(Radio Iowa) – This is the 15th week of the 2022 Iowa legislative session, but there’s no agreement yet among majority Republicans on the bills outlining the state budget for the fiscal year that starts in 74 days. Republicans in the House have sent the Senate all the bills outlining their budget plans. Jack Whitver of Ankeny, the Republican leader in the SENATE, hasn’t brought any of them up for a vote.  “We’re just not interested in going up another $70 million in the budget,” Whitver says.

Whitver says Republicans in the Senate have developed their own budget plans for state operations that use the governor’s spending target as a guide. “We think the budget she rolled out and the budget that we have worked on — and changed some things from her numbers, as far as line items — is a responsible budget that ensures our budget is secure long term with the tax cuts that we have put in place.”

During House debate over the past few weeks, minority Democrats have been arguing that with a BILLION dollar budget surplus, more money should be spent to address specific problems, like prison staffing and water quality. Representative Brian Meyers is a Democrat from Des Moines. “As Democrats, we recognize problems and we want to fix them and we don’t just gloss over the fact that we live in this tale of two states,” Meyers says. “We don’t have a lack of money. We have a failure to appropriate.”

Two of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ top policy proposals are stalled alongside budget negotiations. Republicans in the SENATE have passed the governor’s plan to provide parents state money to cover private and parochial school expenses, while Republicans in the HOUSE have yet to bring it up for a vote. Republicans in the House AND the Senate have passed the governor’s proposal to reduce the maximum amount of unemployment benefits from 26 to 16 weeks, but her recommendation that there be a one-week waiting period before benefits are paid was only included in the SENATE’S bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with MidAmerican Energy report the company is using a low-flying helicopter to inspect its high-voltage transmission lines and related equipment across Iowa and in the Quad Cities area in Illinois. Throughout this month, inspection crews will survey approximately 5,000 miles of overhead lines, as well as transmission towers and poles, to check for any signs of damage or wear. Crews also periodically inspect these lines and equipment from the ground.

Observers may spot a helicopter flying unusually close to power lines, towers and poles, in addition to substations and generating facilities. Aerial inspections enable crews to identify locations that may need repairs, replacement or upgrades before they cause service disruptions to help enhance system reliability.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Our sister-station KNOD in Harlan reports the Harlan Fire Department was called to an apartment fire at 1711 Lincoln Avenue in Harlan. Monday. The call came in shortly after 9-a.m. Westphalia Volunteer Fire Department was also called in for mutual aid. Flames were see coming from the living room windows of an apartment.

Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen says they were on the scene for about 90 minutes and are currently investigating the cause of the fire. There are 3 other apartments in the building that suffered from some smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported.

Photos via Michelle McConnell Andersen/ KNOD

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s last greyhound race track is now in its final season. This past Saturday, the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque opened for what will be a very brief 2022 season. This incarnation of the track was launched in 2015 though it’s been an Iowa tradition for more than 35 years. Greyhound breeding dropped off dramatically after Florida voters recently approved a constitutional amendment to eliminate dog racing. The last races in Dubuque will be held on May 15th, leaving only three other dog tracks in the nation — two in West Virginia and one in Arkansas, and the Arkansas track is also closing after this season.

(Radio Iowa) – Reports say a northwest Iowa police officer is facing a list of more than 80 criminal charges. The Des Moines Register says Benjamin Scheevel is accused of a host of crimes, including misconduct in office, tax evasion, theft, assault and stalking. The alleged incidents took place between 2016 and 2020 when Scheevel worked as a police officer in both Armstrong and Estherville. It’s unclear if he still works for either department.

The story says Scheevel faces no-contact orders involving four women. In recent months, the former Armstrong police chief, mayor and three city clerks were all accused of misconduct.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council once again has a lot on their plate to digest this Wednesday evening. Their session at City Hall begins at 5:30. The last meeting featured a 16-page agenda. This time around it’s only eight-pages, but there’s still a lot to cover. They’ll begin with recognizing the Atlantic-CAM High School Wrestling Team for their performance at the State Tournament. Afterward, they’ll receive a presentation from local Trees Forever representative Dolly Bergmann, who will inform the Council the City of Atlantic has been designated a Tree City USA for the 26th year. Bergmann is credited with making the award possible through her volunteer efforts.

The Council will also receive a presentation from Chamber Director Bailey Smith, and they’ll hold a Public Hearing on an application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), with regard to facade improvements to the 200-through 210 block of Chestnut Street. The deadline to apply is April 30th, with SWIPCO heading-up the paperwork. If the application is approved by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, construction will take about 10 months to complete. It must be closed out by June 2023. The City is applying for a $400,000 CDBG, with the building owners (K&C Steffens, LLC) providing the local match in the form of private financing or cash. The entire project is estimated to cost as much as $450,000.

There will also be a Public Hearing on a preliminary plat for the Redwood Subdivision to the City of Atlantic. The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission previously held a public hearing on the plat April 12th, and have determined all the Code Ordinances have all been satisfied. The proposed subdivision is for residential development, with the creation of nine new lots for single-family homes. The Council will hold a related Public Hearing on the matter, as it pertains to an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance by change the zoning classification from R-4 (multiple family) to R-2 (low density single family), and changing the official zoning map to reflect the change.

The first reading of an Ordinance allowing for the change, will be held following the Public Hearing. Afterward, a Public Hearing will be held on an amendment to the Code of Ordinances, by changing the Zoning Classification for certain real property (708 W. 8th Street) from R-3 (High Density Single-Family Residential) to C-1 (Highway Commercial District). A petition for the rezoning is supported by the neighborhood, according to Zoning Commission John Lund. It was also approved by the Zoning Commission.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hold the first reading of Ordinances pertaining to the “Mowing of Properties” (reducing the maximum allowable growth of grass from 12 inches to 9 inches), and an Ordinance under Nuisance Abatement to include the amended mowing ordinance. If the property owner fails to comply after the 2nd notice, the City would mow the grass and bill the owner accordingly. The hourly rate for mowing would be considerably higher than if a private mower were hired to handle the unsightly grassy area. The final order of business is for the Council to review the contracts and bonds for the the Bull Creek Improvements project. The project plans and specs were approved during the Council’s March 16th session.

DES MOINES, Iowa – With an uncertain history, April 20th (more commonly known as “4/20”) has become synonymous with marijuana use and, in some circles, the date is a marijuana “holiday.”  To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) are teaming with state, county and local law enforcement to spread the message that drug-impaired driving of any kind is dangerous and illegal.  Drivers will see extra enforcement between April 19th and April 22nd to combat impaired driving.

Like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is illegal nationwide. According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it’s so important to spread this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Do you think driving while high isn’t dangerous? It has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

Those who plan to use marijuana on 4/20 should have a plan in place and refrain from driving.  Here are a few tips to help keep everyone safe:

•    If you have used an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
•    If you are drug-impaired, pass the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive to the destination. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
•    Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later.

By working together, we can save lives and help keep America’s roadways safe. Share the lifesaving message:

IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENT, YOU DRIVE DIFFERENT.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report four arrests took place over the past week. At around 5:06-a.m. today (Monday, April 18), 51-year-old Frederick Ray Jones, of Des Moines, was arrested by the Creston K9 Unit, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jones was transported to the Union County Jail, cited and released.

At around 12:10-a.m. Saturday, 42-year old Ronnee Colleen Abel, of Creston, was arrested at Lincoln and Manor Drive, thanks to the assistance of Creston Police K9 “Baxo.” Abel was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Methamphetamine – 1st offense. Her cash or surety bond at the Union County Jail was set at $2,300.

Friday afternoon, 34-year-old Julian Albert Rex Allison, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Parole. He was being held in the jail without bond.

And, Thursday night, Creston Police arrested 43-year-old Robert Todd Jackson, of Creston, for Violation of a No Contact Order, and on a Union County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was later released from the Union County Jail.

Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 600 block of N. Birch Street reported on April 8th, someone damaged his garage door. The damage was estimated at $100.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has completed its annual review of financial audits of all the casinos. Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the audits did not turn up any issues. He says the facilities are facing an issue that has been common to most businesses. “We did hear some common themes during those presentations from the facilities many of the facilities had noted that they’re having a very difficult time finding employees in all segments of their operations,” Ohorilko says.

Ohorilko says they’ve had to adapt to the lack of staff. “Inability to find employees has caused situations where maybe restaurants would be closed on certain days or may be closed earlier than they would like, and so we’re still seeing a lot of issues from an employment standpoint,” he says. Ohorilko says there are some areas where they cannot cut back.

“It does put a strain on certain positions like security and in other areas where compliance is and so those are things that that commission continues to monitor and the industry is really still doing a good job given the circumstances,” according to Ohorilko.

The Racing and Gaming Commission reviewed the audit reports at their meeting last week.

(Radio Iowa) – Efforts are underway to try to save the retired Navy vessel named for the five Waterloo brothers who died together in World War II when a Japanese torpedo struck the U-S-S Juneau. “The Sullivans” — a Navy destroyer — is a floating museum in the harbor at Buffalo, New York. Paul Marzello is president and CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. He discovered The Sullivans was sinking last Wednesday due to a breach in the hull. “Anyone on our board of directors, any staff member, any volunteer, any veteran who’s connected to the ship knows what adversity is all about. They’ve been here in times of war. This is something that’s a blip on the screen to the them,” he said. “We will right this ship. It will not go down.”

Marzello spoke at a news conference this weekend. The vessel is listing to its side and multiple news organizations quote the U.S. Coast Guard estimate that there’s a million gallons of water inside the ship. Marzello says it’s unclear what caused the breach.  “We are taking it extremely seriously to make sure we are taking in all the measures to correct her as soon as possible,” he says. “What we will need is a bunch of hands to clean up once we do rightsize her, so that will be our next plan of attack once we figure out what the problem is.”

On Friday, efforts to pump water out were halted as diesel was discovered in Buffalo’s harbor. This weekend divers and equipment began maneuvering inside the vessel to remove contaminants like fuel and oils from inside, to prevent the materials from reaching Lake Erie. The Buffalo News reports a Navy architect and experts from a salvage company will arrive at the site today (Monday) to assess the situation. Buffalo’s mayor says efforts to save the U-S-S The Sullivans will take time.

The five Sullivan brothers died on November 13th, 1942 and the Navy destroyer named in their honor was in service in World War II and the Korean War. It was decommissioned in 1965 and in Buffalo since 1977.