.

President Biden says the ruling upends the legal framework that has protected America’s waters for decades and it defies the science that confirms wetlands play a critical role in safeguarding our nation’s water resources from pollutants.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) said Friday (Today), they have been flooded with incomplete accidental 911 calls occurring from cellular devices. Authorities says it is believed that the cause of these calls is the Emergency SOS features on cell phones, and the newest operating systems as well as 911 features on smartwatches and other devices that people DON”T know they are activating.

In order to prevent accidental 9-1-1 calls, consider the following tips:

#1 If you accidentally call 911 please stay on the line and answer the 911 dispatcher’s questions. If you hang-up we will do everything possible to get in touch with you. Please answer that call back. We must assume that all calls are for emergencies, and there are occasions where people do call 911 and cannot relay their emergency because of criminal conduct or medical issues.

#2 Be familiar with your device(s). One common 911 accidental dials happen when cell phone user put their phone into a cup holder, purse, or pocket. That’s because the side button on the phone pushes on the edges.

• Do you know how your device is programmed to dial 911? Are those settings appropriate for your life?
• Are you using your device or storing it in a way that increases the likelihood of an accidental 911 call?
• Can you change the settings to reduce the chance of dialing 911 accidentally?

Remember, accidentally dialing 911 can tie up emergency resources and divert attention from genuine emergencies. Please carry your phone carefully. Make sure your phone is securely placed in your pocket, bag, or purse to minimize accidental pressure on the screen or buttons.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy reaches the 10-year mark, the state’s Ag secretary says there are signs of momentum for conservation, even if the state is far from the mark on water quality. The most recent data shows an uptick in cover crops on Iowa farmland, nearly three-million acres, but that’s only about a quarter of what is recommended in the strategy, according to Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig. “We need to think of multi-decades here in terms of the work that needs to be done,” Naig says.  He says conservation is accelerating as we head into the strategy’s second decade. “What we’re seeing now is more partners that are coming into this effort that hadn’t been doing this kind of work before,” he says.

The Nutrient Reduction Strategy takes a voluntary approach to reduce nitrates from farm runoff into lakes and rivers. Iowa State University data shows a rise in cover crops and areas draining into nitrate removal structures, but Alicia Vasto at the Iowa Environmental Council says the scale of change is small and has yet to show in overall water quality. Vasto faults the strategy for not setting specific benchmarks over the last decade. “We still need policy from the state level to actually implement a structure that is going to help us see water quality improvement on a broad scale,” Vasto says.

Meanwhile, Naig points to programs like “Batch and Build” in Polk County as a sign of positive momentum. The county has scaled up construction of farm conservation projects by planning and funding dozens of at a time.

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith has announced an auction to sell contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes. “Each year, financial institutions turn over contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes to my office as unclaimed property,” said Smith. “While it is heartbreaking to have to auction the cherished contents of these safe deposit boxes, we have tried for years to reunite them with their rightful owner without any success, and we just don’t have the space to continue to hold on to them. The items in this sale are some that have been held for over 10 years.” Proceeds from the auction stay in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt for the rightful owners to claim.

Prior to any auction, the Treasurer’s Office actively searches for the owner. “We send out mailings, publish names in newspapers, stay active on social media and participate in events like the Iowa State Fair, to encourage people to search their name. Through these efforts, we find thousands of people each year,” Smith stated. “If an owner comes forward before the auction, we will return the item rather than sell it.”

The first auction will begin on Tuesday, May 30th, hosted by Lone Star Auctioneers, which specializes in selling unclaimed safe deposit box contents from state unclaimed property programs. The auction website link is IowaUnclaimedProperty.org. Bidding is open to anyone registered and approved on Lone Star Auctioneers with a valid U.S. mailing address. “Using an online auction allows a larger audience from across the country to participate and helps us secure the highest bid possible for the owners,” concluded Smith.

Every year, millions of dollars in abandoned property are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions, businesses and organizations that have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. In addition to abandoned safe deposit box contents, other common forms of unclaimed property include dormant checking and saving accounts, uncashed checks, lost stocks, life insurance policies and utility deposits.