(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is holding a roundtable discussion that will be livestreamed this (Tuesday) afternoon to discuss what he says are glaring failures in the Biden administration’s Unaccompanied Children Program. Under that effort, Grassley says the Department of Health and Human Services is to take children who arrive at the U-S border without their parents and place them with trusted sponsors. Grassley says, “HHS whistleblowers told me and my investigators that the Biden administration isn’t fully vetting those sponsors.” The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the administration knowingly placed unaccompanied migrant children with harmful sponsors in the U-S.

“That’s of great concern to me because as a result, innocent kids have been sent to potential criminals, abusers and traffickers,” Grassley says, “and that ought to send a chill up everybody’s spine.” Grassley’s roundtable is scheduled for 1:30 P-M/Central and can be accessed through his social media pages and his official website. Grassley, a Republican, has been highly critical of the Biden administration, but says he won’t call for Biden to end his bid for reelection. “I’m not going to dump on Biden as a person and his problems. Those are all within the Democrat party,” Grassley says. “I think the Democrat primary voters have given him enough votes that whatever happens is up to them and him.”

Grassley, who is 90 years old — which is nine years older than Biden, says he’s focusing on issues like the administration’s policies for the border and the economy.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI-TV] — A Des Moines police officer and his K-9 partner were hurt in a crash this (Tuesday) morning. Police told KCCI that an officer driving in the 200 block of Southeast Sixth Street notified the department at around 7:08-a.m., that he had been involved in a crash. The officer, who police said was a 49-year-old male, and 23-year veteran of DMPD, was trapped in his vehicle after the crash.

Firefighters were called to the scene to mechanically extricate the officer from the vehicle. He was taken to a nearby hospital in serious but stable condition. The K-9 was treated at an emergency veterinary hospital and released.

Police say a preliminary investigation shows a southbound pickup truck crossed over the center line into northbound lanes of Southeast Sixth Street before crashing into the patrol car and a parked vehicle. Authorities say the pickup driver was listed in stable condition in the hospital.

(Sac City, Iowa) – The Sac County Sheriff’s Office reports today (Tuesday), a man suffered burns to the upper portion of his body during a house fire last week in rural Odebolt. A 60-year-old man residing in the 16-hundred block of 370th Street called the Sac County Communications Center at around 9:10-a.m. on the 3rd, and advised his house was on fire and he was still in the residence. The first responding deputy saw a foot sticking out of a sliding door on the south side of the home. The deputy made contact with the male resident and assisted him with getting up and out of the home before the Odebolt Fire Department arrived on the scene.

Members of the Odebolt, Wall Lake, Lake View and Kiron Fire Departments provided mutual aid during the incident. The resident was treated and stabilized by members of the Odebolt, Lake View and Sac County Emergency Services. A highway in the area was shut down to provide an L-Z (Landing Zone) for a MercyOne helicopter, which flew the burn victim to an undisclosed burn center. A report on the man’s condition is currently unknown.

Sac Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook page photo

At the request of the Odebolt Fire Department, the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called-in to assist with determining a cause for the fire.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Treasurer Jackie Porter, this (Tuesday) morning, administered the Oath of Office to Trinity Oakleaf, Assistant to the Treasurer.

Her Oath was administered during a meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.

Jackie Porter administers the Oath Of Office to Trinity Oakley.

The Board also approved the appointment of Christine Adams as Montgomery County Representative on the Red Oak Public Library Board for a six-year term. The Montgomery County Supervisors discussed and approved the abatement and refund of Red Oak City-owned property taxes paid in error by Bruce Reich, in the amount of $331-dollars. Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna explained…

The Board discussed renewing a contract with Family Connections, a home and office-based mental health agency, offering around the clock access to trained crisis counselors, and is renting county-owned property. The proposed contract calls for a 52-cent increase in their fee. No action was taken during today’s meeting. Jill Ozuna will have a draft contract finalized for the Board’s approval next week.

And, Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert provided the Supervisors will a weekly Secondary Roads Department report.

Montgomery Co. Engineer Karen Albert

In other business, the Board approved the Sheriff’s and Recorder’s report on fees for June 30, 2024, as well as claims.

(Walnut, Iowa) – Multiple agencies responded to a hazardous materials spill Monday evening in Pottawattamie County. According to Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Specialist Michell Bose, the incident occurred on the Exit Ramp from Interstate 80 westbound to Antique City Drive (Exit 46/Walnut), at around 5:30-p.m., Monday. The driver of a transport truck noticed something leaking from the cargo area, and pulled off the Interstate. The leaking material turned out to be Hydrogen Peroxide – a colorless liquid with a slightly sharp odor. Hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, and throat.

Emergency crews from Walnut and Avoca were first on the scene. Other responding agencies included the Council Bluffs Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Michell Bose said the leak was quickly contained to the shoulder of the exit ramp, through the use of absorbent booms.

The exit ramp was closed-off to traffic while the spill was being cleaned-up. No injuries were reported. Emergency crews remained on the scene for about three-hours before the exit ramp was re-opened to traffic.

(Carroll, Iowa) – The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Granite Avenue and 200th Street, west of Templeton. The accident happened during the evening of July 3rd, 2024. Authorities say the vehicle in question is believed to be an “electric” or brighter blue color, and either a four-door car or a pickup truck.

The vehicle will have extensive driver’s side damage, and was believed to have a male driver and female passenger. The vehicle may also have white paint transfer on the damaged area, as well.

If you know this vehicle or have seen it, please contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 712-792-4393.

(Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – State utility regulators have approved a public meeting schedule starting in late August, in which Summit Carbon Solutions will present its significant proposed expansion for its carbon dioxide pipeline system. The company’s initial network of pipe in the state — which runs a total of about 690 miles — was recently approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission, although Summit is barred from starting construction until it has permission to build the system in North and South Dakota. The system might capture carbon dioxide at ethanol plants in five states and transport it to North Dakota for underground storage.

The expansion in Iowa includes about 340 miles of pipe to connect to more ethanol plants. It is the result of Summit inking new agreements with more ethanol producers after another company, Navigator CO2, abandoned its plans for a similar project. Summit has said it has agreements with 30 of the state’s 42 ethanol plants.

Crowd in Fort Dodge for Summit’s hearing before the Iowa Utilities Board (now known as the Iowa Utilities Commission). (RI photo)

The public meetings for the expansions are set to be held in 23 counties, after which Summit can negotiate for land easements and petition for pipeline permits. In southwest Iowa, pipeline expansion meetings will be held :

— Aug. 26th at 6 p.m. in Adams County: Corning Opera House Cultural Center, 800 Davis Ave., Corning
— Aug. 27th at noon in Montgomery County: Red Coach Inn, 1200 Senate Ave., Red Oak
— Aug. 27th at 6 p.m. in Guthrie County: Guthrie County Activity Center, 209 State St., Guthrie Center

Proposed pipeline expansion routes:

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a Clarke County man was arrested Monday evening, then cited and released, following a traffic stop.  Authorities say 34-year-old Bo Christopher-Robert Garland, of Osceola was stopped in the Creston/Bomgaars Parking Lot. Garland was charged with Driving while Suspended. He was released from the scene on a Promise to Appear in court.

(Area) – Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand will visit southwest Iowa today (July 9th), and Wednesday (July 10^th),  as part of his 100 Town Hall Tour across Iowa’s 99 counties. See the schedule below:

Tuesday, July 9, 2024:

Union County Town Hall

Rainbow Park (500 S Vine Street), in Creston, from 10:15am-11:15am

Adams County Town Hall
Grove Park (800 10^th Street), in Corning, from 12:00pm-1:00pm

Adair County Town Hall

Greenfield City Park in Greenfield, from 1:45pm-2:45pm

Guthrie County Town Hall

Mitchell Park (507 W State Street), in Guthrie Center, from 3:45pm-4:45pm

State Auditor Rob Sand

Sand’s stops on Wednesday, July 10th include:

Mills County Town Hall
Hiley Park (128 Hillcrest Avenue), in Glenwood, from 10:00am-11:00am

Fremont County Town Hall

Fremont County Courthouse Steps (506 Filmore Street), in Fremont, from 11:45am-12:45pm

Montgomery County Town Hall

Legion Park in Red Oak, from 1:30-to 2:30-p.m.