(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says the Iowa Democratic Party is “unwilling to accept” that a mail-in system of ballots for their 2024 Caucuses is akin to a primary and that jeopardizes the first-in-the-nation status for both parties’ Caucuses.

Reynolds issued a written statement on the topic shortly after a House subcommittee approved a bill to require that participants in Iowa’s Republican and Democratic Party Caucuses attend the events in person. Representative Austin Harris of Moulton is the former political director for the Iowa Republican Party. He predicts New Hampshire will schedule its presidential primary ahead of Iowa’s Caucuses if Iowa Democrats are allowed to follow through with their plan .

“The purpose of the Caucus is to have a closed door meeting to conduct the party business,” Harris said, “and I think having a vote-by-mail process is going to destroy the entire purpose of the Caucus to begin with.” Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, said her party is looking to expand access to the Caucuses. “It’s a little bit of an exclusive group that gets to participate in the in-person Caucuses on one night,” Nielsen said. “…People that work nights don’t have the opportunity, people that maybe have children that they can’t bring or don’t have a babysitter.”

Nielsen said Republicans are inserting themselves into Democratic Party business. “I don’t think that allowing some remote access to our Caucuses is creating a Primary,” Nielsen said. “What it’s doing is opening up access.”

Bill sponsor Representative Bobby Kaufmann, the son of Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann, responded to Nielsen. “I will mind my own business when the Iowa Caucuses are not in jeopardy,” Kaufmann said. “when the Iowa Caucuses are in jeopardy, which they absolutely are, then it is my business.”

Representative Brooke Boden, a Republican from Indianola, said the bill would maintain the integrity of the Caucus concept. “A Caucus is a place for a robust conversation, a place where you can get together with your party and discuss the best candidates and I don’t think a mail ballot affords that type of conversation to happen,” Boden said.

The bill also would require Caucus participants to be registered to vote as a Democrat or a Republican 70 days before the night of the caucuses. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver said both parties have worked for years to maintain the first-in-the-nation status of the Iowa Caucuses.

“The Senate is hopeful this tradition will continue,” Whitver said in a written statement.

(Anita, Iowa) – Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were paged-out to a residential structure fire at around Noon today (Wednesday). The blaze was reported west of Anita at 72737 Eastland Road. Cass County Communications also requested Atlantic and Adair Fire for provide mutual aid to Anita Fire. Additional details are currently not available.

(Radio Iowa) – Two South Carolina Republicans with White House aspirations are campaigning in Iowa. South Carolina Tim Scott has just announced he formed a presidential campaign exploratory committee — the last step before declaring he’s a candidate for the White House. He was in Cedar Rapids this (Wednesday) morning. Scott, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, released a video and it begins by noting this is the day the first shots were fired in the Civil War.

In the video, Scott says Democrats are pursing a liberal agenda and promoting a culture of grievance in America.

Senator Tim (Rep.) from South Carolina.

Scott has made frequent visits to Iowa, dating back to 2014, shortly after he was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Nikki Haley, who was South Carolina’s governor at the time. Haley, who served as United Nations Ambassador during the first half of the Trump Administration, kicked off her own bid for president early this year. She spoke to an audience in Des Moines early this (Wednesday) morning. (click on photos to enlarge)

Haley spoke at events in western Iowa earlier this week. Today’s (Wednesday’s) event was aimed at women voters.

Nikki Haley speaks during an event in Denison, IA. April, 2023

Haley was the first woman to be elected governor of South Carolina and, after winning that first race for governor in 2010, she was the youngest governor in the country.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Transportation Commission is considering delaying some projects in its five-year construction plan as inflation and other factors impact the costs of building and maintaining state roadways. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson says they’ve been analyzing a lot of data as they prepare the plan for a June vote. “Not surprisingly, the inflationary pressures have hit the road and bridge construction industry, just like they have all sectors. So we are seeing our project cost estimates increase,” Anderson says.

He says the cost increases come as state and federal revenue is relatively flat.  “Last year, with a five year program, there was additional revenue from the federal infrastructure bill, but all that money was programmed last June. So this new program, there’s no additional revenue,” Anderson says. “So with increasing costs and flat revenue. That means the commission has had to look at some different options for how to deliver a fiscally-constrained five year program.”

Higher gas prices can leads to less driving and less gas tax revenue for road repairs — but Anderson says the impact of high fuel prices on construction costs is a bigger issue. “Building a roadway or bridge requires moving dirt and a lot of heavy equipment that uses fuel. And, of course, some of our road construction materials involve involves petroleum products,” Anderson says. “That can certainly have an impact on our construction costs as well.” Anderson says they’ve look at ways to adjust while keeping the Transportation Commission’s priority for the repair and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

“And so the Commission asked the department to look at options to make sure those investments aren’t reduced, and those projects aren’t impacted,” he says. “But then see if there are other projects that are more related to capacity or system enhancement, to see if there’s some projects there that could perhaps be delayed, but in a way that minimizes those impacts on ultimate construction schedules.” He says the D-O-T presented the Commission with some options. “And about a dozen projects would be delayed by a year in the program. And that’s out of over 600 projects. So program can be balanced with a pretty minimal impact on project schedules,” he says.

The D-O-T will release its draft five-year improvement plan in May, and then the Transportation Commission will vote on the final plan in June.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – Officials with the Shenandoah Fire Department said on the department’s social media page, Wednesday, that at around 7:50-p.m., Tuesday, Shenandoah Fire and EMS were paged to a car versus farm equipment sprayer with no (initially reported) injuries. Authorities said “Upon arrival, the car was fully engulfed with fire, it was determined that 3 patients were on location. All patients were out and away from the vehicle, and both north and south ditches on fire from the car fire. Patients were treated for injuries and taken to the Shenandoah Medical Center and one patient was transported via LifeNet 1-1 Omaha for a higher level of care while fire crews from Essex Fire Rescue were paged to assist Shenandoah due to the ditch fire spreading towards a cornfield.

Fire and EMS personnel were back in service a little after 1-a.m., Wednesday. The Shenandoah Fire Department extends its gratitude to all responding fire and emergency services departments. They said “We would like to give the biggest thanks to Essex Fire & Rescue and Red Oak Fire Department for all the fire and ems assistance and covering our town, and Page County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, Page County EMA, and Benefiel Towing for much needed assistance. “Also, this is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and we are very thankful for all of our dispatchers, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without you! Thank you for everything you do, and thank you everyone for all the help last (Tuesday) night!

Due to crews working the original call, Red Oak Fire assisted covering Shenandoah and Page county in the event of any further calls. Clarinda Fire was also placed on standby to assist with covering Shenandoah Calls.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health reported on Wednesday (April 12/today) that on March 19th, Cass County Public Health hosted a luncheon for Atlantic’s local Pacific Islander population. More than 125 members of this community attended. Public Health Director Beth Olsen said “We organized this event because we want to make sure we are connecting this community to the right people and services available here. Our goal at Public Health is to assist in creating communities that are healthy and thriving, and that means part of what we do is directly address health inequities in our local population.”

Since the event, multiple community partners have seen an increase in the number of Pacific Islanders accessing their services. Olsen says “By creating the time and space for this back-and-forth dialogue, we’re now seeing the positive impacts. We’re seeing more people aware of preventive health services. It’s certainly helped that we were able to connect faces and names to these organizations that are excited to welcome and assist these families.”

Jack Soram, Dep. Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia. (Photo submitted)

Jack Soram, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia, attended and spoke to the audience throughout the afternoon. Deputy Chief Soram remarked, “Since I began working with the Embassy five years ago, this is the first time that I have ever seen offer any type of town hall event for our community.”

Cass Health presentations were given by Public Health, Dr. Marcela Pineda, Mary Robinson, PA-C, and Care Coordinator Tiara Zemanek. Additionally, Atlantic Community School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Mayor Grace Garrett, Police Chief Devin Hogue, Sheriff Darby McLaren, and others spoke at the luncheon including representatives from Iowa Total Care, West Central Community Action, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, SWITA, Family Inc., Zion Recovery Services, Legal Aid Iowa, Atlantic Public Library, Alzheimer’s Association, Cass County Extension, and the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Following the luncheon, members of the Pacific Islander community performed a traditional song and dance for all attendees, and then concluded with a church service.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports a woman was arrested on ADW and other charges early this (Wednesday) morning. Authorities say Officers with the Red Oak Police Department were called at around 5:43-a.m. to 510 W. Washington Street, for a report that someone had been assaulted and the person that had (allegedly) assault them, stole their firearm and fled.

Upon arrival and investigation, Officer learned the victim, and 30-year-old Amanda Joy Williams, of Red Oak, had begun to argue, and that Williams took the victim’s firearm. A fight over the weapon broke out, with Williams allegedly striking the victim a couple of times before fleeing from the residence with the weapon. Officers searched for Amanda Williams but were unable to locate her, until someone in the 500 block of W. Coolbaugh Street called, and said Williams was on their front porch. Officers responded and took Williams into custody at around 7:26-a.m.. She was still in possession of the firearm.

Amanda Joy Williams faces charges that include Aggravated Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Theft in the 4th Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa)  – A ban on outdoor burning is in place effective immediately, for Adair County and Guthrie Counties. The ban was implemented at 8-a.m. today (Wednesday, April 12, 2023). The ban prohibits open burning in Adair County and Guthrie County, including all the cities within the counties. The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout Adair and Guthrie County. As dry conditions and winds persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly.

Adair-Guthrie County Emergency Management Deputy Coordinator Jeremy Cooper says “Adair and Guthrie County Fire Departments have seen the effects of fires in extreme conditions, and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate life threatening incidents from occurring. These Fire Departments are volunteer departments and are responding to numerous calls a day that pull them from their everyday life and work and becomes very taxing on those volunteers.”

During these dry conditions, he says, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational campfires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fireplace of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any campfire not in an outdoor fireplace or left unattended is prohibited. Fire Departments will still be able to proceed with their scheduled controlled burns of CRP land and citizens can also obtain a burn permit from their local Fire Chief approves such a request and signs the permit.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law or to check the current status of burn bans statewide on the State Fire Marshal’s statewide burn ban website: https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal/burn-bans.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met this (Wednesday) morning, and acted on several matters to come before them on the agenda. Among them was passing the FY24 Budget (following a Public Hearing, during which there were no comments), and a Resolution approving FY 24 elected officials’ Compensation. Board Chair Jerry Walker…

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley pointed out, and Walker acknowledged, the Supervisors in Adair County voted not to take an increase in compensation this year. The Adair County Supervisors also approved Budgeted FY 24 ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Project funding, the total costs of which brought down to zero, money the county received from the Feds. Those funds were distributed as follows:

They also approved a Resolution to participate in the planning and development of programs associated withe SICOG (The Southern Iowa Council of Governments). Adair County’s share of the services amounts to $6,384.35. Supervisor John Twombley noted “We’ve by far gotten more back (in services) than we ever paid into it.”

In other business, the Board approved, and Chair Jerry Walker signed, the Adair County Roads/Iowa DOT 5-year Construction Plan, along with a contract and Performance Bond for the N-33 Orient Bridge Project. Engineer Nick Kauffman then updated the Board of some of the County Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

And, the Board approved Manure Management Plan Updates from Scott Eblen and Todd VanEaton, as well as a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw-down, in the amount of $1,826.14.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is granting one-point-two million dollars to Goldfinch Health to help cut the distribution of opioids in Iowa hospitals. A program called the Billion Pill Pledge will work with up to 25 medical facilities statewide to reduce the number of opioids prescribed for medical procedures. Attorney General Brenna Bird says she’s meeting with lawmakers to discuss other uses of the opioid settlement funds. “I’ve also been partnering with Governor Reynolds on legislation to make it a crime for a drug dealer to give someone drugs that leads to their overdose and death,” Bird says. “Right now, that’s not adequately provided for in Iowa law.”

Iowa is set to receive millions of dollars from drug manufacturers in the coming years. About half will be given to local governments and half will be placed in a state opioid settlement fund.  “I support additional substance abuse resources that are long term,” Bird says. “Many people need a program that lasts up to two years as they’re working in making those changes for substance use. I also would like to see drug court available everywhere.”

Bird says a staggering number of Iowans’ first exposure to opioids is after surgery. “This crisis ruins people’s lives, it tears family apart, it hurts communities,” she says. “It starts with a prescription. One prescription in a household increases the risk of opioid overdose to that family by 60%. If there are two in a household within six months, it increases the risk of opioid overdose by six times.”

For others, Bird says opioids act as a gateway drug that leads to more harmful substances. A state report shows 470 lives were lost to drug overdoses in Iowa in 2022, while among Iowans age 25 and younger, overdose deaths surged 120-percent in recent years.

(Reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio and Nathan Konz, KCIM, Carroll)