(Radio Iowa)- A bill to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa for kidnapping, raping and murdering a person under the age of 18 has cleared one hurdle in the Iowa Senate, but it faces key opposition in the Iowa House. Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, says with new members making up about a third of the legislature this year, he’s making another try.

“I know we haven’t been successful before,” Zaun says, “but I do plan on running it through Judiciary. This is very narrowly written.” Zaun is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison is chairman of the HOUSE Judiciary Committee. Holt says he could support the death penalty on moral grounds, but there are too many practical problems with it. Getting the drugs for a lethal injection has become increasingly difficult and Holt says there are people who’ve been sentenced to death who have later been exonerated.

“It’s just extremely expensive to keep someone on death row,” Holt says. “…Unlike in a lot of other states, life in prison is life in prison in Iowa.” During a Senate subcommittee hearing yesterday (Wednesday), a representative of the state’s four Catholic bishops spoke out against the death penalty. Reverend Heather Wachendorf of New Beginnings Christian Church in Urbandale was among three pastors who testified.

“When the punishment is the same as the crime, we should stop and question the law,” she said. “Taking another person’s life is never OK.” Terry Pierce of West Des Moines was the only member of the public at yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) hearing who spoke in favor of the limited form of capital punishment outlined in the bill. “We’re talking about an adult committing a crime against an innocent child,” he said. “In my mind, the penalty couldn’t be harsh enough.”

Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965. In 1995, the Iowa House narrowly voted to reinstate capital punishment, but the bill was defeated in the Senate.

(Radio Iowa)- The Iowa House has approved a bill to prevent the statewide 133 million dollar increase in residential property taxes that legislators say was the unintended consequence of a 2021 law. The fix cleared the Senate February 1st and it passed the House yesterday (Wednesday). Representative John Forbes of Urbandale is among the Democrats who say it’s unfair to city and county officials who’ve already built slightly bigger budget plans.

“When you look at the cities budgeting for about 50% for public safety, that’s probably where most of the cuts are going to come from,” Forbes says. “In my city alone, we’re looking at close to a million dollar budget cut.” The bill gives cities and counties until April 30th to complete their spending plans for the budgeting year that begins July 1st.

Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says that gives cities and counties an additional 30 days to redo budgets based on the new information about how much property taxes will be paid. “There will not be one dime cut from public safety due to this piece of legislation and if someone does choose to do that, that’s a local decision, that’s a poor decision and it’s one that I don’t think is actually going to happen,” Kaufmann said. “…This is not a cut. This is not a receipt of tax dollars into a checking account that we’re then going to be taking it.”

The glitch that’s being fixed was caused when lawmakers decided apartment buildings, nursing homes and mobile home parks would no longer be taxed like commercial property — but as residential property, starting this fall.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is backing parents who object to the transgender policies in an eastern Iowa school district. Last year the Linn-Mar School Board adopted a policy that lets student use a different name at school, without notifying parents. A group of parents filed a lawsuit challenging the policy and Pence held an event in Cedar Rapids yesterday (Wednesday) to show his support.

Over 50 protesters gathered outside the Pizza Ranch where Pence was speaking, holding signs in support of trans children. Hiawatha City Council member Aime Wichtendahl says Pence’s message is harmful.

Pence is among the high-profile Republicans visiting Iowa this month, less than a year before Republicans here will host the first-in-the-nation Caucuses. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will be here next week. Former U-N Ambassador Nikki Haley announced yesterday (Wednesday) she’s running for president and she’ll visit Iowa Monday. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was in central Iowa yesterday (Wednesday).

Plymouth County, Iowa – On February 13, 2023, the Hinton Police Department requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate a potential criminal matter that involved Kingsley Police Chief, James Dunn. On February 15, 2023 James Dunn was taken into custody at his residence in Kingsley, Iowa without incident by Agents of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Dunn was transported to the Plymouth County Jail and has been charged with the following criminal charges:.

• Three counts of: Falsely Obtaining Criminal Intelligence Data. Class D Felonies.
• One count of: Non-felonious misconduct in office. Serious Misdemeanor
• One count of: Stalking. Aggravated Misdemeanor

The criminal investigation being conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is on-going and no further details will be released at this time.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic met the City’s new Director of Parks and Recreation. Mayor Grace Garrett introduced Wyatt Adderton, who’s from Savannah, GA.  He said he has been in town since February 7th. Adderton thanked the committee who selected him as the new Parks Director.

He said they were diligent in their task and he’s excited to get started and work with City officials to work on accomplishing the goals they seek to attain. Wyatt says he worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for nearly eight-years at a park and worked his way up from a part-time maintenance Ranger to Assistant Park Manager. He added that he was involved with $5-million worth of reinvestment in the park infrastructure, including a new Visitor’s Center, several playgrounds, campground renovations and upgrades.

Wyatt Adderton (2/15/23) Ric Hanson photo

He said he’s excited to bring that experience to the position here in Atlantic. Adderton was one of two finalists for the job. While he’s living in a condominium currently, his plan is to build a home in the community. His spouse is a pilot who will be based in southwest Iowa.

Adderton was one of two finalists for the position. He succeeds Bryant Rasmussen, who served as Parks and Rec Director for three-years. Wyatt will be introduced to the Parks Board during their meeting at 5:15-p.m. Monday, Feb. 20th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa livestock company and four managers have been sentenced in federal court in a scheme to defraud livestock producers throughout Iowa and the Midwest. Fifty-one-year-old Joe Wickham of Waucoma, 65-year-old Charlie Lynch of Waucoma, 60-year-old Leland “Pete” Blue of Fredericksburg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. While 31-year-old Tyler Thoms of Fayette pled guilty to one count of causing a livestock dealer to keep inaccurate accounts and records.

The charges came from their work with Lynch Livestock, where they were accused of downgrading cattle and manipulating scales to defraud customers during nearly two decades. Wickham and Lynch were fined three-thousand dollars and Blue one thousand. Wickham was sentenced to six months in prison, and the others were each given probation. The company was fined 196-thousand dollars and ordered to pay more than three million dollars in restitution.

(Radio Iowa) – Webster City Police charged 14-year-old with a threat of terrorism and turned the teen over to juvenile authorities after an alleged threat Tuesday. Officers were notified of an incident involving possible threats of violence made toward the Webster City School District.

Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork said that a juvenile student had made comments and attempted to recruit at least one other juvenile to engage in an act of violence at one of the school district buildings today (Wednesday) which was a staff in-service day.

Numerous interviews were conducted resulting in a search warrant being executed at the juvenile’s Webster City residence. The juvenile was referred to juvenile court on the terrorism charge.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is hosting an event in Cedar Rapids this (Wednesday) afternoon focused on parental rights. Pence says a radical gender ideology has seeped into classrooms. Pence is voicing support for a group of Iowa parents who’ve filed a lawsuit in federal court. They’re challenging a Linn-Mar school district policy that lets students ask for a gender support plan at school without notifying parents.

Pence addressed the lawsuit during a speech in Minneapolis this (Wednesday) morning. He says in America, parents should guide the choices of their children at home and at school. A coalition of groups are holding a counter rally in Cedar Rapids this (Wednesday) afternoon in support of transgender students. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says Pence is pushing a harmful agenda that bullies the most vulnerable in our communities.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a collision at around 4-p.m. Saturday, in Atlantic. The accident happened at 10th and Plum Streets, when a 2007 Ford Explorer driven by Bryan Guy, of Atlantic, was traveling south and through the intersection.

The SUV entered the intersection in front of a westbound 2008 Ford Escape SUV, driven by Tyler Clark, of Atlantic. The Ford Escape’s front middle portion struck the Ford Explorer’s front driver side, causing significant damage to each vehicle.

The Ford Explorer sustained an approximated $6,000 worth of damage while the Ford Escape sustained an approximated $7,000 of damage.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place last week:

On February 8th, 2023, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Markku Luikkonen, 39, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault.  Luikkonen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

And, there were three arrests on Feb. 10th in Cass County:

• 20-year-old Christian Poldberg, of Exira, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. Poldberg was booked into the Cass County Jail and held.
• 34-year-old Matthew Stevens, of Lewis, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. Stevens was booked and held in the Cass County Jail
• And, 40-year-old Jennifer Claussen, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense.  She was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.