(Radio Iowa) – The drop in travel on Iowa’s highways brought on by higher gas prices appears to have eased in September as fuel prices went down. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson tracks the numbers. “We’ve seen that as fuel prices have moderated, we’ve seen that vehicular travel pick up again,” he says. Anderson says the increase put travel numbers back to pre-pandemic levels.

“September we’re actually about half a percent above the September 2019 levels. So we’re back in the positive range again,” Anderson says. He says the early look at last month’s numbers shows the trend continuing. “October appears to be just a little bit above October of 2019 as well so so I think we’re past that four or five six month period where we saw the impact on vehicular traffic due to high fuel prices,” he says.

Anderson made his comment in an update Tuesday to the Transportation Commission.

[UPDATED] (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, accepted the resignation of Conservation Board member Phil Pryzchodzin, and the appointment of Blaine Behnken as a replacement. The Board tentatively approved the use of Opiod Recovery Funds in the amount $6,400, to host a mental health class for police and sheriff’s department personnel, in Atlantic. The funds were requested last month by Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue, in hopes of hosting the event for law enforcement personnel, in March, 2023. Hogue said CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) classes are being offered in Council Bluffs in January.

There is a drastic difference, he says, between that program and the one he wants to offer, in March.

The Board agreed to have the County Attorney draw-up a Resolution essentially stating that the funds will be transferred to, and administered by, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services. In his report to the Board, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said work is complete on Bridge #182 on 610^th Street, and the road is open. Also, work is underway on a box culvert project on Fairview Road for Bridge #425 is underway. The rest is pretty much regular road maintenance, including hot melt asphalt (HMA) patching, road shoulder work, and the stockpiling of rock.

The Board tabled action for now, on approving a Resolution to amend the Cass County Five-year Construction Program. They approved the hiring of landfill employee James Stokely, as a Secondary Roads Truck Driver (Operator 1). In other business, Board Chair Steve Baier said he was pleased with the bid proposals that were submitted for real estate services, with regard to the sale of the County Farm (the Willow Heights property).

The county-owned farm includes the old Willow Heights building, approximately 115 acres of row crop ground and approximately 35 acres of pasture ground. The Supervisors held a considerable amount of discussion with regard to bids for Real Estate Services, associated with the sale of the County-Farm. They narrowed down their selection to Farmers National and Property Connection Real Estate. The Board will hold separate, final interviews with representatives of those two agents, on Friday. One interview takes place at 9-a.m., the other at 9:30-a.m.

The Board passed a Resolution to rescind a previous resolution that allocates payment of ARPA funds on November 15^th, and changed the date of payment to November 10^th, instead. They also passed a Resolution setting appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022-23.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested at around 1-p.m. Tuesday. 57-year-old Stephanie Hightshoe, of Villisca, was arrested on two-counts Delivery of Methamphetamine, both Class-C Felonies. She was being held on bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Five people are now jailed and more arrests are expected in what Des Moines police say was a drug-related kidnapping. On Monday night, a 20-year-old Des Moines man was reported missing as rumors swirled he’d been kidnapped. On Tuesday morning, investigators found evidence the unidentified man had been held against his will and assaulted in an apartment — but had been moved to another apartment. His captors released him and detectives found him at a hospital with significant injuries.

The five kidnapping suspects range in age from 21 to 25 and all are from Des Moines or West Des Moines. Five guns were seized, including two that were reported stolen. Police say evidence indicates the victim was believed to owe a drug debt.  The suspects arrested include:

Brandon Dwight Johnson, 21-year-old from Des Moines
o Kidnapping – 2nd Degree
o Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

Deng Gai, 21-year-old from Des Moines
o Kidnapping – 2nd Degree
o Possession Of A Controlled Substance With Intent To Deliver
o Failure To Affix Tax Stamp

Michel Gai, 22-year-old from Des Moines
o Kidnapping – 2nd Degree
o Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

Rodney Vincent Benson, 22-year-old from Des Moines
o Kidnapping – 2nd Degree
o Carrying Weapons
o Possession Of A Controlled Substance

Malik Marquis Hawkins, 25-year-old from West Des Moines
o Kidnapping – 2nd Degree

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Supreme Court will hear constitutional challenges today (Wednesday) to a long-established law that protects Native children from being removed from their families. The Indian Child Welfare Act requires state agencies to work with tribes on child home placements. Iowa Assistant Attorney General Diane Murphy Smith says overturning the law would be devastating to tribal communities. Smith says, “In state court, we’re really facing huge implications for our Native children and Native families, and our tribal state agreements.” She says it would scale back the state’s ability to serve and collaborate with the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa.

Before the law passed in 1978, around one-fourth of Native children were taken from their families by state child welfare agencies. Of those, 85-percent ended up in non-Native homes. Great Plains Action Society representation director Jessica Engelking says reversal of the law would undo decades of work to protect Native children. Engelking says, “I’m absolutely terrified of going back to a time where our children were just stolen with impunity, more so than they are now.” The law’s opponents argue the legislation discriminates based on race, but tribes say being Native is a political designation, not a racial one, which means tribal sovereignty is also under threat.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed an amicus brief, urging the court to reject the challenges.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report 36-year-old Melisa Rhiane Griesinger, of Creston, was arrested today (Wed.) at around 12:45-a.m.  She was charged with Public Intoxication/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Griesinger was transported to the Clarke County Jail, where her cash or surety bond was set at $600.

And, a man residing in the 500 block of N. Pine Street, in Creston, told police late Tuesday morning, that the license plates on his truck had been stolen. The plate number is LGY 169. The loss was estimated at $15.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A majority of Iowans feel the right to keep and bear arms should be a part of the Iowa Constitution. Unofficial results show 65% of Iowans voted in favor of a Constitutional Amendment, that summarily states any restrictions of the right to own and bear firearms will be subject to strict scrutiny.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 3:30-a.m. today, of 49-year-old Jeffrey Dean Etter. He was taken into custody during a traffic stop, on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure to appear on a driving while revoked charge. His bond was set at $10,000. And, at around 10:35-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 23-year-old Jacob David Berggren, of Red Oak, on a warrant out of Nebraska, for Violation of Probation. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail while awaiting extradition to Nebraska. Red Oak Police were assisted in handling the arrest, by deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans have won 34 seats in the Iowa Senate. Jack Whitver is the G-O-P leader in the Senate. “We have made history,” Whitver said. “It’s been over 50 years since either side has had a super majority.” In January, the Senate G-O-P will have the required 34 votes to confirm all state agency leaders and board and commission members Governor Kim Reynolds nominates — and Democrats cannot vote to block those appointments. Zach Wahls — the Senate’s Democratic Leader — says his party faced national headwinds that will dissipate when Donald Trump’s influence in the G-O-P starts to wane.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but I do think that there is a clear path back to political power for Democrats in the state of Iowa,” Wahls said. Wahls says one bright spot for Democrats last (Tuesday) night was the defeat of Iowa Senate President Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel. Republicans in the Iowa House appear to have added to their majority, although results in a few races were still unknown early this (Tuesday) morning. Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the Iowa House currently represent all or part of 97 counties.

“After tonight, that number is 99 of 99 counties,” Grassley said, to cheers. Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says it’s time for Democratic to turn a page and use this election as motivation. “The choices are be defeated, be down, or get ready to fight and I’m ready to fight,” Konfrst says, “and I’m ready to build back.”

The 2023 legislative session begins Monday, January 9th.

(Radio Iowa) – It appears to be a G-O-P sweep of all but one statewide race in Tuesday’s election, led by Governor Kim Reynolds. “It’s been an incredible campaign…and I’m excited to say to you tonight that we are not yet done because the best is yet to come,” Reynolds said. Reynolds defeated Democrat Deidre Dejear by 20 points. Reynolds has been governor since mid-2017.

“We are not stopping. We are not slowing down. I am so excited to get back to work and to lay out a bold, conservative agenda and to follow through with what we say we’re going to do.” Reynolds said after floods, drought, tornadoes and a pandemic, she’s ready for the next challenge. The governor made it clear she’ll ask legislators to pass a “school choice” bill to give parents state funding to cover private school tuition costs for their kids.

“It is going to be an agenda where you keep more of your money, where our schools are thriving and all parents have a choice,” Reynolds said, “where you government works for you, not the other way around.” Reynolds used part of her victory speech to praise her opponent. “She worked hard,” Reynolds said. “She traveled across Iowa to take her message to the people and while we have our differences, we both want Iowa to succeed and that’s how it should be.” DeJear said running against an incumbent governor had been incredibly difficult.

“I am extremely proud of the progress that we have been able to make,” DeJear said. “….Every day out of the week, democracy is worth fighting for.” DeJear told supporters not to give up fighting for the issues that were the basis of her campaign. “Coretta Scott King said the fight freedom is fought and won at every generation. We can’t let up,” DeJear said.
Eighty-nine-year-old Chuck Grassley won an eighth term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Mike Franken by 14 points. “I thank you for your trust in me over a long period of time,” Grassley said. “I’m in a position to do a lot for Iowa.” Grassley suggested Iowa voters have sent a message to Washington.

“The people have spoken tonight,” Grassley said. “In America we respect, revere and reflect the voice and the will of the American people.” Franken urged his supporters not to give up on politics. “For anyone who feels like their voice wasn’t heard, your story isn’t over — not by a long shot,” Franken said. “Rest, regroup, keep building and live to raise your voice another day.” Franken said his race against Grassley had been hard fought, but it was time to concede.

“Tonight, the Iowans around us have spoken and as citizens across this great nation may every vote be counted, may every outcome be accepted and may every transition be gracious,” Franken said, to applause. It appears G-O-P candidates will defeat Democrats who’ve been serving for decades as Iowa’s attorney general and state treasurer. Results after 1 a.m. show State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, leading Republican Todd Halbur by about three-thousand votes.