(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Conservation Interpretive Naturalist Lora Kanning say the Conservation Department’s 30th Pioneer Skills Festival takes place this Saturday afternoon (May 4th). Kanning says they still need help in the barn, so if you’re interested in volunteering by leading a pioneer station, email Lora Kanning at lkanning@casscoia.us. They would love to have help from 12:30-until 4 pm, as the festival runs from 1-4pm.

Kanning said also, the Cass County portion of the T-bone trail is CLOSED. DO NOT go around any barriers, please turn around. The Construction contractor is repairing bridge approaches in Cass county. The project is taking longer due to the weather. This weekend there may be sections of the trail open and others may have barriers. Kanning says they hope to be finished with the project next week!

On Thursday May 9th , the Cass County Conservation Department will host a 5th grade field trip and conservation day. They are asking for volunteers to help the 5th graders fish at Cold Springs park from 9am-2pm. If you are available that day to help, email Lora Kanning. That email again is lkanning@casscoia.us .

Lastly, Kanning reports summer camps still have a couple open spots. Fliers went out in the Department’s last newsletter! It can also be found on the Conservation Department’s website https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/conservation-office/

Details on upcoming events and projects happening from May into June will be released in the next few weeks.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officers with the Creston Police Department, Wednesday night, arrested 35-year-old Bryan Michael Vannausdle, of Creston. Vannausdle was taken into custody at his residence in the 500 block of S. Vine Street at around 8-p.m., on charges that include: Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography, and Transfer of Obscene Material of a Minor.

Vannausdle was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Newly obtained emails between investigators within the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations are shedding more light into why and how agents gathered evidence against student athletes at Iowa and Iowa State Universities in the online sports betting case. WHO-TV reports agents used geo-fence technology already employed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to track all cell phone activity on both campuses. The evidence led to criminal charges and/or NCAA suspensions for 26 students; most pled guilty to underage gambling as part of plea deals. In March, the state dropped all charges against the five remaining defendants who pleaded not guilty; all 26 individuals are now suing the state.

According to internal emails provided by the Sandy Law Firm, Van Plumb and Matthew Boles who are representing the plaintiffs, DCI agents believed state code permitted them to use the software program Kibana, which is used by the Racing and Gaming Commission to track online sports betting, to cast a broad net to identify who was placing wagers.

An email exchange on September 15, 2022 from Story County prosecutor Tyler Grimm to DCI special agent Chris Swigart details Grimm explaining the need to obtain a warrant to obtain certain information they were after. No warrant was issued and the geo-fences were initiated. But communications also show agents knew their methods would be questioned.

Emails were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and provided to WHO 13 by the attorneys representing the 26 plaintiffs from the Sandy Law Firm, attorney Van Plumb, and attorney Matthew Boles. GeoComply has publicly stated the way DCI agents used their software, Kibana, in this case was inappropriate.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission stated last August that the investigation did not reveal evidence of point shaving.

URBANDALE, Iowa (KCCI) – A trucker was watching Netflix when he crashed into a car, killing a couple from Urbandale, prosecutors said. KCCI reports Matthew and Cimberly Hansen, of Urbandale, died in the crash in southern Minnesota in August 2023.

Prosecutors said the truck driver, Billy Grimes, was watching a show on his phone while going nearly 70 mph when he approached a construction zone. Grimes, who has denied using his phone while driving, is facing two counts of vehicular homicide

(Radio Iowa) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says April brought the showers the state needs. “We’re actually about eight-tenths of an inch above average and particularly wet across southeastern Iowa and northwestern Iowa, where we’ve seen drought removal and drought improvement,” Glisan says. April was also warmer than normal. “Two degrees above the normal average that we would expect for April,” he says. The April average temperature is around 48 degrees. Glisan says the storms that brought the rain also gave us some severe weather. “Almost 40 tornadoes reported across the state and that’s approaching the April record,” he says.

Glisan says the immediate outlook for this month shows the same trends as April. “We’re trending towards warmer to near normal temperatures, but we’re also seeing a wetter signal for the first two weeks of May,” Glisan says. “And May being the second wettest month of the year for Iowa climatologically, we could expect a lot of thunderstorm potential, and a lot of rainfall potential across the state.” Glisan says the rain is welcome to combat the drought, but farmers also need a little dry time to plant. “We do need to get planted, we do need to get that field work completed, and we’ve been wet over the last two weeks,” he says.

Corn and soybean planting were slightly ahead of schedule heading into this week.

(Radio Iowa) – As driverless cars become more popular on our roads, researchers at the University of Iowa are studying ways to make those cars transmit simple messages to pedestrians that it’s safe to cross in front of them. U-I Professor Jodie Plumert says they’re testing out one potential signal so computerized cars can let those on foot know they’re being “seen” by its cameras. “It had a light on the top, like a little dome light, and it was red,” Plumert says, “and then as it approached the intersection, it either turned green when the car began to decelerate, or it turned green just after the car came to a stop in front of the pedestrian.” The concept is being tested in a virtual reality lab at the U-I using projections of vehicles on giant screens that surround real kids, about a hundred of them so far, all between the ages of eight and 12. Plumert, a professor of psychological and brain sciences, says the results so far are revealing.

“When the cars were decelerating gradually and the green light came on early, children did enter the road before the car came to a complete stop,” Plumert says. “But when the green light came on, just after the car came to a stop, the children waited for that light to come on before they entered the road. So they were sort of treating it like it was a crosswalk signal and if it came on early, it was like, ‘Okay, I can go,’ and if it came on late, they waited for it to come on.” Autonomous vehicles need to be able to relay key information to pedestrians, she says, before even more of them enter the flow of traffic.

“This issue of — even if it were a car with a driver — if cars are decelerating gradually, seeing kids being willing to start crossing before that car came to a complete stop was another aspect of the study that was interesting — and also concerning about children’s traffic behavior.” Driverless vehicles are quickly gaining in numbers and Plumert sees them being used in big cities like Los Angeles already as a taxi service, as well as for making deliveries of shipments large and small. “This is kind of a whole new world,” Plumert says, “because here these these vehicles might be driving around and there’s no driver in there to communicate with you, like wave to you or make eye contact to say, ‘Yep, I see you and I’m gonna wait until you cross the road here.'”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety projects there will be three-and-a-half million vehicles with self-driving functionality on American roads by next year, and four-and-a-half million by 2030.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials may now offer far larger tax incentives for up to two businesses that plan to spend at least a BILLION dollars on a new facility. Yesterday (Wednesday), Governor Kim Reynolds approved up to 93 MILLION dollars in tax incentives for the so-called “MEGA” program.

“This legislation presents a tremendous opportunity for Iowa,” Reynolds said. To qualify as a “MEGA” or “Major Economic Growth Attraction,” the business would have to be engaged in research, advanced manufacturing or bioscience. Reynolds says there are seven “certified” development sites in Iowa that would qualify as a location since a business has to build on at least 250 acres to qualify for the MEGA program.

“There’s also a component that helps some of our rural communities that helps some of our rural communities really try to participate in the process,” Reynolds says. The new law provides some state money to help 88 Iowa counties that are outside of urban areas improve tracts of land, so it’s immediately ready for business development.

Reynolds says there “possibly” may be a business that’s ready to spend over a BILLION dollars in capital on a MEGA site in Iowa.  “We want those big investments, those capital investments in our state,” Reynolds says, “and we need to be competitive for that as well.” Reynolds signed the MEGA incentive program into law yesterday (Wednesday). She also signed legislation that will cut Iowa’s personal income taxes by a billion dollars next year.

“As far as we’ve come, I’m also confident that we’re not done yet,” Reynolds says. “…It increases our competitiveness and sends an unmistakable message to the rest of the country.” Reynolds has said she wants to eliminate the state income tax by the end of 2026.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill Governor Reynolds has signed into law has connections to her husband’s lung cancer treatment. The law, which will go into effect July 1st, requires insurance plans to cover biomarker testing. The tests of blood or other genetic material helps doctors determine the best course of treatment for diseases like cancer. The governor’s husband, Kevin, was diagnosed with lung cancer last fall and had a biomarker test.

“I can tell you that it definitely makes a difference and it really ties the treatment to a specific marker, so it really does matter,” Reynolds said. “Especially where we’re going with technology innovation and just all of the research that’s being done, this is the future.”

Reynolds made her remarks Wednesday during a bill signing ceremony in her statehouse office. A month ago Reynolds told reporters her husband, Kevin, is doing well and using a breakthrough immune therapy pill as part of his treatment plan.

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 – Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.

The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, this (Wednesday) evening, administered the Oath of Office to the City’s newest Police Officer. Adam Roberts, who was hired in April 2024, and is a graduate of the Clarinda High School. Roberts will complete his field training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at the end of August. His family was present in the Council’s Chambers to witness the event. Officer Roberts has served as an assistant coach for the Atlantic Archery team for the last several years. He and his wife Megan moved to town in 2010. The couple has four children.

Mayor Garrett congrats Officer Roberts following the Oath of Office.

The Council then proceeded to act on an Order to close 6th Street, between Poplar and Chestnut, every Thursday from 3-until 7-p.m., effective June 1st through Oct. 10th, for Produce In the Park. Additionally, during that same period, from 4-until 6:30-p.m. Chestnut Street will not be closed for other events. It also allows a Produce In the Park banner to cross Chestnut Street, from late May though mid-October.

The Council approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, representing the City’s Public Works Department (Street Dept. & Wastewater Dept.). The agreement was previously ratified by Union membership, and is in effect from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to RAGBRAI ®, to help the local RAGRAI Committee deal with the public health and safety issues that can be created by an influx into the City of a large number of people. RAGBRAI arrives in Atlantic on July 22nd. Riders will depart the following day. The Council approved an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as unanimously passed by the Personnel & Finance Committee, and is recommended for updates every five-years.

They’ll also passed an Order to refer a request for vacating a “Phantom” right-of-way (ROW), to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Grace Garrett:

The request is for an area that begins at the corner of W. 4th and Laurel Streets, terminating westward, at a phantom railroad ROW. The Atlantic City Council reviewed and acted to approve the Contract and Bonds for the Sunnyside Park Splashpad project. The contracts & bonds had not been made available to local project manager Snyder & Associates Engineers, in time for the Council to review the documents. Snyder’s Dave Sturm:

The Council previously passed a resolution awarding the project to the Hensley Group, LLC, out of Muscatine, in the amount of $552,084. They also passed a resolution approving updates to the City’s accounting, record-keeping, human resources management, bank reconciliation, financial reports software, and the FY 2024 Budget Amendment to pay for the update. Councilperson Elaine Otte said the Personnel and Finance Committee took a look the current gWorks Program.

A resolution passed approving the “PRN (Pro Re Nata, or “as the situation demands”) Status Police Officer Opening, Job Description, and Compensation,” as explained by Councilpersons Sarsfield and Otte. Councilman Sean Sarsfield:

Councilwoman Otte added:

In her report to the Council, Mayor Garrett reminded residential and commercial property owners not to blow their grass clippings into the street. The clippings make it dangerous for bicyclists and motorcyclists, and is prohibited in the Code of Ordinances. Several locations on 5th and Mulberry Streets (to name a few) had grass clippings on the street, Wednesday evening.