(Radio Iowa) – The American Farm Bureau has reached an agreement with John Deere that will allow farmers to repair their own equipment, or take it to independent repair shops. The director of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center, Jennifer Zwagerman, says it is a good solution for both sides. Zwagerman says Deere needs to protect the investment it has made in developing high tech systems to run tractors and other equipment. “If you can limit who can repair your products, you maintain not just the market, but you also ensure more privacy and more secrecy,” She says. “What we’re really I think seeing companies most concerned about are trade secrets.”

She says the computerized systems, programming or technology that’s used in the equipment is more important than the equipment itself. “From a legal standpoint, the more you allow people to have access to information, you’re starting to limit your ability to protect those trade secrets,” Zwagerman says. “And so I think that’s something that is very valid, that they wanted to maintain access and control over, but at the same time, was not fully recognizing or meeting the needs of their customers.” The agreement voluntarily makes available manuals or parts to vehicles or equipment.

“And that’s something that’s important to remember as well that they have voluntarily agreed to do it. And so there’s a big question about what this is actually going to look like, moving forward? Who’s going to enforce it? What sort of limitations will they put on it,?” she says. Farmers had been able to do their own repairs or have them done without concern before tractors and other equipment started to involve much more technology. “And so that’s definitely something that farmers are really pushing for — and have been very, very loudly. I think it says a lot that Deere listened,” Zwagerman says.

Zwagerman says John Deere has a long history in agriculture and working with farmers and the company wants to maintain that relationship into the future. Zwagerman says there are still some outside factors that could impact the agreement. “Either party can withdraw from this agreement at any time, particularly if any state or federal legislation tied to this is either introduced or enacted. And so it really in some ways is an effort to try and keep it voluntary like this,” she says.

Zwagerman says there have been a lot of states and the federal government looking at this type of right to repair legislation — and this agreement would keep it out of the government’s hands and out of that type of regulation. She says the Deere agreement will extend beyond that company’s products — as the memorandum of agreement says the Farm Bureau is looking to enter into these types of agreements with other companies as well.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston, Tuesday, arrested 26-year-old Tiffany Jo Scott, of Creston, for Harassment in the 1st Degree. She was taken into custody at a residence in the 300 block of N. Pine Street in Creston, at around 3:25-p.m., and transported to the Union County Jail. Scott later posted bond, and was released.

(Stanton, Iowa) – A collision in Montgomery County, Tuesday morning, between a semi tractor-grain hopper trailer, and a pickup pulling a grain vac, caused $14,500 damage, but no one was injured. The accident happened at around 10-a.m. west of Stanton, on Highway 34 at the intersection with Nature Avenue. Upon arrival, Deputies saw a 1998 Chevy K2500 pickup driven & owned by 78-year-old John L. Poston, of rural Villisca. The vehicle was facing southeast on Nature Avenue. Attached to it, was an AFI Rem grain vac, owned by Keast Enterprises, of Henderson (IA). It was overturned onto its right side.

Also on the scene, and located on the south shoulder of Highway 34 to the east of the pickup/grain vac, was a 2022 Kenworth W900 semi tractor and a hopper-bottom trailer. Both are owned by Kaiser Trucking out of Winning, SD. The semi was driven by 62-year-old William L. Assarsson, of Bassett, NE.

Authorities say as a result of their investigation, it was determined that the pickup pulling the ag equipment was traveling west on Highway 34 and slowing to make a left-hand turn onto Nature Avenue. A non-contact car behind the pickup heading westbound slowed to prepare for Poston’s turn. As the semi approached from the rear, Assarsson saw the vehicles ahead of him were slowing. He tried to avoid hitting the vehicles, by entering the eastbound lanes while still westbound. As the pickup & grain vac were turning, they were struck by the semi on the left side, causing the grain vacuum to overturn and come to rest on its side.

Assarsson drove the semi onto the shoulder of the road and parked it, to minimize the danger to other motorists. The semi sustained $2,500 damage. Damage to the pickup was estimated $5,000, and the grain vac sustained $7,000 damage. There were no citations issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold their first regularly scheduled meeting of the New Year, this evening, at in the High School Media Center. Their session begins at 5:30-p.m.  Action items on the agenda include approval of two resignations: Lisa Krogman, K-1st Reading Support (at the end of the 2022-23 school year), and Mark Andersen, Assistant Boys Soccer Coach. The Board will act on several of Superintendent Steve Barber’s Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment, as well, including those for:

• Aya Hamanaka, English Language Learn (ELL) Teacher
• Savannah Bell, Title 1 Teacher
• Cale Roller, Volunteer Wrestling Coach
• Gaylord Schelling, Interim Head Baseball Coach
• Sam Kennedy, Preschool Bus Monitor
• Jenny Madsen, Mentor, and,
• Hannah Misner, Long-Term Substitute.

Other action items include Resolutions: To consider participation in the ISL (Instructional Support Levy), and the setting of a Public Hearing. By passing the Resolution, the District may receive $748,572 for FY 2023; and a Resolution re: Public Purpose Expenditures in the amount of $3,000 in addition to $5,000 that was approved in Aug., 2022. The Board will act on approving a two-year Driver’s Education Contract with Deluxe Driving Academy, at a proposed rate of $350 per student, and $335 for individuals who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on Fall 2023 Coaching Contracts for:

And, they are expected to approve an application to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) Allowable Growth in the amount of $519,614, for At-Risk/Dropout Prevention. The funds are used to help fund the District’s CCEOC Alternative program, and to allow support services for students at all levels. Superintendent Barber says the work that is done in the college and career readiness are enhances with these funds. In other business, the Board will act on approving a $15,000 Architect/Engineer Contract with Snyder and Associates, to complete the scope of work outlined in a proposal for a High School Storage Shed.

CLIVE, Iowa — A southwest Iowa woman won $30,000 on a scratch ticket she received from her husband as a Christmas gift. April Miller, from Walnut, said her husband Mitch bought the ticket at the Walnut Kum and Go and put it in her stocking.

She won the big prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “Merry Money” scratch game.

April Miller, of Walnut, IA (Photo & story courtesy of the Iowa Lottery)

Miller said she plans to put her winnings toward home improvements, a new purse and a tropical vacation.

Merry Money was a $3 scratch game with a holiday theme. It began sales in October and ended this month after the conclusion of the holiday season.

(Rural Montgomery County, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 12:35-a.m. today (Wednesday), west of Red Oak, resulted in the arrest on felony drug charges, of two people. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies conducted a traffic stop at Highway 34 and E Avenue. During their investigation, the Sheriff’s K-9 “Riddick” alerted to the vehicle, which was searched. During the search, Deputies recovered 85 grams of Methamphetamine.

35-year-old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Council Bluffs, and 26-year-old Summer Brooke French, of Red Oak, were taken into custody on Class-B Felony charges of Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver (Over 5 grams). They were being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County Communications Center and Montgomery County K-9 Unit.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley will undergo surgery this week after hurting his hip. Senator Grassley’s staff released a statement yesterday at about 5:30 p.m., saying Grassley is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery. The statement did not indicate how Grassley injured his hip or what kind of surgery would be performed. Grassley sent a tweet shortly after seven o’clock last (Tuesday) night, praising Governor Reynolds for her “Condition of the State” message, but not commenting on his own condition.

Grassley has just started his 8th term in the U.S. Senate and has the most seniority of any currently serving senator. Grassley, who is 89, is also the second oldest senator.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing state-funded savings accounts for parents who send their children to private school. Reynolds outlined the plan during the annual “Condition of the State” address at the statehouse. “Our first priority in this legislative session and what I will be focusing on over the next four years is making sure that every child is provided with a quality education that fits their needs,” Reynolds said. The governor’s plan would create Education Savings Accounts. In the next school year, about 76-hundred dollars in state money would be deposited in each account — for low income parents enrolling a child in a private school. In the third year, ALL Iowa parents would be eligible for state money to cover private school tuition and related expenses.

“Every child is an individual who deserves an education tailored to their unique needs,” Reynolds said, “and parents are in the best position to identify the right environment.” This is the third year Reynolds has asked the Republican-led legislature to pass a so-called “school choice” plan and this year’s bill is the most expansive. Reynolds campaigned against some fellow Republicans in the Iowa House who opposed her previous plans. This new proposal is expected to send nearly 107 million dollars to low income Iowa parents who enroll their child in a private school for the next school year.  “Every parent should have a choice of where to send their child and that should not be limited to families that can afford it,” Reynolds said. The governor’s staff did not have state spending estimates for future years, when all parents would be eligible for state funds to cover private school expenses for a child.

Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says the governor’s plan, in year three, will give taxpayer dollars to wealthy Iowans who can already afford to send their kids to private school.  “It will hurt our state and especially devastate our small towns and rural communities,” Wahls said. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says private schools aren’t REQUIRED to take students — and there’s no private school option in 42 Iowa counties. “So school choice, parental choice, is a misnomer,” Konfrst says. “…This is the latest scheme to hurt public education.” A newly-created, five-member House committee will review the governor’s school choice plan at a meeting early this (Wednesday) afternoon. Jack Whitver, the Republican leader in the state SENATE, suggests the governor’s bill could move quickly through the legislative process.

“We passed our first ‘school choice’ bill three or four years ago, so it’s been a conversation that’s happened over five years,” Whitver says. “But certainly over the last month we’ve continued to talk with (the governor), talk with the House, find out what they’re comfortable with, what we’re comfortable with and, hopefully, we can find agreement here in the next couple of weeks.” Reynolds also used last (Tuesday) night’s speech to reveal a state government reorganization plan. Reynolds hired a private consulting firm to help develop the outline, which would shrink the number of state agencies from 37 to 16. “Aligning state government with the only reason it exists — serving Iowans,” Reynolds said.

The governor’s aides say there will be no employee layoffs and more than 215 million dollars would be saved over the next four years under the reorganization plan. Reynolds also called on legislators to provide one-and-a-half MILLION dollars in state funding to groups that would offer parental counseling to men and teenage boys in at-risk households. This would be in addition to continued state funding for groups that provide pregnancy tests and other resources for expectant mothers. “It sends a powerful message that a pro-life state is one that surrounds every person involved in an unplanned pregnancy with protection, love and support,” Reynolds said. Reynolds has not proposed new state abortion restrictions.

The governor and Republican lawmakers say they’re waiting for an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on a six-week abortion ban that’s been blocked from taking effect.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak are reporting two separate arrests. At around 1:18-a.m. today, 35-year-old Richard Dean Pierce, III, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at slightly more than $491. And, at around 8:40-p.m. Tuesday, 27-year-old Nikolus Brenton Schooling, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 400 block of E. Market Street in Red Oak, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra is taking the Biden administration to task over how they have investigated cases of classified documents differently in the possession of former president Donald Trump and Biden’s son Hunter. “They knew about the documents before the election. They raid Mar A Lago before the election, but they didn’t do anything with the Biden (documents) when they knew the information was there until they don’t after the election — and that’s what to me, where’s the fairness where’s the equal treatment under the law,” Feenstra says.

The Republican from Hull says with his party now in control of the House, they will press for answers about how former president Trump was investigated and raided by federal agencies while Republican concerns about hunter Biden were ignored: “Today we’re creating a policy to create a subcommittee through the judiciary committee to investigate the weaponization of the F-B-I and the D-O-J. This is a big deal we got to get to the bottom of this,” he says.

Feenstra joined fellow house G-O-P members in voting for the family and small business taxpayer protection act which would repeal the I-R-S enforcement funding in the Democrat Inflation Reduction Act and prevent the Biden administration from hiring more I-R-S agents. “You have government overreach here 87-thousand new I-R-S s agents they’re gonna target 90 percent of Americans who make under 400-thousand dollars. That was our first bill and I’m glad we got it done,” Feenstra says.

The bill will likely not make it to the floor in the Democratic-controlled U-S Senate.