(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa legislature has unanimously approved a bill that requires K-through-12 schools to have discipline policies for students who are violent or disruptive. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, is a former superintendent. “It creates more structure for what schools must include in their discipline policies for threats of violence or incidents of violence,” Evans says, “while still giving the school leeway to adjust based on the specific situation.”

In March, the House voted to require in-school suspensions ANY time a student is removed from a classroom due to violent behavior. Last month, the Senate adjusted the bill giving schools more latitude, but requiring escalating discipline for students who are disruptive or violent. The House has now approved those changes and sent the bill to the governor. Representative Brook Boden, a Republican from Indianola, says lawmakers are responding to teachers, support staff, parents and administrators.

“We listened and we developed language here that will provide the support in education for all the parties,” Boden says, “making sure that we provide the tools needed to ensure that we have environments in which children can learn.” The bill will allow educators to report incidents of classroom violence or the destruction of school property to the State Ombudsman for investigation.

Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, is a retired teacher who suggests the bill is a good first step to addressing the problem. “I think this bill has come a long way,” Steckman says. “We’ve done lots of negotiating on this. I still think we have a lot more work to do on it.” Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat, is a teacher from Cedar Rapids who urged her peers to back the bill. “It protects our teachers, it protects our kids,” Donahue says. “It makes sure that there’s some clarity around behavior in the schools.”

A report from the Iowa Department of Education indicates there were nearly two-thousand assaults in Iowa schools during the last school year. Over 11-hundred incidents of property damage were reported.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would derail the Iowa Democratic Party’s plan to have mail-in presidential preference cards for the Iowa Caucuses. Representative Bobby Kaufmann is a Republican from Wilton. “House File 716 is our Caucus integrity bill,” Kaufmann says. “…It requires the Caucuses be held in person.” Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann — who is Representative Kaufmann’s father — says New Hampshire officials consider the Democratic Party’s mail in plan akin to a primary and New Hampshire would move its primary ahead of Iowa’s Caucuses.

Democrats in the House voted against the bill. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says the legislature should not be dictating how either party conducts its business and she questions why Representative Kaufmann — who is a paid staffer on Trump’s Iowa campaign — has taken the lead on the bill.

“It’s hard to imagine it’s not something like greasing the skids for Donald Trump,” Konfrst says. The bill’s fate in the Iowa Senate is unclear. Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale was the first elected Republican official in Iowa to endorse Trump in 2015. Zaun says he’s wary of legislators telling either party how to run the Caucuses, but he wants to see the changes House Republicans made in the bill before making a final judgment.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds, Senate Majority Leader Whitver, and Speaker Grassley have reached an agreement to provide property tax relief for Iowans.  Gov. Reynolds, Senate Majority Leader Whitver, and Speaker Grassley released the following joint statement:

“We’ve heard Iowans across the state voice their concern about out-of-control property taxes and the impact on family budgets. Today, we’ve come to an agreement on a path forward. This deal provides much-needed property tax relief for Iowans and lays the groundwork for even bolder reform in the future.

“House File 718 curbs the growth of local governments in a responsible manner and begins reducing property taxes next year. It also provides additional relief for older Iowans and military families and requires property tax bill transparency. In total, the bill is estimated to provide $100 million in relief.

“This is an important first step toward long overdue property tax reform. Iowa’s existing property tax code is outdated, overly complex, and costs Iowans too much of their hard-earned pay. Work on this issue is just getting started.”

Governor Kim Reynolds released the following statement:

“My commitment to cutting taxes for the hard-working people of Iowa has never been stronger. After enacting the largest tax cut in state history last year, I’m proud to work alongside the House and Senate to begin property tax reform this year. Earlier this session I signed legislation to make state government more efficient, effective, and less expensive for Iowa taxpayers. This serves as a model for local governments, and property tax reform is a good first step.”

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver released the following statement:

“We heard the urgent concerns of Iowans about rising property assessments. This agreement delivers on our promise to protect homeowners from huge property tax increases. I appreciate Senator Dawson’s tireless work on this bill, which will result in the most significant property tax reform in our state’s history.”

Speaker Pat Grassley released the following statement:

“With House Republicans representing all 99 of Iowa’s 99 counties, we are in a better position than ever to listen to Iowans. Our constituents spoke loud and clear that property tax relief must be a top priority this session and we got straight to work.  I am very proud of the work Representative Kaufmann has done to deliver on yet another promise made to Iowans. This is a good first step and we will continue to work hard to provide certainty and relief for Iowa taxpayers.”

(Radio Iowa) – The eastern Iowa cities along the Mississippi River had to put their flood control measures into place, but have averted any major problems as the river crests today (Monday). National Weather Service Meteorologist, Matt Wilson, says the lack of any rain to go with the slug of water coming downriver from Minnesota snow melt kept the water from surpassing the record.

“We have been very lucky that we haven’t had any significant rainfall to come in on top of this crest. It’s been pretty straightforward for the last week or so, pretty dry here,” he says.”And even up north, we didn’t have too much extra rainfall up there in the last week or so.” He says the Mississippi River rarely rises to the level they are seeing without rainfall contributing to the flood conditions. Wilson is in the N-W-S Quad Cities office and says these high waters are passing without big damage.

“We haven’t had any reports of any type of major levee failure or any kind of major damage in protected areas along the river. Obviously, in the unprotected lowlands along the river, the river rose to its level and affected any structures or roadways that were there,” Wilson says. “But anywhere that was behind a flood wall — by and large we haven’t heard of any damages behind that.” He says there were reports of two minor levee breaks. One was at the Green Island Wildlife Management Area.

“Just south of Bellevue. No structures or roads were impacted by that one. And then another one in Commanche, Iowa, where it was quickly sandbagged. And they had the pumps going so before anybody even really knew that what was going on the crews there were already taking care of it,” he says. Wilson says the forecast is good for allowing the waters to recede.

“Over the next week, we’re expecting broadly, no more than an inch of rain across the states of Iowa and Illinois. And then for the next eight to 14 days after that, we’re also expecting below-average chances for precipitation,” Wilson says. Wilson says that lack of rain should allow the river to go down at a faster rate than normal.

“By the end of May, we’ll have pretty much every site here in Iowa back down below flood stage,” he says. The crest is going to end up somewhere around 21-point-four feet to 21-point-five feet — which would be below the record crest.

(Harlan, Iowa) -The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests spanning the time frame of April 1st through the 30th. In order from the most recent to the earliest arrests (Date/name/age/City of residence/Offense(s):

4-30-23:

• Omar Barquero Flores, age 34, Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in Harlan. Flores was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Trespass.
• Megan Nicole Gettys, age 28, Harlan, IA was arrested and charged with Violation of a No Contact Order.
• Adam Tyrone Scheffler, age 30, Harlan, IA was charged with Violation of a No Contact order.

4-29-23: Omar Barquero Flores, age 34, Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in Harlan. Flores was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.

4-28-23: Erin Elizabeth Smith, age 41, Kirkman, IA was arrested after a call for service in Kirkman. Smith was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

4-26-23: Daija Suzanne Buttry, age 19, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59. Buttry was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License is suspended and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

4-25-23: Joshua Lewis Hytrek, age 26, Irwin, IA was arrested following a traffic stop in Irwin, IA. Hytrek was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 2nd, Driving while Barred, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Open Container; Pawel Antoni Baran, age 35, Roselle, IL was arrested following a traffic stop in Elk Horn, IA. Baran was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Keeping Vehicle for Controlled Substance

4-23-23: Robert Gail Christo, age 28, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on 9th St. Christo was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st, Improper Registration Lamp, Open Container, Failure to Provide proof of Financial Liability, and No Valid Driver’s License.

4-20-23: Robert Joseph Arkfeld, age 50, Avoca, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on St F66. Arkfeld was transported to the Shelby County Jail on active Shelby County Warrant for Homicide by Vehicle-Operating Under the Influence. Arkfeld was also charged with Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, Keeping Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Introduce Intoxicants or Drugs into Institution;–Jesse Eugene Hutton, age 33, Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in Harlan, IA. Hutton was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Interference with Official Acts.

4-19-23: Kaitlyn Noel Mingo, age 29, East Grand Forks, MN was arrested following a traffic stop on St F32. Mingo was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Failure Affix Drug Stamp, OWI, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, Controlled Substance Violation, Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle, Open Container, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

4-16-23: Candelario Hernandez Mosqueda, age 53, Council Bluffs, IA was arrested following a traffic stop in the 1100 Block of Highway 59. Hernandez Mosqueda was transported to the Shelby County Jail and Charged with Driving while License is Suspended.

4-11-23: Christopher Sloan Gifford, age 38, Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant and charged with Violation of Probation.

4-10-23: Joshua Michael Haggerty, age 28, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop at 6th St and Durant St, Harlan, IA. Haggerty was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License is Revoked, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

4-9-23: Ricki Frank Andersen, age 64, Marne, IA was arrested after a call for service in the 2600 Block of 200th St. Andersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Obstructing Emergency Communication; Nicole Renee Petersen, age 41, Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in Irwin, IA. Petersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Trespassing.

4-8-23: Drew Ashton Gagnon, age 30, Shelby, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant and charged with Violation of Probation.

4-7-23: Anton Jason Ahlhelm, age 25, Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant and charged with Failure to Appear.

4-6-23: Justin Clay North, age 29, Portsmouth, IA was arrested following a call for service in Portsmouth, IA. North was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Assault.

4-5-23: Fernando Rodriguez Juarez, age 25, Omaha, NE was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 37, Earling, IA. Juarez was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

4-2-23: Serafin Sanchez Ramirez age 32, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on St F32, Harlan, IA. Sanchez Ramirez was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License is Revoked, OWI 2nd and Failure To Provide Financial Liability.

4-1-23: Tiffanie Ann Newcomb, age 37, Kirkman, IA was arrested following a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Peach Rd. Tiffanie was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises of Vehicle for Controlled Substance, and Driving while Barred.

(Radio Iowa) – As the weather got warmer, so did the state and regional economies, according to the monthly Creighton University survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other states. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says for the third straight month, the Midwest’s overall index climbed above growth neutral, which is 50 on a zero-to-100 scale. Goss says the region’s April numbers were particularly encouraging.

“The overall reading jumped significantly up,” Goss says. “It’s still in a slow-growth range to April 54.8, and that’s up from March’s slightly-above-growth neutral reading of 50.8. It was a good reading, but still not back up to the readings we saw at this time last year.” The survey found almost six in ten supply managers fear recession will strike later this year, while about half report having trouble finding qualified workers to fill open positions.

“We’re still seeing labor hoarding out there, because companies really are attempting to not let loose of workers,” Goss says. “They don’t want to let them go knowing full well they may not ever get them back. So in some cases, we’re seeing workers not being fully busy at their jobs, so that’s bringing down productivity.” For April, Goss says hiring numbers were weak. On the plus side for consumers, the survey shows inflation is finally backing off.

“The inflation gauge dropped. It’s down from March’s 77.1 down to April 67.4, and that’s the lowest reading since December of 2022,” Goss says. “We’re seeing less and less inflationary pressures now as the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates and that is putting downward pressure on prices.”

Iowa’s economic numbers looked especially good during April, as the overall index jumped from 49.4 in March to 55.8, well over growth neutral. Goss says between the first quarter of 2022 and this year’s first quarter, Iowa’s hourly manufacturing wages climbed by more than eight-percent.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests:

On Saturday, April 29th

• 47-year-old Daniel Lee Dolen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Denied or Revoked (Bond $1,000).
• 29-year-old Angel Gomez, of Omaha, was arrested for Public Intoxication (Bond $300).
• and, 59-year-old Joseph Ray Hedrick, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Bond$5,000).

On Friday, April 28th, 27-year-old Dylan Wayne Helton, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested for: Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person; 2 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance; Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia; No Valid Driver’s License, and Operating a vehicle without registration/plate (Bond $12,900).

And, on April 26th, 25-year-old Devin Donte Sattizahn, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Domestic Abuse. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Huxley, Iowa) – A restaurant in Huxley has claimed the title of “Iowa’s Best Burger,” for 2023. The Iowa Beef Industry Council reports the Flight Bar + Grille, in Huxley, was crowned winner for their burger they call “The Foundation,” a double-smash burger with cheddar cheese. “It includes mustard aioli, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and is topped with thick-cut bacon served between a beautiful and buttery brioche bun,” explained Katie Boughey, executive chef and kitchen manager. She said “We use simple seasonings – salt and pepper – to let the beef’s flavor be the star of the burger.”

The burger features 80% lean, fresh ground beef – the ideal ratio for creating outstanding flavor. The never-frozen and Midwest-sourced beef is rolled into a meatball and then smashed straight on the grill with a steak weight to give it a crisp crust. The judges noted the crust preserves the juices inside, resulting in a perfectly cooked burger that makes the food an exceptional experience. House-made pickles and flight fries (aptly dubbed the most delicious fries you’ve ever tasted!) round out a plate of goodness that has taken off for patrons of this restaurant turned must-visit destination. It’s one of a half dozen mouthwatering burgers on Flight’s menu.

The Foundation burger at the Flight Bar & Grill, in Huxley.

Restaurant owners Marianne and Matt Pacha moved to Huxley six years ago, immediately felt at home with the sense of community the central Iowa town of 4,500 provided. The intersection of community and family values with a desire to create a restaurant with a hometown feel led the Pachas to develop and open Flight Bar + Grille in 2022. Their establishment name was inspired by the local Ballard school district’s mascot – the Ballard Bombers.  In addition to the prize-winning burger, other menu items give a nod to the aviation theme with Flight Fries with house-made aioli sauces, Bomber Sliders, the Flight Club and a kids’ menu for pilots in training, featuring Jet Sliders named for the town’s youth football program mascot.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Atlantic Community School District will hold a Special/Closed Session, on Tuesday. The meeting is being held to conduct interviews with candidates applying to become the new, District Superintendent. The session takes place at 1:45-p.m., Tuesday (May 2, 2023), in the Central Office at the Achievement Center.

The Board previously met in a Closed Session last Friday (April 28), for the purpose of reviewing applications received from persons interested in the Superintendent and School Business Official (SBO) positions.

Both positions became open with the resignations in early April, of Superintendent Steve Barber, whose last day is June 30th, and SBO Sarah Sheeder, whose last day is May 31st.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports five arrests occurred during the past week. On April 23rd, 49-year-old Matthew James Malloy, Sr., of Des Moines, was arrested following a traffic stop for speeding on Highway 25 in Adair County. When an Iowa State Patrol Trooper spoke with Malloy during an investigation that immediately followed the traffic stop, Malloy acknowledged he was speeding, and furthermore, that he did not have a driver’s license. He said also, his license was suspended. A records check confirmed Malloy was barred for being an Habitual Offender, with three license withdrawals in effect. The earliest his license would be reinstated, in April, 2026. He was charged with driving while barred and transported to the Adair County Jail in Greenfield. Malloy was released a few days later on a $2,000 bond.

On April 25th,19-year-old  Xachariah Mickale Hinson, of Greenfield, who was in the Adair County Jail, was charged with a Violation of a No Contact Order, by means of phone calls and text messages. He being held on a previous charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for allegedly breaking a woman’s apartment windows, plus a Stalking charge. Hinson remains in the jail until his sentence is served.

Also on April 25th, an Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested 33-year-old Seth Michael Thompson, of Earlham, in Greenfield, on charges of Driving While Barred. He was also cited for Operating a vehicle without Registration, and Failure to provide proof of Insurance. He was released the following day on a $2,000 bond. On April 26th, 29-year-old Bryce Austin Garrels, of Statford, Iowa, was arrested in Webster County, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He remains held in the Adair County Jail without bond.

And, on Friday, April 28th, Police in Adair arrested 66-year-old Harold David Hytrek, Jr., of Madrid, for OWI/2nd offense, Eluding, Interference with Officials Acts, and Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated. He was taken into custody following reports just before 6-p.m., of an erratic driver in a RAM pickup traveling westbound Interstate 80. He refused to yield to a marked squad car, and was boxed-in by two police vehicles, but Hytrek managed to get around the first blockade and take-off. The second time he was boxed-in, about a mile later, a DNR Officer held Hytrek at gunpoint, but he continued to resist orders to surrender, and cooperate. He was eventually transported to the Adair County Jail and released Saturday on a $1,500 bond.